The Mermaid I liveaboard 10D9N Raja Ampat is a tried-and-true way to see the Coral Triangle’s heart. It’s a well planned trip for divers who want full access and comfort that has been proven over time. This 10-day trip on the famous Mermaid I is the perfect amount of time to really see and learn about the best parts of Raja Ampat, such as the amazing biodiversity of the Dampier Strait, the beautiful southern beaches of Misool, and the stunning karst seascapes of the Fam Islands. You will dive at famous places like Cape Kri and the beautiful manta ray cleaning stations at Manta Sandy. You will see colorful coral gardens, wobbegong sharks, and the area’s famous fish density. This 10-day Raja Ampat liveaboard is the best option for serious divers who want to fully explore this underwater paradise. The boat is known for its stability and the crew is made up of experts.
The 10-day itinerary for the Mermaid I Liveaboard Raja Ampat is a masterclass in how to plan a trip so that you spend the most time at the best locations with the fewest long trips. The longer time than a normal week lets you dive at each site more than once, explore at a slower pace, and do amazing land excursions like the panoramic climb to Piaynemo’s viewpoint. Life on the Mermaid I is all about the diver’s experience. There are plenty of places to rest on the decks, and the crew is dedicated to helping guests discover new things. This 10-day trip is the best option for underwater photographers and marine enthusiasts looking for a complete Raja Ampat liveaboard package that combines proven performance with in-depth access. It offers a profound and life-changing connection with the world’s richest reefs.
More About Mermaid IDives: Approximately 29 dives in total
Experience: Open Water – No minimum logged dives required.
Check-in on board MV Mermaid I. As our guest arrivals take place all through the day depending on flights, you are welcome to board when you arrive and spend some time unpacking and setting up your equipment, etc. Following the boat and safety briefing, Mermaid I will start cruising to the area of Misool. The first cruising will be done overnight, 90 nautical miles. It is almost impossible to put together a daily itinerary due to the magnificent diving everywhere Mermaid I goes. 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!
Misool is the southern island of Raja Ampat. Misool has many groups of islands and there are literally hundreds of dive sites around this magnificent area for all our guests. This is the entrance to divers’ paradise and we will be here for a few days. Soft coral heaven and gorgeous gorgonian sea fans are the highlights of Misool. Pygmy seahorses are easily found in almost all the dive sites of Misool! Pinnacles and underwater seamounts with masses of fish, and visits of pelagics such as Giant Manta Rays, sharks and more await you in Misool. Some of the best areas in Misool include Sagof, Wagmab, Farondi, Boo, Fiabacet, Yuliet, Wailbatan, Warakaret and Pele. After the third dive of the day in Farondi or Sagof, there is a chance to spend some time going around the lagoons in the dinghy. Enjoy the natural beauty of this area and look for some amazing wildlife. Then Mermaid I will start heading towards the northern part of Raja Ampat.
Perhaps you will spend a day around the southern part of Batanta Island, where the diving is done on a black sand environment. This is where all the weird and wonderful creatures that you have seen in coffee table books like to live! Dive around the island of Kawe, a great place for schooling fish with beautiful reefs covered in black coral bushes and a very good chance to have encounters with Manta Rays. There is a pearl farm in Aljui Bay, where you can take a tour to learn about the entire process of pearl farming. You can even buy pearls if you wish! Diving in Aljui bay is good for macro as well as wide angle. You will find walls covered in soft corals and sea fans, lots of nudibranchs and pygmy seahorses. There is also a great night dive at the jetty where some of the highlights are the Raja epaulette shark (a species of “walking shark”), wobbegongs, crocodile fish, toadfish, frogfish and more. Heading to the central part of Raja Ampat dive around the island of Yanggefo, with beautiful mangrove areas, stunning reefs covered in orange and purple soft corals and submerged reef with lots of schooling fish. Arborek and Sawanderek Villages are some of the most beautiful islands to visit and great to dive under their jetty! The jetty pillars are covered in soft corals – a photographer’s delight and also good for macro such as signal gobies, nudibranchs, pipefish, blue ringed octopus and more. The Mantas are then calling Mermaid I to visit the famous Dampier Strait in the central part of Raja Ampat. Here Mantas hang out at their cleaning stations along with all the schooling fish that the sites have to offer. At some of the sites in the Dampier Strait, the macro marine life is amazing with critters such as the seamoth, Pontohi pygmy seahorse, pipefish and more. The Dampier Strait is also well known for an incredible amount of schooling fish. There are several pinnacles with zillions of fish. The tips (capes) of several islands are also home to lots of schooling fish – barracudas, bigeye jacks, snappers, zillions of fusiliers and surgeonfish and much more. As if that weren’t enough, here you can find lots of wobbegongs too.
The last two dives of your cruise will be done in Dampier Strait area, where big schools of fish and glorious corals are simply amazing! After the second dive MV Mermaid I must go back to Sorong. The crew will take care of rinsing your equipment and there’s time to pack during this 5 – 6 hour run.
After breakfast, Mermaid I staff will transfer you to the airport. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to changes beyond the operator’s control. The exact itinerary, route and amount of dives for your cruise may be adapted to best suit the weather conditions, tides and currents, season and other prevailing events.
Included: VAT, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels.
Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (160-320 EUR per trip), National Park Fees (225-275 EUR per trip).
Optional Extras: Gratuities, Alcoholic Beverages, Nitrox, Nitrox Course (175 EUR), Private Dive Guide, Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses (75-250 EUR).
Maumere, Alor
27 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
No minimum logged dives
Lembeh, Togian Island
34 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
No minimum logged dives
Maumere, Alor, Banda Island, Ambon
34 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
4 minimum logged dives
Raja Ampat, Banda Island, Alor, Maumere
49 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
4 minimum logged dives
Ambon, Banda Sea
24 Dives
Certificate: Advanced Open Water
50 minimum logged dives
Triton Bay, Raja Ampat
33 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
30 minimum logged dives
This was one of the best diving adventures ever. Everything that occurs underwater is beautiful. Nothing is a letdown. The staff is great and very helpful. Because of problems with my back, I can’t lift a tank. Every time, they assisted me. They also take great care of the gear after dives by rinsing and hanging our wetsuits to dry. At the end of the trip, they clean and dry our BCDs and regulators as well. I awarded this 4 stars for cabin comfort because I like to have the toilet and shower in separate rooms. After a while, you get used to it, but it’s not perfect.
