Mermaid 2 - Similan islands - Richelieu rock - 4 days / 4 nights (14 dives) - October to May
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Mermaid 2 Similan islands ●
Schedule ●
Inquiries ●
Prices ●
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Monday |
 Guests transfer to Patong between 17:00-18:00 checking in at Royal Phawadee Village. A delicious Thai buffet is served after completing the check in process. Transfer to MV Mermaid II by 19:30 for boat and safety briefing, settle into your cabin then set up equipment. Prior to getting underway, the crew set off firecrackers to bring good luck for the cruise , dinner is served and we sail usually calm seas for 6 hours to the Similan Islands. |
Tuesday - 4 dives |
Wake up call at 7am in  paradise ! After a continental breakfast, 1st dive around 8am at the spectacular East of Eden  on Island no. 7 featuring some of the finest soft coral reefs in the world followed by a full western breakfast back on board. Dive #2 is at Elephant Head Rock between islands #7 & 8 to enjoy coral encrusted swim throughs, sharks, giant trevally and mostly large fish action at this remarkable site. Macro enthusiasts should look out for specials like dragonets, whiskered pipefish, nudibrancs, peacock mantis shrimp and more !
Then we cruise north to Koh Bon for the best place in Thailand to see the beautiful Manta rays and watch their dance on West Ridge.The night dive will feature crustaceans, sea stars, morays, lion fish plus more. Dinner is served then its time to relax with our new friends over a cold beer
on the party deck. |
Wednesday - 4 dives |
 Early morning the captain sails us quietly to Koh Tachai to dive the fabulous "Plateau" - leopard sharks sleep around 25 metres while over head masses of barracuda, big eye trevally and a wonderful school of reside  nt batfish wait the keen diver - maybe even a chance for an angler fish hiding among the cabbage corals on the dome. Whale sharks frequent this dive site as do mantas !!! Next we cruise north for 2 hours to the world famous Richelieu Rock for a minimum of 2 dives - sea horse, frog fish, harlequin shrimp, ornate ghost pipefish plus more will delight the macro enthusiast with loads of fish action for everyone - rivers of fusiliers, big schools of jacks, chevron barracuda, yellow stripped snapper swim in the blue around "the Rock" with giant garoupa standing sentinel at the many coral heads just off the Rock - dripping with yellow, purple and pink soft corals. A sunset dive at Richelieu Rock is a treat if conditions allow otherwise its off to Koh Tachai for a good night dive where we shelter in a quiet bay for the night. |
Thursday - 4 dives |
 Early morning, another chance for the pelagic action of Koh Tachai and then its back to Koh Bon for more shark and manta action off the West Ridge or a deep dive on the Pinnacle for advanced divers ! Relax over lunch as we cruise back to the Similans for an island adventure to enjoy the white sand beaches  and awesome granite boulder formations. Then Dive #3 in the warm blue waters of Anita's Reef Island #5 - wow - are your camera's fully charged ? Night diving at Honeymoon Bay or the Hideaway will give you the chance to see loads of big and small crabs, lobster, shells and more - maybe a twin spot lion fish, a Spanish dancer? |
Friday - 2 dives |
 Today 2 morning dives around the southern Similan Islands - Boulder City and Shark Reef often feature on the itinerary developed each trip to suit all divers on board. These sites are washed by light to moderate currents bringing swarms of bait fish attracting pelagic and reef fishes galore. Loads of gorgonian fans dot  the sea floor providing homes for creatures big and small and plenty of photo opportunities. Look around the many huge granite boulders for leopard sharks, napoleon wrasse, oriental, sweet lips, jaw fish and more.
Your Similans/Richelieu adventure comes to an end as we cruise back to Patong Phuket arriving around 16:00 hours - all part of the service on board MV Mermaid II - relax over a yummy lunch while the crew wash your equipment and ready the boat for arrival. On shore you are met by Mermaid shore crew who assist your every need transferring you to your hotel or next destination.
Here we say good bye till next time to those leaving the boat. Those continuing on their Andaman Safari adventure have a chance to stretch their legs on shore, do a little shopping, have a massage or simply stay on board and relax for a couple of hours while we restock. All aboard by 19:00 hours |
TOTAL DIVES - SIMILAN ISLANDS/RICHELIEU ROCK - 14
NOTE: Your Andaman Safari can start on either Fridays or Mondays for 6 days / 7 nights seeing much of the splendor of the Andaman Sea.
TOTAL DIVES FOR THE WEEK LONG THAILAND SAFARI - 22 |
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 Guests are transferred to the Royal Phawadee hotel in Patong for 18:30 to check in and have dinner before their transfer to MV Mermaid2 around 19:30 - more fireworks and we get underway for Hin Daeng/Muang in the south cruising about 7 hours over night. |
Saturday - 4 dives |
 Good morning call for 7am and a continental breakfast. Dive 1, 2 and 3 give you plenty of opportunity to enjoy the wonders of  Hin Daeng (Red rock) and Hin Muang (purple rock). Famous for stunning red and purple soft corals and one of the best places for the chance to spot whale sharks. Mantas spend hours on the cleaning stations here as do divers ! Couple this with a "fish soup" of rainbow runners, yellow tail and chevron barracuda, fusiliers and millions of reef fish and you have one awesome dive location ! After 3 dives here we head north to Koh Ha - a cluster of 5 scenic islands for a wonderful night dive alive with colour, decorator crabs, Ghost pipefish, spiny lobster, Harlequin shrimp, red whip corals plus more. |
Sunday - 4 dives |
Special treats today ! Dive 1 at Koh Haa I for the chimney  and great swim throughs with an outsid e chance of a visiting whale shark (one of the more popular whale shark spots last year).
Dive 2 - "The twin Cathedrals", also known as of Koh Ha yai (the big island)- A safe but awesome open cavern dive with limestone stalactites and a chamber inside the island where you can surface and view the amazing limestone structure of the inside of the island. Outside the caverns it's nudibranch city - you can't fail to spot rare and interesting macro delights here.
Then it's off to dive Bida Nok and Bida Nai at Koh Phi Phi for 2 dives featuring leopard sharks, bamboo sharks, ornate ghost pipe fish, turtles …. After diving, there is the chance to go on shore at Phi Phi to shop for souvenirs, have a few beers at one of the many trendy bars or simply enjoy a romantic stroll along
the moonlit beach.
All aboard by 11pm to cruise back to Patong Phuket. |
Monday |
A hearty breakfast for all while the boat crew transfer your luggage ashore. Then we bid
farewell to our guests transferring ashore by 9:00 hours. Those staying on to continue
their Andaman Safari to the Similans have the day to relax on the beach, enjoy
a massage, go for an elephant trek, or relax by our pool at Phawadee Resort and Spa
till boarding time at 18:00 hours. |
TOTAL DIVES for HIN DAENG/ PHI PHI - 8 |
NOTE: Your Andaman Safari can start on either Fridays or Mondays for 6 days / 7 nights seeing much of the splendor of the Andaman Sea.
TOTAL DIVES FOR THE WEEK LONG THAILAND SAFARI - 22 |
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Departure Day |
 Guests transfer to Patong between 17:00-18:00 checking in at Royal Phawadee Village. A delicious Thai buffet is served after completing the check in process. Transfer to MV Mermaid by 19:30 for boat and safety briefing, settle into your cabin then set up equipment. Prior to getting underway, the crew set off firecrackers to bring good luck for the cruise , dinner is served and we sail usually calm seas for 6 hours to the Similan Islands. |
Day One - 4 dives |
Wake up call at 7am in paradise ! After a continental breakfast, 1st dive around 8am at the beautiful coral encrusted crystal clear East Of Eden on island # 7 followed by a full western breakfast. Visit Princess Beach at Island #4, visit the small museum or shop for a Similans souvenir. Dive #2 at Koh Bon for chance for Manta. After a delicious lunch and time to relax, enjoy a 3rd dive at Koh Tachai for pelagics and the chance for whale shark and mantas followed by an interesting night dive. Then relax with a cool beer and new friends after a delicious dinner |
Day Two - 3 dives |
 First dive today either at Koh Tachai or the world famous Richelieu Rock. After breakfast, dive # 2 and # 3 at Richelieu Rock then its north to clear the Burma border. Relax on the wonderful sundeck or sort your Richelieu photos in our spacious saloon. After clearing the border and a delicious dinner, we head off for our 1st stop in Burma. |
Day Three - 4 dives |
 Wake up in Burma and get ready for some fascinating diving. Today we dive High Rock, Stewart Island, Rocky Island and experience some great macro opportunities such as rare nudibrancs, stick pipe fish, spindle cowries and more. Not into small stuff - then check out the millions of moray, stone fish, scorpion fish, lion fish in full predatory action. |
Day Four - 4 dives |
 Some call it "In through the out door" some call it Shark Cave - awesome diving awaits what ever you call it ! Maybe the nurse sharks will be in the chamber ? Maybe some Grey Reef sharks in their sleeping formation cruising in the canyon ? If not, then you will still be busy with loads of snappers, bait fish, sea horse, ornate ghost pipe fish, beautiful soft corals housing rare and unusual cowries and more. |
Day Five - 4 dives |
 Today's feature site is Black Rock where we make 3 day and 1 sunset dive. Awesome dives with grey reef shark, white tip reef shark, leopard sharks, huge garoupa, giant marbled rays and trevally, huge remoras and masses of pelagic fishes. Top this off with ornate ghost pipe fish, frogfish and a million glass fish and this day will please every diver! Weather allowing we will cruise 8 hours overnight to the Burma Banks. |
Day Six - 4 dives |
 An early start on our shark safari for nurse sharks, white tip and black tip reef sharks, silvertip sharks as we do 4 day dives on Heckford Bank (Big Bank) and Silvertip Bank. The Banks are really weather dependent as they are way out to sea. If the conditions are not favorable for the Banks, we will divert to some other great sites in the area. |
Day Seven - 4 dives |
 Keep your eyes open for bull shark, white tip reef sharks and leopard sharks at Fan Forrest. Pinnacle during dive 1 & 2. After a scrumptious buffet lunch of Thai and western specialities Its time for a snooze on the sun deck, write up your dive log before the next dive around 3-4pm.
The afternoon dive at Western Rocky Island is a treat for all with a tunnel going through the island full of glass fish, hinge beak shrimps and a regular haunt for nurse and other sharks. Before dinner, we make a night dive around Western Rocky for all the night treasures Burma offers.
A great day's diving complete ! |
Day Eight - 2 dives |
 Two good dives around Western Rocky island or pinnacle in the morning - then we cruise to Kaw Thaung for border clearance and maybe some sightseeing. Relax on board, sort pictures, snooze a little and enjoy the sunset at we cruise south to Thai waters and more great dives in the Similan Islands. |
Day Nine - 2 dives |
Last but not least, East of Eden or Anita's Reef followed by Boulder City or Shark Fin Reef - a great way to end a super 9 day safari. Make sure you leave some film/disc space for loads of reef fishes, stunning coral formations, nudis and turtles! Then enjoy lunch as we cruise south to Patong, Phuket. The crew will rinse your gear for you ! We arrive at approx 16:00 hours and will transfer you to your hotel where you can dream about your next cruise on board Mermaid Liveaboards ! |
TOTAL DIVES FOR BURMA SAFARI - 30 (22 in Burma, 8 in Thailand)
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Day |
Description |
Dives |
Saturday
Departure day |
Check-in on board MV Mermaid I between  14:00-16:00 hours in Benoa Harbour Bali. After the boat and safety briefing, we'll set up equipment and you can settle into your cabin. Dinner will be served approx 19:00 hours as we cruise into the sunset on overnight journey to Moyo Island, north west Sumbawa.
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Sunday
Day-1 |
Start your adventure with a great dive in the calm , clear waters of Angel Reef at Moyo Island. Massive elephant ear and barrel sponges, schools of long fin banner fish and red tooth triggers. In their hundreds, frog fish, nudibrancs, eels, surgeon fish, snapper, dog tooth tuna checking out what is for lunch !  Visit the local village then its lunch for us ! Next is a great dive at Panjang Reef – are the pygmy seahorses around ? Then we cruise 2 hours to Satonda Island for a world class night dive after watching a million bats fly at sunset. After a great dive and dinner we cruise overnight to Sangeang Island, off the north coats of Sumbawa.
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Monday
Day-2 |
 2 dives at Sangeang Island for rare nudibrancs, pygmy seahorse and underwater hot springs that support this very unique marine life. Cruise to Gili Banta for exhilarating dives at Tanduk Rusa for big fish and amazing corals or GPS Point, famous for its sharks and pelagics. Then we enter the Komodo National Park and night dive at Gili Darat South Passage - sleeping turtles, colourful reef stone fish, Spanish dancers – calm sea- a great place to stay the night.
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4 |
Tuesday
Day-3 |
If the tide is right we hunt grey reef shark and dolphin at  Taka Toko Gili Lawalaut. Dive 2 is a fast drift with pelagics and manta at Lighthouse Reef or the Old Passage. Then Crystal Rock awesome soft corals and the chance for sharks, turtles, giant Maori wrasse, a ‘fish soup” dive with a high chance of eagle rays too ! Then we cruise south for fascinating night dive at Pink Beach near the entrance to the Komodo National Park.
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Wednesday
Day-4 |
Start your day with an exciting visit to Komodo  National Park to walk with the dragons !
Then relax as we cruise 2 hours south to Horseshoe Bay Rinja Island. Spectacular
diving awaits at the world famous site Cannibal Rock – rare nudibrancs, frogfish, spectacular corals, sponges, ascidians, huge black coral bushes, turtles, cuttlefish, loads of reef fish too ! Watch dragons on the beach, monkey, deer, wild pigs along the shore, go beach combing…. Maybe even a chance to follow whales and dolphin feeding in the calm bay. We overnight at this peaceful place, night diving at one of the many fabulous spots
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Thursday
Day-5 |
The Three Sisters call us to Padar Island for sharks and nudibrancs,  surgeon fish and devil
Rays. Manta Alley or Takat Makasar follows for the chance for a manta aggregation – WOW ! Batu Bolung aka “Current City” is the home for large Napolean Wrasse, turtles, blue fin trevally Or maybe a dive at Tatawa Kecil – we check out the currents first to make sure the dive will be cool for everyone on board ! Then we say goodbye to Komodo National Park with a fabulous Night dive at Gili Banta with Coral Cat Shark and more then we cruise west enjoying a post dinner night dive along the way. Overnight we cruise to Satonda Island
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Friday
Day-6 |
 We enjoy two fantastic dives at Satonda and Moyo Islands for more chances for ghost
pipe fish, ribbon eels, turtle, cuttlefish and the very rare Denise Pygmy seahorse before we cruise overnight to Benoa in the south of Bali.
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Saturday
Return |
After breakfast we transfer you ashore at 9am to continue your vacation…or its time to head home to start planning your next Mermaid cruise !
This is our normal 7 day schedule, this year we will be expanding our trips to 9 days on Mermaid I. The extra 2 days will be spent exploring some new sites and some new areas of the old ones. Mermaid II will be doing the regular 7 day schedule as above.
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TOTAL DIVES |
20 |
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Komodo liveaboard faqs and trip information
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Number of Dives/Site selection: |
We plan a minimum of 20 dives subject to weather conditions and security/safety issues. Dive site selection detailed in the published itinerary is subject to change by the Captain or Cruise Director without prior notice. There are numerous fantastic sites in Nusa Tengarra and Komodo and our objective is to take you to the best of the best ! Repeat guests – we’ll take you to some new sites or more of those you really love ! |
What diver certification level is needed for diving in Komodo ? |
Everyone is welcome on board, no matter what level your certification. Dive groups and site selection will be chosen to meet your safety, comfort and diving ability – and is subject to the discretion of the Cruise Director. Our professional dive crew will take you on the easy route or to another site if you don’t like currents. If you are up for it, we’ll take you right into it for all the action the site offers ! You may wish to bring a reef hook for some dive sites. |
Dive Guides and Diver Safety: |
Our experienced dive crew would be delighted to assist you. Divers are welcome to dive with their buddy on sites deemed suitable by the Cruise Director. All divers are required to dive with a dive computer – available for rent on board if you don’t have your own. Nitrox fills and courses are available on board to enhance your diving safety. Please allow 24 hours between last dive and flying. Guests are requested to show diving certification cards on checking in and are strongly recommended to have valid dive insurance (Padi, Dan or equivalent). |
Departure and Arrival Times: |
Guests are required to arrive in Bali no later than 14:00 hours which will allow us to make our planned 16:00 departure from Benoa port. Final cruise departure time is subject to guest arrival times. Please liaise with Mermaid Liveaboards if your flight times cannot fit this schedule. |
Transfers: |
Transfers from/to the airport or hotels in the south are free of charge. From destinations in central and northern Bali, there is a small charge. Please refer to the price list. |
Guests arriving before 12 noon on departure day will be transferred to Absolute Scuba at Sanur Beach where you can leave your luggage in safety till boarding transfer at 14:00 hours. After meeting the friendly crew at Absolute Scuba you can relax on the beach, enjoy a massage,go sight seeing or shopping. |
Pick up times: |
13:30 – Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Seminyak; 14:00 Kuta Beach, Legian, Sanur Beach; 12:00 Tulamben; 13:00 Candi Desa, Padangbai, Ubud; Time to be advised for Lovina Beach and northern Bali. |
Water Temperature and Wetsuit recommendations: |
The Flores Sea with its usually clear blue waters, great visibility has water temperatures of approx 26-28 degrees (northern dive locations) – a 3-5 mm shorty is okay with most guests comfortable with a 3-5mm long. The Sumba Sea (southern dive locations) has an average temperature of approx 24 degrees – the awesome diving let’s you forget about the cooler waters ! Think about a 5mm long possibly adding a vest or renting a shorty to go over the top if you feel the cold. Hood, gloves and booties are strongly recommended for these cooler waters. |
Equipment on board:
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Rental equipment is available on board. Our tanks are 12 litre steel and we have a few 15 litre steel/aluminium tanks available. Tank valves are international and some DIN adapters are available on board. Any dive equipment failure or loss will require you to rent a replacement from Mermaid Liveaboards at our published rates. If Mermaid Liveaboard equipment is lost/damaged, full replacement cost will be charged at the discretion of the Cruise Director. Published equipment prices will be available on board. |
Meals: |
Our Thai cook is excellent, preparing a variety of Thai, Indonesian and Western dishes…even Barbeques ! Please advise any special meal requirements on the guest information form. |
How much money should i bring? |
(Currency: If possible, please pay all on board costs in Indonesian rupiah.)
Up to you but we suggest you have some rupiah for souvenir shopping in Komodo, trip dvd, massages, small items etc at Sanur Beach. Exchange rates vary. The airport’s rate is lower than the rate you find at most small currency exchanges. Bank rates are low and take a long time. US$ are accepted in the Komodo National Park but rupiah is preferred. There are several currency exchange services and ATM machines near Absolute Scuba and at the airport and ATM’s at Benoa port. |
Luggage and what should I bring: |
All luggage will be taken on board. If you have large bags you do not need on the trip, please arrange to leave at your hotel if possible. |
I want to dive Bali as well: |
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There is loads of excellent diving in and around Bali as well. Contact your agent for special Liveaboard + Bali diving/accommodation packages. Detail how many days/diving days you would like, what class accomodation and we can recommend a package to suit.
Book Mermaid I Komodo safari
Similan islands, Komodo and Burma liveaboard itineraries - Mermaid liveaboards. Find out more about diving the Similans, Burma and Komodo with Mermaid liveaboards.
View the itineraries from Mermaid liveaboards for their trips to Komodo island, Burma and the Similan islands. Cruise in 5 star luxury and avoid the crowds.
Komodo island liveaboards, Similan liveaboard, Similans, Similan islands, Diving, liveaboard, Burma, Komodo, Komodo diving, Burma diving. |
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