The Mermaid II liveaboard 10D9N Maumere, Komodo, Bali is a top-notch expedition that takes you on a voyage through the Indonesian archipelago. You’ll see the strong reefs of Flores, the famous currents of Komodo, and the famous dive spots of Bali. This 10-day trip on the expedition-ready Mermaid II is a lesson in diversity. It starts in the stunning, restored coral gardens of Maumere Bay, which tell the tale of how the marine life has recovered. Then it sails west to the exciting, predator-filled seas of Komodo National Park. The last stop on your trip is the beautiful, pelagic-rich waterways of Bali, where you can see seasonal Mola Mola and stunning Manta Rays. This Maumere to Bali liveaboard is the best choice for divers who want to go on a deep voyage that combines peaceful reef ecosystems with heart-pounding activity while traveling through the ancient seascapes of the Flores Sea.
The Mermaid II Liveaboard Maumere, Komodo, Bali itinerary is a masterpiece in strategic exploration. It lasts 10 days and takes you deep into three of Indonesia’s most unique diving regions. The trip is at the right speed for taking in all of the sights and sounds of each area. For example, you can hike to see the scary Komodo dragons on Rinca Island and sample coastal cultures along the way. You will travel these historic waterways in comfort and confidence on the Mermaid II, which is known for her stability and crew that knows these rivers like the back of their hand. This 10-day trip is the ultimate Indonesia liveaboard package for ambitious divers looking for a unique east-to-west tour. It takes you into the living heart of Indonesia’s most famous and different waters.
More About Mermaid IIDives: Approximately 25 dives in total
Experience: Open Water – 4 minimum logged dives required.
Day 1: Maumere, Flores
Check-in on board between 13:00-15:00 hours at Maumere Harbour in Flores. After the boat and safety briefing, you’ll set up the equipment and you can settle into your cabin. Dinner will be served at 19:00 hours as the vessel cruises into the sunset on her overnight journey to Komodo National Park.
Day 2: 3 Dives
Three dives around the Lintah Strait, the strait between Komodo Island on the west and Rinca and Flores on the east. Here, you can expect crystal clear waters and a vast diversity of marine life from sharks and rays, including mantas, to turtles galore, schooling fish, and nudibranchs if you can take your eyes off the rest of the action going on around you! There is a choice of dive sites including Batu Bolong, Takat Makassar, Tatawa Besar, Tatawa Kecil, Batu Tengah, and Siaba Kecil. Your night dive can be either a critter dive at Wainiloo or a reef dive in northern Komodo. Cruise overnight to Maumere.
Day 3: 4 Dives
The boat will cruise south to Manta Alley, home to a large school of reef mantas. After exhilarating manta dives, the crew will take you to Horseshoe Bay for your night dive at Torpedo Alley. This site offers some of the weirdest and most wonderful critters and macro diving you will ever see!
Day 4: 4 Dives
Spectacular diving awaits you today at the world-famous dive site Cannibal Rock – rare nudibranchs, frogfish, spectacular corals, sponges, ascidians, huge black coral bushes, turtles, cuttlefish, loads of reef fish, and more. Watch dragons on the beach, spot monkeys, deer, and wild pigs along the shore, and go beach combing. There might even be a chance to follow whales and dolphins feeding in the calm bay.
Day 5: 3 Dives
Start your day with an exciting visit to Komodo National Park to walk with the dragons! Then relax for around 1.5 hours as the vessel cruises north to the Lintah Strait for one or two dives and then on to Gili Lawalut or Gili Drat in north Komodo for a night dive to finish the day.
Day 6: 4 Dives
Gili Lawa Laut has several great dives – if the tide is right, you will have a chance to spot grey reef sharks and dolphins at Taka Toko. Lighthouse Reef and The Old Passage offer fast drifts with pelagics, perhaps a manta if you are lucky! Crystal Rock offers awesome soft corals in gold and orange hues plus the chance for sharks, turtles, Napoleon wrasse, and fishes galore.
Day 7: 4 Dives
Today we will do two more dives around northern Komodo before leaving for Gili Banta for the third and night dive. Night dives at Gili Banta Bay or Stargazer beach which will deliver many unusual species and hunters in action.
Day 8: 2 Dives
Two dives at Sangeang Island for rare nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, and underwater hot springs that support this very unique marine life. Then cruise all afternoon and night to Saleh Bay in Sumbawa in order to dive with whale sharks.
Day 9: 2 Dives
Dive all morning with whale sharks in Slah Bay, Sumbawa, next to the fishing bagangs. After diving or snorkeling for several hours, the boat will start heading back to Bali.
Day 10: Benoa, Bali
Disembark after breakfast, and transfer at 8 am to the airport or your local hotel.
DAY 1: 0 Dives
Check-in on board between 13:00-15:00 hours at Benoa Harbour in Bali. After the boat and safety briefing, you’ll set up equipment and you can settle into your cabin. Dinner will be served at 19:00 hours as the vessel cruises into the sunset on her overnight journey to Moyo Island, northwest Sumbawa.
DAY 2: 3 Dives
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 longfin bannerfish and red tooth triggerfish, frogfish, nudibranchs, eels, surgeonfish, snappers, and dogtooth tuna.
Afterward, the vessel will cruise for two hours to Satonda Island for a world-class night dive. After a great dive and dinner, she will cruise overnight to Saleh Bay in order to dive with the whale sharks the next day.
DAY 3: 2 or 3 Dives
Dive all morning with whale sharks!!! After diving with the whale sharks, the vessel will start heading toward Sangeang Volcano. If there is enough time, we might be able to do a dive around Satonda. But that will depend on how long the whale sharks stay around the Bagang.
DAY 4: 4 Dives
Three dives at Sangeang Island for rare nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, and underwater hot springs that support this very unique marine life. Then cruise to Gili Banta for the night dive at Gili Banta Bay or Stargazer Beach which will deliver many unusual species and hunters in action.
DAY 5: 4 Dives
Two dives around the Gili Lawa Laut area and then into the Lintah Strait, which has beautiful coral reefs, sea mounts, and crystal clear waters. The famous Pink Beach at Komodo Island offers a fabulous night dive with fire urchins, zebra crabs, frogfish, nudibranchs, amazing basket stars, and more.
DAY 6: 3 Dives
Start your day with an exciting visit to Komodo National Park to walk with the dragons! Then relax for around 1.5 hours as the vessel cruises south to Manta Alley, home to a large school of reef mantas. After exhilarating manta dives, she will cruise to Horseshoe Bay for your night dive at Torpedo Alley. This site offers some of the weirdest and most wonderful critters and macro diving you will ever see!
DAY 7: 4 Dives
Spectacular diving awaits you today at the world-famous dive site Cannibal Rock – rare nudibranchs, frogfish, spectacular corals, sponges, ascidians, huge black coral bushes, turtles, cuttlefish, loads of reef fish, and more. Watch dragons on the beach, spot monkeys, deer, and wild pigs along the shore, and go beach combing. There might even be a chance to follow whales and dolphins feeding in the calm bay.
DAY 8: 3 Dives
Three dives around the Lintah Strait, the strait between Komodo Island on the west and Rinca and Flores on the east. Here, you can expect crystal clear waters and a vast diversity of marine life from sharks and rays, including mantas, to turtles galore, schooling fish, and nudibranchs if you can take your eyes off the rest of the action going on around you! There is a choice of dive sites including Batu Bolong, Takat Makassar, Tatawa Besar, Tatawa Kecil, Batu Tengah, and Siaba Kecil. Cruise overnight to Maumere.
DAY 9: 2 Dives
The last two dives will be done in Maumere Area, in Pomana Kecil Island or Raja Island, or Pulau Besar.
DAY 10:
Disembark after breakfast, and transfer at 8 am to the airport or your local hotel.
Included: VAT, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Cabin Towels, Deck Towels, WiFi internet.
Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (160-320 EUR per trip), National Park Fees (200-275 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, Halmahera, Lembeh, Togian
32 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
4 minimum logged dives
Raja Ampat, Banda Island, Alor, Maumere
48 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
4 minimum logged dives
Maumere, Alor, Banda Island, Ambon
35 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
4 minimum logged dives
Maumere, Komodo Island, Bali
25 Dives
Certificate: Open Water
No 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
There are so many firsts that I can’t even name them all! Dropping into the shotgun and the cauldron as a negative entry, then flying through and hanging on to watch a Manta demonstrate you how to deal with current! Going to turtle city at dusk and seeing so many turtles that you can’t count them all, just hanging out on the bottom. Then going night diving with octopi, pegasus fish, frogfish, and so many more. Finally, dolphins led us back to Bali. Even people who had been on liveaboards for a long time were amazed! Thanks, Ulrich and the team, for a great time.
