Enjoy the sundeck with sun loungers between two dives!
MV Mermaid 1 dive boat review
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Photos: Mermaid Liveaboards / LiveAboard.com. Images checked against the current boat listing; photography dates are not stated.
Mermaid I: a small boat with a wide-ranging Indonesian calendar
Fifteen guests, a dedicated single cabin and room to retreat into the shade: Mermaid I has plenty to appeal to divers who enjoy a sociable boat without a large passenger list. Its real surprise is the range of journeys. Komodo is only part of the story; Raja Ampat, Banda Sea crossings and selected northern itineraries bring very different underwater worlds into the calendar.
The best match starts with the departure itself. A Bali round trip and a crossing ending in Sorong need quite different flights, budgets and expectations.
Cabins, dates and current prices
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Cabins · Itineraries · Budget · Guest feedback · FAQ
The boat and the cabin choice
Mermaid I is a twin-engine steel motor yacht, 28 m long and 7 m wide, with eight cabins for up to 15 guests. Built in 2000 and listed as renovated in 2025, the boat combines an established hull with more recent work aboard; the extent of that renovation is not specified. Air conditioning and private bathrooms are available in every cabin.
| Cabin | What makes it different |
|---|---|
| Master · 1 cabin | King-size bed and sea views; the premium choice for a couple. |
| Single · 1 cabin | A dedicated main-deck room with sea views, particularly useful for a solo traveller wanting privacy. |
| Deluxe · 4 cabins | Main-deck accommodation with sea views, offered in double or twin arrangements. |
| Lower Deck · 2 cabins | The lower-priced category, without the main-deck views. Bed arrangement should be confirmed for the allocated cabin. |
For a shared booking, the operator aims to pair solo guests with someone of the same gender but does not guarantee a match. Sole use of a double cabin normally carries a 90% supplement. That makes the dedicated Single worth comparing before paying for an entire double.
Life between dives
The two outdoor decks give the day a pleasant choice of pace: sun loungers when the breeze is inviting, or a seat in the covered lounge when shade feels better. Inside, the air-conditioned saloon has a television, music system and reference books. It is easy to imagine a fish-identification discussion lasting longer than planned here, especially after a busy reef dive.
Meals are served buffet-style, with Indonesian and other Asian dishes alongside Western options. Tea, coffee and soft drinks are included; alcohol is extra. Dietary requirements are best settled with the office before departure, particularly on the longer crossings where the next provisioning stop may be far away.
Two rigid inflatable tenders serve the diving, with ladders for returning aboard. Camera tables and dedicated rinse facilities are available. The operator’s standard arrangement is four divers per guide, although actual groups depend on the guests and trip. The published internet allowance is 3 GB per guest, with extra packages available; remote-island connectivity remains variable.
Itineraries: the port matters as much as the destination
Mermaid I moves around Indonesia. The following are itinerary families in the operator’s programme, not departures available every week. Some crossings run in either direction, and individual sites depend on weather, currents, permits and the cruise director’s judgement.
| Route family | Journey and character |
|---|---|
| Bali–Komodo | Benoa → Komodo → Benoa, or onward to Maumere. Selected programmes include Saleh Bay. A useful choice for combining a liveaboard with time in Bali. |
| Raja Ampat | Sorong → Misool → northern/central Raja Ampat → Sorong. The published 12-day programme combines southern reefs with the Dampier Strait area. |
| Banda Sea crossings | Ambon → Banda Sea → Raja Ampat, or the reverse. Longer passages are part of the experience, not simply transfers between nearby reefs. |
| Alor and the Ring of Fire | Maumere → Alor → Banda Sea → Ambon or Raja Ampat, depending on the departure. Cooler water around Alor can change wetsuit needs. |
| Forgotten Islands special | The 16-day sample travels from Sorong through Dampier Strait, Misool, Koon, Manuk, Nil Desperandum and Serua to the Banda Islands and Ambon. Its long passages make this a different commitment from a local reef loop. |
| Halmahera crossing | Lembeh → Halmahera → Raja Ampat, or the reverse: a different northern route with separate arrival and departure airports. |
| Togian Islands | Lembeh → Togian Islands → Lembeh on selected departures, including programmes advertised with whale-shark encounters. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. |
The 12-day Raja Ampat outline advertises up to 37 dives, with Misool first, then a selection of northern and central sites before returning to Sorong. That is a programme outline, not a promise of 37 dives or a particular animal. Raja Ampat’s diving guide and the Komodo guide give more context for the two best-known regions.
Mermaid I itinerary overview
Indicative regional connections, not navigation tracks or a guide for use underwater. Numbering shows the illustrated direction; reverse departures also operate. Markers represent regions, not precise dive entries.
The route table above remains available if the map cannot load.
Prices and the extras that change the total
As a dated comparison, the operator lists the 10–21 December 2026 Raja Ampat trip (12 days / 11 nights) at the fares below. These are per person and do not imply availability. Shared-cabin fares apply except for the dedicated Single.
| Cabin | Cruise fare | Fare + 2026 fuel surcharge only |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Deck | €5,000 | €5,240 |
| Deluxe | €5,500 | €5,740 |
| Master | €6,000 | €6,240 |
| Single | €6,500 | €6,740 |
These are partial totals. The operator applies a €20-per-day fuel surcharge to the relevant late-2026 departures: €240 for this 12-day example. Mandatory park and port charges are additional and vary by itinerary; the current FAQ does not give a complete amount. A written departure-specific quote is needed for the actual mandatory total. The operator says its 2027 fuel surcharge may change.
Meals, snacks, soft drinks, guided diving, tanks, weights and specified transfers are included. Nitrox, equipment rental, insurance, alcoholic drinks and tips are additional. Nitrox is listed at €6 per fill before the operator’s stated 11% VAT on onboard purchases, or €6.66 per fill including that tax; trip packages may be available. Flights, hotels and transfers outside the included area also belong in the overall holiday budget.
Affiliate link: Divezone may earn a commission if you book. Prices checked in November 2026; the booking quotation takes precedence.
Diving experience and practical arrivals
The operator accepts Open Water certification as its published minimum, but that does not make every site suitable for a newly qualified diver. Komodo, Raja Ampat and crossing itineraries can involve strong currents. Recent experience, comfort with entries and buoyancy, and an honest discussion of the chosen departure with the operator are more useful than a certification label alone.
A dive computer and surface marker buoy are required; the operator offers loan SMBs. Dive insurance is mandatory under the operator’s policy. Nitrox requires the appropriate certification. Site selection and group arrangements remain the cruise director’s responsibility.
Bali trips use Benoa; Raja Ampat trips use Sorong. Ambon, Maumere and Lembeh/Bitung feature on other departures. Included transfers cover specified airports and local hotels on cruise days. In Bali, southern areas including Sanur, Kuta, Seminyak, Jimbaran and Nusa Dua are covered; more distant areas carry extra charges. Island-resort transfers in Raja Ampat need a separate quotation. Arrival the day before can make a complicated domestic connection less stressful.
Travelling with a non-diving companion
Non-divers are welcome, at the same cruise rate as divers. Guided snorkelling can be arranged where conditions permit, sometimes at a different site or time from the scuba group. The operator also describes kayaking, paddleboarding and occasional beach, village or viewpoint outings; the actual mix depends on the route and weather.
A reef-focused itinerary with suitable snorkelling may therefore be a better fit than a long crossing for someone who will spend every day at the surface. A clear departure-specific activity plan is particularly helpful before sharing a cabin with a non-diving partner.
What guest feedback adds
LiveAboard.com displayed 9.1/10 from 62 verified reviews when checked in November 2026. This is the partner’s score, separate from Divezone’s visitor votes.
What guests enjoyed
Maria V. (August 2026) described a rewarding solo trip and praised the staff, captain and food. Alan P. (January 2025) highlighted the service and meals on a Raja Ampat journey. These individual reports support the appeal of the crew-led experience without guaranteeing identical service on every departure.
Points worth discussing
Eli R. (November 2024) praised the cleanliness and organisation but found the dive deck compact and would have liked more night dives. The review predates the renovation listed for 2025; it is historical feedback, not evidence of a current defect. Night-dive frequency remains a sensible question for the exact itinerary.
When another boat might suit you better
Mermaid I may feel compact if a large dive deck or expansive cabin is a priority. A diver seeking the lowest possible fare may prefer a shorter cruise, while someone who dislikes overnight passages may be happier with a local loop than a Banda Sea crossing. Its dedicated Single, small guest count and varied routes are more compelling reasons to choose it than a promise of hotel-style space.
A look aboard Mermaid I
Mermaid I in Komodo, 2–11 July 2026: an operator trip film by Christopher Pen. Wildlife encounters shown belong to that particular cruise. Watch on YouTube
Mermaid I questions, answered
How many guests and cabins does Mermaid I have?
Up to 15 guests in eight cabins: one Master, one Single, four Deluxe and two Lower Deck cabins. Each has air conditioning and a private bathroom.
Does every trip start in Bali?
No. Benoa is used for Bali departures, while Raja Ampat cruises use Sorong. Crossings can use Ambon, Maumere or Lembeh/Bitung, so both ends of the booked itinerary matter when choosing flights.
Is there a good option for a solo traveller?
The boat has one dedicated Single cabin. Shared bookings may also be possible; sole use of a double cabin normally adds 90%, so the Single deserves a separate price comparison.
Are park fees and Nitrox included?
They are additional. Park and port charges depend on the departure, while Nitrox can be charged per fill or through a trip package. The 2026 fuel surcharge is also separate from the published cruise fare.
Can a non-diver join?
Yes, at the same fare. Suitable snorkelling and other activities depend on the itinerary and conditions, so the operator should confirm the actual programme for that departure.
Is Mermaid I suitable for a newly certified diver?
The operator’s published minimum is Open Water, but currents and remoteness differ substantially by route. The operator needs to assess the diver’s recent experience against the selected cruise.
The Indonesia liveaboard guide helps compare regions. The Indonesia travel guide covers the wider journey, and Mermaid II offers another boat to consider.
Editorial checks: November 2026. Specifications and photos: LiveAboard.com; build/refit listing: PADI Travel. Routes, cabin categories, rates, fuel, transfers and onboard policies: Mermaid Liveaboards. Guest feedback: dated LiveAboard.com reviews. Operator boat information · Schedule · Policies · Fuel. Have you travelled on Mermaid I? Your route, month, cabin choice and experience would help other divers in the comments below.
Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?
Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to.
Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.
destination of the monthKomodo Island
Diving in Komodo Islands is all about action! It is BIG fishes land! With wonderful coral, it is just incredible diving all year round.
Raja Ampat
Richest Reef in the World, Amazing Biodiversity, Wonderful Coral, perfect place for underwater photography.
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in Komodo Island & Raja Ampat, please share your review and let us know what you thought. Please post your comments in the review section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next diving trip
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