Pinta dive charters run from 4 days / 3 nights to 10 days / 9 nights. The 4-day charter returns roughly 9 to 11 dives across north and central Komodo at USD 11,250 for the whole boat; the 8-day charter returns roughly 22 to 26 dives and reaches the southern sites including Manta Alley at USD 28,400. Whole-boat pricing means the per-person cost falls sharply as the group grows.
What each trip length actually buys you
The number that matters is not nights, it is dives — and which zones of the park those dives happen in. Komodo is long, and the south is a serious run from Labuan Bajo, so trip length is really a question of geography.
| Trip | Realistic dive count | Zones reached | Whole boat 1–8 | Whole boat 9–12 | Per person at 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4D3N | 9–11 | North and central: Batu Bolong, Karang Makassar, Siaba, Tatawa, Castle Rock | USD 11,250 | USD 12,550 | ≈ USD 1,046 |
| 5D4N | 12–15 | North and central with more tide windows, Crystal Rock and Golden Passage added | USD 14,450 | USD 16,000 | ≈ USD 1,333 |
| 6D5N | 15–18 | North, central, and a southern push if the weather allows | USD 17,600 | USD 19,500 | ≈ USD 1,625 |
| 7天6晚 | 18–22 | Full park including Manta Alley in the south | USD 20,800 | USD 23,000 | ≈ USD 1,917 |
| 8D7N | 22–26 | Full park, unhurried, with repeat visits to the best sites | USD 28,400 | USD 29,650 | ≈ USD 2,471 |
| 9D8N | 25–30 | Full park plus outlying sites and night dives | USD 32,200 | USD 33,800 | ≈ USD 2,817 |
| 10D9N | 28–34 | Everything, at the pace the tides dictate rather than the schedule | USD 36,000 | USD 37,900 | ≈ USD 3,158 |
Dive counts are ranges because they are set by tides and sea state, not by a template. Two things push a trip towards the top of its range: Pinta’s 8–10 knot cruising speed, which cuts transit time between zones, and the late 5 p.m. check-out on the last day, which typically adds two or three dives that a midday-return boat cannot offer.
The 4-day charter in detail
The 4-day / 3-night charter is the one most groups book, and it works because central Komodo is where both the easy sites and two of the best sites happen to be. A representative sequence — reordered daily to follow the tide — runs: departure from Labuan Bajo with a check dive at Siaba Besar; then Batu Bolong and Karang Makassar; then a northern day at Castle Rock and Crystal Rock with Tatawa Besar as the relaxed third dive; then a final morning at Siaba or Kanawa before returning to Labuan Bajo. Land stops for the Padar ridge, Pink Beach and a ranger-guided dragon walk on Komodo or Rinca slot between dives.
Note the sequencing rule that matters: Karang Makassar and Taka Makassar swap places in the day depending on current and wind, and so do Manta Point and the northern pinnacles. If an itinerary you are reading is presented as a fixed hour-by-hour schedule with no caveat, it was written by someone who has not run the route.
The 8-day charter and the southern question
Everything below six days stays north and central. The southern sites — Manta Alley above all — need the boat to run down the west coast of Komodo island and back, which costs the better part of a day each way and is weather-dependent from December to March, exactly the months when the southern mantas are at their peak. That tension is the reason the 7- and 8-day charters exist. At 22 to 26 dives the 8-day trip gives the crew enough margin to wait a day for a weather window rather than gamble.
What sits on top of the charter price
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Komodo National Park entry (foreign visitor) | IDR 250,000 per person per visit | PP 36/2024; includes trekking, wildlife observation and snorkelling |
| Komodo National Park entry (Indonesian) | IDR 50,000 weekday / IDR 75,000 weekend and holiday | PP 36/2024 |
| Ranger, harbour and diver charges | Around IDR 25,000 per diver per day each, collected locally | Operator-collected, not a government tariff — confirm at booking |
| Nitrox | On request, quoted per fill | Availability confirmed for your dates before booking |
| Dive courses | Quoted per person | Discover Scuba, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Reactivate |
| Full personal gear rental beyond the on-board set | Quoted on request | The standard on-board set is included |
| Flights to Labuan Bajo | Bali–LBJ roughly IDR 600,000–1,500,000 one way; Jakarta–LBJ roughly IDR 900,000–2,200,000 | 2026 market range, varies by season and how early you book |
| Dive and travel insurance | Your own policy | Must cover hyperbaric treatment and evacuation |
| Crew gratuity | Discretionary | Pooled across the eight crew |
Included in every dive charter: Full-board accommodation in an en-suite cabin, all meals prepared on board, snacks, drinking water, tea and coffee, tanks, weights and belts, guided dives at a PADI-standard 4:1 guide-to-diver ratio, the glass-bottom tender, snorkelling gear, stand-up paddleboards and the kayak, and the crew of eight.
Best for — choosing your trip length
- Best for a first Komodo dive trip: 4D3N, 9–11 dives, north and central.
- Best value per dive: 5D4N or 6D5N with a full group of twelve.
- Best for manta density: 7D6N or 8D7N in December to March, which is the only realistic way to reach Manta Alley with weather margin.
- Best for photographers: 8D7N or longer, because repeat visits to the same site in different tide states is how the good frames happen.
- Best for groups mixing divers and non-divers: any length — but compare against the cheaper leisure rate card on the rates page if fewer than half the group dives.
Where Pinta is not the right answer — a solo diver on a budget, or a group of four wanting a seven-night trip — a shared departure on a larger dive-equipped liveaboard will cost less per person, and the desk will say so rather than sell you a charter.
Frequently asked questions
How many dives do you get on a 4-day Komodo liveaboard?
Realistically nine to eleven on Pinta’s 4-day / 3-night charter, covering north and central Komodo. The exact count depends on tides, sea state and the group’s certification mix.
How much is a Pinta dive charter?
From USD 11,250 for the whole boat on 4 days / 3 nights with one to eight guests, rising to USD 37,900 for 10 days / 9 nights with nine to twelve guests. Park fees and flights are extra.
What is the cheapest way to dive Komodo on Pinta?
Fill the boat. At twelve divers the 4-day charter works out at roughly USD 1,046 per person. Group size moves the per-person figure far more than trip length does.
Which trip length reaches Manta Alley?
Seven days or more, realistically. The southern run costs most of a day each way and is weather-dependent from December to March, which is exactly when southern manta density peaks.
How many dives per day on a Komodo liveaboard?
Typically three, plus a night dive on some evenings at sheltered sites such as Siaba Besar. The last day adds two or three extra dives thanks to the 5 p.m. late check-out.
Are park fees included in the dive package?
No. Komodo National Park tickets and locally collected ranger, harbour and diver charges are excluded from all charter rates. The government tariff is IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor per visit.
Can I book a single cabin instead of the whole boat?
Pinta is sold as a whole-boat charter. Solo divers and small groups are usually better served by a shared departure on a larger vessel, and the reservations desk will point you to one.
How far in advance should I book?
Four to six months for July and August, and for the December-to-March manta window. April to June and September to November have more availability but the best dates still move early.
Book Pinta Liveaboard
Send your group size, dates and certification mix and you will get a dive count and a firm price rather than a price range. Pinta is operated and marketed by Komodo Luxury (part of Juara Holding Group, running Komodo trips since 2015). Reservations, cabin availability and current-season rates: WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected]. Quote the trip length and your certification level in the first message and the desk can hold a date the same day.
Keep reading
- Pinta rates and booking 2027 — dive versus snorkel tiers, seasons and deposit terms.
- Pinta dive specs — vessel, equipment and cabin detail in full.
- Pinta dive FAQ hub — 100 answers on diving and snorkelling in Komodo.
