Swan Hellenic Launches Exclusive SCUBA Diving Expeditions in Raja Ampat for 2026 and 2027

Unmissable new opportunities for SCUBA diving enthusiasts now enrich Swan Hellenic’s luxury expedition cruises in one of the last true paradises on Earth. The cultural expedition cruise specialist has unveiled a series of dedicated SCUBA diving experiences across four exclusive East Asia voyages, exploring the unrivalled marine biodiversity of Raja Ampat aboard the luxury boutique expedition ship SH Minerva.

Available on two sailings in 2026 and two in 2027, the new diving itineraries are open to guests holding PADI Advanced Open Water certification. Each voyage offers multiple dives at world-class sites, conducted from custom adventure dive boats and led by expert dive masters, with an exclusive dive concierge service ensuring seamless experiences both above and below the surface.

Complete high-quality diving equipment is included, from masks, fins and snorkels to wetsuits, BCDs, regulators, weights and tanks, along with all required permits. Guests need only bring their own dive computers, travel, medical and dive insurance.

Each 10- or 11-day voyage includes between five and six exceptional dives, making these itineraries ideal not only for dive buddies, groups and clubs, but also for travellers sailing with non-diving friends or family. While divers explore beneath the waves, non-divers can enjoy Swan Hellenic’s renowned cultural expedition programme, immersive shore excursions and fully inclusive snorkelling experiences. Highlights include swimming alongside plankton-feeding whale sharks in the legendary Cenderawasih Bay National Park.

Dive sites across Palau Kri, Palau Fam, Palau Mansuar and Ayu Atoll are accessed directly from the ship by private dive boats, offering effortless transfers to some of the world’s most celebrated underwater locations. Dive excursions are attractively priced and flexible, with half or full-day options starting from USD $250 for a single-dive excursion.

Adding to the appeal, guests booking any of these 2026 or 2027 sailings before the end of February can benefit from Swan Hellenic’s Elevated Expeditions available online in a special section of the Swan Hellenic website and in a full-color brochure that can be downloaded here. This generous offer combines significant fare savings with complimentary Wi-Fi upgrades, onboard credit, and additional advantages for group bookings of eight guests or more. Notably, there are no restrictions on the sale. Guests are encouraged to book back-to-back voyages, creating an extended exploration of the Coral Triangle with the reassurance that no two Swan Hellenic expeditions, or dives, are ever the same.

2026 Voyages

Secrets of the Coral Triangle: West Papua and Raja Ampat

Departing Sorong on 18 April 2026 and returning on 28 April, this 10-nights voyage is available from £6,550 with Elevated Expeditions fares. Sailing deep into the heart of the Coral Triangle, guests will explore tranquil lagoons, coral atolls and jungle-fringed shores best accessed by sea.

Highlights include Cenderawasih Bay, encounters with gentle whale sharks near Kwatisore, and the dramatic limestone landscapes of Misool. Cultural discoveries span missionary heritage, World War II relics, and island communities whose traditions are intimately connected to the sea.

Six unforgettable dives include legendary sites such as Kabui Bay, Pulau Kri, Pulau Fam and Pulau Mansuar, featuring Mioskon, Blue Magic, Mayhem Reef, Cape Kri, holder of the world record for 283 species recorded on a single dive, Galaxy Reef and the vibrant Yenbuda Jetty.

Hear of the Pacific Isles

Straight after, the 11-night cultural expedition cruise departs Sorong on 28 April 2026, arriving in Manila on 9 May. Elevated Expeditions fares start from £6,815.

This carefully curated itinerary carries guests from Raja Ampat across the lesser-travelled southern Philippines to the cultural heart of Manila. Along the way, guests will discover limestone cathedrals, pristine atolls and white-sand shores sheltering extraordinary coral ecosystems.

Five remarkable dives include Pulau Penemu, Pulau Fam and Pulau Mansuar, with highlights such as Melissa’s Garden, Batu Rufas, the thrilling Keru Channel, manta-rich Manta Ridge and the crystal-clear Sawandarek Jetty, a paradise for underwater photographers and snorkelers alike.

2027 Voyages

The same itineraries return in 2027 and are also included in the Elevated Expeditions sale:

Raja Ampat & Cenderawasih Bay: Indonesia’s Coral Triangle departs 16 April 2027, and docks in Sorong on 26 April. The Elevated Expeditions inclusive prices for this 10-night cultural expedition cruise start from £6,095.

Raja Ampat and Philippines: The Last Paradise on Earth departs Sorong on 26 April 2027 and arrives in Manila on 7 May 2027. The Elevated Expeditions inclusive prices for this 11-night cultural expedition cruise start from £6,695.

Full information on all four voyages together with their special Elevated Expeditions prices – which are only available until 28 February 2026, can be found on Swan Hellenic’s dedicated Elevated Expeditions website.

Commenting on the launch, Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito, said; “It gives us great pleasure to extend our guests’ discovery beneath the waves on these four exceptional voyages. Each brings a new dimension to explore the most biodiverse marine paradise on Earth and exciting new opportunities to see what others don’t.”