Nayara Cruise

Komodo runs out of Labuan Bajo on five and six-night trips, and the schedule is dive-led. The published five-night route works Sebayur and Mini Wall on the check-dive day, then Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, Shotgun and a Lighthouse night dive off Gili Lawa, Tatawa Kecil, Batu Bolong and Manta Point in the centre, Three Sisters, Secret Garden and Pink Beach around Padar, with the sunrise Padar trek and the Komodo Island ranger walk fitted between dives.

Raja Ampat sails from Sorong and comes in three lengths. The six-night central route covers Manta Sandy, Arborek Jetty, Cape Kri, Blue Magic, Sardine Reef, Mike Point and Piaynemo. The seven-night Wayag route pushes north to Black Rock, Batu Wayag and the Wofoh sites with treks at Piaynemo and Wayag, and the nine-night north and south run adds Misool at the start. Expect four dives a day and long overnight passages.

Misool is sold as its own seven-night trip from Sorong rather than as an add-on. Candy Store, Andiamo, Juliatte, Shadow Reef, Tank Rock and Gorgonian Passage are on the published route, with a night dive at Romeo, the Love Lagoon trek and a snorkel in the jellyfish lake. The return leg swings through Penemu and Melissa Garden before Sorong.

The Banda run is eight days from Ambon. Suanggi Island for the first full day, then Manuk Island, the sea-snake island, for four dives including a night dive, Karang Hatta and Hatta Island, and the Banda Neira sites: Batu Kapal, Pohon Miring, Lava Flow, Karnopol and Batu Belanda, with a land tour to Fort Belgica. The trip finishes with muck diving at Laha in Ambon Bay.

Alor is a five-night trip starting at Mali airport, and it is the muck and macro end of the programme. Crucifixion Point, Current Alley, Babylon and a Mandarin Slope night dive on the first full day, Munaseli Point for hammerheads on the second, then Biangabang, Hot Rock, Anemone Fields or Cathedral, and Clown Valley at Apuri to finish. A dugong stop at Mawar is scheduled before boarding.

Ambon is the departure port for the Banda Sea legs, and what you dive in the bay is muck rather than reef. Silt and sponge, taken shallow. A dive guide is included in the fare with up to three dives a day, which suits ground where the value is in repetition rather than any single site.

Sumbawa sits on the western passages out of Labuan Bajo, usually on the longer bookings. The crater lake at Satonda, the volcanic reefs off Sangeang and the bays of Moyo break up the crossing. With one Superior cabin sleeping four and another sleeping three, groups travelling together share rooms on this stretch instead of paying double occupancy twice over.