A Liveaboard Experience Elevated Beyond Expectation To The Most Remote Corners of Indonesia’s Banda Sea
To expand their diving horizons and take in a greater area of the Wakatobi Regency, guests of Wakatobi Resort can board the dive yacht Pelagian for week-long cruises that take in offshore reefs and pinnacles, walls, coral atolls, and the spectacular muck diving sites of Pasarwajo Bay on Buton Island. As you might expect from a resort known for delivering the highest levels of service and providing an atmosphere of casual luxury, this isn’t your average dive liveaboard. Wakatobi invites you to discover the Pelagian difference.
See for Yourself
Words can’t fully capture the Pelagian experience. Join us for a short video that shows a bit of what guests can expect when they step aboard our luxury dive yacht Pelagian.
The Pelagian Experience
By carrying a maximum of ten guests attended by a crew of twelve, Pelagian is able to offer each passenger the highest levels of personal attention. This ultimate service ethos touches all aspects of life aboard, from attentive cabin and dining service to diving preparations and in-water support.
“An exeptional crew, itinerary, boat and dive sites. This has been a joy! The attention to detail and responsiveness are A+. Cleanliness and organization were outstanding. The equipment, including tenders and tanks, was much appreciated!”
-Barbara Russel on The Pelagian, September 2025
The crew handles all logistics of gear transfer and equipment donning, and once in the water, guests benefit from the keen eyes of our guides who are experts at locating the region’s small and unique marine life. After each dive, guests are provided with hot towels and refreshments as they are welcomed back aboard and can relax while the crew prepares everything for the next dive. Each day, the onboard culinary team creates meals worthy of a Michelin-starred restaurant, incorporating fresh local flavors into a menu that also features international favorites.
A Diverse Itinerary
Pelagian’s weekly cruises take in a broad swath of the Wakatobi National Park that includes the fish-laden pinnacles near Hoga, and the big reefs of Karang Kaledupa and Karang Kapota, where divers will find everything from coral-rich shallows to sheer drop-offs. For many, a highlight of each cruise is the days spent in Pasarwajo Bay, which offers some of Indonesia’s best muck diving at sites such as Asphalt Pier and Cheeky Beach. This area is also home to Magic Pier, which is famous for the evening courtship rituals of resident mandarinfish.
Guests who dive Magic Pier often have the privilege of witnessing hundreds of these colorful acquaintances on a single dive– a sight that is sure to shock even the most experienced divers.
The Evolution of a Dive Yacht
We often refer to Pelagian as a dive yacht rather than a liveaboard. This isn’t just marketing speak, because she likely started out as a robust military vessel, and was then transformed into an upscale dive boat at a time when liveaboard dive boats were beginning to take a more prominent role in the diving world. Originally named Radiant, this 35-meter/115-foot vessel was built in 1965 to Lloyd’s +100A1 standards in Norway. In the early 1980s, the vessel was converted into a dive liveaboard that plied the waters of the Red Sea and then moved to Seychelles in the early 90s, where she visited the remote, spectacular atoll of Aldabra.
Beginning in 2027, Pelagian will offer an even more intimate experience, welcoming only six guests per trip to enhance the yacht’s sense of exclusivity and personalized service.
Around 1995, the yacht moved farther east to Indonesia to explore the east coast of Sumatra under the name Fantasea II. The yacht’s final transformation into the name Pelagian began with a light refit in preparation for an ambitious tour of the South Pacific. Wakatobi acquired the Pelagian in 2005 and immediately began a series of high-end refitting and upgrades across the board. This included a total repowering of the yacht, the removal of the sixth passenger cabin, the complete reworking of all public spaces, and the transformation of guest cabins into spaces truly worthy of the luxury yacht title.
While Pelagian will continue to welcome up to ten guests per trip through 2026, beginning in 2027 capacity will be limited to just six guests, creating an even more intimate and exclusive onboard experience, synonymous with Wakatobi’s unmatched reputation.
To learn more about the Pelagian for your next visit to Wakatobi contact our team at office@wakatobi.com or enquire >here.
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