WAOW Liveaboard a Total Loss

Michel and Julia Deville, the Swiss owners of WAOW, wanted the finest liveaboard that money could buy. It was a beautiful vessel. However, boats are at the mercy of the elements, and the night of January 31, it dragged anchor during a violent storm near Manokwari, on the northeast side of the Bird's Head peninsula, in Indonesia's West Papua. During hasty attempts to start the engine, an electrical short caused an engine-room fire that quickly spread through this wooden vessel, fully destroying it. All divers and crew are safe.