Overnight dive & charter
Komodo Liveaboards
Vessels already fitted to carry guests for several nights in Komodo National Park — shortlisted with survey history, engine hours and ownership checked.
In short
A Komodo liveaboard is configured to sleep, feed and dive paying guests for several nights inside the national park, normally with four to twelve cabins. That configuration, not the hull material, sets the price — along with the crew, permits, mooring and bookings that travel with it.
What to look for
In eastern Indonesia a liveaboard is defined by how it operates, not by a class certificate. Then the survey decides the number.
What makes a liveaboard
- Guest cabins with fixed berths
- Crew quarters separate from guest space
- Water and fuel for at least four days
- A tender and dive platform sized for the guests
- Papers for overnight passenger carriage
Survey in this order
- Hull below the waterline and fastenings
- Main engine and gearbox, with oil analysis
- Generator redundancy
- Freshwater production and storage
- Fire suppression and life-saving gear
- Cosmetics, last
Indicative prices
Liveaboard price bands
Bands for vessels genuinely ready to carry guests, not project boats. Two boats with the same cabin count can sit a full band apart — mechanical redundancy and hull condition make the gap.
Dive boats for sale- Compact wooden phinisi 4–6 cabins
- USD 250k–550k
- Mid-size phinisi, guest-fitted 6–9 cabins
- USD 550k–1.2M
- Premium phinisi or motor-yacht 8–12 cabins
- USD 1.2M–3.5M
- Dive-specialist liveaboard 8–16 cabins
- USD 600k–2M
Indicative, confirmed on enquiry. The survey moves the number.
What transfers
The hull is the simple part
The operating value of a liveaboard sits in items that need separate handling. None of them should be assumed to come with the boat.
- Crew A captain who knows the currents and a capable chef are scarce. Negotiate retention in the deal.
- Permits Some follow the vessel, others the operating company. Establish which before signing.
- Mooring & bookings Harbour position and forward deposits can be an asset or a liability, depending on the contract.
Liveaboard at a glance
- Guest cabins, typical
- 4–12
- Minimum water and fuel autonomy
- 4 days
- Offer to handover, clean documents
- 6–12 wks
- USD, indicative entry price
- 250k+
Figures indicative, confirmed per vessel.
Buying a Komodo liveaboard
Can a foreign buyer own a Komodo liveaboard?
Yes, but ownership is normally held through an Indonesian entity, because commercial passenger operation needs local standing. Decide the structure before the deposit — it changes the tax and permit path.
How long does a purchase take from offer to handover?
Six to twelve weeks is realistic with clean documents. Survey scheduling and slipway availability in Labuan Bajo are the usual constraints, especially before high season.
Should I buy a boat already in charter, or an idle one?
A boat in charter has proven income and a working crew, and usually costs more. An idle one is cheaper, but establish with evidence why it is idle.
What ongoing costs should I budget?
Crew, maintenance, park fees, insurance and an annual slipway period. If you plan on charter income, model an off-season with no revenue but full crew costs.
More on Boats for Sale
Looking for a Komodo liveaboard?
Send the vessel type, cabin count and the month you want to operate. We reply with a shortlist and survey history.