In Raja Ampat, dawn comes quietly to Indo Master, a diving liveaboard in Indonesia that wakes long before most guests have opened an eye. The sea lies glassy and still, the air thick with salt and the smell of fresh coffee drifting from the galley. Below deck, the soft hum of the genset rises as the ship stirs to life. On the dive deck, Guislain Pennaneac’h, Cruise Director and Dive Guide, moves with quiet precision. He is checking tanks, adjusting gear, and scanning the horizon for the first blush of light over Waigeo.
For ten years, these moments have marked the start of his day aboard our diving liveaboard in Raja Ampat, Indonesia’s “Crown Jewel” and the place he now calls home. Around him, the crew move in rhythm: the chefs preparing early breakfast, the hosts setting tables, the tender drivers readying their RIBs. Every movement is practiced, purposeful, and calm.
Step into the world of Raja Ampat through the eyes of Guislain Pennaneac’h, a Master Liveaboards dive guide and cruise director with fifteen years of experience exploring the region’s vibrant reefs. This profile offers an inside look at life onboard Indo Master, encounters with manta rays and pygmy seahorses, and reflections on how diving — and Raja Ampat itself — has evolved over the past decade and a half.
A Life Shaped by the Sea
This is Guislain’s world: a life shaped by the sea, by thousands of dives, and by the camaraderie that binds the crew together. For him, Raja Ampat isn’t just a destination. It’s a living classroom, a playground, and a home all at once.
At Master Liveaboards, this spirit runs deep. The reefs may draw the divers, but it’s the crew with their knowledge, laughter, and care, who transform every voyage aboard a Raja Ampat liveaboard into something unforgettable.
Ready to dive the world’s most biodiverse reefs with guides who know every current and coral garden? Check out the Raja Ampat Master itinerary and start planning your underwater adventure today.
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When guests step aboard Indo Master, they’re greeted by Guislain’s calm, wry humour and unmistakable French accent. His mornings begin before sunrise with a quiet coffee on deck while the sky blushes pink over Waigeo. “The day starts early,” he says, smiling. “The crew are up by five. By six, the guests are ready for the first dive briefing and the sea is waiting.“
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Meet The Guide
Ask anyone aboard this Raja Ampat liveaboard, and they’ll tell you: Guislain knows these reefs like old friends.
Originally from France, Guislain’s diving story began in 2004 at a summer camp, but it was Indonesia that truly captured his heart.
He first came to the archipelago in 2013, intending to complete a short Divemaster internship. Instead, he fell headlong into a new life underwater. “I was meant to stay three months,” he laughs, “but I never really left.” Within two years, he was guiding in Komodo and soon after, his seasons began to flow with the rhythm of Indonesia itself: six months in Komodo’s swirling currents, and six months amid the coral gardens of Raja Ampat.
Now, after a decade of guiding, Guislain splits his year between two of the world’s most extraordinary marine regions, bringing guests face-to-face with the wonders that first captured his own heart.
Life Beneath the Surface
For Guislain, life beneath the surface is where everything slows down and comes into focus. “You can have a stressful morning. But once you drop below the surface, it’s quiet, it’s peace,” he says. It’s that feeling that first drew him to diving more than twenty years ago in France, and it’s what’s kept him underwater ever since.
After thousands of dives, the magic of Raja Ampat hasn’t faded. “It’s impossible to pick one favourite site,” he admits. “There are more than a hundred. But Melissa’s Garden, that one always takes my breath away. The coral there is almost perfect, like a painting.” Another beloved spot lies in the area of Misool: a dramatic channel dive that begins inside a cavern filled with bats and leads to caverns, currents, and explosions of reef life. “It’s like diving through a dream,” he says.
He still talks with childlike excitement when recalling one unforgettable dive at Antichovy Seamount, where a spawning event turned into an underwater spectacle. “There were silversides everywhere. And suddenly, mobulas, tunas, trevallies, all hunting together. Mantas were swooping in from the blue. We stayed down 80 minutes, we couldn’t leave!”
It’s moments like these that remind him why this work matters. Aboard the liveaboard Indo Master in Raja Ampat, every dive is an opportunity to share something deeper than just marine life,it’s about connection. “I try to help guests really see the reef,” he explains. “Not just look for big animals, but notice the small ones, the patterns, the balance. Once people fall in love with that, they naturally want to protect it.”
Guiding Through Change
Ten years of diving have given Guislain a front-row seat to the ocean’s transformations, both the heartbreak and the hope. “You see changes year after year,” he says quietly. “Some reefs struggle, others recover. But Raja Ampat is still one of the healthiest places left. It gives you hope that protection really works.”
He credits the region’s marine park system, the dedication of local rangers, and the respect shown by visiting liveaboards. “The best thing we can do is dive responsibly. Having good buoyancy, no touching, no chasing. Small actions matter,” he says. “Every guest who learns that here becomes part of the solution.”
Aboard this Raja Ampat liveaboard, that philosophy runs deep. From reef-safe products and reduced single-use plastics to educating guests about local conservation projects, Indo Master’s team believes that protecting the sea is part of the job description. “We’re here to share something beautiful,” Guislain adds, “but we also have to make sure it stays beautiful.”
For him, the real success isn’t measured in sightings or photographs. It’s in the spark of awareness that guests take home. “When someone tells me they’ve started using less plastic or they’ve joined a reef clean-up after their trip, that’s the reward. That’s when I know the ocean has spoken to them.”
Life Onboard Indo Master
Aboard Indo Master, the days follow a steady rhythm with four dives a day, laughter between briefings, and meals shared like family. The 20-person crew and 18 guests create a balance that feels intimate and welcoming. “It’s a floating community,” Guislain explains. “We work hard, but we enjoy every moment, especially the sunsets.”
Evenings end with him addressing the guests with the following day’s plan, the currents ahead, maybe a camera tip or two. Then, as the lights fade, the ocean whispers softly beneath the hull.
Ready to experience it for yourself? Explore Indo Master itinerary and meet the crew who make every voyage extraordinary.
Crew, Sea & Guests
As the sun dips below the horizon, the hum of the boat softens, and the day’s last dive logs are signed with salt-crusted smiles. For Guislain, this is the moment that captures what it all means: the laughter around the dinner table, the quiet satisfaction of a day well spent, the bond between people who only met a week ago but now share a rhythm shaped by the sea.
“A liveaboard is like a small village,” he says. “Everyone has a role, and everyone depends on each other. The guests feel it too, that sense of belonging. It’s not just about diving; it’s about being part of something bigger.”
That spirit defines every journey aboard a Raja Ampat liveaboard like Indo Master. It’s the crew who rise before dawn, the guides who read the tides, and the guests who come as strangers and leave as friends. They are all connected by the ocean that sustains them.
For Guislain, it’s simple.
“If you love the sea, you protect it. That’s what we’re all here for.”
When you’re ready to dive the world’s most biodiverse reefs and with a crew who know them like family, Indo Master is waiting. Learn more about Raja Ampat and plan your adventure today.
FAQs
You’ll need at least an Advanced Open Water certification (or equivalent). Guides adjust dives to each guest’s experience level, ensuring comfort and safety.
Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, Raja Ampat is home to over 1,400 fish species and 500 types of coral. It holds one of the most biodiverse reefs on Earth.
October to April offers calm seas and peak visibility, perfect conditions for exploring the reefs.
All guides are certified professionals with deep local knowledge and a shared passion for protecting the reefs, led by experienced guides like Guislain.
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