Experience untouched wildlife with exclusive tailored itineraries in the Ocean’s most biodiverse destinations
In celebration of World Ocean Day, Aqua Expeditions, a recognized global leader in luxury small-ship expeditions, shines a spotlight on its coastal super yachts, Aqua Mare and Aqua Blue. These remarkable vessels explore some of the world’s most biodiverse and culturally significant destinations within three marine biosphere reserves: The Galapagos, Komodo National Park, and Raja Ampat Marine Park. Operating in these biodiverse marine habitats, Aqua is committed to marine conservation for the sustainable future of our oceans, actively participating in ocean clean-ups and conservation projects.
With World Ocean Day serving as a timely reminder to protect our oceans and their abundant wildlife, Aqua Expeditions takes pride in its partnership with the Indonesian Waste Platform (IWP). Regular beach clean-ups across Komodo National Park have resulted in the collection of 340kg of waste over two days, predominantly consisting of single-use plastics that harm the ocean and endanger the Komodo Dragons. In addition to banning all single use plastics onboard all vessels, Aqua has also teamed up IWP to optimize its onboard waste management practices to ensure responsible treatment of all refuse. Furthermore, Aqua works closely with the Manta Trust to support their conservation efforts in safeguarding the future healthy population of manta rays in Indonesia. Aqua Blu guides have been trained to educate guests onboard about these majestic creatures and the ongoing threats they face. They also present guests guidelines on how to snorkel and interact with mantas, ensuring sustainable tourism of mantas.
In addition to their care for the environment, guests onboard Aqua can expect tailored five-star itineraries, a highly exclusive 1:1 crew to-guest ratio, personalized service and world-class dining. Intimate encounters with rare wildlife, from penguins and giant tortoises in The Galapagos to whale sharks and Komodo dragons in East Indonesia will be experienced in small expert-guided groups aboard one of Aqua’s two ultra-luxurious ocean explorer yachts, Aqua Mare and Aqua Blu — a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience.
Aqua Mare: Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
As the first true superyacht in the Galapagos Islands, the 50m Aqua Mare takes an iconic once-in-a-lifetime bucket-list adventures to the next level. The ship boasts seven elegantly designed suites that serve as the perfect respite after active days exploring remote landscapes and endemic wildlife of the Archipelago. Aqua Mare’s 16 crew including two naturalist guides ensure an exceptional one-on-one bespoke service to experience the wild and magnificent Enchanted Islands.
During the expedition, guests can expect to see a vast variety of rare wildlife including flamingos, blue-footed boobies, marine and land iguanas, giant tortoises, and Darwin’s finches among the coastal vegetation, mangroves, and saltbushes. Through various snorkelling or diving excursions, guests will get up close with sea turtles, penguins, bottlenose dolphins, reef sharks, colourful fish, rays and pristine coral. Specially curated hikes will lead to viewings of fur seals resting inside rock crevices, red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, Galapagos storm petrels and even Galapagos Rails or a vermilion flycatcher if lucky!
Aqua Blu: Indonesia – Komodo National Park, Spice Islands, Raja Ampat
The 60m Aqua Blu is the first ever long-range ocean explorer yacht permanently based in East Indonesia with 15 individually designed suites and refined amenities for guests to enjoy in-between their wildlife expeditions. Led by highly experienced crew and guides, guests will explore the world’s most biodiverse marine habitats, embark on adventurous hikes across active volcanos, and immerse in centuries-old history in small groups. Aqua Blu’s heritage as a celebrated former British Naval Explorer sets the stage for unforgettable adventures in one of the most striking parts of the world.
Onboard Aqua Blu in The Spice Islands and Raja Ampat, guests can expect to see fish-hunting birds, sea snakes, hammerhead and reef sharks, the Southeast Asian cousin of the American manatee – the dugon, and catch sight of saltwater crocodiles, hawksbill turtles and hornbills in the mangroves. The itinerary also includes a snorkel or dive at Cape Kri – a dive site which holds the world record for most species spotted in a single 90- minute dive.
In addition, Aqua Blu also ventures to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Komodo National Park, a natural wonder that comprises of three main islands, and 26 islets, giving guests the magical chance to swim with whale sharks, observe fruit bat colonies, manta rays and much more. The islands are known for their magnetic pull to travellers who seek tremendous wildlife and adventure, due to their outstanding beauty and prehistoric inhabitant – the Komodo Dragon. Guests can disembark Aqua Blu onto several of these islands, with an expert guide to encounter the largest lizard species walking the earth and experience wildlife like never before.
ENDS
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About Aqua Expeditions
A recognized global leader in luxury small ship expeditions, Aqua Expeditions explores the world’s most biodiverse and culturally significant destinations aboard best-in-class vessels of stylish contemporary design. Venturing into unspoiled sanctuaries to witness the beauty of nature and wildlife, Aqua Expeditions sails to remote destinations with minimized human interaction, secluded from crowds. Expect tailored five- star itineraries, a highly exclusive 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio with personalized service, acclaimed cuisine by world-renowned chefs, and small group expert-guided adventure activities and excursions for all ages, with a maximum of 16-40 guests per ship. Aqua Expeditions currently operates river explorations on the Amazon(Peru), the Mekong (Cambodia and Vietnam), and coastal yacht voyages to Komodo National Park, Ambon and the Spice Islands, as well asRaja Ampat (East Indonesia), with our latest superyacht sailing the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) from June 2022.