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    Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Ambon

    Raja Ampat has been documented as one of the last frontiers of unspoilt diving. The archipelago’s pristine reefs are not only rich, but the region also proves to have the greatest coral reef biodiversity for its size in the world. The Bird’s Head Seascape holds: 2,500 islands and reefs, 1,320 fish species, 550 coral species and all that is yet to be discovered.

    Raja Ampat is the seascape’s crown jewel. Fittingly, the name means “four kings.” The four main islands or “Kings” of the archipelago: Waigeo in the north, Salawati west of Sorong, Batanta north of Salawati, and Misool in the south.

    Visit Waigeo and dive the famous Dampier Strait, some of Raja Ampat´s most action-packed dive sites. Exhilarating current dives and reliable manta cleaning stations where you can experience these majestic giant pelagics dance for hours along with many other treasures such as the tasselled wobbegong shark.

    Dive the beautiful and unique mangrove areas of Yanggefo and Gam islands where the tips of healthy acropora corals contrast with the lush green of the mangroves making excellent split images, while just beneath the surface schools of archerfish hunt among the forest of mangrove roots. Batanta Island, known for its excellent muck diving and amazing variety of nudibranchs including the endemic Thecacera sp. Black sand slopes full of wonderful critters and frequent sightings of the rare mimic octopus. Misool area in southern Raja Ampat is a must for those who enjoy radiant coloured soft corals. There are stunning walls, pinnacles and reefs with masses of huge gorgonian fans and sea fans hosting an array of the famous pygmy seahorses. The vast area and variety of dive sites makes it the ideal location to be discovered via liveaboard.

    Dive the famous Banda islands and visit the main port in Banda Neira where there is so much to see, learn and explore. Finish this fantastic trip in the second capital of muck diving Ambon Bay.

    Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Ambon

    Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Ambon with

    Mermaid I

    MV Mermaid I

    12 days / 11 nights 32 Dives
    Mermaid II

    MV Mermaid II

    12 days / 11 nights 32 Dives
    Day
    Itinerary with MV Mermaid I Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Ambon
    Dives

    Day 1

    Embark in Sorong.
    Check in on board MV Mermaid I. As guest arrivals take place from 06:00-14:00, 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 cruising to the Strait of Dampier.
    Cruise overnight to the Dampier Strait (40nm).

    Dives

    -

    Day 2-3

    Dampier Strait – Raja Ampat.
    Diving around the Dampier Strait, Yangeffo, Penemu, and the northern reaches of Raja Ampat offers the full spectrum of the region's legendary biodiversity. The Dampier Strait is the centrepiece, where nutrient-charged currents fuel dense clouds of fusiliers, snappers, and trevallies around sites like Blue Magic, Sardine Reef, Cape Kri, and Mioskon. Wobbegong sharks hide beneath coral heads, reef sharks patrol the slopes, and manta rays sweep through cleaning stations. Yangeffo adds a unique twist with its mangrove–reef fusion at Mangrove Ridge, where hard corals flourish beneath arching mangrove roots lit by dancing sunbeams.
    Westward, Penemu offers coral gardens shaped by lively currents, with Melissa's Garden standing out as a sweeping hard-coral amphitheatre buzzing with chromis, batfish, sweetlips, and swirling barracuda. To the northwest, Aljui Bay contrasts this with calm, sheltered walls perfect for macro and night diving—frogfish, nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, and critters tucked into sea fans and sponges—alongside the famed pearl farm set in dramatic limestone fjords. Diving around Kawe offers dramatic underwater topography, vibrant coral gardens, and nutrient-rich currents that attract schooling fish, reef sharks, and the occasional manta.
    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 (90nm).

    Dives

    7

    Day 4-6

    Misool – Raja Ampat. The next 3 days will be spent around the island of Misool. Diving in Misool is a paradise—truly heaven for wide-angle photographers—where towering coral bommies, manta cleaning stations, and fish-rich ridges explode with colour and motion. Sites offer sweeping seascapes filled with soft corals, swirling schools of fusiliers, and graceful reef sharks.
    Above the surface, Misool is just as enchanting: a quiet walk along its powder-white beaches reveals jungle-covered limestone cliffs and shallow turquoise lagoons alive with baby reef fish. A gentle dinghy tour through the hidden lagoons and narrow karst passages brings you into glassy, jade-colored pools surrounded by soaring rock walls.
    Cruise overnight to Pulau Koon, Ceram (110nm).

    Dives

    11

    Day 7

    Pulau Koon – Ceram.
    Pulau Koon is a small island southeast of Ceram, halfway between Raja Ampat and the Banda Islands. The diving around Pulau Koon is exceptional. Its signature site, "Too Many Fish", truly lives up to the name: immense schools of fusiliers, surgeonfish, snappers, and batfish move like living clouds as predators—giant trevallies, dogtooth tunas, and rainbow runners. The walls and ridges around the island drop into deep blue water, covered in healthy hard corals, soft coral fans, and sponges.
    Cruise overnight to Pulau Manuk (110 nm).

    Dives

    3

    Day 8

    Manuk – Banda Sea.
    Manuk, often called "Snake Island" is a remote, bird-covered volcanic outpost rising abruptly from the Banda Sea. From above, the island appears as a steep, jungle-green cone topped with the dark rim of an active volcano, its cliffs streaked white by thousands of seabirds. Boobies, frigatebirds, terns, and tropicbirds circle endlessly overhead, filling the sky with calls and giving the island an unmistakable wild, untouched atmosphere. The slopes plunge straight into deep blue water, and from the surface, you can often see clouds of birds diving for fish around the island's rocky perimeter.
    The volcano continues underwater as sheer walls, ridges, and terraces coated in hard corals, sponges, and sea fans. Large schools of fusiliers, trevallies, and surgeonfish pulse along the drop-offs. Sea snakes—mostly olive sea snakes—are famously abundant. The island's deep, current-swept points can also offer seasonal encounters with hammerhead sharks, especially during cooler upwelling periods, when groups of scalloped hammerheads may rise from the depths along the walls.
    Cruise overnight to the Bandas Islands (55nm).

    Dives

    3

    Day 9-10

    Banda Islands. The next two days will be spent in the Banda Islands, also known as the Spice Islands. Diving in the Banda Islands is an unforgettable experience, with crystal-clear waters, dramatic underwater walls, and vibrant marine life shaped by the region's volcanic forces and deep-sea currents. This remote archipelago includes Pulau Run, known for its pristine reefs and abundant fish life; Pulau Suanggi, the northern frontier famous for strong currents and the chance to encounter schooling pelagics; Banda Neira, the cultural heart with mellow reefs set against centuries of history; Banda Besar, offering long coral walls rich in biodiversity; and Gunung Api, the active volcano whose past lava flows have created uniquely regenerated coral landscapes. In the deep channels surrounding these islands, particularly during the right season, divers may even enjoy the thrilling possibility of hammerhead shark sightings.
    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, the local fish market, and we will have breakfast at a nutmeg plantation.
    Cruise overnight to Ambon (110 nm).

    Dives

    6

    Day 11

    The last diving day of the trip will be around either the island of Nusa Laut or in 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, you will spend the day around Ambon, where there are several options such as wrecks, caves or some really interesting muck dives looking for Rhinopias, frogfish (including the psychedelic frogfish), harlequin shrimps and many other critters.
    Total 2 dives


    Or, you will spend the day around Ambon, where there are several options such as wrecks, caves or some really interesting muck dives looking for Rhinopias, frogfish (including the psychedelic frogfish), harlequin shrimps and many other critters.

    Dives

    2

    Day 12

    Disembark at 8am. Mermaid I staff will transfer you to the airport or local hotel in Ambon.


    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.

    Dives

    -

    Total Dives: 32
    See Itinerary With MV Mermaid II See Reverse Itinerary With MV Mermaid I Download PDF
    Day
    Itinerary with MV Mermaid II Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Ambon
    Dives

    Day 1

    Embark in Sorong.
    Check in on board MV Mermaid I. As guest arrivals take place from 06:00-14:00, 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 cruising to the Strait of Dampier.
    Cruise overnight to the Dampier Strait (40nm).

    Dives

    -

    Day 2-3

    Dampier Strait – Raja Ampat.
    Diving around the Dampier Strait, Yangeffo, Penemu, and the northern reaches of Raja Ampat offers the full spectrum of the region's legendary biodiversity. The Dampier Strait is the centrepiece, where nutrient-charged currents fuel dense clouds of fusiliers, snappers, and trevallies around sites like Blue Magic, Sardine Reef, Cape Kri, and Mioskon. Wobbegong sharks hide beneath coral heads, reef sharks patrol the slopes, and manta rays sweep through cleaning stations. Yangeffo adds a unique twist with its mangrove–reef fusion at Mangrove Ridge, where hard corals flourish beneath arching mangrove roots lit by dancing sunbeams.
    Westward, Penemu offers coral gardens shaped by lively currents, with Melissa's Garden standing out as a sweeping hard-coral amphitheatre buzzing with chromis, batfish, sweetlips, and swirling barracuda. To the northwest, Aljui Bay contrasts this with calm, sheltered walls perfect for macro and night diving—frogfish, nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, and critters tucked into sea fans and sponges—alongside the famed pearl farm set in dramatic limestone fjords. Diving around Kawe offers dramatic underwater topography, vibrant coral gardens, and nutrient-rich currents that attract schooling fish, reef sharks, and the occasional manta.
    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 (90nm).

    Dives

    7

    Day 4-6

    Misool – Raja Ampat. The next 3 days will be spent around the island of Misool. Diving in Misool is a paradise—truly heaven for wide-angle photographers—where towering coral bommies, manta cleaning stations, and fish-rich ridges explode with colour and motion. Sites offer sweeping seascapes filled with soft corals, swirling schools of fusiliers, and graceful reef sharks.
    Above the surface, Misool is just as enchanting: a quiet walk along its powder-white beaches reveals jungle-covered limestone cliffs and shallow turquoise lagoons alive with baby reef fish. A gentle dinghy tour through the hidden lagoons and narrow karst passages brings you into glassy, jade-colored pools surrounded by soaring rock walls.
    Cruise overnight to Pulau Koon, Ceram (110nm).

    Dives

    11

    Day 7

    Pulau Koon – Ceram.
    Pulau Koon is a small island southeast of Ceram, halfway between Raja Ampat and the Banda Islands. The diving around Pulau Koon is exceptional. Its signature site, "Too Many Fish", truly lives up to the name: immense schools of fusiliers, surgeonfish, snappers, and batfish move like living clouds as predators—giant trevallies, dogtooth tunas, and rainbow runners. The walls and ridges around the island drop into deep blue water, covered in healthy hard corals, soft coral fans, and sponges.
    Cruise overnight to Pulau Manuk (110 nm).

    Dives

    3

    Day 8

    Manuk – Banda Sea.
    Manuk, often called "Snake Island" is a remote, bird-covered volcanic outpost rising abruptly from the Banda Sea. From above, the island appears as a steep, jungle-green cone topped with the dark rim of an active volcano, its cliffs streaked white by thousands of seabirds. Boobies, frigatebirds, terns, and tropicbirds circle endlessly overhead, filling the sky with calls and giving the island an unmistakable wild, untouched atmosphere. The slopes plunge straight into deep blue water, and from the surface, you can often see clouds of birds diving for fish around the island's rocky perimeter.
    The volcano continues underwater as sheer walls, ridges, and terraces coated in hard corals, sponges, and sea fans. Large schools of fusiliers, trevallies, and surgeonfish pulse along the drop-offs. Sea snakes—mostly olive sea snakes—are famously abundant. The island's deep, current-swept points can also offer seasonal encounters with hammerhead sharks, especially during cooler upwelling periods, when groups of scalloped hammerheads may rise from the depths along the walls.
    Cruise overnight to the Bandas Islands (55nm).

    Dives

    3

    Day 9-10

    Banda Islands. The next two days will be spent in the Banda Islands, also known as the Spice Islands. Diving in the Banda Islands is an unforgettable experience, with crystal-clear waters, dramatic underwater walls, and vibrant marine life shaped by the region's volcanic forces and deep-sea currents. This remote archipelago includes Pulau Run, known for its pristine reefs and abundant fish life; Pulau Suanggi, the northern frontier famous for strong currents and the chance to encounter schooling pelagics; Banda Neira, the cultural heart with mellow reefs set against centuries of history; Banda Besar, offering long coral walls rich in biodiversity; and Gunung Api, the active volcano whose past lava flows have created uniquely regenerated coral landscapes. In the deep channels surrounding these islands, particularly during the right season, divers may even enjoy the thrilling possibility of hammerhead shark sightings.
    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, the local fish market, and we will have breakfast at a nutmeg plantation.
    Cruise overnight to Ambon (110 nm).

    Dives

    6

    Day 11

    The last diving day of the trip will be around either the island of Nusa Laut or in 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, you will spend the day around Ambon, where there are several options such as wrecks, caves or some really interesting muck dives looking for Rhinopias, frogfish (including the psychedelic frogfish), harlequin shrimps and many other critters.

    Dives

    2

    Day 12

    Disembark at 8 am after breakfast. Mermaid II staff will transfer you to the airport or local hotel in Ambon.


    This is a sample itinerary and is subject to changes beyond the operator’s control. The exact itinerary for your cruise may be adapted to best suit the weather conditions, tides and currents, season and other prevailing events.

    Dives

    -

    Total Dives: 32
    See Itinerary With MV Mermaid I See Reverse Itinerary With MV Mermaid II Download PDF

    Departure Port

    Sorong

    Arrival Port

    Ambon

    Free Transfers

    Transfers are included on departure days from Sorong airport (SOQ)/city hotels and on arrival days to Ambon airport (AMQ)/city hotels. The free transfers will ensure hassle free transport to and from Mermaid I & II

    Convenient Departure Location

    We depart out of Sorong Harbour – conveniently located in Sorong's main town, a quick 15-minute ride from the airport. Sorong Airport (SOQ) can be reached with a direct flight from Jakarta (CGK), Manado (MDC) or Makassar (UPG). Check-in time in Sorong is between 07.00 am - 14.00.

    Arrivals

    Disembark at 08.00 am for your transfer to the Ambon Airport or Ambon City hotels.

    First class luxury liveaboard at affordable prices

    We offer exceptional value when compared to other boats operating in the region in both price and in comfort.

    Airlines Recommendation

    Below are the airlines that fly to this destination. Should you wish to have a streamlined travel experience for your trip, we will be happy to arrange your flight, please inform us when making an inquiry through our inquiry form.

    • Garuda Indonesia

      Garuda Indonesia is the national airline of Indonesia. Named after the holy bird Garuda of Hinduism from the national emblem of Indonesia. Garuda flies to most of our ports of embarkation and disembarkation. At the time of writing they offer an extra 23kg baggage allowance for sports gear, including scuba diving equipment.

    • Batik Air

      Batik Air is a full-service airline which began operations in May 2013. This airline is part of the Lion Air group. Batik Air flies to many of Mermaid’s destinations. They offer some convenient options such as direct flights from Jakarta to Sorong, for our Raja Ampat cruises, or to Ambon to join some of our most exciting cruises.

    • Lion Air

      Lion Air is an Indonesian low-cost airline and is the second largest low-cost airline in Southeast Asia after AirAsia and the largest airline of Indonesia. The airline operates domestic as well as international routes, which connects different destinations of Indonesia. Wings Air is part of Lion Air and flies to the more remote destinations. Batik Air is also part of the Lion Air group. Between all these airlines, Lion, Wings and Batik can fly you to any of the area where we operate.

    • Sriwijaya Air

      Sriwijaya Air is an Indonesian airline based in Jakarta. Garuda Indonesia group recently took over the operation of Sriwijaya Air. This airline is the country’s third largest carrier and offers flights to various Indonesian destinations and a few international destinations. Sriwijaya also offer convenient direct flights from Jakarta to Sorong for our Raja Ampat cruises.

    Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Ambon Upcoming Departures

    In-Port

    The boat is in-port for its yearly maintenance schedule

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      • DKK Danish Krone
      • EUR Euro
      • GBP British Pound Sterling
      • HKD Hong Kong Dollar
      • IDR Indonesian Rupiah
      • INR Indian Rupee
      • JPY Japanese Yen
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        Our base currency is in Euro, we can accept payment in Euro and USD only

        Select Your Trip

        • 2026
        EUR

        *Prices are per person

        Date Trip Code Itinerary Master Single Deluxe Lower Deck Status
        01
        Apr
        2026
        MMI 09/26RA

        Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Ambon

        Duration: 12D 11N

        Return: 12 Apr 2026

        Mermaid I

        Trip Details
        Book Now

        Select Your Trip

        Date

        01 Apr 2026

        Trip Code

        MMI 09/26RA

        Itinerary

        Raja Ampat – Banda Sea – Ambon

        12D 11N

        12 Apr 2026

        Mermaid I

        Trip Details

        *Prices are per person

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