Divers often ask me to explain the difference between my "Value-Added" charter trips and a "normal" liveaboard trip. This page explains the additional extras you will enjoy on a Value-Added City Seahorse charter trip.

See the Value-Added Charters Schedule »

A Value-Added Charter starts with a contract for a full ship charter between the ship owners and City Seahorse. Guest divers are vetted as to experience level, whether they enjoy the type of diving that will be offered, and to some extent if they are friendly well-behaved divers that will play well with other guests on the ship.

A "normal" liveaboard trip sells spaces direct from the liveaboard's company (or though an agent) to anyone who wants to book on the trip. Beginners, advanced, experienced and inexperienced divers; happy people, grumpy people - doesn't matter.

Each City Seahorse Value-Added Charter is limited to 12 guests. The ratio of divers to dive guides is often 3-4 divers per guide sometimes less! If you have a group of 3 or 4 who want to dive together, you can have your own dive tender team and guide (guides rotate between teams).

A "normal" liveaboard trip fills the ship with as many guests as can fit in the ship's cabins. The ratio of divers to dive guides is often 6-10 divers per guide.

On a Value-Added Charter you will enjoy the services of the ship's regular crew (OK, maybe too many so some take a holiday!) plus a carefully selected Raja Ampat-experienced cruise director (in Raja Ampat since 2006), specially hired Raja Ampat-experienced dive guides (4), a local Papuan expert guide, a trip organizer with 16 years experience organizing group trips in the area and (optionally) a professional photographer / photo instructor to help you improve your photography skills (check individual trips or ask). See the Dive Team.

A "normal" liveaboard trip sails with a regular crew, including 2-3 dive guides and a cruise director who may or may not have ever been to Raja Ampat previously.

On your Value-Added Charter we will ask for your like/dislikes and vary the itinerary accordingly taking into consideration and the conditions of weather, currents and underwater visibility. You will enjoy unlimted bottom time and several days of "open-deck" diving. On open-deck days, you can as much as you like, when you like. Open-deck days are everyone's favorite.

A "normal" liveaboard trip often sails a pre-planned itinerary and sets arbitrary bottom-time limits or 45-60 min.

See the Value-Added Charters Schedule »