MERMAID II

(12 customer reviews)

33m / 109ft MAX 18 NITROX PADI

PRICE PER DAY FROM USD 400

LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE SPECIAL OFFERS APPLY

At a glance:

Visits Komodo, Raja Ampat, Banda and Alor
Komodo cruises use port in Bali
Cabins with en-suite private bathrooms
2 saloons on board
Steel hulled boat

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TRIP REPORT

This liveaboard is a powerful 33 metre steel hulled motor vessel, so it can get you to and from all the dive sites around the Komodo National Park in next to no time. An additional generator and fuel tanks give added confidence that MV Mermaid II can keep operating cruises without technical interruption.

The Mermaid II is a very spacious boat and can easily accommodate up to 18 divers. Unlike many of the other Bali liveaboards, the majority of cabins are above the lower deck so you can drink in the beautiful island views through your large cabin windows.

Mermaid II gives you the option of enriched air nitrox. If you're not already a nitrox diver, the PADI Nitrox specialty course can be completed on board, along with other PADI specialty courses e.g. Underwater Photographer. There is a computer available for digital photo downloads and you can burn your memories on to CD.

The kit up area and the dive platform both have plenty of storage space and there are separate rinse tanks for your camera equipment and dive gear. 2 fast and convenient dinghies make the diving in Komodo and Raja Ampat easy for you.

There are 2 saloons on board, 1 on the main deck and 1 on the upper deck. Food is served in the main deck saloon, and between meals there are plenty of snacks for you to enjoy including cookies, cereals and yoghurt. All the entertainment facilities are in the upper deck saloon where you can enjoy the TV, Ipad player and music system. There are plenty of movies to choose from or you can browse through the multi-lingual library of books and magazines. Being on the upper deck means the cooling sea breezes waft over you making this a great place to hang out in the evenings.

During the daytime if you want to catch some rays, there is a large open area with sun loungers in front of the wheelhouse where the bronzed bodies tend to congregate.

During the Komodo season, there are also some trips including Alor and Flores. In March and April, the Mermaid II operates in Raja Ampat.

On the main deck are 8 twin and double Deluxe cabins which all have en-suite private bathrooms and large sea-view windows. There are 2 Budget cabins (one of these is used for private charter only) with twin bunk beds on the lower deck which have shared bathrooms and can be a bit noisy.

All the cabins have:

Air conditioning
Large seaview window (except lower deck)
Toilet and hot water shower - unlimited showering (except budget cabins)
Daily housekeeping

Bedding and towels
Hand basin and mirror
Wardrobe with life jackets
2-prong socket mains outlet 380 Volts, 220 Volts & 12 Volts, 24 hours per day

No. of bathrooms / showers - 9 / 9 - hot water

Raja Ampat National Park (9 Days / 8 Nights - 25 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, wall diving

Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat - Misool: Balbulol, Sagof, Wagmab, Farondi, Wayilbatan, Warakaraket, Fiabacet, Yillet, Kalig and Pele Islands; Strait of Dampier: Penemu, Yanggefo, Kawe,Arborek and Sawanderek. Climb to viewpoint.

Day 1
You will be collected from Sorong Airport or your city hotel and taken to the harbour where you will soon notice the beautiful Mermaid 2 liveaboard. Its crew will welcome you on board and give you a boat and safety briefing. You can then spend the rest of the day as you like while they get ready for the overnight trip to Misool. Here the diving will start the next day. A sunset dinner will take place on the main deck on the first evening.

Core Days
Welcome to Raja Ampat, a diver's paradise, where you will enjoy 3 daily dives and a night dive for most of the days of your safari. Experience a great variety of environments such as deep dives around pinnacles surrounded by schools of fish, walls covered with soft corals and gorgonian fans that are home to nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses, mantas hanging out at cleaning stations, bigeye trevally, wobbegongs, crocodilefish, and an endless list of other underwater possibilities. On night dives you will discover nocturnal critters, mainly crustaceans like lobsters, crabs and shrimps.
Please note that there will be only 2 dives in the Dampier Strait on the last full day of the safari; then Mermaid starts its cruise back to port.

Day 9
You will be transferred to Sorong Airport, after breakfast and farewells.

Raja Ampat, Lembeh & Halmahera (12 Days / 11 Nights - 32 Dives)

Trip highlights: shark action, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, wall diving

Dive sites and activities: Raja Ampat: Dampier Strait: Cape Kri, Yanggefo, Gam; Misool: Fabiacet, Farondi, Boo; Pulau Pisang, Strait on Pantinti, Procco, Halmahera: Goraichi islands; Pulau Tifore; Lembeh Strait

Day 1
You will be collected from Sorong Airport or your city hotel and taken to the harbour where you will soon notice the beautiful Mermaid 2 liveaboard. Its crew will welcome you on board, give you a boat and safety briefing, then you can spend the rest of the day as you like while they get ready for the overnight trip to Misool where diving will start on the next day. A sunset dinner will take place on the main deck.

Core Days
Welcome to Raja Ampat, a diver's paradise, where you will enjoy 3 daily dives and a night dive for most of the days of your safari. Experience a great variety of environments such as deep dives around pinnacles surrounded by schools of fish, walls covered with soft corals and gorgonian fans that are home to nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses, mantas hanging out at cleaning stations, bigeye trevallies, wobbegongs, crocodilefish, and an endless list of other underwater possibilities. On night dives you will discover nocturnal critters, mainly crustaceans like lobsters, crabs and shrimps.
The marine biodiversity at Halmahera is also exceptional and its pristine coral reefs offer exceptional conditions for scuba diving and snorkeling; it is a secret gem with so much still to be discovered. You will have the chance to do some wreck diving and experience some of the best coral gardens that Indonesia has to offer. Dive sites range from ridges, pinnacles, caverns, swim-throughs, muck and ancient volcanoes, creating a diversity of diving and coral habitats. Schooling reef fish such as spadefish and surgeonfish, and bait balls attract numerous hunters, tunas, and mackerel and you can also search under the docks at Makian and Lilai for critters. Other encounters can include hammerheads, barracuda, oceanic whitetip sharks, mantas, mobulas, bumphead parrotfish, trevallies, Napoleon wrasse, bonitos and wahoo.
No place on the planet gives you the chance to see more shy critters the Lembeh Strait, such as the mimic octopus, flamboyant cuttlefish, harlequin shrimps, skeleton shrimps, seahorses, frogfish and innumerable nudibranchs. Day after day you will want to extend your bottom time!
Please note that there will be only 2 dives on the last full day of the safari; then Mermaid starts its cruise to the port in Lembeh.

Day 12
You will be transferred to Manado airport, after breakfast and farewells.
Please note that the trip sometimes runs in reverse or has differing ports - check above for details.

[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

Crew comprises:

Tour leader
3 Divemasters
Captain
Cook

Engineer
Cleaner
2 Deck hands and dinghy drivers

Enriched Air Nitrox system - 2 Motorised dinghies - 24m² dive deck - Air-conditioned saloon with video & music system - Internet (subject to location) - Photo CD burning - 60 m² sundeck with sun loungers - Water dispenser

PADI scuba certification courses available including Advanced Open Water Diver, EANx and Underwater Photographer.

Your liveaboard diving activities are fueled by 4 delicious daily meals, served in the main deck dining room. The day begins with a 6-6:30 am wake-up call and continental breakfast, followed by the first dive at 7-7:30 am. After surfacing, enjoy a full breakfast before Dive 2 at 10:30 am. Lunch is served at 12:30 pm, with Dive 3 at 2:30 pm. Refresh with afternoon tea at 4:30 pm before an optional 6:30 pm night dive, then unwind over dinner at 8 pm.

The Mermaid II chefs craft flavourful Asian-Western fusion buffets using fresh local ingredients and spices. The airy dining area features comfortable lounges, panoramic windows, and a well-stocked bar fridge. Enjoy complimentary beverages including fresh-brewed coffee, teas, hot chocolate, juices, and soft drinks throughout the day, along with snacks. Wine lovers can choose from Australian, Chilean and New Zealand selections, or opt for local beers. Most dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

Built in year 2000
Size - 33m x 7m
Top speed - 12 knots
Cruising speed - 9.5 knots
2 x 450 HP Hino V10 engines
2 x 150KVA Hino generators

3 x Bauer Mariner dive tank compressors
12 and 15 litre aluminium tanks with international fittings. DIN adapters available
Electricity 380V, 220V & 12V - 24 hours per day
Water capacity - 20,000 litres
Fuel capacity - 18,000 litres

2 Life rafts
2 Motorised dinghies
VHF & SSB radio
Global positioning system (GPS)
Radar
Echo sounder

Sonic altimeter
Mobile telephone
Full-feature medic first aid box
Oxygen - 20,000 litres
Life jackets in each cabin
Fire extinguishers throughout

"Very good facilities and dive setup. Informative briefings. Cheery team. The entire team worked together to efficiently get us on and off the dinghies. Food was great. I appreciated how they accommodated the different styles of divers and diver preferences.
Dive The World was helpful and informative service. I keep coming back " - Su-Hsien Kuan, Australia, 3 October 2024 ...

"Amazing service, top dive guides, top crew, very good food, comfortable boat. Dive The World is always fast to reply and help, Easy communication. " - Paulina Mydlowska, Germany, 31 December 2023 ...

"Great comfortable boat, clean, very good food, amazing attention, safety." - Paulina Mydlowska, Germany, 9 September 2022 ...

"Never had such lovely time diving and cruise service. I'll really recommend this trip and company to friends and family. Many thanks for Vic's help to book and choose our best option for diving vacations. Looking forward to my next trip to Raja Ampat with the Mermaid's crew and amazing dives." - Ruth Halpern, Brazil, 24 July 2022 ...

"Excellence all around: food, service, dive guides. The best live aboard we have ever been on!!" - Giovanna Carraro, UK, 30 July 2017 ...

"Excellent dive staff and crew! The boat was comfortable and good for the price. Equipment was fine, not the newest but all worked fine. Hot water showers were bit of an issue towards the end of the trip. All in all, a brilliant and memorable trip!" - Jo Nhan, UK, 21 October 2016 ...

"Excellent, friendly and helpful staff. Very knowledgable. Clean and tidy boat. Good equipment." - Georgina Cheng, Australia, 24 May 2016 ...

"Excellent boat staff and divemasters. Great food. Clean and well appointed diveboat , very well managed. There was an initial aircon problem in the cabins which they fixed after a couple of days despite the logistical difficulty of obtaining necessary spares while we were on the move between Maumere and Komodo" - James Fanning, UK, 16 May 2016 ...

"Everything is excellent and specially tour guide, dive masters and staffs are number one in my liveaboard experience. Tour gide and his staffs are very expert and had working too. Make me very comfortable and safe care. It was great experience." - Myung Won Hwang, South Korea, 2 June 2014 ...

"The operator was wery professional. All the dive gear was marked with a number so it didn't get mixed up whit others. The staff was professional and friendly. The food was good and the briefings were good and clear. There was a lot of space on the boat. We had hot showers." - Jens Peter Nielsen, Denmark, 6 September 2013 ...

"Everyone was friendly and seemed pleased to have us onboard. Rented BCD and regulator from them and these were in good condition. Dives were fantastic and didn't feel crowded even when there were 18 people in the water." - Pete Cairns, South Africa, 6 August 2013 ...

"The operator was very good. The boat was a traditional diving vessel but had a nice touch of luxury. The crew tried there best to make sure we had everything we needed. Am thinking about looking at the ship for a future trip to Raja Ampat, just to show how much I enjoyed. I would recommend this to all my friends, but the only draw back is the price. It is a bit on the high side." - Oscar Prat, USA, 11 June 2012 ...

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

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Notes: children aged 8 years and older are welcome on Mermaid liveaboards. Child 8-9 years - 50% discount when sharing a cabin with 2 parents. Child 10+ years - pays full rate. Parents/guardians have to be with the child at all times. Child supervision can be arranged with one month's notice.

Dive experience: All levels of certified divers and non-divers are welcome on board these Indonesian liveaboard safaris.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, land tours on Komodo trips, transfers to the boat from airport and south Bali hotels, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) (max 4 divers per DM), 12 and 15 litre tanks, weights and weightbelts, torch, surface marker device, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment rental (USD 47 per day), dive computer (USD 12 per day), port and park fees: 2025 (Komodo USD 296; others USD 325), diving insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival with 11% VAT (cash - EUR, USD, IDR and credit cards - Visa and Master cards only).

Optional extras: Alcoholic beverages, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (USD 7 per tank, packages available), underwater camera. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival with 11% VAT (cash - EUR, USD, IDR and credit cards - Visa and Master cards only). Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: For all routes, guests are recommended to arrive 1 day prior to the cruise start for all trips other than those commencing from Bali. There is a return transfer service between the local airport and hotels and the boat.
Komodo: Mermaid II departs in the late afternoon from Benoa Harbour in Bali. The meeting point before the cruise is Akaya Bali Resort in Jln Dana Tamblingan, Sanur. Mermaid guests may use the facilities free of charge on the day of departure and disembarkation. There is a minibus transfer service from the airport and all hotels in southern Bali. Boarding: 1-3 pm.
Raja Ampat: The liveaboard departs in the late afternoon from Sorong in West Papua. You can fly directly to Sorong from Jakarta, Ujung Pandang (Makassar) and Manado. From Bali there are convenient connections via Ujung Pandang (Makassar) and Manado. We will help you arrange return domestic flights between Bali or Jakarta and Sorong. Boarding: 7 am-2 pm.
Ambon/Banda: Fly direct to Ambon from Jakarta (or from Sorong or Surabaya). Boarding: 10 am-12 noon.
Flores: Fly direct to the port of Maumere (direct from Bali, or via Makassar from Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur). Boarding: 12 noon-2 pm
For more details, including airlines, see our travel information section. Flight reservation assistance is available. The last dive of the trip will be at around 12 noon on the second last day of the trip. Check-out is at 8-8:30 am. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.

Non-diver rate: There is no discount for non divers.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin (same sex cabin sharing not guaranteed) or pay a supplement of 90% of the published price for their own cabin.

Dive clubs and group discounts: Please contact us for details.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 18 guests and 2 additional persons can join the cruise in a Budget cabin free of charge (total 20 guests).

Click to view product. Special discounted trips highlighted in yellow

Amira

From USD 368 per day

Customer rating: Excellent!

LIVEABOARD SEARCH

MERMAID II

Raja Ampat National Park (9 Days / 8 Nights - 25 Dives)

Raja Ampat, Lembeh & Halmahera (12 Days / 11 Nights - 32 Dives)

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

MORE TRIP DETAILS