General
Diving with Mermaid Liveaboards
Explore the best diving sites of the Raja Ampat Archipelago (Papua, Indonesia)
Take a unforgeteable exclusive dive safari through the islands of Raja Ampat one of the best dive spots in the world !
Scuba diving in Raja Ampat is diving the worlds richest reefs!
Visit the biodiversity hotspot for marine live – reef fish and corals – Raja Ampat West Papua.
With this exclusive dive safaris you have the opportunity to discover a hidden paradise of the worl.
M/V Mermaid I is the pride of the Mermaid fleet offering 5 star liveaboard diving all year around. From November to April Mermaid 1 runs Raja Ampat liveaboard safaris in the birds head peninsula of the Papua province in north east Indonesia. From May to October you will find Mermaid 1 in the Lesser Sunda islands in Indonesia running Komodo liveaboard safaris from the beautiful island of Bali to Komodo island offering you the chance to walk with the legendary Komodo dragons.
The luxurious MV Mermaid I offers all amenities you can dream of. All 8 cabins are fully air-conditioned and equipped with TV & DVD player, single, twin or double bed, a large wardrobe, plenty of storage room and an en-suite bath room with hot water shower, toilet and sink. We also provide fresh bath towels daily, beach towels, bathrobes, hair-dryers, towels, soap and shampoo for your comfort.
Raja Ampat Dive Cruise
How to get there?
From your home country, you will need to fly to Sorong Airport which located in West Papua – Indonesia. Sorong Airport can be reached from Indonesian following international airports: Jakarta, Denpasar, Manado, or Makassar. We are happy to assist with all internal flights, accommodations, land tours etc.. Please contact us.
Also we are happy to arrange extension nights in Sorong (Raja Ampat Resorts) for you.
Sorong – Raja Ampat – Transfer Times:
We will co-ordinate your arrival and collect you from the airport or your hotel and bring you direct to the vessel. There are several reasonable hotels in Sorong should you wish to overnight before or after your Raja Ampat cruise. Sorong is a small city so most of the hotels located within 10 – 20 minutes to Sorong Harbor, while Sorong Airport it self only located 10 minutes by car from the harbor.
Cruise Option 1:
SORONG – RAJA AMPAT – SORONG – 10 DAYS/ 9 NIGHTS
Ship Mermaid 1
Day 1
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
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 pretties 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
(12 dives)
Day 5-8
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 macro such as signal gobies, nudibrancs 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 pygmys. 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 pruple soft corals, and submerged reef with lots of schooling fish, and pygmies.
The Strait of Dampier are 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.
(16 dives)
Day 9
2 dives in the 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.
(2 dives)
Day 10
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 !
Transfer to your Hotel or airport in Sorong
Mermaid 1
Boat & Cabins Descripions
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.
Each cabin features all the comforts of home:
- Individually Controlled Air-Conditioning
- Flat screen TV and DVD
- Refrigerator
- Private Bathroom and Toilet with Hot / Cold Water
- Hand Basin and Bathroom Counter Space
- Toiletries
- Bathrobes
- Bath and beach towels
- Hair dryer
- Bed Linens
- Mood lighting
- Wardrobe and Shelves
- Vanity Mirror
- Multiple 2 pin 220V electricity (bring an international adaptor)
- Luggage Space
On Board:
Our huge purpose built dive deck and wide stern dive platform with two exit ladders and fresh water showers are a diver’s dream. 6 camera rinse tanks means your valuable equipment is well looked after.
Delicious Thai, Indonesian and western meals are served in our “Sawasdee Restaurant” with large windows to enjoy the views or how about trying our delicious BBQs ! On the cruise you have 3 delicious meals daily.
After meals relax in our saloon with our TV/DVD and music center, or select from our extensive library and full range of marine life books.
There are two outside decks, one shaded with outside seating and the fabulous sundeck with sunshade plus cushioned sun beds – a great place to relax.
There are many staff on board, from captain to boat men, all of them are experienced and do their best to make your dives and stay on board very pleasant.
NITROX is available on every cruise.
Rates & Destination 2016
Sorong – Raja Ampat – Sorong
11 days / 10 nights
Dives total: 32-34
Master Cabin: €3800
Single Cabin €3800
Deluxe Cabin €3500
Budget Cabin €3200
Ship Mermaid 1
All rates in Euro per person inclusive tax & service charge.
MV MERMAID I Rates & Destination 2016
Cabin Type | Master | Single | Deluxe | Budget | ||
Individual Travelers | No of Cabins: | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
Total # of Guests:15 | 2 pax | 1 pax | 8 pax | 4 pax | ||
# Dives | Days/Nights | |||||
Bali – Komodo – Bali | 28 | 10/9 | €3500 | €3500 | €3100 | €2700 |
Bali – Komodo – Maumere | 28 | 10/9 | €3500 | €3500 | €3100 | €2700 |
Sorong – Raja Ampat – Sorong | 30 | 11/10 | €3950 | €3950 | €3650 | €3250 |
Raja Ampat-Halmahera – Lembeh & reverse | 28-30 | 12/11 | €4300 | €4300 | €4000 | €3600 |
Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Ambon & reverse | 28-30 | 12/11 | €4300 | €4300 | €4000 | €3600 |
Maumere – Alor – Banda Sea – Ambon (or reverse) | 28-30 | 12/11 | €4300 | €4300 | €4000 | €3600 |
Biodiversity Special Maumere – Alor – Banda Sea – Raja Ampat – Sorong (or reverse) | 48-50 | 12/11 | €5200 | €5200 | €4900 | €4500 |
MMI 05/16RJ | 20-Feb-16 | 1-Mar-16 | Raja Ampat | 11/10 |
MMI 06/16RL | 02-Mar-16 | 13-Mar-16 | Raja Ampat-Halmahera-Lembeh | 12/11 |
MMI 07/16LR | 14-Mar-16 | 25-Mar-16 | Lembeh-Halmahera-Raja Ampat | 12/11 |
MMI 08/16RA | 26-Mar-16 | 06-Apr-16 | Raja Ampat-Banda Sea-Ambon | 12/11 |
MMI 09/16AR | 07-Apr-16 | 18-Apr-16 | Ambon-Banda Sea-Raja Ampat | 12/11 |
MMI 10/16RJ | 19-Apr-16 | 29-Apr-16 | Raja Ampat | 11/10 |
MMI 11/16SP | 01-May-16 | 16-May-16 | Biodiversity Special Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Alor – Maumere | 16/15 |
MMI 12/16MB | 17-May-16 | 26-May-16 | Maumere-Komodo-Bali | 10/9 |
MMI In Port | 26-May-16 | 16-June-16 | In Port Bali |