Why you should choose Katharina:
A dedicated luxury boat for snorkelers and explorers, everything is included in the price apart from tips and alcohol, Free also is the use of paddle boards, kayaks and snorkelling equipment. These trips are adventure and discovery trips to show the true Indonesia where you are not playing second fiddle to divers.

The Katharina is a traditional Indonesian pinisi and has been fitted her out as a Snorkelling only cruising vessel.
Katharina’s overall length is 40 metres, providing comfortable accommodation for up to 12 guests in six cabins located below decks.
All cabins offer creature comforts and necessary amenities including double beds or twins, private en-suite bathrooms, natural light, safety boxes, individually controlled air-conditioning and storage space including a safe.
Working with the unique heritage this vessel uses only the best traditional materials, shaped by highly skilled Indonesian craftsmen but behind the scenes is the use of the most up-to-date technology and she is now equipped with a super yacht grade AC station and they have optimised their systems to the latest safety standards.

Not only is the Katharina very elegant on the water, she is also fast becoming a classic yacht, as very few of these original designs remain.
Led by Captain Iwan, Katharina is catered to by an all-Indonesian crew of 12, with each member dedicated to making your stay aboard truly memorable.
Life onboard the ship is one of relaxation and comfort, good food, top class service and fine company mixed with plenty of adventure, history and exploration par excellence.
To better prepare yourselves for your journey, we have placed various resources at your fingertips to help you get a better grasp of the areas we will visit, the peoples, the flora, the fauna, and the stories behind what lies ahead.

SeaTrek, the operators of Katharina and sister ship Ombak Putih Liveaboards, are renowned as the premier snorkelling-only, small ship cruise operator in Indonesia, offering intimate group experiences with a maximum of 12 or 24 passengers.
The company's core focus lies in snorkelling, cultural immersion, and wildlife encounters, leveraging over three decades of operation in the remote regions of eastern Indonesia to provide unparalleled experiences.

Emphasising community engagement, SeaTrek takes pride in its interactions with local communities and its support for 'local heroes' involved in environmental and societal initiatives.
Over the course of more than 30 years, the company has cultivated enduring relationships across the archipelago, fostering mutual understanding and friendship between guests and locals.

With the motto "Indonesia through Indonesian eyes," SeaTrek underscores the importance of experiencing Indonesia's rich tapestry through the perspectives of its inhabitants.
All onboard staff are Indonesian, ensuring authentic hospitality and cultural insight.
Each voyage is led by English-speaking SeaTrek tour leaders, dedicated to meeting guests' needs and facilitating genuine local experiences.

The company's fleet comprises the 12-cabin Ombak Putih and the 6-cabin Katharina, both exemplifying the traditional phinisi design.
SeaTrek continually reinvests in its vessels, undertaking renovations and enhancements to maintain and elevate the quality of guest experiences.
Recent upgrades include cabin modernisation, deck refurbishments, and the installation of new outdoor spaces to create more space for guests.

On a SeaTrek voyage, every guest is treated as a VIP, with tastefully designed cabins featuring private en-suite bathrooms, hot water, and individual air conditioning.
Everything is included on a SeaTrek trip except crew tips, alcohol, a $400 fuel surcharge, and domestic flights.
The all-inclusive experience encompasses meals, non-alcoholic beverages, snorkelling gear, Kayak and Stand up paddle boards (SUPs) park fees, and selected beverages and they can also help with your domestic flights.
Other alcoholic beverages are also available at regular prices.
Additionally, they also provide complimentary unlimited espresso coffee, which is a nice and very welcome touch.

SeaTrek's dedicated support team remains available from the very first moment you enquire till after you have returned home at the end of your cruise to give you comfort and peace of mind and to answer any questions you may have.
Read the guest reviews

Katharina - schedule

Katharina - prices and what's included

Prices are per person per trip and based on 2 persons sharing a cabin.
Exact pricing is available on the schedule here as prices vary dependant on the time of year, destination and the length of the trip and sometimes special offers are available.

The trip price includes:
Full board including all meals and soft drinks, tea, coffee, snacks starting and ending with lunch on first and last days.
Unlimited use of espresso machine.
English-speaking SeaTrek tour leaders.
All park fees, cultural performances, local guides, and off boat activities.
Welcome drink and cold towel upon boarding the boat on the first day, as well as each time guests return from all off-boat excursions.
Daily room cleaning.
Two pieces of laundry each day.
Towels and linens.
Complimentary cotton backpack, luggage tag, fan, stainless steel water bottle, which guests are encouraged to take home and keep.
First aid kit containing all major medicines.
Sunscreen lotion.
Soaps, shampoo, and conditioner.
Beach BBQ with complimentary wine, beer and selected cocktails.
Selected wines with special farewell dinner.
All port fees.
Use of on-board TV and multimedia facilities.
Library of books, kids’ games and TV documentaries.
Use of all facilities on board including snorkelling gear, paddle boards, kayaks, board games.
Use of sleeping bags for sleeping on deck.
All transfers to and from the boats in ports.

The trip price does not include:
Fuel surcharge for certain trips
Domestic flights.
Transit hotels.
Alcoholic drinks outside of special dinners and beach BBQ.
Crew tips.
Incidental expenses on land (souvenirs, private purchases.)
We highly recommend Trip and Travel Insurance on the off chance of missed or cancelled flights / lost baggage, documents, money or passport / Covid issues or any other unforeseen problems that could possibly occur.
Everything not described in the “The trip price includes” section

Single Occupancy offer:
If you would prefer a private room there is a single supplement of +75% in addition to the displayed trip price (175% of the advertised trip price) due to each cabin normally being for 2 persons.
If you are a solo traveller and are happy to share then you are charged at the normal advertised rate and you wil be allocated a cabin buddy, who will be another guest, by the cruise director once on board.

Booking Payment and Cancellation Terms and Conditions.
Booking deposit: 30% of your invoice total is required within 7 days of booking to confirm your booking.
Final payment of 70% is due to 90 days prior to the departure date to complete your invoice payment.
Individual bookings made less than 90 days before the departure date will be payable in full upon booking to confirm your booking.
Cancellation at any stage involves forfeit of monies already paid.
Payment can be made via Credit or Debit card (Visa, AMEX, Mastercard), Revolut pay, Wise, Bank transfer or Apple and Google pay at no extra charge.

Katharina - Video

Katharina - cabins

Lower Deck Double or Twin Cabin
Katharina has only six cabins with one double and one single bed, with a maximum capacity of 12 persons all on the Lower deck.
Recently redesigned and constructed of natural woods and classic décor, the stylish cabins are bright and inviting with double or twin berths, individually controlled AC, private en suite bathrooms, natural light, storage space including a safe.

  • Katharina

    Double Cabin

  • Katharina

    Double Cabin

  • Katharina

    Triple Cabin

  • Katharina

    Double Cabin

Katharina - itineraries

Katharina cruises across the archipelago all the way from Borneo to Papua in the west and east and Sumba and Maluko in the south and north, following the seasons and the winds, and staying one step ahead of the rains so as to provide optimum cruising conditions for our guests.

January to March: Raja Ampat, Sorong, Misool, Ternate, Kendari
April to September: Bali and the Lesser Sunda Islands including the Komodo Archipelago, Alor and Sumba
October to November: The Lesser Sunda Islands, Banda, Ternate and Raja Ampat
December: Papua including Raja Ampat and Triton Bay

Here is a FULL list of frequently asked questions about the trips

Please choose your Itinerary

The Jewels of Raja Ampat (Sorong to Sorong)
Papua's Whale Sharks and Birds of Paradise (Sorong to Kaimana)
In the Wake of Wallace (Sorong to Ternate)
A Remote Tropical Island and a Total Eclipse of the Sun
Coral Cultures and Dragons (Bitung to Komodo)
Orangutans and Dragons (Bali to Bali)
Rare Species, Remote Cultures and Remarkable Corals (Ternate to Bitung)
Whale Sharks, Corals and Dragons (Komodo to Bali)
The East Indies on a Spice Exploration (Maumere to Ambon)
The Wallace Trails and Sails (Ambon to Sorong)

Katharina - specs

Katharina is fitted with all internationally required safety and communication equipment such as SSB and VHF radios, life jackets, life rafts, and satellite telephone. Apart from that we carry an extensive first aid kit, defibrillator (AED) and emergency oxygen supply.
Experienced navigators consider it an axiom that the seaworthiness of a vessel depends on the seaworthiness of the crew. Our ship has a well-seasoned, all-licensed Indonesian crew of twelve, and each one of them goes through multiple first aid trainings per year, and drills are done on a regular basis according to international Marine Safety Codes.

Katharina Technical Specifications
Construction: Kalimantan Indonesia
Registry: Indonesia
Length over Deck: 30,5 metres
Length over all: 40 metres
Beam: 8,60 metres
Draught: 3,50 metres
Engine: 6 cyl. Mitsubishi s6B 280Hp Marine engine
Rig: Gaff rigged ketch – 250sqm sails, 2 mains, two tops, three jibs
Cruising speed: 7-9 Knots
Top speed: 10-12 Knots
Voltage: 220 volts
Tenders: Two: one with 40hp and one with 15hp Yamaha outboards
Decks: One main deck, one sun deck, one cabin deck
Cabins: 6
Capacity: 12 guests
Water capacity: 4,000 litres
Fuel Capacity: 9,000 litres
Watermaker: Aqua Whisper, capacity 2,000 litres per day
Auxiliary Power: Two generators, and emergency DC system

Navigation:
Furuno GPS
Furuno radar with second GPS and chart plotter
Furono echosounder
MaxSea computer-based navigation system
VHF and SBB radios
Satellite phones
EPIRB emergency beacon
Paper charts and manual utilities

Safety:
Two lifeboats, capacity 25 people each
Life rings with lights
40 lifejackets with lights
Fire alarm system
Fire extinguishers
Fire pump
Emergency mobile fire pump
Extensive first aid kits
Defibrillator (AED)
Medical oxygen supply.

Katharina - faqs

Standard Indonesian FAQS

Please note these are generic FAQs about Indonesia in general and not always boat specific.
If you are unsure about something please ask us to get confirmation.

What documents will I need to show on the boat?
Dive certification cards and dive logbook.

What money will I need?
Most boats accepts payment by Visa or Mastercard, Indonesian Rupiah, Euro or US Dollar. Please be advised that foreign notes should be clean, new and crisp. Indonesian banks and money changers will not accept old notes or notes which are damaged in any way. You can also use your credit or debit card at ATM machines in towns prior to boarding the boat to withdraw Rupiah, which is better should you wish to purchase local souvenirs or for tips. It is advisable to inform your bank or credit card company that you will be visiting Indonesia prior to your departure, as it is not uncommon for the bank to put a block on the card if they suspect it has been misappropriated.

Will there be any opportunities to go ashore during the cruise?
There are many different land excursions which are dependent on the schedule and guest preferences. Some land excursions available are beach visits, village visit and other treks dependant on the area, weather and local conditions.

What if I am prone to sea sickness?
If you are prone to sea sickness we strongly urge you to bring some motion sickness medication.

What is the voltage on the boat?
Voltage in Indonesia is 220-240 V.
If you feel you will need an adaptor please bring one.

What time zone is Indonesia located?
Komodo, Flores, Derawan and Sangalaki, Kaimantan and Sulawesi are 8 hours ahead of GMT. Raja Ampat is covered by Eastern Indonesia Standard Time which is 9 hours ahead of GMT.

Is smoking permitted?
Most boats provide a designated area on the boat is available for smoking.
Smoking is not permitted in any other area for any reason.

What about crew gratuities?
Gratuities for the crew are not included in your trip price. If the crew performs to your expectations, we suggest a gratuity of approximately 5-10% of the published package price per person be considered normal aboard a liveaboard dive boat.
All tips are generally split equally among the boat crew. Personal tipping is frowned upon. Payment of gratuities can be by cash or credit card.

Diving Information

Do I need evacuation/dive insurance?
It is mandatory that each guest purchase comprehensive evacuation and dive accident insurance.
The boat will be operating in extremely remote areas. Emergency evacuations from remote locations can cost in excess of USD $100,000.
We recommend Divers Alert Network (DAN): www.DiversAlertNetwork.org (in USA), www.daneurope.org (in Europe).

Are there any limitations or restrictions on the diving?
You should stay within the limits and standards of your qualifying agency.
All dives should be no- decompression dives. Solo diving is not permitted.

What dive equipment do I need?
Tanks, weights and weight belts are provided onboard. Divers will need to bring BCD, regulator, wetsuit,fins, mask, snorkel and dive light.
Rental equipment is available and will need to be ordered in advance.

What can I expect the water temperature to be and what wetsuit do you recommend?
This is always a difficult question to answer because people have different reactions to temperature.
Typically temperatures range from 25-30C or 80-86F so usually a 3mm suit or even a skin is fine.
The southern waters of Komodo can be colder with 20-25C or 70-75F so a 5mm suit with a hood is recommended.

How do we dive from the boat?
All dives will be made from the tenders. Equipment will be transferred to the tenders and guests will board the tender with only their wetsuit on.

Can I drink alcohol and dive?
No. Drinking alcohol and diving can increase your risk of decompression problems.
You can drink alcohol once your have completed your last dive of the day.

Can I pay by Credit card on board?
For most things yes you can but there is a bank charge of 3%, normal in Indonesia. Please check with us beforehand about this.

Climate:
The average air temperature in the regions you will visit ranges from 25 - 35 Celsius or 77-90 Fahrenheit.

Health and innoculations:
Vaccinations for typhoid, paratyphoid, tetanus, Cholera, Polio, and Hepatitis A are recommended but not mandatory.
Malaria is endemic in many parts of Indonesia, please check with your local Tropical Disease Centre for anti-malaria/diver friendly medication.
You will also need to have been vaccinated from Covid.

Money:
The Indonesian currency is Rupiah. Rates fluctuate enormously, please check with our cruise directors for your cruise exchange rates.

Population and people:
Regarded as the fifth most populous nation in the world, there are approximately 200,000,000 in Indonesia. The majority, around 60% reside on the island of Java.

Religion:
An amazing diversity of religions exists. Predominantly a Muslim nation, islands like Timor, North Sulawesi and Flores are Christian.

Hinduism is found mainly in Bali.
Scattered throughout the region are a variety of other beliefs.

Language:
Bahasa Indonesia, almost identical to Malay is the one national language.
Several local dialects exist in each region as well. English is widely spoken in the more popular tourist destinations such as Bali.

Diving Indonesia
Out of 14,000+ islands in the archipelago, there are a plethora of exclusive dive locations in Indonesia, boasting up to 80% of the worlds species of undersea life. With Indocruises we take you to pristine spots not that known in your average dive travel guide and which are still being explored.

Dive conditions in Indonesia
Diving all year around is possible.
Watertemperature 24°(75°F) to 30°C(86°F) (In the south of Komodo it can drop down to 21-23°C (70-75°F)
Visibility is mostly very good (up to 30m)

Safety Procedures and Emergency Evacuation Information:
There are 6 recompression chambers in Indonesia to treat decompression sickness

Bali: Sanglah General Hospital (in Indonesian language) USUP Sanglah Denpasar JI. Diponegoro, Denpasar 80114 Bali, Indonesia Phone 62-361-227911 through -15 ext. 232 (hyperbaric medical department) Fax 62-361-22426 Run by Dr. Antonius Natasamudra and Dr. Etty Herawati

Manado (Sulawesi): At the Malalayang Hospital (chamber for 3 to 4 persons) Phone: 0811430913 and ask for Dr Jimmy Waleleng (Phone home 860953).
Makassar (Sulawesi): Rumah Sakit Umum Wahidin Sudirohusodo. Contact person: Pak Daniel Address: Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km. 11, Tamalanrea Kampus UNHAS Indonesia TEL:++ 62 - 0411 (584677) , 584675. Said to be for 3 to 4 persons.

Jakarta (Java): Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut (Navy Hospital) in Jl. Bendungan Hilir No.17, Central Jakarta (see text in italian with some addresses - list of help)
Kalimantan: The Borneo Divers have the only professional recompression chamber located on Sipadan island (Borneo - Malaysia)

Surabaya (Java): Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut (RSAL) (Military Marine hospital) Jl. Gadung no. 1, SurabayPhone 031-45750 and 41731 (another number given was 031-838153 and fax 031- 837511) Run by Dr Suharsono
Available SAR (search and rescue) contact information:

  • SAR Bali : ph 0361 - 751111 Radio : 13545.0
  • SAR Lombok : Ph 0370 - 633253 Radio : 13545.0
  • SAR Makassar : Ph 0411 - 554111 Radio : 13545.0
  • SAR Manado : Ph 0431 - 825986
  • SAR Kupang : Ph 0380 - 831111
  • SAR Ambon : Ph 0911 - 351111
  • SAR Sorong : Ph 0951 - 323816

**Available SAR (search and rescue) contact information:
Medivac facilities from Travira Air www.travira-air.com