La Galigo was built by traditional Southern Sulawesi craftsmen in Bira in 2012. She is a traditional two mast style sailboat, which the local tribes of Bugis heritage refer to as a ‘Phinisi’. The Bugis are thought to have been inspired by old Dutch Clipper sailing vessels which may have been deserted during the days of Dutch exploration, and with an abundance of tropical hard woods in their land, have been producing these types of boats for hundreds of years. The hull of La Galigo has been constructed from what is known locally as ‘Kayu Besi’ which translates as ‘Iron Wood’. All interiors and the remainder of the vessel have been thoughtfully finished in tropical teak, with a combined weight of over 169 gross tons.

La Galigo was designed and project managed by an avid liveaboard diver with comforts and practicality in mind, and to this day, we are one of the only wooden liveaboards with a dedicated dive platform located at the rear of the vessel. Motor and generator noise have been engineered out by isolating the engine room away from rooms with thick soundproofing, which even though not silent, makes for a better night’s sleep. All cabins are fitted with en-suite facilities and are filled with plentiful natural light and spectacular views of the passing seas and islands.