Vessels
Mermaid I
Mermaid I (Mermaid Liveaboards)
Mermaid I is a 28-metres, double-engine, steel motor yacht that offers superb hotel-style accommodation. Their slogan is ‘Mermaid liveaboards – Asia’s Premier Liveaboard Fleet’. The boat can take up to 15 guests. The eight air-conditioned cabins comprise one Master Staterooms with king bed, four Deluxe Cabins with one double or two single beds, two Budget Cabins both in the lower deck which have either one double or two single beds, and a Single Cabin. All cabins have en suite bathrooms and refrigerators with the Master, Deluxe and Single Cabins having superb panoramic sea views. The beds in these cabins are ‘normal’ sprung mattresses on real bed bases. Each cabin has a TV so you can review your pictures or take advantage of the DVD access. The Master and Single have their own DVD player in the cabin. Duvets. throw cushions, bed runners, bathrobes, slippers, fluffy pillows, loads of luxurious towels, and lovely toiletries all conspire to make those moments of relaxed luxury so enjoyable. A total of 14 crew are available at the service of 15 guests. The divemaster to diver ratio is usually 1:4 or 1:5 at most.
Both Thai and western menus are served in the Sawasdee Restaurant, which is air-conditioned and has large windows so you don’t miss any panoramic views while enjoying your meals. On several occasions during the week Chef works at the outdoor barbecue and produces delicious meals ‘al fresco’. The food is fabulous! A great way to relax at the end of the dive is to enjoy your favourite music on the music centre, peruse the fish and identification guides available from the library, or watch a DVD. There are two outdoor decks, one shaded with outside seating and a fabulous sundeck with plenty of wooden sun loungers with comfy cushions under a white canopy for shade, or in full sun for those who want to sunbathe.
There is a wide stern diving platform with two exit ladders and freshwater showers. Four camera rinse tanks and a large camera table are also on the dive deck. There are several power points in each cabin and also throughout the salon for charging and each table in the salon has electrical outlets for laptops. Usually the crew will have a laptop available for your use, if you don’t have your own. There is a DVD burning service for those who want to save images to disc.
The boat offers satellite phone, fax and e-mail facilities. Other facilities on board include a small boutique shop selling books, tee-shirts, hats and souvenirs. For those in the mood for serious relaxation, you may also like to make use of the massage and spa service. A pressing service is also available. The chef prides himself on presenting a full range of local and international dishes and is happy to provide vegetarian meals, as long as they are previously requested.
Divers enter the water from the main boat or from one of the two ribs, and dives are usually ‘go with the flow’ with an easy climb up one of the ladders on return. Everyone has their own dive station and box to place equipment. The crew is fully trained to look after your gear either as much or as little as you wish. They will assist you to remove your wetsuit and rinse it for you after every dive, if you wish, and will wash and dry your gear at the end of the cruise. There is an on board videographer who will produce excellent quality DVDs. Complimentary photo advice is a popular service too. Nitrox is available on every cruise. Please note that individual computers are mandatory for each client. Although most of the tanks available are 12 litre steel tanks, there are a few 15 litre tanks available for those who might need them.
Example cruise itineraries:
KOMODO (9 NIGHTS)
Day 1: Board Mermaid I at Benoa Harbour before an overnight cruise to Moyo Island off the north west coast of Sumbawa. Day 2: 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 long fin banner fish and red tooth triggers in their hundreds, frog fish, nudibranchs, eels, surgeon fish, snapper, dog tooth tuna are all to be found here. Visit the local village before lunch and the cruise to Satonda Island for some great macro sites. Day 3: Spend the day at Sangeang volcano looking for rare nudibranchs, pygmy seahorse, leaf scorpion fish and blue ribbon eels. Day 4: Step into the fray at Gili Banta where currents will bring you sharks, rays and numerous larger schooling fish. Crystal Rock offers awesome soft corals in gold and orange hues plus the chance for sharks, turtles, and giant Maori wrasse. A night dive at Pink Beach may offer frogfish, slipper lobster and basket stars. Day 5: Start your day with a visit to Komodo National Park to walk with the dragons! After the shore excursion, head south to dive the Three Sisters or Pillarsteen at Padar Island. Next stop is a diver's paradise - Horseshoe Bay at Rinca Island and Cannibal Rock. Overnight at this peaceful place, diving at one of the many fabulous spots. Day 6: Diving at Yellow Wall of Texas, covered with enormous yellow soft corals is absolutely stunning. 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. Nusa Kode offers more walls and critter chances coupled with white tip reef sharks! Torpedo Alley is famous for its rays and perhaps one of the best night dives of your life for critter fanciers. Day 7: Today you will head on over to Manta Alley to watch in awe as these magnificent creatures feed, play and get cleaned at the many cleaning stations. Day 8: 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, warm blue waters Day 9: Take in two good dives around Sumbawa and Moyo Islands - a chance to shoot anything you missed at the beginning of the trip. Day 10: After breakfast transfer ashore at Benoa Harbour, Bali.
RAJA AMPAT (9 NIGHTS)
Day 1: Board Mermaid I at Sorong. Day 2 – Day 4: Become absorbed in the soft corals, gorgonians and the kingdom of the pygmy seahorse! Explore pinnacles surrounded by masses of fish and enjoy the mixtures of topography. Day 5-Day 8: Three days at Fiabacet and Farondi Islands. After the 3rd dive of the day spend some time going around the lagoons in the dinghy for amazing sights and wildlife. Head north to Waigeo Island. Dive at Batanta Island and the Dampier Strait where Manta Rays hang out at their cleaning stations. A visit to the small island of Arborek, with a lovely village and a jetty great for diving is very rewarding. The jetty pillars are covered in soft corals and also good for macro life such as signal gobies, nudibranchs and more pygmy seahorses. Dive around the island of Kawe with the schooling fish, and beautiful reefs covered in black coral bushes. Visit the pearl farm at Alyui Bay. You 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 nudibranchss and pygmys await the diver here. A night dive at the jetty may yield Epaulette Shark (walking sharks), wobbegongs, crocodilefish, toadfish and frogfish. Dive around the island of Yanggefo, with its beautiful mangrove areas, stunning reefs covered in orange and purple soft corals, and of schooling fish. The Dampier Strait dive sites are also well known for the numbers of schooling fish. Underwater pinnacles are home to schools of barracudas, bigeye jacks, snappers, zillions of fusiliers and surgeonfish. Day 9: 2 dives in the Dampier Strait are on offer before returning to Sorong. Day 10: Disembark Mermaid I.
KOMODO: Price from about $2974. Includes: 9 nights cruise on Mermaid I on a twin/share basis with full board, including tea, coffee, soft drinks and drinking water; 8 days diving (28 dives in total, including night dives where the location is suitable); escorted shore excursions where appropriate. Nitrox fills cost €6 each, payable on board. A port/national park fee of €60 (subject to change) is payable on board. Reduction for non-divers. Airport/hotel transfers are not included, but local taxis are inexpensive. Single Occupancy Supplement: 90% of the cruise cost (but you can avoid paying the supplement if you are willing to share a cabin).