Dive Review of Mermaid II in
Indonesia/Bali-Komodo-Bali

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Mermaid II: "Great liveaboard diving! Superb crew, great dives!", Sep, 2022, by Rick Bates, ON, CA ( Contributor 16 reports with 6 Helpful votes). Report 12155 has 2 Helpful votes.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
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	We booked this trip in 2018 for travel in 2020, however postponed several times because of Covid. Mermaid people were very good about the re-bookings. They had a 25% deposit from us that held our spots and honoured their 2018 rates all the way through to our final payment for out trip. The only change made was they no longer offered one night’s accommodation in Bali the night prior to departure, but generously gave us free nitrox for the trip instead, a great value! We stayed the night prior at their partner hotel Bali Akaya which was cheap and cheerful. By the time we were on our trip, most or all covid restrictions were lifted. On board we were welcome to wear masks anytime we wanted to but chose not to. We are both quad vaxxed and were assured all crew and other passengers were all vaxxed. We felt quite comfortable, and there were no signs of covid during or after our trip. There was very little mentioned about safety on arrival. Location of life vests pointed out, and asked not to leave anything charging unattended in our rooms. No safety drills or other mention of fire/evacuation procedures which was a little disappointing. However, I always felt the crew were on top of things and I know the ship was patrolled at night. Once unpacked and settled in there was a thorough briefing on the week’s itinerary, and introductions all around. We were with a group of experienced divers from Santiago Chile who had the rest of the boat chartered. They were all a lot of fun to be with, and we are glad they were aboard. Many of them knew each other before and made us feel very welcomed into their group. Most spoke at least some English, and lots of laughs translating Spanish during the dive briefings! Diving was all done from RHIBs (Zodiac style). Procedures were such that it made things VERY easy. Your fins were taken down to the boats for you while you put on your tank. Short walk down the stairs onto the boat, where one of the crew put your fins on for you as you sat on the pontoon of the boat. After the dive, you would swim up to the side of the boat, and someone lifted your tank & weights in, hand up your fins, then climb aboard. Returning to the mothership, you climbed off, leaving all your gear behind. The crew then brought it all up to the platform and rinsed everything very thoroughly, and set it up at your station, all ready to go for the next dive. Couldn’t have been easier. After the last dives, the crew looked after rinsing all your gear and drying it out in time to be packed up for departure. 3-4 dives offered every day with lots of night dives, we did 19 dives over the 6 dive days. The dives themselves varied as we travelled from Bali to Komodo and back. Water temps on most dives were around 84F (29C), but on 3 or 4 dives south of Komodo we hit 76F (24C). We saw lots of little critters on the “muck” dives, all the usual ones, mantas shrimps, start gazers, tiny octos, and reef fish by the 1000’s on every other dive. A few sharks swimming by, and a few turtles. Two dives to giant Manta feeding and cleaning stations, nasty currents, and lousy viz, but that’s why they are there so you put up with it to see these magnificent creatures. Most groups were 4 divers and a DM, but we lucked out just the 2 of us with the boat’s head DM and cruise director to ourselves. He was really great at pointing out the critters we asked to see. We met with currents a lot, but he did his best to plan the dives to minimize the impact. A land excursion to Kamodo Island to see the giant dragons was done including an hour hike into the park with a ranger guide. The boat is a modern layout, typical of many liveaboards. Our cabin was on the same level as the dive deck and salon where we ate. It was fine for the size, good bathroom ensuite and quiet air conditioning, however it dripped onto the end of the bed. Beds are made and room tidied up daily. Food was brought up from the galley and served buffet style in a cozy salon. Good variety but it seemed a bit repetitive, just prepared differently. Snacks and between dive food was always great. All the staff and crew aboard was truly wonderful and friendly. 100% of them except the Cruise director (Italian/Spanish) were locals and everyone worked very hard with a smile. I got the impression that they were treated well and compensated well. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Mermaid II for your trip, but only wished we went during a season with better visibility.
Websites	Mermaid II
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Indonesia (Wakatobi), Papua New Guinea, Australia (Melborne/Sydney/GBR), Fiji, Florida, Bahamas, Curaçao, Roatan, Bonaire, St. Maarten, Belize, Turks & Caicos, Cozumel, Great Lakes, St Lawrence River, North Carolina, Tobermory, B.C., WA State, Gulf Islands BC, Nova Scotia, Cayman Islands, Saba
Closest Airport	Denpasar	Getting There	Somewhat complicated to get to Denpasar, everything will involve lay overs but its doable!
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy	Seas	choppy, currents
Water Temp	75-84°F / 24-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	30-50 Ft/ 9-15 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Usually 60 mins or 400 psi.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	None	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	Any part of Indonesia is a an UW photographer's dream, from small critters to large pelagics. However, depending on season, the visibility can be quite limited.

Report currently has 2 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Mermaid II in Indonesia/Bali-Komodo-Bali

Mermaid II: "Great liveaboard diving! Superb crew, great dives!", Sep, 2022,

Photos Submitted with this Report

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 II in
Indonesia/Bali-Komodo-Bali