Trip Reports
Back in Komodo – A Homecoming
After quite some time being away exploring Raja Ampat, Halmahera, Lembeh, the Togean islands, Alor and the Banda Sea. The Mermaid II found herself on a homecoming journey, sailing from Maumere through Komodo and beyond before returning to her home port of Benoa in Bali for more adventures to come! The trip began with a […]
Biodiversity Super Special 16 Days Cruise Raja Ampat-Banda Sea-Alor-Maumere
It’s that time of year again where the Mermaid II embarks on her famous seasonal crossing from Raja Ampat into Maumere. An incredible 16 days voyage of biodiversity, traversing over 1000 nautical miles across 5 different seas, passing through some remote and extraordinary destinations along the way. Starting this super special trip on a high […]
There are a Lot of Fish
“Fish soup” is how most divers would have described the abundance of fish life swarming over the reefs in Raja Ampat last week on Mermaid II. If you are a marine biologist, “a healthy biomass” would have most likely been the phrase you would have used to describe the conditions. No matter your preference for […]
Awe-inspiring Raja Ampat. Another breath taking trip in West Papua nailed.
After a week dealing with supermoon currents the diving conditions have settled again leaving most of the dive sites as easy & mild places to dive! Even flat conditions and less water flow didn’t stop us seeing the amusing amounts of fish on the reef and great numbers of Oceanic and Reef mantas were found […]
A Completely New Raja Surprise
Every season in Raja Ampat I’m totally blown away by what new surprises the region can deliver. First it was the world’s largest stingray, next it was Omura’s whales-the world’s newest classified species of whale-feeding next to Mermaid II, then it was a forty-five minute snorkel session with Raja Ampat’s first ever ocean sunfish, and […]
Eighteen-Hundred Miles Through The Coral Triangle
When you dive through eighteen hundred miles of world’s most bio-diverse waters, an area known to many as the Coral Triangle or the Ring of Fire, you never quite know exactly what your going to see, you just know it’s going to be epic. This was the feeling amongst all the customers and dive staff […]
Raja Ampat an Underwater Kingdom of Amazing Biodiversity
Starting a brand new season in Raja Ampat, Mermaid I returns to the land of the 4 Kings. An outstanding amount of plankton in the water carried by super moon currents brought up a spectacular agglomeration of fish. Beautiful wide open soft corals feeding and some extreme fish action from day one ‘till the last […]
Biodiversity Super Special
A 16 day journey. 1200 Nautical miles. One great crossing with extraordinary destinations from Maumere to Raja Ampat through the hottest spots of Alor and Banda Sea. The most anticipated and my favourite trip of the year! Mermaid’s very first sighting of a Dugong in the Banda Islands. It really made one of the best […]
The Color of Komodo
With the exception of Raja Ampat, I can’t imagine that there are any other dive destinations with as much color as Komodo and the surrounding islands. The reefs and all of it’s lovely inhabitants; from Moyo Island off of Sumbawa, to the intrepid water of Komodo, to Sangean’s volcanic reefs, offer an explosion of color […]
Lovely Komodo
Returning to Komodo, after nearly five months on land stretching my legs, was an absolute dream. The reefs were better than I had remembered as they were brimming with life and color. Batu Bolong, one of Komodo’s most popular sites offering one of the world’s best reef dives was exceptionally beautiful this trip. The hard […]