Si Datu Bua Raja Ampat Yacht Charter

Why Si Datu Bua works for Raja Ampat

Si Datu Bua was launched in July 2012 by Konjo boat builders to a Seery Yacht Design — the same shipyard and designer behind her older sister Silolona. Built in Borneo ironwood (kayu ulin) with rare tropical hardwood interiors, she measures 39.9 m overall, 27.74 m on deck, with an 8.65 m beam and 173 GT. Two masts and 426 m² of gaff-rigged sail (586 m² with the flying jib and fisherman) drive her at 10 knots, backed by a 500 HP Yanmar 6HYM-ETE main engine, a double-drum windlass for twin 300 kg anchors, twin CAT desalinators (10,000 L / day) and 7,000 L of fresh water. She carries just three suites for a maximum of six guests (up to eight with children on extra beds), served by a permanent 15-strong Indonesian crew that includes trip leader, PADI dive instructor and a full galley and service brigade. She cruises the same fabled Spice Routes as Silolona — Raja Ampat, Komodo, the Banda Sea and the Spice Islands — for travellers who want the character of a classic phinisi with unusually high space-per-guest.

• 39.9 m ironwood phinisi launched July 2012 — sister ship to Silolona
• 3 antique-detailed suites — Banda (Master), Toraja and Celebes
• Only 6 guests (up to 8 with extra beds for children)
• Permanent 15-strong Indonesian crew including trip leader and PADI instructor
• Fully air-conditioned interiors, Starlink, twin RIB tenders and full dive setup
• Cruises Raja Ampat, Komodo, the Banda Sea and the Spice Islands

Si Datu Bua cabins, layout and deck spaces

Si Datu Bua measures 39.9 m overall (27.74 m on deck) with an 8.65 m beam, 3.36 m draft and 173 GT. She is a two-masted gaff-rigged phinisi built in Borneo ironwood by Konjo boat builders to a Seery Yacht Design, laid out across a fore deck, a main deck with saloon and PADI dive centre, and a lower deck housing the three guest suites, galley and crew quarters.

Cabin types

• Banda Suite (Master) — 6.8 × 5.6 m master suite with one king-size bed for two adults, inspired by the Spice Islands where nutmeg once shaped empires; en-suite bathroom.
• Toraja Suite — 5.8 × 4.1 m midship suite with one queen-size bed for two adults, styled after the mountain culture of Sulawesi; en-suite bathroom.
• Celebes Suite — 5.8 × 4.1 m midship suite (identical to Toraja) with one queen-size bed, reflecting Sulawesi's coastal sea-nomad heritage; en-suite bathroom.

Deck by deck

Food and dining on Si Datu Bua

Si Datu Bua is a haven for guests who care as much about the table as the sea. The galley team plates an international and Asian menu built around fresh local ingredients — Indonesian classics from the Spice Route sit alongside familiar Western favourites, served in the air-conditioned saloon or alfresco on the shaded fore deck.

• International and Asian cuisine prepared from fresh local ingredients
• Menus adapted to guest preferences, allergies and dietary requirements
• Alfresco dining on the shaded fore deck or in the air-conditioned saloon
• Beach picnics, sandbank lunches and private lantern-lit shore dinners
• Fresh baking, tropical fruit platters and seasonal seafood

Share dietary preferences and any allergies with us in advance so the galley can provision the trip accordingly.

Drinks and bar service on Si Datu Bua

Soft drinks, juices, tea, coffee and bottled water flow throughout the day. In line with sister-ship Silolona, local beers and a nightly allowance of local wine are included in the private-charter rate; imported wines, champagnes and premium spirits are pre-ordered à la carte from the onboard cellar list.

• Bottled water, soft drinks, juices, tea and coffee — included
• Local beers included in the charter rate
• Local wine allowance per boat per night included
• Imported wines, champagnes and premium spirits charged à la carte
• Sundowners on the fore deck at anchor

Send your preferred wines, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks in advance so the trip leader can provision to your taste.

Equipment and water toys on board Si Datu Bua

Diving and snorkelling

• Official PADI dive centre onboard with a PADI dive instructor
• Full ScubaPro dive equipment — BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, masks, snorkels, fins, tanks
• Two Bauer dive compressors plus one Nitrox dive compressor
• Snorkelling gear for every guest
• Certification courses can be arranged onboard with advance notice

Water toys and leisure

• Wakeboard and water-ski
• Sea kayaks
• Snorkelling kit for every guest
• Sport fishing gear
• Kid-friendly water sports setup

Tenders

• 2 × 5.5 m RIB with 100 hp outboards — dive tender and exploration / beach-landing tender

Comfort and entertainment

• Fully air-conditioned interiors and main-deck lounge (2 × Siam Cooling marine chilled-water systems)
• Multimedia centre on the main deck
• Shaded alfresco dining and lounge on the fore deck
• Aft-deck lounge for sunset and post-dive relaxation
• Starlink maritime internet at sea
• Twin CAT desalinators (10,000 L / day) and 7,000 L fresh-water capacity

Safety equipment

• Built by Konjo boat builders to a Seery Yacht Design in Borneo ironwood
• 2 × 20-person inflatable life rafts, EPIRB and smoke/fire safety systems
• Onboard first-aid kit and safety briefings on embarkation
• PADI-certified dive team responsible for in-water safety
• Experienced 15-strong permanent Indonesian crew

Navigation

• Length overall 39.9 m / 130.9 ft; length on deck 27.74 m / 91 ft
• Beam 8.65 m / 28.4 ft; draft 3.36 m / 11 ft; gross tonnage 173 GT
• Ironwood hull (kayu ulin) built by Konjo boat builders to a Seery Yacht Design (launched July 2012)
• Two-masted gaff rig — 426 m² sail area (586 m² with flying jib and fisherman)
• Yanmar 6HYM-ETE 500 HP main engine; cruising speed 10 knots
• Fuel 15,800 L; generators 2 × Cummins Onan 40 kW + 1 × John Deere Energia 40 kW
• Furuno MFD GPS chart plotter, radar, depth sounder and AIS; VHF and SSB
• Registry: Bali, Indonesia

Crew and service on Si Datu Bua

Si Datu Bua sails with a permanent 15-strong Indonesian crew — the same operating standard as Silolona, simply scaled to a six-guest yacht. A dedicated trip leader is the guests' single point of contact throughout the charter, working with the captain and PADI dive instructor to shape each day.

• Trip Leader — Onboard host: Coordinates the entire experience — routing, activities, dietary requests and shore-side logistics day by day.
• Captain — Indonesian master: Career phinisi captain with intimate knowledge of Raja Ampat, Komodo, the Banda Sea and the Spice Islands.
• PADI Dive Instructor — Head of Diving: Runs the onboard PADI dive centre, dive briefings and in-water safety; certification courses on request.
• Chef & Galley Team — International/Asian galley: Menus blending Indonesian and Western cuisine, adapted to each group's preferences and dietary needs.
• Service & Cabin Team — Housekeeping and F&B: Cabin service, laundry, bar and dining service across the main deck and fore deck.
• Deck & Engineering — Deck team: Sail handling, tender operations, anchoring and mechanical care of the ironwood hull and gaff rig.

Activities on board Si Datu Bua

Every Si Datu Bua voyage is fully customised around guests and conditions — a rolling mix of diving, snorkelling, cultural encounters, hikes and quiet sailing days. The trip leader shapes the daily programme with the captain and PADI dive instructor.

• Scuba diving with the onboard PADI team across Raja Ampat, Komodo, the Banda Sea and beyond
• Snorkelling on shallow reefs and mangrove edges
• Kayaking through lagoons, mangroves and hidden bays
• Wakeboarding and water-ski behind the tender
• Fishing sessions with the crew
• Cultural visits to remote villages along the Spice Route
• Beach landings, sandbank picnics and lantern-lit shore dinners
• Sailing days under the gaff rig when winds allow

Before you board Si Datu Bua

What to bring

• Swimwear, rash guard and light cover-ups
• Breathable daywear (cotton and linen) and resort wear for dinners
• Sneakers or trail sandals for island hikes; flip-flops onboard
• Sun hat, polarised sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen
• Personal medication and seasickness medication
• Camera, GoPro and chargers with a universal adapter
• Passport valid 6+ months and any required visas
• Personal travel and dive insurance

Already on board

• Beach and bath towels, linens and sarongs
• Full ScubaPro dive kit and snorkelling gear
• Wakeboard, water-ski, kayaks and fishing gear
• Onboard first-aid kit

Crew gratuities

Gratuities for the crew are discretionary and appreciated — 5–10% of the charter fee is a common guideline, handed to the captain or trip leader for distribution.