MV Mermaid I

MV Mermaid I is a 28-metre, twin-engine steel motor yacht operated by Mermaid Liveaboards. Built around dive travel in Indonesia, it carries a maximum of 15 guests in eight ensuite, air-conditioned cabins and operates Komodo voyages alongside longer expeditions to Raja Ampat, the Banda Sea, Alor and other eastern Indonesian regions.

Mermaid I at a glance

The yacht has a published beam of 7 metres, draft of 2.5 metres and cruising speed of approximately 8 knots. Machinery includes twin 450 hp Hino engines, three Bauer compressors, two 135 kW generators, a Nitrox membrane and two 4.3-metre RIBs. The operator lists 30,000 litres of fresh-water capacity and watermakers producing up to 5,000 litres per day.

Unlike a traditional phinisi, Mermaid I uses a steel motor-yacht hull. Its eight-cabin layout and maximum of 15 guests include a true single cabin, which can be useful for a solo traveller who does not want to share.

Eight ensuite cabins

The main-deck Master State Room has a king bed, panoramic sea-view windows and a door opening to the gangway. One Single Cabin has a single bed and the same outside-facing window and gangway arrangement.

Four Deluxe Cabins can be configured with a king bed or twin beds. They have panoramic windows, gangway access, an ensuite bathroom, minibar and in-cabin entertainment. Two Lower Deck Cabins use double or twin-style bedding and have direct access to the main-deck gangways.

All eight cabins are air-conditioned and have an ensuite bathroom with a hot shower. Published amenities include toiletries, towels, bathrobes, a hairdryer, wardrobe, reading lights and an iPad for entertainment.

Dining and relaxation

Asian and Western buffets are served in the indoor restaurant. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks, milk, juice and drinking water are included in the standard cruise package. Beer and wine are available at extra cost.

The indoor saloon has a TV and music centre plus a library of general and marine-life books. Outside, guests have a shaded lounge deck and a sun deck with cushioned loungers. The operator also lists massage service and Starlink satellite internet; remote-area connectivity can still vary.

Dive facilities

The purpose-built dive deck leads to a wide stern platform with two exit ladders and freshwater showers. Six camera rinse tanks support underwater photographers. The vessel also carries dedicated camera facilities, compressors, tenders and a Nitrox membrane.

Nitrox is available on every cruise but is not included in the standard fare. Rental equipment and onboard courses are also charged separately. Each diver must use a dive computer, and the operator requires proof of certification and dive insurance at check-in.

Navigation and safety

Navigation equipment includes radar, GPS, computer navigation, plotters, a depth sounder and fish finder. Communications include SSB and DSC radio, satellite phone, mobile phones and Starlink.

Published safety equipment includes two life rafts rated for 20 people, EPIRB, emergency flares, oxygen, first-aid kit, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, life jackets, search light and a bilge-pump alarm. Dive guides carry Nautilus Lifelines.

Komodo cruises from Bali

The standard Mermaid I Bali–Komodo–Bali itinerary is published as 10 days and 9 nights with up to 28 dives. Embarkation and disembarkation are at Benoa Harbour in Bali, not Labuan Bajo. Other seasonal Komodo programs may run between Bali and Maumere.

The sample route crosses Moyo, Satonda, Gili Banta and Sumbawa before or after Komodo National Park. Within Komodo, potential sites include Crystal Rock, Gili Lawa, Manta Alley, Tatawa Kecil and Batu Bolong, with northern, central and southern areas selected according to conditions.

A Komodo dragon walk and visits around Pink Beach or Rinca may be included in the schedule. The route and dive count remain subject to weather, tides, currents, season and operational decisions.

Other operating areas

Mermaid I also operates scheduled expeditions in Raja Ampat, Alor, the Banda Sea, Ambon, Halmahera, Lembeh and other remote regions. Trip lengths and ports vary, so guests should check the exact vessel, route and embarkation city shown on their chosen departure.

What the cruise price covers

The operator includes transfers to and from the vessel on departure and arrival days within the stated free-transfer zone, all meals, snacks, fruit, non-alcoholic beverages, drinking water, tanks, weights, weight belts and guided diving with certified divemasters or instructors.

Fuel surcharges, transfers outside the free zone, rental equipment, courses, Nitrox, national-park and port fees, alcohol, onboard purchases and dive insurance are excluded. Park and port fees are paid onboard and may change.

Rates and cancellation

For selected 2027 Bali–Komodo–Bali departures, the operator currently publishes per-person fares from EUR 4,500 for a Lower Deck Cabin, with higher prices for Deluxe, Master and Single cabins. Rates, discounts, taxes and surcharges can change, so use the dated operator quotation as the booking reference.

For individual and small-group bookings, the published policy applies staged penalties: the deposit is partly refundable more than 90 days before departure, lost between 90 and 60 days, and the cruise becomes non-refundable within 60 days. Full-boat charter terms are stricter and use different payment deadlines.

Who Mermaid I suits

Mermaid I suits divers who want a steel-hulled expedition yacht with a dedicated camera setup, Nitrox, ensuite cabins, central air conditioning and long multi-region itineraries. Snorkellers and non-divers are welcome, but they pay the same cruise rate as divers.

Booking checks

Confirm the exact departure, cabin and bed setup, certification and experience requirements, equipment and Nitrox needs, park and port fees, fuel surcharge, transfer zone, insurance, medical clearance where applicable, payment schedule and cancellation terms before paying. Arriving in the embarkation city at least one day early reduces the risk of missing departure.