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 […]
GULF OF TOMINI ADVENTURES I
This week, the Mermaid II with Snorkel Ventures embarked on an epic 12 days snorkeling adventure down in the Gulf of Tomini. From the legendary Lembeh Strait to the southeast coast of North Sulawesi, to the pristine Togian Islands and back to Lembeh Strait. After an overnight sail from our anchorage in Lembeh, we started […]
Mermaid II’s First Crossing of 2025: Raja Ampat-Halmahera-Lembeh
It’s Mermaid II’s first crossing of this year! Cruising approximately 600 nautical miles over the course of 12 days, across 3 different seas. From Raja Ampat to Lembeh Strait with an adventurous stopover at Halmahera. Starting the trip in Raja Ampat, where guests enjoyed the abundance of marine biodiversity the Four Kings have to offer. […]
Raja Ampat – Corals, Fish and… Critters?!
This week’s Raja Ampat adventure showcased the region’s incredible abundance of marine biodiversity. We ventured into more secluded area of Raja Ampat, full of beautiful landscapes and hidden lagoons, exploring the infrequently dived sites around the area, and finding a myriad of tiny and rare critters amongst the familiar sight of beautiful coral reefs, swimthroughs, […]
Raja Ampat – A Voyage of Biodiversity
This week’s voyage aboard the Mermaid II through Raja Ampat was full of diverse encounters. From big school of fish, feeding frenzies, beautiful reefs, mangroves and to the smallest of critters, Raja Ampat has it all! Starting off down south in Misool, guests were treated with beautiful landscapes, great visibility, kaleidoscope of colourful soft corals […]
Mermaid Liveaboards II: Epic 1st Raja Ampat Dive Adventure of 2025!
Happy New Year! It’s Mermaid II’s first trip of 2025 Starting the new year by sailing down south towards Misool. We were immediately greeted by the familiar sight of a kaleidoscope of colourful soft corals that decorates the interesting underwater topography of Misool’s rocky pinnacle, an encounter with a couple of friendly melanistic Reef Manta […]
Mantas, Mangroves, and Muck: A Raja Ampat Odyssey
Our liveaboard adventure in Raja Ampat showcased the region’s incredible marine diversity. Highlights included unforgettable encounters with majestic manta rays gliding over vibrant coral reefs. Schools of sweetlips added a splash of colour, while the elusive wobbegong sharks, perfectly camouflaged on the reef, were a delight to spot throughout the trip. We were also treated […]
Exploring Indonesia’s Underwater Treasures
Our expedition aboard Mermaid 1 showcased the incredible diversity of Indonesia’s underwater world, offering unforgettable encounters with marine life and stunning dive sites. The adventure began in Ambon, renowned for its muck diving. Here, we discovered a treasure trove of macro wonders, including cephalopods, colourful crustaceans, and tiny frogfish. Moving to the Banda Sea, the […]
Biodiversity Super Special: Extraordinary Marine Environments
A passage through some of the planet’s most extraordinary marine environments. This trip was the epitome of Biodiversity. Travelling such great distances across Indonesia, we covered an incredible expanse of ocean, crossing multiple seas and passing countless islands; we witnessed so much variety in marine life and marine environments. It is not only the marine […]