M/V Mermaid I

Mermaid liveaboard Indonesia

Komodo, Maumere, Banda Sea, Raja Ampat, Lembeh (9-15 nights) | From $356++/night

about the Mermaid I

The Mermaid I liveaboard places divers in a unique and visually stunning habitat while maintaining an emphasis on comfort and customer service

Locations

Dive Overview

Indonesia is a scuba diving gem, featuring volcanic geography, wrecks, and vibrant marine life. The Mermaid offers knowledgeable staff and top-notch equipment to make every dive special.

[See: Lembeh Dive Travel Guide, Raja Ampat Dive Travel Guide & Komodo Dive Travel Guide]

Check Out This Awesome Video!

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Accommodations

Types of Cabins, Amenities and Photos

M/V Mermaid I Cabin Details

She comfortably holds 15 guests in 1 Master State Room (king size bed), 1 Single and 4 Deluxe Cabins (double or twin beds) and 2 Budget Cabins (double/twin beds) below deck. The master, single and deluxe cabins have ensuite bathrooms, refrigerator, and panoramic sea view windows. The budget cabins are below decks with ensuite bathroom and refrigerator. All cabins are air-conditioned, have a flatscreen TV and DVD players, bathrobes and toiletries and loads of fluffy towels.

Budget & Master cabins

Deluxe double & deluxe twin cabins

M/V MERMAID I amenities

• Life jackets & smoke alarms
• Facial tissue
• Bathrobe
• Sundeck towels
• Diving towels
• Personal reading lights
• Air-conditioning
• TV in all cabins
• Hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash
• Mini-bar fridge
• Hairdryer
• En suite bathroom with hot shower
• Wardrobe
• Hangers

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General Facilities

The saloon/dining room & party deck

The sun deck & dive deck

M/V Mermaid I Boat Features

• Saloon
• TV/DVD and music center
• Library
• Shaded deck with outside seating
• Sundeck with sunshade
• Cushioned sunbed

M/V Mermaid I Dive Facilities

• Huge purpose built dive deck
• Wide stern dive platform
• Freshwater showers
• 6 camera rinse tanks
• Nitrox
• Camera Table

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Food & Drinks Aboard M/V Mermaid I

Delicious Thai, Indonesian and western meals are served in their “Sawasdee Restaurant” with large windows to enjoy the views or how about trying their delicious BBQs.

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M/V Mermaid I Deck Plan

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Schedule, Rates & Availability

The actual rates are based in EUR. The starting price indicated above may vary based on the current exchange rate.

The prices shown below are per person in USD and do not include port & park fees. The pricing at the time of booking may vary depending on the latest EUR/USD exchange rate.

[See also: Inclusions & Exclusions]

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Inclusions

• Cabin accommodation
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks
• Land tours in Komodo
• Transfers to the boat from some hotels and the airport
• Dives
• Experienced English-speaking divemasters (max 4 divers per DM)
• Tanks, weights, and weight belts
• WIFI internet

Exclusions

• Dive equipment
• Dive computer
• Komodo port and park fees (EUR 225 - 275 pp)
• Raja Ampat & all other cruises port and park fees (EUR 200 pp)
• Fuel surcharge, will only be applied if fuel prices rise more than 30% above current rates
• Overnight stay at AKAYA Bali before/after Komodo trips at IDR 500,000/room/night for max. 2 persons.

RATES & AVAILABILITY

For more information on other departure dates, rates, and on availability email us at info@bluewaterdivetravel.com or call us at +1-310-915-6677 and we will gladly help you plan your dream dive vacation!

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Dive Information & Itineraries

Bali-Komodo-Bali Sample Itinerary (9 Nights)

• Recommended Hotel: Guests who stay overnight in Bali prior to the scheduled boat departure could opt to stay at Mermaid Liveaboard's very own hotel, the AKAYA Bali.
• Day 1 (0 dives): Check-in on board MV Mermaid I between 13:00-15:00 hours in Benoa Harbour Bali. After the boat and safety briefing, equipment is prepared then settle into your cabin. Dinner is served at approx. 19:00 hours, we cruise overnight to Moyo Island off the north-west coast of Sumbawa.
• Day 2 (3 dives): Start your adventure with a great dive in the calm, clear waters of Angel Reef at Moyo Island. Massive elephant ear and barrel sponges, schools of longfin bannerfish and red tooth triggers In their hundreds, frogfish, nudibranchs, eels, surgeonfish, snapper, dogtooth tuna checking out what is for lunch! Visit the local village then its lunch for us! Then we cruise to Satonda Island for a macro dive followed by a world class night dive after watching a million bats fly at sunset. After a great dive and dinner, we cruise overnight to Sangeang Volcano off the north coast of Sumbawa.
• Day 3 (4 dives): The Nusa Tenggara region has some extremely interesting and unique marine life. Today we spend the day diving around Sangeang Volcano – 2-3 dives for rare nudibranchs, pygmy seahorse, leaf scorpion fish, blue ribbon eels, black sand diving with all its treasures and underwater hot springs that support this very unique marine environment. Night dive here too or head on over to Gili Banta for the chance for Star Gazers and coral catshark.
• Day 4 (4 dives): Current depending, we start the day at GPS Point Gili Banta famous for its sharks and pelagic fishes. Then we enter the Komodo National Park and for more exhilarating blue water/fish soup diving! Gili Lawalaut has several great dives – if the tide is right we hunt grey reef shark and dolphin at Taka Toko Gili Lawalaut. Lighthouse Reef and The Old Passage offer fast drifts with pelagics, maybe manta! Crystal Rock offers awesome soft corals in gold and orange hues plus the chance for sharks, turtles, Giant Maori wrasse, a ‘fish soup” dive. Tonight we dive the famous Pink Beach – spectacular colors and Frogfish, slipper lobster, basket stars, robust sea cucumbers unique to the area plus more! 
• Day 5 (3 dives): Start your day with an exciting visit to Loh Liang Komodo National Park to walk with the dragons! And as we quietly walk through the bush setting look out for Komodo dragons, deer, wild boar and birds. Then relax as we cruise south to dive the Three Sisters or Pillarsteen at Padar Island. Next stop is a diver’s paradise – Horseshoe Bay Rinja Island – home of one of the top 10 dives in the world- Cannibal Rock – an abundance of corals, sponges, ascidians, sea apples, black corals, turtle, cuttlefish, loads of reef fishes too! Here we can also watch dragons scavenging on the beach, monkey, deer, wild pigs along the shore, go beachcombing…. Maybe even a chance to follow whales and dolphin feeding in the calm bay. We overnight at this peaceful place, diving at one of the many fabulous spots.
• Day 6 (4 dives): More world class dives today as we relax in Horseshoe Bay Rinja Island – the Yellow Wall of Texas is absolutely stunning covered with enormous yellow soft corals. Go slowly along the wall looking for unique creatures but don’t forget to look out into the blue to see what’s coming by…maybe e make a deep dive to check if the tiny yellow pygmy seahorses are on the giant gorgonians at depth. Nusa Kode offers more walls and critter chances coupled with white tip reef sharks etc ! Torpedo Alley is famous for its “electric” rays and perhaps one of the best night dives of your life for critter fanciers. 
• Day 7 (4 dives): Today we’ll head on over to Manta Alley to watch in awe as these magnificent creatures feed, play and get cleaned at the many cleaning stations. In the afternoon we can check out more big fish dives maybe at Loh Serah, Tatawa Kecil or the infamous “Current City” Batu Bolong – come face to face with reef sharks, turtles, and giant Wrasse. Many good night dives around here – Gili Darat is great for sleeping turtles, colorful reef stonefish, Spanish dancers – calm sea – a good place to sleep. 
• Day 8 (4 dives): The diving around Gili Lawalaut, Tatawa Kecil, Gili Darat is so awesome you will all want more so today we make 2-3 dives in clear arm blue waters – loads of fish both big and small. Then we’ll head off for a night dive at either Gili Banta or maybe Batu Putih in Sumbawa – both interesting sites. Overnight we cruise back to Satonda and Sumbawa – solar powered nudibranchs, ghost pipefish anyone?
• Day 9 (2 dives): We enjoy two good dives around Sumbawa and Moyo Islands – a chance to shoot anything you missed at the trip beginning. Then the crew wash your equipment for you while you relax on the sundeck or downloading your pictures, enjoying our trip video as well just before dinner with all your new friends.
• Day 10 (0 dives): After breakfast, we transfer you ashore to continue your vacation…or its time to head home to start planning your next Mermaid cruise!

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Sorong-Raja Ampat-Sorong Sample Itinerary (9 Nights)

• Day 1 (0 dives): Check-in on board MV Mermaid I. As guest arrivals take place all through the day depending on flights you are welcome to board when you arrive and spend some time looking around Sorong, gearing up etc. Following the boat and safety briefing – its overnight to the Misool area. It is almost impossible to put together a daily itinerary due to the magnificent diving everywhere we go. No trip is the same with so many different sites to visit and explore. If there is somewhere, in particular, you really have your heart set on please discuss with the Cruise Director who will do their utmost to get you there – conditions, ship, and your safety allowing!
• Day 2-4 (12 dives): Misool area – with literally 100’s of dives around this magnificent area we will be in diver’s paradise for a few days. Soft corals, gorgonians – some of the prettiest corals in the world – and the kingdom of the pygmy seahorse! Pinnacles with masses of fish. Blue water mangroves (crocs depending !) Islands we will thoroughly enjoy the Misool area including Sagof Islands, Wagma and Farondi islands; Wailbatan and Warakaret Island, Kalig, Pele Islands.
• Day 5-8 (16 dives):  Fiabacet and Farondi Islands and after the 3rd dive of the day spend some time going around the lagoons in the dinghy for amazing sights and wildlife. Then we may head north to Waigeo Island Perhaps we will spend the day around Batanta Island, a black sand environment – great muck diving! The Mantas call us to Dampier Strait where they hang out at their cleaning stations. But this place is also fabulous for macro diving with critters such as Pegasus, Pontohi Pgymy Seahorse, pipefish etc. And two dives at a small island called Arborek, with a lovely village and a jetty great for diving! The jetty pillars are covered in soft corals – a photographer’s delight and also good for macros such as signal gobies, nudibranchs and more Pohtohi’s etc. Dive around the island of Kawe a great place for schooling fish, and beautiful reefs covered in black coral bushes. And dive Alyui Bay (or a full day around Alyui Bay). In Alyui Bay there is a pearl farm. We can tour the pearl farm and learn how they harvest the pearls, and the whole process of pearl farming. You can even buy pearls. Diving in Alyui bay is good for macro and wide angle. Walls covered in soft corals and sea fans with lots of nudies and pygmy.
• Also a great night dive in the jetty; Raja Epaulette Shark (walking sharks), wobbegongs, crocodilefish, toadfish, and frogfish. Dive around the island of Yanggefo – beautiful mangrove areas, stunning reefs covered in orange and purple soft corals, and submerged reef with lots of schooling fish, and pygmies. The Strait of Dampier is also well known for the amount of schooling fish. There are several pinnacles with zillions of fish. Also the tips (capes) of several islands with again lots of schooling fish; schools of barracudas, school of bigeye jacks, snappers, zillions of fusiliers and surgeonfish, etc…. And lots of wobbegongs. 
• Day 9 (2 dives): Strait of Dampier. More of the same. Fish, fish, fish, glorious corals and all! Then back to Sorong we must go. The crew will take care of rinsing and packing your equipment during this 4-5 hour run. 
• Day 10 (0 dives): After breakfast, we transfer you ashore to continue your vacation…or its time to head home to start planning your next Mermaid Liveaboards cruise! With so many new itineraries and opportunities to choose from you will be back and back and back for more and most welcome on board Mermaid Liveaboards – Asia’s Premier Liveaboard Fleet! 

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Raja Ampat-Lembeh Sample Itinerary (9 Nights)

• Day 1: Board Mermaid Liveaboards between 12:00-18:00 hours
• Day 2 (4 dives): Diving around Pulau Kri in the Dampier Straits
• Day 3 (4 dives): Diving around Mansuar in the Dampier Straits
• Day 4-5 (8 dives): Diving around Wagma-Farondi area, Pulau Boo, Fiabacet, Wayilbatan, Pele, and maybe the blue water mangroves
• Day 6 (3 dives): Pulau Pisang
• Day 7 (3 dives): Straits of Patinti
• Day 8 (4 dives): Pulau Tifore
• Day 9 (2 dives): Lembeh Strait
• Day 10: disembark around 8:00 hours for transfer to your resort or to Manado for next leg of your journey

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Sorong – Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Ambon Sample Itinerary (11 Nights)

• Day 1 (2 dives): Check-in on board MV Mermaid I. Guests are required to arrive the day prior – 2 dives will be held this day – 1 at the fabulous critter sanctuary provided by the pier and another super reef dive just a few hours from Maumere. Cruise overnight to Kawula 100nm. 
• Day 2 (3 dives): Dive Cape Bacatan and the bay of Lewaling at the island of Kawula. 3 daylight dives along walls and ledges covered in sea fans and soft corals – a chance for pygmy seahorse and critters here as well. Cape Bacatan is a good place to spot whitetips, blacktips, occasional grey reef sharks. Also a popular spot for eagle rays, napoleon wrasse, loads of schooling fish. A great muck night dive will be done in front of a traditional fishing village. Cruise overnight to Alor 70nm. 
• Day 3 (4 dives): Alor is one of the old time favorites dive spots for those people coming to dive in Indonesia year after year due to its variety of dive sites. Healthy reefs, pinnacles, walls, great muck dives, cold water, warm water, strong currents, and protected areas. Alor has it all. Cruise overnight to Wetar 95nm.
• Day 4 (4 dives): In Wetar we will do 4 dives, in the small island of Reong, and in Cape Nunukae. Pulau Reong is a small island on the northwest coast of Wetar and separated by a small channel only 700 meters wide. More walls, like many of the dive sites in the Band Sea, covered in small soft colors but of a great variety of colors and zillions of triggerfish of every species. Cape Nunukae is a large ridge with slopes on both sides and covered with a hard coral reef on the shallow area of the ridge, and soft corals on the slopes in the deeper areas. Strong currents can be had at the end of the ridge, where large aggregations of schooling fish can be found. Cruise overnight a few hours to Gunung Api 75nm.
• Day 5 (4 dives): Gunung Api – during October and November we have the chance to see the schooling hammerheads this area is becoming famous for. Gunung Api is already a rare and unusual dive site consisting mainly of sea snakes – mostly Chinese green snakes with a few banded sea snakes as well. No need to be scared but be prepared to have some awesome dives !!! Overnight to Damar 110nm. Dives: 4
• Day 6 (4 dives): Today we dive several small islands – Neus Leur, Terbang Seletan, Terbang Utara and Damar. The island of Damar and its 3 surrounding small islands have spectacular diving. Like many dives in the Banda Sea, there is crystal clear water and beautiful walls covered in massive sponges and beautiful soft corals. Cruise a few hours to Nila 54 nm. 
• Day 7 (4 dives): Surrounding the island of Nila there are 2 atolls, Dusborg and Nil Desperandum. It’s at these 2 atolls where there is a good chance of seeing hammerhead sharks – even without – the reefs are fabulous, healthy walls and 50+ meter visibility. Cruise overnight to Gili Manuk 70nm. 
• Day 8 (4 dives): Manuk – Snake Volcano – sometimes more snakes than Gunung Api (still no need to be afraid !) The site also offers a black sand reef dive with loads of fish and pretty hard corals. If sharks were delighting all at Nila there is a chance to stay there this day instead – making 3 dives then traveling through to the Bandas. 
• Day 9-10 (7 dives): Banda Islands today! Walls, swimthroughs, sponges and sea fans – good diving and great for wide angle. Several sites have swimthroughs large enough for several people to go through at the same time and is especially nice for wide angle and covered in soft corals. Sites in the Bandas drop down thousands of meters offering spectacular walls and stunning reef tops – visibility usually 40-50+ meters. The night dive is at the pier in front of a hotel! Black sand and volcanic rock with an unusual amount of large and not shy mandarin fish – also great for critters and one for the nudibranch fans. The next day as well as 3 more great dives – we will go on land for an excursion on the island of Banda Neira visiting the local museum, Dutch fort, nutmeg plantation, local market, and small but very old Chinese temple. We have breakfast at the nutmeg plantation! Cruise overnight to Nusa Laut 75nm or Ambon 110nm. 
• Day 11 (2 dives): Today we either do 2 dives at Nusa Laut – healthy reefs, chance for dugong…or onto Ambon for some fabulous muck dives with critters galore – this area is known for many rare and unusual species including the psychedelic frogfish and Ambon scorpion fish. 
• Day 12: Disembark 08:00am in Ambon or Maumere if doing the trip in reverse leg of the amazing adventure for morning or afternoon flights to your next destination

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Maumere-Alor-Banda Sea-Ambon Sample Itinerary (11 Nights)

• Day 1 (2 dives): Check-in on board MV Mermaid I. Guests are required to arrive the day prior – 2 dives will be held this day – 1 at the fabulous critter sanctuary provided by the pier and another super reef dive just a few hours from Maumere. Cruise overnight to Kawula 100nm. 
• Day 2 (3 dives): Dive Cape Bacatan and the bay of Lewaling at the island of Kawula. 3 daylight dives along walls and ledges covered in sea fans and soft corals – a chance for pygmy seahorse and critters here as well. Cape Bacatan is a good place to spot whitetips, blacktips, occasional grey reef sharks. Also a popular spot for eagle rays, napoleon wrasse, loads of schooling fish. A great muck night dive will be done in front of a traditional fishing village. Cruise overnight to Alor 70nm.
• Day 3 (4 dives): Alor is one of the old time favorites dive spots for those people coming to dive in Indonesia year after year due to its variety of dive sites. Healthy reefs, pinnacles, walls, great muck dives, cold water, warm water, strong currents, and protected areas. Alor has it all. Cruise overnight to Wetar 95nm. 
• Day 4 (4 dives): In Wetar we will do 4 dives, in the small island of Reong, and in Cape Nunukae. Pulau Reong is a small island on the northwest coast of Wetar and separated by a small channel only 700 meters wide. More walls, like many of the dive sites in the Band Sea, covered in small soft colors but of a great variety of colors and zillions of triggerfish of every species. Cape Nunukae is a large ridge with slopes on both sides and covered with a hard coral reef on the shallow area of the ridge, and soft corals on the slopes in the deeper areas. Strong currents can be had at the end of the ridge, where large aggregations of schooling fish can be found. Cruise overnight a few hours to Gunung Api 75nm. 
• Day 5 (4 dives): Gunung Api – during October and November we have the chance to see the schooling hammerheads this area is becoming famous for. Gunung Api is already a rare and unusual dive site consisting mainly of sea snakes – mostly Chinese green snakes with a few banded sea snakes as well. No need to be scared but be prepared to have some awesome dives !!! Overnight to Damar 110nm. Dives: 4
• Day 6 (4 dives): Today we dive several small islands – Neus Leur, Terbang Seletan, Terbang Utara and Damar. The island of Damar and its 3 surrounding small islands have spectacular diving. Like many dives in the Banda Sea, there is crystal clear water and beautiful walls covered in massive sponges and beautiful soft corals. Cruise a few hours to Nila 54 nm.
• Day 7 (4 dives): Surrounding the island of Nila there are 2 atolls, Dusborg and Nil Desperandum. It’s at these 2 atolls where there is a good chance of seeing hammerhead sharks – even without – the reefs are fabulous, healthy walls and 50+ meter visibility. Cruise overnight to Gili Manuk 70nm.
• Day 8 (4 dives): Manuk – Snake Volcano – sometimes more snakes than Gunung Api (still no need to be afraid !) The site also offers a black sand reef dive with loads of fish and pretty hard corals. If sharks were delighting all at Nila there is a chance to stay there this day instead – making 3 dives then traveling through to the Bandas.
• Day 9-10 (7 dives): Banda Islands today! Walls, swimthroughs, sponges and sea fans – good diving and great for wide angle. Several sites have swimthroughs large enough for several people to go through at the same time and is especially nice for wide angle and covered in soft corals. Sites in the Bandas drop down thousands of meters offering spectacular walls and stunning reef tops – visibility usually 40-50+ meters. The night dive is at the pier in front of a hotel! Black sand and volcanic rock with an unusual amount of large and not shy mandarin fish – also great for critters and one for the nudibranch fans. The next day as well as 3 more great dives – we will go on land for an excursion on the island of Banda Neira visiting the local museum, Dutch fort, nutmeg plantation, local market, and small but very old Chinese temple. We have breakfast at the nutmeg plantation! Cruise overnight to Nusa Laut 75nm or Ambon 110nm.
• Day 11 (2 dives): Today we either do 2 dives at Nusa Laut – healthy reefs, chance for dugong…or onto Ambon for some fabulous muck dives with critters galore – this area is known for many rare and unusual species including the psychedelic frogfish and Ambon scorpion fish.
• Day 12: Disembark 08:00am in Ambon or Maumere if doing the trip in reverse leg of the amazing adventure for morning or afternoon flights to your next destination

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BioDiversity Special Cruises Itinerary (15 Nights)

Exploring Maumere-Alor-Banda Sea-Raja Ampat-Sorong (& reverse), 16D/15N. It is almost impossible to put together a daily itinerary due to the magnificent diving everywhere we go. No trip is the same with so many different sites to visit and explore. If there is somewhere in particular you really have your heart set on please discuss with the Cruise Director who will do their utmost to get you there – conditions, ship, and your safety allowing! Total Dives for the trip: 48 to 51.  

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Other Information

AKAYA BALI

Guests who stay overnight in Bali prior to the scheduled boat departure may opt to stay at Mermaid Liveaboard's very own hotel, the AKAYA Bali, an eco-friendly colonial-Hamptons style boutique hotel in the heart of Sanur, Bali. This small but comfortable hotel offers a total of 18 rooms – 17 with a view to a large pool which lies in the central courtyard, and 1 family room. All the rooms have air conditioning, hi-speed Wi-Fi, 40” LCD TV, satellite TV, telephone, electronic safe, mini bar and coffee and tea making facilities. We recommend the AKAYA Bali for guests staying in Bali before departing to Komodo. Each room costs IDR 500,000/night per room for a maximum of 2 persons.

Boat Specifications

• Year built: 2002
• Length: 94ft (28m)
• Beam: 21ft (7m)
• Draft: 8ft (2.5m)
• Speed: 9-10 knots
• Dinghies/RIBS: 2 x4.7m ladders and 40 HP Yamaha engines
• Engines: Twin Hino engines 450 HP
• Generators: Twin Hino generators 100 kw
• Compressors: 3 x Compressor bauer 200L/min
• Fuel capacity: 23,000L
• Water capacity: 30,000L
• Watermaker: 5,000L/day
• Maximum guests: 15
• Number of cabins: 8
• Number of bathrooms: 9

Practical Information

• Time Zone: GMT+8 & GMT+9
• Local Currency: IDR (Indonesian Rupiah)
• Language Spoken: English & Indonesian
• Electricity: 220 V (110 V adapters are available)
• Payment Onboard: Cash (Euro, USD, or IDR), Visa or Master credit card

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Underwater Gallery 

Komodo:

Raja Ampat:

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