Trip Reports
A Kingdom of Giants and Tiny Wonders!
Komodo is a kaleidoscope of colour and scale. Vibrant reefs teem with life, setting the stage for ocean giants: turtles, mantas, and whale sharks cruise effortlessly through the blue, while weird and wonderful critters dwell in the sand below. This voyage offered a true showcase of that duality. From macro marvels on Komodo’s black sand […]
A Passage Through the Heart of the Banda Sea
The full moon brought movement and life to the ocean. Currents pulsed through the reef, and with them, the rhythm of reproduction began barrel sponges released plumes of spawn like underwater volcanos, while starfish arch upwards, releasing fine strands into the current. The water teemed with energy, a living system in motion. Our voyage began […]
A New Name to the List
The list of marine species documented for the Bird’s Head Seascape, which includes coral, reef fish, as well as sharks & rays, is the largest in the world and the epicenter of marine bio-diversity. This list isn’t complete however, and it seems to grow a little longer every week with new discoveries, just as it […]
Amongst the Chaos
Amongst the wonderful chaos of the diving that Raja Ampat offers, it can be difficult at times to stop to admire the simple things. And just to clarity what I mean by wonderful chaos, I mean periodic passovers by oceanic and reef manta, wobbegongs, blueringed octopus, and the continuous shoals of fish at every corner. […]
Ambon – Banda Islands – Raja Ampat
Heading back to Raja Ampat with a mind blowing encounter of marine life and its incredible reefs. Mermaid I started the trip this time from Ambon passing through the Banda Islands and finally reaching beautiful Raja Ampat. 12 days, 35 dives at the most bio diverse dive sites you can possibly imagine. A beautiful contrast […]
A Magnificent Journey from Raja Ampat to Ambon Through the Islands of Banda Sea
Mermaid I goes on another biodiversity trip across 500 nautical miles from the heart of Raja Ampat all the way to Ambon considered one of the best macro destinations in Indonesia. In between Raja and Ambon the Banda islands with amazing clear waters, covered with fish, walls of corals and swim throughs. Flat seas, clear […]
Something for Everyone
It’s that time of year again where Mermaid II pulls anchor and embarks on one of its famous Biodiversity Specials where we dive our way from Raja Ampat, though the Banda Sea and into Ambon’s critter dense waters. There is no trip anywhere else in the world where you can experience an onslaught of reef […]
The Shallows
Raja Ampat’s Beauty at Any Depth Would you ever expect to find a huge amount of marine life combined with incredible healthy coral reefs just a few feet under the surface? That’s what our happy snorkelers have experienced on the last trip in Raja Ampat with Mermaid I. From large schools of fish, turtles, sea […]
CHANGOO, an adventurous dive site located East of Kawe island, North of Raja Ampat.
A combination of swimtroughs, sharks, and large schools of fish. When the current is right this place can be superb, schools of Jacks and Barracudas on the very shallows and a swim-through right at the start of the dive. A great amount of Surgeon fish and Penjalo snappers can sometimes nearly block the way out […]
The Return to Raja Ampat from Sulawesi Sea
Mermaid1 returns to Raja Ampat through an unforgettable diving experience across over 500 nautical miles from Lembeh to Halmahera. Starting the trip from the straits of Lembeh where everything was about macro, black volcanic sands, rare nudibranchs, colourful crustaceans, creatures crawling around and a legendary Hairy frogfish that made a great start for the trip. […]