FAQs

Your most frequently asked questions answered

Booking & Reservations

How do I book a trip with Calico Jack Charters?

You can reserve a cabin directly through our website by selecting an available departure from the trip schedule. You will be able to select your cabin type, add extras and make a secure payment online. 

Alternativley, if you prefer to book in person, you can do so by contacting us with the following information. 

Call or Whatsapp: +62 813-3932-5544
Email: calicojackbookings@gmail.com

How much is the deposit and when is the final balance due?
A 30% deposit is required to confirm your booking, with the remaining balance due 60 days before departure. Full payment details and deadlines are provided when your booking is confirmed.
If you are booking PADI dive ceritifcations as part of your trip please note that 10% deposit will be required and full prepayment will be required in 30 days prior to the embarkation date
Can I charter the entire boat?

Yes. Both Calico Jack and Anne Bonny are available for private charter. Private charters allow complete flexibility in itinerary planning, dive schedules, and onboard activities.

To book a private charter, please contact us directly.

Call or Whatsapp: +62 813-3932-5544
Email: calicojackbookings@gmail.com

Do you offer cabin sharing for solo travelers?

Yes. Solo travelers are welcome to book a cabin and we will do our best to match you with a compatible roommate. A single supplement may apply if a shared cabin cannot be arranged.

Is alcohol beverages included in the cruise cost? Can I bring my own?

Non-alcoholic beverages (soft drinks, juices, tea and coffee) are free but alcoholic drinks are not. We have alcoholic beverages variety of imported and local beers ($4 per bottle/can) and imported wine available by the bottle at $40.

Guests are welcome to bring their own duty-free alcohol and spirits onboard.

Can non-divers join the cruise?

We have snorkelers joining our dive trips all the time. Almost every dive site in Raja Ampat and Cenderawasih bay can be snorkeled depending on currents and wave conditions. The corals and fish life are stunning. In some cases, you able to have even better encounters with Manta rays and Whale sharks.

One of the speed boats will follow her to ensure safety. We also have kayaks and SUP boards. During the cruise, we will offer multiple land activities such as trekking, beach BBQ, and village visiting. From our experience, non-divers have always had a fantastic time on board.

We offer 5% discount from the original price for non-diver guests.

Diving & Experience

What level of diving experience is required?

Most of our expeditions are designed for certified divers with some experience, as many Indonesian dive sites feature currents and advanced dive profiles. Guests should ideally have an Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent.

How many dives are typically offered on a trip?
Most expeditions include 3–4 dives per day, with night dives offered when conditions allow. An 11–12 night voyage typically includes 30+ dives.
Is Nitrox available onboard?

Yes. Nitrox is available onboard Calico Jack and is highly recommended for divers planning multiple dives per day.

We offer 32 percent Nitrox mix with the price $15 per day (3-4 dives).

 

Can beginners learn to dive on the trip?

Some trips offer PADI dive training including Advanced Open Water and Nitrox certification. Beginner courses are generally better suited to private charter trips where the itinerary can be adjusted for training.

How large are the dive groups?

We maintain small dive groups with a high guide-to-diver ratio, typically no more than 5 divers per guide.

Every dive is accompanied with 2 dive guides and 1 cruise director (instructor level). A max of 5 divers per guide allowing more space and flexibility for each group.

Each day we will alternate the dive guides so everyone has a similar experience underwater.

Depending on the group more experienced divers will be diving together and guests with less experience in another, so everyone can enjoy in their own rhythm.

What tanks and tank valves do you use?

We use aluminium 12L tanks with both DIN and Yoke tank valves onboard.
The 15 Lt tanks are available onboard Calico Jack for $60 per trip.

I don’t have necessary 20+ dives / have OW certification only, what then?

If you have less than 20 logged dives or haven’t dived for a while, we would recommend completing the refreshment course before the cruise or onboard.

Also, if you only have OW certification, the cruise director may advise you to skip deep and current dives, which are 20% of the overall dives during the cruise and enjoy kayaking, SUP boarding, snorkelling or island visiting instead.

 

What does a typical day of diving look like?

We will have 3 dives per day with alternating night dive, 33 to 34 dives in total for 11 nights trip.

The morning schedule begins with a Light breakfast and coffee, the first dive at 7 a.m. followed by breakfast at 8:30 a.m. The second dive is at 11:30 am followed by lunch at 1 pm. A third dive is 2:30 p.m. The Night dive starts at 7 p.m.

Dive surface intervals are 2.5 – hrs between dives.

Our last dive of the cruise will be on the day before last and will finish around 1 p.m. Please keep it in mind when booking your return flights. 

Diving and snorkeling equipment

We have a full range of diving and snorkelling equipment onboard. Please check our Price List Onboard.

We use Mares and ScubaPro labels of dive equipment.

You can pay for equipment rental onboard by cash, credit card or bank transfer.

Destinations & Itineraries

Where do Calico Jack expeditions go?

Our expeditions explore some of Indonesia’s most biodiverse marine regions including:

  • Raja Ampat
  • Triton Bay
  • Banda Sea
  • Cenderawasih Bay

Each region offers unique marine life, coral ecosystems, and underwater landscapes.

👉 View all Destinations

Are the itineraries fixed?

Our itineraries act as expedition frameworks rather than rigid schedules. Routes may adapt based on weather conditions, wildlife sightings, and dive conditions to ensure the best possible experience.

What marine life can I expect to see?

Indonesia lies at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the most biodiverse marine region on Earth. Guests commonly encounter:

  • reef sharks
  • manta rays
  • schooling fish
  • pygmy seahorses
  • macro critters
  • vibrant coral ecosystems

Some expeditions also include seasonal highlights such as hammerhead sharks in the Banda Sea or whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay.

Travel & Logistics

Where do trips depart from?

Departure ports vary depending on the expedition region and may include:

  • Sorong
  • Ambon
  • Nabire
  • Manokwari
  • Kaimana
  • Labuan Bajo (Komodo)

Detailed travel instructions can be found in our blog and are also provided after booking.

What airports should I fly into?

Most international travelers fly into Jakarta or Bali, then connect to regional airports closer to the expedition departure port.

For trips starting and ending in Komodo there is a direct flight option from Singapore to Lubuan Bajo

Do you provide airport transfers?

Yes. Airport transfers on embarkation and disembarkation days are typically included in the trip package. 

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes. Comprehensive travel and dive insurance is mandatory for all guests.

We aren’t diving, so we don’t need dive insurance?

Yes, if you are not diving, the dive insurance is not required. Travel insurance is enough.

 

Park Fees, Port Clearances and Fuel Surcharge

Within a cruise, there are clearances, local payments, trekking fees, contributions to villages and licenses for dive sites. We cover all costs and the guest will not have to pay anything. We try to average out these costs within the price. Some operators play with this cost and hence the variation between operators.

Park fees and other surcharges for all destinations are $250 per person to be paid onboard.

Life On Board

How many guests are onboard?

Calico Jack carries a maximum of 10 guests, ensuring a spacious and relaxed onboard experience.

Anne Bonny has 3 en-suite, air-conditioned cabins offering space for 6 adults and up to 3 children.

What are the cabins like?

All cabins are equipped with AC and fans. On Calico Jack, we prefer to switch off AC between 12am and 6am. Usually this does not create any issues as cabins are well ventilated. On Anne Bonny the AC runs all night long.

Each cabin has its own en suite bathroom with marine electrical toilet and hotwater shower.

We provide towels for both cabin and diving. We will change towels at least 3 times per trip.

We use CEE 7 standards electricity sockets on board.

What kind of food is served onboard?

Our onboard chef prepares a variety of Asian fusion and international cuisine, using fresh ingredients sourced locally whenever possible.

Meals typically include:

  • hearty breakfasts
  • fresh lunches
  • afternoon snacks
  • three-course dinners

Dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.

Is there Wi-Fi onboard?

Yes, Calico Jack is equipped with Starlink satellite internet, though connection speeds may vary in remote areas.

What about the Cellular / Internet coverage?

There is limited cellular and internet coverage in remote areas such as Cenderawasih bay, Triton Bay and Banda Sea. However, Raja Ampat has better coverage with the recent addition of new telecom towers.
We have Wi-Fi router onboard, so you can connect to the internet when available.
If you prefer to have cellular connection as well, you can get a local sim card at most Indonesian International Airports.

Simpati is most popular followed by Kartu As and Loop.
Simpati can be used for cheap overseas calls.
Telkomsel has a booth at the Bali airport, both at the international and domestic arrival terminal. Their latest standard size SIM cards now have pop-out for Micro SIM.

All SIM-cards in Indonesia should be registered with your passport. This sort of SIM card will cost you around $3. Some shops register it to their own passports, which is fine, but the price will be around $10. Both options are safe.
Don’t forget to buy phone and internet credit. $15 (150,000 Rp ) is usually enough credit for calls and internet packages.

To get cheaper rates for overseas calling, you need to dial either 01017 before your country code, e.g;
(01017) (country code) (phone number)

Special food requests

Each meal on Calico Jack is buffet style with a choice of a minimum of 4 dishes: meat, fish, veggies, salad and rice/pasta, so everyone can choose according to their diet.

Onboard Anne Bonny, we alternate buffet for breakfast and lunch with ala cart servings for dinner.

Let us know if you have special food requests. Our chefs can cook amazing vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free dishes.

Also, there is coconut cream and soy milk available onboard (for dairy-free guests) and we can substitute meat/fish dishes for soy alternatives

Can my kids join the cruise?

– Calico Jack –

Kids are welcome onboard Calico Jack. However, from our experience, we recommend children should be of the age 4 yrs and older, so they can avoid any hazards onboard and fully enjoy snorkelling, kayaking and island hopping.

We have kids’ life jackets onboard to ensure their safety.
Please be mindful that there is no nanny service onboard and all responsibility for children is on the parents.

If the child shares a bed with parents (under 7y.o.), the cruise cost will be half of the original cost. Older kids, who need their own bed are offered 5% non-diver discount.

– Anne Bonne –

Kids are welcome onboard Anne Bonny. All cabins are equipped with bunk beds, creating a perfect setup for family travel.

 

Do people ever get sea sick?

This is a very personal thing and depends on the wind, waves and the person. If a guest that possibly has an issue, we recommend they carry their own preferred prophylactic. We also have a large supply sea-sickness pills onboard.

Safety

How many guests are onboard?

The vessel is equipped with comprehensive safety systems including:

  • emergency oxygen
  • first aid equipment
  • life rafts
  • emergency communication systems
  • dive safety equipment

Our experienced crew is trained in emergency response procedures.

Is diving insurance required?

Yes. All divers must have dive accident insurance such as DAN (Divers Alert Network) or equivalent coverage.

Other Activities

Are there activities for non-divers?

Yes. Non-diving guests can enjoy:

  • snorkeling
  • kayaking
  • paddleboarding
  • island excursions
  • wildlife spotting

Many destinations also offer spectacular scenery and beach exploration.

Is diving insurance required?

Yes. All divers must have dive accident insurance such as DAN (Divers Alert Network) or equivalent coverage.