ALL AROUND INDONESIA, ONE EPIC PHINISI BOAT EXPLORE THE INDONESIAN ARCHIPELAGO

We had a cruise on Thalassa with a group of experienced divers and instructors, all well-versed in the dive sites of the Indonesian Archipelago. But this wasn’t your usual cruise. Thanks to the deep local knowledge and adventurous spirit of the dive and deck teams, our goal was clear: exploration, to venture into rarely visited areas between Sulawesi and Flores and seek out uncharted dive sites. And Thalassa delivered beyond expectations. From reading nautical charts with precision, climbing the mast to scout for isolated seamounts, to understanding complex tidal patterns, the crew's ability to navigate and adapt in real time led us to spectacular, untouched dive spots, quite possibly never explored before. This is the kind of dive experience that is a privilege in 2025: wild, remote, and deeply rewarding. I would follow this team to the farthest corners of the archipelago. What made it even better? It all unfolded aboard the beautiful Thalassa, a boat clearly built with exploration and diver comfort in mind. With only 7 divers on board, the dive deck offered ample space and thoughtful design. The cabins were spacious and comfortable, and the chill deck, where we shared meals and laughter, was the perfect place to unwind after long adventurous days. Every meal was a treat, crafted by a chef who celebrates local ingredients and Indonesian flavors. The crew was professional, warm, and multi-talented (don’t miss their music nights!). And thanks to the silent battery system, nights were peaceful, free of the generator hum you’ll find on most boats today. If you're looking for off-the-beaten-track, high-quality dive exploration in Indonesia, Thalassa is in a league of its own. Huge thanks to the whole crew and the owners for an unforgettable journey. I’d choose Thalassa again in a heartbeat!

We were a group of 7 on the first Uncharted Crossing trip from Bira, South Sulawesi to Labuan Bajo, Komodo. As a Cruise Director myself on a luxury cruise, I have to say the service was top-notch — especially the attention to detail from the Stewardess, who were quick and thoughtful with every request. The Cruise Director onboard worked closely with the Captain and the rest of the crew to ensure we reached each destination on time, and the itinerary planning was spot-on. The boat itself was exceptionally well-maintained, with plenty of space for everyone to relax without ever feeling crowded. My favourite spot was the Tatami — super spacious and perfect for lounging. Another highlight was the solar power system, which allowed us to sleep peacefully with the air conditioning on, without any engine noise. Big shoutout to the owners — Patrick and Robert, who were incredibly accommodating to everyone’s needs. The kitchen team consistently impressed us with a delicious variety of Indonesian dishes, and the entire crew made sure everything ran smoothly from start to finish. We had an unforgettable experience with Thalassa, and I truly hope it won’t be long before I return!

TRIP OF A LIFETIME!! It's hard to know where to start with my praise 😅 The boat itself (Thalassa 42) was magnificent and I love the pirate vibes with the gorgeous black sails. The attention to detail from the woodwork to the facilities was next level. Everything was so beautifully polished, I ran my hands over the wooden surfaces everywhere I went. There's a natural flow on the boat between the various living spaces - so you very rarely bump into people in passageways (which makes it feel even more spacious). My absolute favourite part of the boat was the chill-out area at the back - comfy cushions where I had amazing naps between dives and plenty of room to dance around after a few cocktails! The cabins and en-suites are incredibly spacious with lovely soft sheets and towels. The toiletries smelled wonderful and, more importantly, were also reef safe! I adored all the crew - captain, chef and engineers! Special mention to Viana who took the best care of us! The speedboat driver Rahmat was a sweetheart who was great at helping us locate drop points for dive sites. Talking of diving - the cruise director took us on some of the BEST dives of my life! Felt like I was always in safe hands while doing exhilarating dives (including one with more manta than I could count!) And finally - the food. The chef and (hilarious) sous-chef whipped up incredible Indonesian dishes packed full of flavour. Between the hefty meals and freshly baked snacks, I never even got the chance to feel hungry! Definitely ate more than I needed to because it was so tasty 😅

I did a trip with Uncharted Cruises, on their boat Thalassa 42, in May 2025. We left from Bira, South Sulawesi and went all the way down to Komodo National Park, and it was probably the best holidays of my life, just incredible, wish I could do this non stop. First of all their boat is incredible, I’m 1.80m and usually on boats I have to be careful about bumping my head, but not on this boat, not a single place where I need to be careful, even in the cabins, which are massive by the way. Big double bed in our cabin, en suite bathroom with hot shower and good shower pressure, many spaces to put your stuff away so you really feel like in a hotel room, I have definitely been in many hotel rooms that were smaller! There’s a really nice communal space at the back of the boat which is where we spent most of our time and dinners, big lounge day beds, great for naps and reading in between dives. Their dive deck is massive and there’s space for any equipment you bring. The service and food is just perfect, the staff is super friendly , always smiling, and helpful. The food was mainly Indonesian, but really good high-end Indonesian food, I don’t eat spicy food and the chef still managed to make every dish for me with still a lot of flavour. I discovered a lot of new dishes and some really good ones, I probably put on a few kilos but absolutely no regrets. About the diving, they have Apeks regulators that are brand new, and X-deep BCDs, so you can’t ask for better equipment. Everything is completely new or very well maintained, or both, but not a single bubble on the equipment, which is usually rare on rental equipment. The dive guides' knowledge of the ocean is vast and varied, which makes them able to offer exploration dives, which always feel more exciting, and they do it in a very safe way. We tried a couple of new places on our way down to Komodo, and most of them turned out to be pretty good dive sites. We saw a nurse shark, which I had never seen before. We had a few dives in current which were great fun. To conclude I’m definitely coming back for a future trip, loved every single second of it, and for that level of food, quality of housing and exciting dives the price is really appropriate.

We went on a 6 nights trip with Uncharted in March. Mind blown! Would recommend it for those looking for that little bit more in their liveaboard. The team tailored the trip and gave helpful feedback. The boat crew were really friendly (and good musicians!) and most importantly the food was the best I’ve ever had on a liveaborad. The boat is stunning, build with comfort and safety in mind. The owners seem to have a real sense of tradition & spared no expense on creating a beautiful feel and finish but with all the modern gear you’d expect from a US or European cruise operator.

Wow. What an experience. I have done many dive livaboard trips over the years, but this one was unlike any other. Firstly, Thalassa is more than a well designed functional dive boat. It is a work of art and so beautiful. When the black sails are out it is breathtaking. Sailing into a beautiful sunset with strings of uninhabited islands in all directions sitting on a comfy chair the top deck with a cold beer after a great days diving will live long in my memory. The beauty of the boat is a perfect compliment to the beauty of Raja Ampat and Misool where we explored. The little details are so well curated and thought through, from the many marine themed items like the turtle napkin holders to the seahorse towel hooks to the whale door handles- to the beauty of the highly varnished wood interior. As a dive boat it is highly functional with plenty of space, efficient nitrox fillings, hot towels and drinks on the return from every dive, an abundance of high quality kit (although I took my own there were spares available for everything), marine life books, charging stations, starlink internet 24/7 and experienced dive guides. And some ‘day beds’ behind the wheelhouse to relax in out of the heat of the day but still enjoy the spectacular views. Secondly the food was delicious, varied and abundant. Indonesian focussed cuisine but of a quality and presentation you’d find in a good London restaurant. Thirdly the crew were so welcoming and friendly. The welcome back from each trip out on the tender for each dive; and the musical send off we had on the last night. The cruise directors, Patrick and Robert are both so welcoming, easy going and knowledgable about Indonesia, and the marine and animal life you encounter. They are truly dedicated and interested, facilitating the wonderful experience. They plan the days well and put themselves out of their way to secure the top dive sites at the optimal times. They were fully supportive of what we wanted to do (sunrise and night dives when we wanted to do them) and some exploratory dives in new locations… we found a cave! Plus arranging other activities like a trip to climb Love Lagoon, paddle boards and a trip to see ancient cave paintings. Reminiscing and writing this review I think Uncharted Cruises may have set the bar so high as to ruin all other dive livaboards for me!

Unsere 12 Tage auf der brandneuen Phinisi-Yacht Thalassa mit Uncharted Cruises waren einfach unbeschreiblich – eine perfekte Mischung aus Tauchen, Luxus und Abenteuer. Das von Robert selbst geplante Schiff ist perfekt, auch im Vergleich zu anderen Schiffen die wir gesehen haben. Unglaublich für mich, dass dies an einem Strand in 2 Jahren Handarbeit gebaut wurde! Die Kabinen mit Roomservice, Klimaanlage und privatem Badezimmern sind wunderschön. Wir haben uns das alles etwas rustikaler vorgestellt. Vor allem die Liebe zum Detail und die durchdachten Annehmlichkeiten wie die eigene Kamerastation machen die Thalassa zu einem schwimmenden Paradies. Wir waren bei der Ankunft auf dem Schiff sprachlos! Die Tauchgänge waren einfach nur spektakulär. Von winzigen Pygmäenseepferdchen bis hin zu majestätischen Mantas, riesigen Fischschwärmen und unberührten, farbenfrohen Korallenriffen – die Vielfalt und Schönheit der Unterwasserwelt in dieser Region ist zum Glück noch wunderschön. Dank der unglaublich professionellen und aufmerksamen Tauchguides fühlten wir uns immer gut betreut. Mit moderner, neuer Ausrüstung(Xdeep BCD's und Shearwater Tauchcomputer) und einer perfekten Organisation und Tauchplanung wurde jeder Tauchgang zu einem Highlight. Die Wassertemperatur war durchschnittlich 30°C. Das Essen an Bord war ein absoluter Traum. Der Chefkoch und sein Team haben uns jeden Tag begeistert. Wir haben uns von vorneherein für die lokale Küche entschieden, jede Mahlzeit war ein Genuss und wurde auch noch liebevoll serviert. Auch die Landausflüge waren voll von Höhepunkten; Wanderungen zu atemberaubenden Aussichtspunkten, Begegnungen mit Einheimischen, die uns ihre Kultur und Traditionen näherbrachten, und Lagerfeuerabende auf einsamen Inseln. Die Organisation war makellos, und jeder Moment fühlte sich für uns sehr exklusiv an. Ein Kompliment an die Crew! Kein Wunsch blieb unerfüllt und die Atmosphäre war sofort sehr familiär. Besonders die Besitzer Robert und Patrick haben mit ihrer Hingabe und Leidenschaft für ein Erlebnis gesorgt, das uns noch lange in Erinnerung bleiben wird. Diese Reise war mehr als nur ein Urlaub – sie war ein einzigartiges Erlebnis. Raja Ampat und Misool zählen zweifellos noch zu den letzten Paradiesen dieser Erde, und die Thalassa ist der perfekte Weg, diese Region zu erkunden. Danke an das gesamte Team für eine unvergessliche Zeit. Wir kommen definitiv wieder! Nächtes Mal vielleicht Halmahera oder Banda Neira 🤔

Ich war vom 09.01.25 bis 21.01.25 zusammen mit 7 Freunden an Bord der Thalassa von Uncharted Cruises. Wir hatten eine geniale Zeit. Das Schiff ist brandneu, geschmackvoll eingerichtet und einfach wunderschön gemacht. Ich hatte noch nie so schöne Kabinen auf einem Liveaboard. (War schon öfter in Raja Ampat im Tauchurlaub).Das Essen ist sehr authentisch und von hoher Qualität und Geschmack. Die Crew ist feundlich, aufmerksam und gut geschult. Die Tauchgänge mit Engel, Robert und Patrick waren die absoluten Highlights. Sie sind total auf unsere Bedürnisse eingegangen und haben das Programm vielfältig und flexibel gestaltet. Die Tauchausrüstung ist auf dem neuesten Stand. Die beiden Besitzer Robert und Patrick machen einen super Job und bieten momentan das Maß aller Dinge an Reiseerlebnis in Raja Ampat. Ich möchte mich auf diesem Wege für die unvergessliche Zeit bedanken und kann Uncharted Cruises und ihr Schiff Thalassa 100% weiterempfehlen.