Dive Review of Mermaid Liveaboards in
Indonesia/Komodo

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Mermaid Liveaboards: "First-rate diving with lots of variety", Jun, 2018, by Harvey S. Cohen, NJ, US ( Sr. Contributor 25 reports with 18 Helpful votes). Report 10334 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This was the 10-day Bali-Komodo itinerary ([mermaid-liveaboards.com link]), which typically offers 28 dives in the islands east of Bali. There are also land excursions to see the Komodo dragons in their natural habitat, visit a traditional village, and do a little scenic hiking. Here’s a 3-minute video with highlights of my trip [youtu.be link] . Some dives are drift, some are coral gardens, and some are “muck” (actually nice volcanic sand). There are huge aggregations of all kinds of fish. Those within the protected waters of Komodo Park are noticeably larger, but they’re healthy and profuse everywhere. Manta sightings are common; sharks and turtles are routine. The muck dives are full of exotic creatures— different kinds of mantis shrimp, several species of octopus, stargazers, etc. We saw lots of dolphins from the boat, but none during dives. The boat was thoroughly refurbished in dry dock this year. It has always been well maintained, so the differences are not dramatic from my last trip in 2015, but everything is in top condition. The boat is a twin-engine steel hull— both qualifications I think are important for a liveaboard on the open sea. Accommodations are comfortable, and food is delicious and plentiful. I’ve done a total of 5 Mermaid cruises in various parts of Indonesia, because I believe they are safe, well-managed, and a very good value. The staff and crew are expert and enthusiastic. They take excellent care of divers, and will do as much for you as you let them. Diving is generally very easy. Board a rubber dinghy from the dive deck, roll off at the dive site, and get picked up by the dinghy wherever you finish.
Websites	Mermaid Liveaboards
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Eilat, Bali, Komodo, Raja Ampat, Banda Sea, Red Sea, Fiji, Palau, Coral Sea, Galapagos, many Caribbean locations, New Jersey, Florida, National Aquarium, Dutch Springs, Silfra (Iceland), Panama (Pacific)
Closest Airport	Denpensar, Bali (DPS)	Getting There	There are direct flights from several U.S. cities to major Asian hubs like Hong Kong and Beijing, with connecting flights to Bali (DPS). The first leg is VERY long. Consider breaking up the trip with an extra stop in Europe or the Middle East, an overnight in a hotel, and perhaps some sightseeing. Or fly Business class. Bali is a popular tourist destination for many reasons. Consider scheduling a few days before and/or after the cruise.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, dry	Seas	calm, choppy, currents, no currents
Water Temp	80-81°F / 27-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	30-100 Ft/ 9-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Dive with buddy or guide. 75 minute maximum on day dives; 60 minutes on night dives. Carry an SMB and know how to use it.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	There is a dry worktable with compressed air on the dive deck, with 1-cubic-foot dry cubbyholes above. Charging is best done in cabins or in the salon/dining room; there are ample outlets in both places. Photographers normally set up their laptops on the dining tables between meals. The staff photographer is happy to offer advice and help if asked.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Mermaid Liveaboards in Indonesia/Komodo

Mermaid Liveaboards: "First-rate diving with lots of variety", Jun, 2018,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Mermaid Liveaboards in
Indonesia/Komodo