Crossing the Wallace Line Expedition 2026

10–21 August 2026 | Aboard boutique liveaboard MV GAIA LOVE | 11 ensuite cabins
From USD $6,680 (Lower Deck OG Members)

"A dive voyage through evolution — where two worlds collide beneath the sea."

Reserve Your Place

Two realms. One invisible frontier. A signature Ocean Geographic expedition across the Wallace Line.

---

• Duration: 11 nights / 12 days
• Location: Central Sulawesi ? Makassar Strait ? Derawan Archipelago ? Tarakan (Borneo)
• Expedition Days: Up to 4 dives/day (incl. night + blackwater)
• Max Guests: 11 cabins (small-ship expedition)

Join Ocean Geographic on a once-in-a-lifetime expedition that retraces the insights of Alfred Russel Wallace — the naturalist who recognised that Indonesia is split by a profound biological boundary. This is not just a voyage across a map; it is a passage through deep time, where evolution wrote two different stories on either side of the same sea.

Over 11 nights and 12 days, we cross the Equator and the invisible frontier known as the Wallace Line — where Asian and Australasian realms meet in a spectacular collision of currents, geology, and life. Expect remote reefs, dramatic walls, schooling fish, sharks, manta action, turtles, and nights of blackwater diving where the ocean’s “alien nursery” rises from the deep.

This is not just a dive trip. It’s a voyage through evolution.

We embark in Palu (Central Sulawesi) and travel north through the nutrient-rich Makassar Strait, crossing the Equator en route to Tarakan (Borneo). Along the way we follow the powerful Indonesian Throughflow — a major current that moves warm Pacific waters through Indonesia toward the Indian Ocean, shaping coral growth, marine biomass, and even wider climate systems. We dive seldom-visited reefs on both sides of the Wallace Line: coral gardens like underwater cathedrals and walls that plunge into pelagic blue.

A high-intensity expedition designed for confident divers and committed ocean explorers. Daily briefings, naturalist interpretation, and photography/storytelling mentorship are integrated into the rhythm of the voyage.

• Up to 4 dives/day including night + blackwater
• Small groups by experience level
• Photo/naturalist presentations onboard
• Remote sites chosen for conditions + wildlife

• Western Sulawesi: virgin reefs, sharks, pelagics
• Equator crossing + blackwater diving (larvae, drifters, deep-sea surprises)
• Derawan: turtles and thriving seagrass meadows
• Sangalaki: manta feeding frenzies
• Maratua: barracuda tornadoes, mantas, occasional threshers
• Kakaban: jellyfish lake + the mystique of an inland sea

MV GAIA LOVE is a luxury steel-hull liveaboard built for comfort and serious dive operations. With only 11 ensuite cabins (6 upper deck / 5 lower deck), it offers the space, stability, and service level that transforms a dive trip into an expedition.

Spacious ~20m² cabins, panoramic lounges and sun decks, strong safety systems for remote routes, and cuisine spanning Indonesian, Chinese, and international favourites. Special diets catered on request — and yes, the roast dinners and chocolate desserts have a reputation.

• 10 Aug – Arrive / embark Palu, Central Sulawesi
• 11–13 Aug – Western Sulawesi reefs (remote coral systems)
• 14 Aug – Equator crossing celebration
• 14–15 Aug – Blackwater + night diving sessions
• 16–20 Aug – Derawan Archipelago (Sangalaki, Derawan, Maratua, Kakaban, Samama)
• 21 Aug – Disembark Tarakan (Borneo) and onward travel

Dates: 10–21 August 2026 (11 nights / 12 days)

Embarkation: Palu, Central Sulawesi — Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie Airport (PLW)
Arrive on 10 August 2026 before 1:00 PM

Disembarkation: Tarakan, North Kalimantan — Juwata International Airport (TRK)
Please organise domestic departure flights after 8:00 AM on 21 August 2026
Group Size: 11 ensuite cabins (small ship)
Price: Upper Deck: USD $7,680 (Public) / $7,280 (OG Premier & Life) | Lower Deck: $7,180 (Public) / $6,680 (OG Premier & Life)
Deposit: USD $2,500 (balance due 1 May 2026)
Single Supplement: Subject to cabin availability (enquire)

Included:

• 11 nights twin-share aboard MV GAIA LOVE
• All meals + soft drinks
• Nitrox
• All dives, guides, tenders + blackwater dives
• Ocean Geographic expedition pack + reef interpretation briefings
• Photography & storytelling mentorship by OG Fellows

Not Included:

• International flights
• Domestic transfers pre/post embarkation
• Fuel surcharge + park fees (if applicable)
• Dive gear rental
• Travel insurance
• Alcoholic beverages
• Single supplement (if requested)

Download Wallace Line 2026 Brochure

To express interest or if you need further information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you are ready to book (new clients):

CLICK HERE to book your cabin

Important: Booking is confirmed only upon receipt of deposit. Payment details will be provided after booking submission.
TourCMS booking login credentials are separate from your Ocean Geographic membership login.

Existing trip clients (returning guests): To avoid creating a duplicate client profile, please email us first and we will book you using your existing Ocean Geographic trip details.

EXISTING clients from previous trips – CLICK HERE