Mermaid II Itinerary
Biodiversity Special Ring of Fire – Ambon – Banda Sea – Alor - Maumere12 days / 11 nights
About Mermaid II
- Embark on incredible itineraries lasting up to twelve days
- Sublime customer service with a nearly 1:1 crew to guest ratio
- Comfortable cabins and common areas with plenty of room
- Make the most of outstanding facilities for divers, photographers, and equipment
Mermaid II liveaboard is a spacious and modern motor yacht, purpose-built for scuba diving in Indonesia's renowned dive destinations. This boat caters to dedicated divers and underwater photographers with adventurous voyages lasting up to two weeks at sea. Choose from an exotic selection of itineraries cruising Bali, Komodo and Raja Ampat - or any of the epic diving regions in between - with highlights for every diver. And, with an energetic crew, individual gear and camera facilities, and a sumptuous ‘party deck’, you’re guaranteed to love every minute.
Itinerary details
Length of trip 12 days / 11 nights
Number of dives 33
Experience Open Water - Minimum 5 dives
Insurance Required
Highlights
- One-way itinerary diving through the Forgotten Islands
- Discover exceptional biodiversity in the heart of the coral triangle
- Seek hammerheads, threshers, and mola mola in Alor's cold upwellings
- Search for the rare Rhinopias scorpionfish in the waters of Alor
- Explore the swim-throughs and deep walls of the Banda Sea
- Dive at the foot of an active volcano
- Swim with hundreds of sea snakes at the remote Manuk Island
- Visit an old Dutch fort and spice plantations in Banda Neira
Day 1:
Check in on board Mermaid II. Once all guests are on board, a safety briefing will be given. If all the guests are on board by 12.00 hours, you have the chance to do two extra dives at Ambon Bay in some fabulous muck dives with critters galore. This area is known for many rare and unusual species, including the psychedelic frogfish and Rhinopias.
Check in on board Mermaid II. Once all guests are on board, a safety briefing will be given. If all the guests are on board by 12.00 hours, you have the chance to do two extra dives at Ambon Bay in some fabulous muck dives with critters galore. This area is known for many rare and unusual species, including the psychedelic frogfish and Rhinopias.
Day 2:
Ambon for some fabulous muck dives with critters galore—this area is known for many rare and unusual species, including the psychedelic frogfish and Ambon scorpion fish. Cruising overnight to the Banda Islands, 110 nautical miles.
Days 3-4:
The next two days will be spent in the Banda Islands, formerly known as the Spice Islands. Many of the dive sites around the Banda islands are wall dives. The walls are covered in massive gorgonians, soft corals, and barrel sponges and have some very interesting swim-throughs. But there are other attractive dive sites, such as pinnacles with enormous groups of schooling pyramid butterflyfish, triggerfish and pelagic fishes such as tunas passing through; spectacular hard coral reefs next to the volcano; and great muck dives with lots of mandarin fish at the local jetty.
The Banda Islands are much more than diving. It is also a cultural and historical experience. You will spend one morning walking around the village of Banda Neira the main island, with a local guide, visiting the local museum, the old Dutch fort, the old colonial governor’s house, the local fish market, and a nutmeg plantation, where you will have breakfast. Cruising overnight to Manuk Volcano, 50 nautical miles.
Day 5:
Manuk, also known as the Snake Volcano. Don't need to be afraid! The site also offers a black sand reef dive with loads of fish and pretty hard and soft corals. We will spend the whole day here doing four day dives, then travelling to the Banda Islands, 60 nautical miles.
Day 6:
Serua Island is probably one of the most emblematic spots in the Banda Sea to see schooling hammerhead sharks. Also an amazing sight to see schooling fish such as bigeye trevallies, pinjalo snappers and others. Cruise to Manuk, 55 nautical miles.
Day 7:
Surrounding Nila Island there are two atolls, Dusborgh and Nil Desperandum. It’s at these two atolls that there is a good chance of seeing hammerhead sharks. Even without the hammerheads, the reefs are fabulous, with healthy walls and big schools of fish. Cruise to Serua Island, 20 nautical miles.
(Dives x4)
Day 8:
Today you will dive several small islands – Neus Leur, Terbang Seletan and Terbang Utara. The island of Damar and its three surrounding small islands have spectacular diving. Like many dives in the Banda Sea, there is crystal clear water and beautiful walls covered in massive sponges and beautiful soft corals. Cruise a few hours to Nila, 90 nautical miles.
Day 9:
In Wetar you will dive at the small island of Reong and at Cape Nunukae.
Pulau Reong is a small island on the northwest coast of Wetar and is separated by a small channel only 700 meters wide. More walls, like many of the dive sites in the Banda Sea, covered in small soft corals but of a great variety of colours, with zillions of triggerfish of every species.
Cape Nunukae, about 6 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Reong, is a large ridge with slopes on both sides, covered with a hard coral reef on the shallow area of the ridge, with soft corals on the slopes in the deeper areas. There can be strong currents at the end of the ridge, where large aggregations of schooling fish can be found. Cruise overnight to the Damar Islands, 150 nautical miles.
Day 10:
Alor is a favourite dive spot for divers coming to dive Indonesia year after year due to its variety of dive sites. Healthy reefs, pinnacles, walls, great muck dives, cold water, warm water, strong currents and protected areas. Alor has it all. Cruise overnight to Wetar, 95 nautical miles.
Day 11:
You will do two dives today at Kawula Island (90 nm to Maumere) or Serbete Island (60 nm to Maumere).
Day 12:
Disembark at 08:00 when staff will transfer you to the airport or hotel.
Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.
Transfer details
Departure
02:00pm
Ambon
Pattimura International Airport: AMQ
Return
08:00am
Maumere
Maumere Airport: MOF
Current availability and prices: https://www.zubludiving.com/itineraries/mermaid-ii/itn-2102231145161-biodiversity-special-ring-of-fire-ambon-banda-sea-alor-maumere