Swan Hellenic has introduced dedicated SCUBA diving programs on four expedition cruises in Southeast Asia exploring Raja Ampat, aboard the boutique expedition ship SH Minerva. These dive-focused departures include two voyages in 2026 and two in 2027.
The programs are open to passengers with PADI Advanced Open Water certification and include multiple dives from private dive boats with professional divemasters. All necessary equipment—masks, fins, wetsuits, BCDs, regulators, weights, and tanks—is provided, as well as the required permits. Guests must bring their own dive computer and arrange their own travel, medical, and dive insurance.
Each 10- or 11-night voyage includes five to six dives, while non-diving guests can participate in the cruise's standard cultural and nature expedition program. In addition, all passengers have access to included snorkeling excursions, which include visits to Cenderawasih Bay National Park, where whale sharks may be sighted.
Dives are organized in places like Pulau Kri, Pulau Fam, Pulau Mansuar and the Ayu atoll, with direct transfers from the boat.
The first sailing of 2026, Secrets of the Coral Triangle: West Papua and Raja Ampat, departs from Sorong on April 18, 2026, and returns on April 28, after 10 nights. Highlights include diving and shore excursions in Cenderawasih Bay, Misool, and Kabui Bay, as well as visits to World War II historical sites and local island communities.
Next up is Heart of the Pacific Isles, an 11-night voyage departing Sorong on April 28, 2026, and arriving in Manila on May 9. The itinerary combines Raja Ampat with less-visited areas of the southern Philippines, with planned dives at sites such as Melissa's Garden, Batu Rufas, Keru Channel, Manta Ridge, and Sawandarek Jetty.
Two more voyages with the same itineraries are scheduled for 2027. Raja Ampat & Cenderawasih Bay: Indonesia's Coral Triangle departs on April 16, 2027, and returns to Sorong on April 26. Raja Ampat and Philippines: The Last Paradise on Earth departs on April 26, 2027, and arrives in Manila on May 7.
All four sailings are included in Swan Hellenic's Elevated Expeditions promotion, which offers discounted fares, complimentary Wi-Fi upgrades, and onboard credit. The promotion is available for bookings made until February 28, 2026.
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