The world‘s finest diving

Mermaid I

M/V Mermaid I is a comfortable 28-metre (92-foot) twin engine, steel motor yacht. Immensely popular, Mermaid I provides a moderately priced option in Indonesia for 15 guests in 8 cabins.

A word from Dom : “The Mermaid boats spent many years in Thai waters & were definitely 2 of my preferred options there. But, I frankly wondered if divers would accept them in Indonesia, amongst all the traditional Phinisi schooners. Happily, these big, sturdy steel-hulled cruisers have been incredibly successful in the market. Divers love them and they are nearly always full. I always feel thoroughly confident in recommending them as a solid option for comfort & excellent diving.” Dominick Macan

Mermaid sailing opt

On Board Mermaid I

1 main deck DOUBLE stateroom
king bed, mini-bar, i-pad & picture windows
4 main deck DOUBLE/TWIN staterooms
1 king or 2 twin beds (adjacent), mini-bar, i-pad & picture windows
1 main deck SINGLE stateroom
twin bed, mini-bar, i-pad & picture windows
2 lower deck TWIN / DOUBLE staterooms
2 twin beds (bunk style), i-pad & port windows

All have a private bathroom, air conditioning, bathrobes, toiletries and ample storage.

up to 4 dives per day (all from tenders)
12 liter & 15 liter alu tanks
(limited 15 L tanks at no extra cost, please request in advance)
J valves & DIN valves (some DIN adapters)
nitrox available
water temperature: 78 – 82F, 25 – 28C
3mm wetsuit recommended

accommodation & diving
meals, snacks & non-alcoholic beverages
compressed air, tanks, weights and weight belts
airport transfers within specific zones (check with us)
kayaks

international & domestic airfare
wines & beers (you may bring your own spirits, if you wish)
scuba rental gear (by advance request)
nitrox
National Park & port fees
fuel surcharge (if applicable)

Easy Living ... Remarkable Space

The entire top deck of this vessel is comprised of a fabulous sun deck with sunshade and cushioned sun beds, a great place to relax. A fully covered exterior lounge is found at the stern end of the bridge deck (upper deck) and you’ll find additional cushioned benches just in front of the bridge, an ideal spot for watching the spectacular islands “sail” past you. On this deck, too, is the large indoor dining area and the cozy salon where you will find a TV/DVD and music center as well as an extensive library and full range of marine life books. The 6 cabins located on the main deck offer lovely, large sea-view windows & doors opening onto the exterior gangway. Two more cabins are located on the lower deck.

The huge purpose built dive deck and wide stern dive platform with two exit ladders and fresh water showers are a diver’s dream.

Six camera rinse tanks means your valuable equipment is well looked after. Mermaid I has a huge comfortable dive deck and a dive platform that provides divers with easy exits and entries to the dive boats ensuring a relaxing dive experience. Camera table and photo facilities are appreciated by photographers.

Delicious Thai, Indonesian and western meals are served in the restaurant which offers large windows to enjoy the impressive views while dining or enjoying a delicious BBQ.

Travel And Cruise Logistics

International flights generally arrive at one of the following airports: Bali-Denpasar (DPS) … Jakarta (CGK) … Manado (MDC). We will be pleased to help you book your domestic flights through our Bali agent.

The boat’s scheduled departure time varies depending on current domestic airline schedules, which can change, so departure details are not listed here. We’ll inform you at time of booking and will keep you posted on any possible changes

Layout & Specs

Deck & cabin layout … yacht specifications … equipment & safety features
mermaid 1 layout opt

Specifications

Length overall: 28m / 94 feet
Maximum speed: 10 knots
Beam: 7m / 21 feet
Cruising speed: 9 knots
Draft: 2.5m / 8 feet
Fresh water capacity: 30,000 litres
Fuel capacity: 23,000 litres
Water maker: 5,000 litres per day

MACHINERY

Twin Hino engines 450 HP
3 Compresor bauer 200 l/min
Twin Hino generators 100 kw
Nitrox membrane
Hino Central unit air-conditioning
2 x 4.7 metre RIBs with ladders & 40hp Yamaha engines

DIVING AREA

Dive deck 6 M x 7 M
Dive platform 2.5 M x 7 M
Tanks 20 x 12L Air
Tanks 20 x 12L Nitrox
Tanks 5 x 15L Nitrox or Air

NAVIGATION

Radar
GPS
Computer navigation
Plotters
Depth sounder
Fish finder

COMMUNICATIONS

Satellite Phone
DSC radio
Mobile phones
WHF radio
SSB radio
Satellite Internet

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Smoke alarms
Life jackets
First aid kit
Two life rafts for 20 passengers
Search light
Fire extinguishers
Crew first aid trained
Nautilus radios
Oxygen
EPIRB distress system
Emergency flares
Bilge pump alarm

Itineraries

Dive itineraries on Mermaid II include the most popular regions of Indonesia and are extensive in their variety: Bali-Komodo-Bali … Bali / Komodo / Maumere (Maumere is on Flores) … Raja Ampat … Raja Ampat / Halmahera / Lembeh … Raja Ampat / Banda Sea / Ambon … … Lembeh / Togean / Lembeh … “Biodiversity Super Special” Maumere/ Alor / Banda Sea / Raja Ampat … “Biodiversity Special Ring of Fire” Maumere / Alor / Banda Sea / Ambon

Ambon – If you love crazy critters, Ambon is hard to beat. Get your lens ready for rhinopias, pegasus sea moths, countless varieties of frog fish, seahorse, flamboyant cuttlefish, ghost pipe fish and star gazers. Lesser known is the south side of Ambon, which features great colorful walls, caves, swim throughs and healthy reef life with large fish … and more critters.

Banda Sea, Alor – In Alor & the Banda Sea, you’ll find clear waters full of masses of fish & loads of invertebrates … plus alluring critters. As to topography, you’ll find shear drops, huge pinnacles, great walls … all covered with rich & thriving corals which attract diverse fish life. Add to that, visiting pelagics and you have a magical mix.

Halmahera – The largest island in the Maluku chain, features sparkling clear water, loads of fish, some super drift dives, healthy, thriving coral reefs, some fascinating mangroves with intriguing critters … and fabulous volcanic landscapes. Some of the sites border on the deep blue and put you up close to grey reef sharks, eagle rays and immense shools of blue fin trevally.

Lembeh Strait – The undisputed critter capital of the world, Lembeh Strait, will WOW you with its weird & wonderful species: stonefish, sea robins, stargazers, devil fish, weedy scorpion fish, ghost pipefish, rhinopias, multiple species of frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, wonderpus & mimic octopus, coconut octopus & hairy octopus and oh my, the list goes on. In addition to simply finding the creature, you’re likely to have the opportunity to observe innate bahaviors which will fascinate.

Maumere – The starting point (on Flores Island) for many cruises, there is some excellent diving right here along the coast before heading further into the archipelago. There are plenty of critters to find during muck dives in this area but there are also fantastic reef dives. There are wrecks and impressive swim throughs that can keep any diver entertained.

Misool – Pure beauty awaits you here. This pristine area is a protected reserve. You’ll dive amongst splendid corals, experience drift dives & swim throughs, see large schools of pelagic fish and brightly colored reef fish. There are mantas, too … and plenty of fabulous critter action for macro photographers.

Komodo – Perhaps the most diverse of all diving in the Indonesian archipelago. There are seamounts, walls, canyons and pinnacles as well as the spectacular coral gardens. There a hot spring at an underwater volcano, great night dives on black sand slopes with creepy, crawly critters. Numerous sites tout pelagic fish, sharks & mantas but, be assured that at each dive site, you’ll experience something different.

Raja Ampat – Indonesia’s shining underwater star, Raja Ampat has something of nearly everything a diver could want. You’ll dive channels, plateaus, walls & caves … and just plain mud, for the delight of “muck” diving. You’ll swim amongst great swirls of fish and feast your eyes on sponges & corals in scintillating colors. You’ll meet up close & personal, everything from pygmy seahorses to colossal manta rays.

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