Take the ultimate trip through marine evolution with the Mermaid I liveaboard 12D11N Raja Ampat, Banda, Ambon. This top-notch adventure takes you through Indonesia’s biological heart, connecting the world’s richest coral reefs with its most famous muck diving. This 12-day trip on the tried-and-true Mermaid I takes you from North Raja Ampat’s famous fish-filled channels and majestic manta rays to the Banda Sea, which is full of pelagic life, and then to the Banda Islands, where you can see the remote volcanic slopes and historic forts. The trip ends in Ambon Bay, which is known for its critter diving. You will see all kinds of life, from schools of fish in wide-angle views to searching for unusual animals like the psychedelic frogfish. This Raja Ampat, Banda, and Ambon liveaboard is the best choice for professional divers who want to learn everything there is to know about the Coral Triangle’s biodiversity on a ship designed for serious exploration.
The Mermaid I Liveaboard Raja Ampat, Banda, Ambon itinerary is a masterclass in designing an expedition. It gives you a deep 12-day look at the remarkable changes in the ecology and history of the archipelago. The trip gives you the time you need to thoroughly experience three different worlds: the colorful coral reefs of Raja Ampat’s Dampier Strait and Wayag, the exciting blue-water pelagic action and colonial history of the Banda Islands, and the quiet black sand slopes of Ambon. You will be able to explore these famous sea routes in comfort and confidence on the Mermaid I, which is known for its stability, skilled crew, and focus on diver-centric logistics. This 12-day trip is a bucket-list achievement for underwater photographers and marine enthusiasts who want the most complete Indonesia liveaboard package. It takes you on a life-changing journey through the living history and stunning biodiversity of Indonesia’s richest seas.
More About Mermaid IDives: Approximately 33 dives in total
Experience: Open Water – No minimum logged dives required.
Dives: Approximately 34 dives in total
Experience: Open Water – 4 minimum logged dives required.
Day 1: Check-in on board MV Mermaid
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, it’s overnight to the Dampier Strait area.
Day 2-4: The next 3 days will be spent around the Dampier Strait, the strait between the island of Waigeo, the Bird’s Head peninsula, and the northern side of Batanta Island. The Dampier Strait is known for the variety of diving, from giant mantas to mangroves, beautiful reefs, many pinnacles, and seamounts covered in schooling fish, aggregations of sweetlips, schooling barracudas, schools of bumphead parrotfish, massive schools of fusiliers, and lots of wobbegong sharks. It is also a great location for critters and macro subjects, with several species of pygmy seahorses, and a large variety of nudibranchs. There are also several jetties to do some great night dives, where we can see raja epaulet sharks, toadfish, frogfish, and crocodile fish.
In the afternoon, between dives, we can visit several traditional Papuan villages, meet the locals and walk on white sandy beaches.
Cruise overnight to Misool.
Total 11 dives.
Day 5-6: The next 2 days will be around the island of Misool, where there are literally hundreds of dive sites. Misool is heaven for wide-angle photographers. The prettiest soft coral reefs in the world are located in Misool, as well as having multiple pinnacles surrounded by masses of schooling fish, barracudas, jacks, and snappers.
There will be some excursions with the tenders through some amazing inner lagoons, fantastic scenery, and wildlife sightings.
Cruise overnight to Pulau Koon, Ceram.
Total 7 dives.
Day 7: Pulau Koon is a small island on the southeast of Ceram, halfway between Raja Ampat and the Banda Islands. Walls covered in soft corals, and sandy slopes with hard coral bommies. But the most interesting feature of this island is the amount of schooling fish and pelagic, barracudas, bigeye trevallies, aggregation of red snappers, pompanos, batfish, and giant groupers.
Cruise overnight to Manuk.
Total dives 3.
Day 8: Manuk, an extinct volcano about 65 km south of the Banda Islands, is one of 2 places in Indonesia where there are huge aggregations of sea snakes, Chinese sea snakes, and banded sea kraits. It is an incredible experience to dive surrounded on all sides by sea snakes. The island is surrounded by black sandy slopes with hard coral reefs, volcanic ridges covered in gorgonians with zillions of fusiliers, and pelagic fishes such as Spanish mackerels and dogtooth tunas passing through.
Cruise overnight to the Banda Islands.
Total dives 4.
Day 9-10: The next two days will be spent in the Banda Islands, also known in the old days as the Spice Islands. Many of the dive sites around the Bandas are wall dives. Walls covered in massive gorgonians, soft corals, barrel sponges, and some very interesting swim-throughs. But there are other attractive dive sites such as pinnacles with enormous groups of schooling pyramid butterflyfish, triggerfish, and pelagic fishes such as tunas passing through spectacular hard coral reefs next to the volcano, and great muck dives with lots of mandarin fish in the local jetty.
The Banda Islands are much more than diving. It is also a cultural and historical experience. We will spend one morning walking around the village of Banda Naira with a local guide and visit the local museum, the Old Dutch Fort, the old colonial governor’s house, and the local fish market, and we will have breakfast at a nutmeg plantation.
Cruise overnight to Nusa Laut, Saparua Island, or Ambon.
Total dives 7.
Day 11: The last diving day of the trip will be around either the island of Nusa Laut or Ambon Bay. Nusa Laut is a small island, next to the island of Saparua, which has some beautiful hard coral fringing reefs as well as walls similar to those of the Banda Islands. Or, we will spend the day around Ambon, where there are several options such as wreaks, caves, or doing some really interesting muck dives looking for rhynophias, frogfish (including the psychedelic frogfish), harlequin shrimps, and many other critters.
Total dives 2.
Day 12: Check-out time at 8 am. We will arrange a transfer.
Dives: Approximately 33 dives in total
Experience: Open Water – 4 minimum logged dives required.
Day 1: Check-in on board MV Mermaid
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, it’s overnight to the Dampier Strait area.
Day 2-4: The next 3 days will be spent around the Dampier Strait, the strait between the island of Waigeo, the Bird’s Head peninsula, and the northern side of Batanta Island. The Dampier Strait is known for the variety of diving, from giant mantas to mangroves, beautiful reefs, many pinnacles and seamounts covered in schooling fish, aggregations of sweetlips, schooling barracudas, schools of bump head parrotfish, massive schools of fusiliers, and lots of wobbegongs sharks. It is also a great location for critters and macro subjects, with several species of pygmy seahorses, and a large variety of nudibranchs. There are also several jetties to do some great night dives, where we can see raja epaulet sharks, toadfish, frogfish, and crocodile fish.
In the afternoon, between dives, we can visit several traditional Papuan villages, meet the locals and walk on white sandy beaches.
Cruise overnight to Misool.
Total 11 dives.
Day 5-6: The next 2 days will be around the island of Misool, where there are literally hundreds of dive sites. Misool is heaven for wide-angle photographers. The prettiest soft coral reefs in the world are located in Misool, as well as having multiple pinnacles surrounded by masses of schooling fish, barracudas, jacks, and snappers.
There will be some excursions with the tenders through some amazing inner lagoons, fantastic scenery, and wildlife sightings.
Cruise overnight to Pulau Koon, Ceram.
Total 7 dives.
Day 7: Pulau Koon is a small island on the southeast of Ceram, halfway between Raja Ampat and the Banda Islands. Walls covered in soft corals, and sandy slopes with hard coral bommies. But the most interesting feature of this island is the amount of schooling fish and pelagic, barracudas, bigeye trevallies, aggregation of red snappers, pompanos, batfish, and giant groupers.
Cruise overnight to Manuk.
Total dives 3.
Day 8: Manuk, an extinct volcano about 65 nm south of the Banda Islands, is one of 2 places in Indonesia where there are huge aggregations of sea snakes, Chinese sea snakes, and banded sea kraits. It is an incredible experience to dive surrounded on all sides by sea snakes. The island is surrounded by black sandy slopes with hard coral reefs, volcanic ridges covered in gorgonians with zillions of fusiliers, and pelagic fishes such as Spanish mackerels and dogtooth tunas passing through.
Cruise overnight to the Banda Islands.
Total dives 4.
Day 9-10: The next two days will be spent in the Banda Islands, also known in the old days as the Spice Islands. Many of the dive sites around the Bandas are wall dives. Walls covered in massive gorgonians, soft corals, barrel sponges, and some very interesting swim-throughs. But there are other attractive dive sites such as pinnacles with enormous groups of schooling pyramid butterflyfish, triggerfish, and pelagic fishes such as tunas passing through spectacular hard coral reefs next to the volcano, and great muck dives with lots of mandarin fish in the local jetty.
The Banda Islands are much more than diving. It is also a cultural and historical experience. We will spend one morning walking around the village of Banda Naira with a local guide, and visit the local museum, the Old Dutch Fort, the old colonial governor’s house, and the local fish market, and we will have breakfast at a nutmeg plantation.
Cruise overnight to Nusa Laut, Saparua Island, or to Ambon.
Total dives 7.
Day 11: The last diving day of the trip will be around either the island of Nusa Laut or Ambon Bay. Nusa Laut is a small island, next to the island of Saparua, which has some beautiful hard coral fringing reefs as well as walls similar to those of the Banda Islands. Or, we will spend the day around Ambon, where there are several options such as wreaks, caves, or doing some really interesting muck dives looking for rhynophias, frogfish (including the psychedelic frogfish), harlequin shrimps, and many other critters.
Total dives 2.
Day 12: Check out time at 8 am. We will arrange a transfer to the airport or your hotel.
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).
Raja Ampat
36 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
4 minimum logged dives
Raja Ampat, Banda Island, Alor, Maumere
49 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
4 minimum logged dives
Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo Island
26 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
4 minimum logged dives
Maumere, Komodo Island, Sumbawa, Lombok, Bali
25 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
The drive from Raja Ampat to Ambon was great. The boat is incredibly nice, the dive sites were amazing with a lot of different marine life and corals, and the staff works very hard to make sure you have a great time on board.
