Liveaboard Mermaid II – Bali – Komodo – Bali
Travel period
Features
Starting at
Liveaboard itinerary: Bali - Komodo - Bali
Board the Mermaid II liveaboard for a diving vacation from Bali to Komodo and back again. Along the way, you will make several dives in many different places, making each day different. A plane to Bali, boarding, diving, and finally back in Bali – it can be that simple.
Diving in Bali & Komodo and everything in between.
Get ready for an unforgettable liveaboard journey from Bali to Komodo on the Mermaid II. Departing from Bali, you sail past Moyo Island and Sangeang Island, where each dive is unique. Underwater you will be surrounded by Massive elephant ear, barrel sponges, schools of longfin bannerfish, and curious frogfish and nudibranchs, among others.
As you sail toward Komodo National Park, you’ll land on famous dive sites. Manta Alley welcomes you with manta ra ys gliding elegantly through the water, while Batu Balong enchants you with colorful corals and an abundance of marine life. This 8-day trip offers about 20 dives, allowing you to fully experience the richness and diversity of the underwater world.
Whether you are fascinated by the wonders of Bali, the breathtaking transition to Komodo, or the sensational dive sites along the way, this dive vacation on the Mermaid II promises to be a success.
Comfortable stay aboard the Mermaid II
The M/V Mermaid II, a 33-meter steel motor yacht, welcomes 18 guests in deluxe cabins with panoramic sea view windows, individually controlled air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms. For budget-conscious divers, there are also lower deck budget cabins with stape beds, air conditioning and shared bathrooms. A comfortable home at sea.
Best travel time Bali & Komodo
The best time to go on this liveaboard trip is between May to August. Simply because in these months this route is offered the most. At other times the boats are in Raja Ampat, among other places, or perhaps sailing the special Biodiversity route.
Average Temperatures
Wetsuit advice for Bali & Komodo
A 3mm will almost always suffice, if you get cold really quickly you can consider a 5mm.
What will you experience on this diving vacation?
View itinerary here
Day 1 & 2 | The journey to Bali
Today you depart from Europe for Bali. Depending on which airport you depart from, you will be on the road for about 16 to 18 hours. It’s not a short flight, but once you arrive in Bali, you’ll already forget about the trip.
On day 2, you will arrive in Bali. The Mermaid II is already waiting for you at the port of Benoa. You may board between 1pm & 3pm. Of course, you will be picked up at Denpasar airport. If the flight times don’t work out, you might just miss the boat, say – then fly a day earlier and get a hotel.
Once aboard Mermaid you will of course be welcomed, settle into your cabin and at 7 p.m. the ship will depart for Moyo Island, where you will make your first dives tomorrow.
Day 3 | Diving at Moyo Island
You begin with a great swim in the calm, clear waters of Angel Reef on Moyo Island. Admire huge sponges such as Massive elephant ear and barrel sponges, schools of longfin bannerfish and red tooth triggerfish, as well as frogfish, nudibranchs, eels, doctor fish, snappers and dogtooth tuna.
After this dive, the Mermaid II will cruise for two and a half hours to Satonda Island, known for its coral reef and world-class night dive. After a fantastic dive and dinner, the ship will sail through the night to Komodo National Park.
Day 4 to 6 | Diving in Komodo National Park
At the beginning of Day 4, the Mermaid II will sail into Komodo National Park. You will spend the day on the northern islands of Komodo NP, namely Gili Lawa Laut and Gili Lawa Darat. In the evening we sail to central Komodo for a night dive at Soro Lia of Wainilu, which is an excellent location for a night dive with mud – a great place to spend the night.
On Day 5, you will set sail to the south of Komodo Island, to Manta Alley and Horseshoe Bay on Rinca Island. Spectacular dives await you at the world-famous dive site Cannibal Rock, known for rare snails, frogfish, breathtaking corals, sponges, ascidians, huge black coral bushes, turtles, cuttlefish and countless reef fish. While admiring the dragons on the beach, you may also see monkeys, deer, wild boars along the shore and who knows even the chance to see dolphins feeding in the calm bay.
Day 6 is already the last day in Komodo NP. You start the day by visiting Komodo National Park to hike with the dragons! Then you will make 3 dives in the Lintah Strait, looking for some of the best dive sites such as Tatawa Besar, Siaba Kecil, or the infamous “Current City” Batu Bolong. Stand face-to-face with reef sharks, turtles, Napoleon lionfish and more. After a night dive at Gili Lawa Darat, it is time to say goodbye to Komodo National Park.
Day 7 & 8 | Gili Banta & Muck Diving
This morning is your first dive at the dive site Gili Banta. Gili Banta is the point where the Pacific and Indian Oceans meet, attracting schools of tuna, several species of sharks and manta rays from both the ocean and the reef. The current dive to the northeast offers an excellent garden of hard corals with frogfish and snails. The deep dive at 30-40 m at the northwest tip of the island, with strong currents, is home to many coral trout, large groupers, schools of giant horse mackerel and huge dogtooth tuna. If you’re lucky, you might see a hammerhead shark swimming by.
You then set course for the Sangeang volcano to spend the rest of the day. Black sand, colorful reefs and countless aquatic animals await you. At night, you will sail on to the island of Sumbawa.
On Day 8, enjoy two more fantastic dives off the islands of Sumbawa and Moyo, with more chances to spot ghost pipe fish, ribbon eels, turtles, cuttlefish and more, before sailing overnight to Benoa in southern Bali.
Day 9 & 10 | Going home or extending the diving trip?
In the morning around 08:00 you will leave the boat. Since this is fairly early in the day, you probably have a connection to a flight the same day – if you want it. Of course, you can also extend with, say, a few more days in Bali or a whole other place in Indonesia. The choice is vast.
The liveaboard
The cabins & facilities
Liveaboard Mermaid II
The M/V Mermaid II is a 33-meter steel motor yacht. With 18 guests in 8 deluxe cabins and 2 guests in a budget cabin on the lower deck, this ship offers a wide range of accommodations. Luxury cabins, located on the main deck, offer panoramic sea views, individually controlled air conditioning and ensuite bathrooms, while budget cabins below deck feature shared facilities.
A vast diving platform with two ladders and hot showers is the gateway to the dive sites. The spacious dive deck provides ample space for donning equipment, camera facilities and rinse tanks. After diving, fresh towels and hot chocolate await you. Enjoy delicious buffet meals in the dining room, relax in the lounge overlooking the sea, and choose between the shaded party deck or the sun terrace. NITROX is available for every cruise, making the Mermaid II one of the most comfortable dive boats in Asia.
Deluxe cabins, located on the main deck, have panoramic windows with sea views, en-suite bathrooms, and are optionally equipped with a double bed or two twin beds. Budget cabins, on the lower deck, have bunk beds, a sink, individually controlled air conditioning and share a bathroom with an adjoining cabin. Both cabins promise a good night’s sleep with quality beds and linens of at least 300 thread count.
Facilities include individual air conditioning, life jackets, smoke detectors, sun and dive towels, toiletries, hair dryer and reading lights. Relaxation areas include an air-conditioned lounge with TV and music, an extensive library and two outdoor decks for enjoying the view and social interaction. The chefs prepare delicious buffets using local ingredients, and a selection of beverages, including wine and beer, is available at an additional cost.
Mermaid Liveaboards offers a 5-star experience and their liveaboards are consistently in the top 10 best liveaboards in the world, reviewed by DIVE Magazine over the past decade. Mermaid Liveaboards has won no fewer than 9 SCUBA Diving Magazine 2024 Readers Choice awards, including first place in categories such as Best Overall and Level of Safety. The exceptional service and commitment to eco-friendly operations, combined with luxury, make this our preferred choice when it comes to liveaboards in Indonesia. The fact that Komodo trips start and end in Bali offers not only ease of travel but also the chance to dive at Sangeang, an active volcano with sparkling waters full of critters, ideal for macro diving and beloved of underwater photographers.
Travel costs
What is included
This dive vacation to Bali & Komodo is available from US$ 3.524 per person based on two people in a deluxe cabin. You can book this trip as a solo traveler, but you will share the cabin. The diving trip can be expanded as desired. A number of things are included by default in this travel package.
Prices are subject to price changes, increases or changing exchange rates. Flights are always based on the cheapest possible booking class.
Want to know more about this diving vacation to Bali & Komodo? Get in touch with us!
Included in this diving trip, from US$ 3.524 p.p.
- 7 nights in a deluxe cabin
- Accommodation on full board basis
- Return transfers Bali Airport - Bali Port
- Approx. 20 dives
- VZR, Calamity Fund & Administration fee
Excluding
- Flight to Bali from US$ 841 p.p.
- Marine park fees ±US$ 210
- Dive insurance, mandatory
✈︎ The quoted (international) flight prices are indicative prices and based on departures from Europe.
However, we can arrange flights from any location worldwide.
Booking your own flights is of course also possible.
Optional
- Nitrox, entire trip US$ 101 p.p.
- Diving equipment per diving day US$ 42 p.p.
- excl. dive computer (mandatory) per dive day US$ 11 p.p.
- 15L tank, if available, free of charge
- Diving lamp, free of charge
- Surface buoy, free
Email this diving vacation
Want to save or share the details of this diving trip with someone? You can do so by sending the trip by email.
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Frequently asked questions about this diving vacation
Diving in Bali & Komodo general information
Boat diving, from the liveaboard. The diving is very diverse, from muck/macro diving to drift diving with big stuff and of course the highlight… the manta rays.
Always fairly close to the big liveaboard, last bit by zodiac.
In total on this trip you will make up to 20 dives spread over 6 days:
Day 3: 3 dives
Day 4: 4 dives
Day 5: 4 dives
Day 6: 3 dives
Day 7: 4 dives
Day 8: 2 dives
Yes, the boat does this several times including on Day 4 and Day 6.
Yes, by arrangement you can take a PADI course.
Diving equipment
There are DIN & INT tanks & DIN inserts
Yes, there are 10 15L available, these are free to use, first come first served….
Cost for nitrox is US$ 6 per refill or US$ 101 for the entire trip of 8D/7N.
Description | Price |
---|---|
Full Set* (Full Set – items marked*) | US$ 42 |
BCD* item | US$ 16 |
Regulator – with octopus and gauges* set | US$ 16 |
Wetsuit – shorty* item | US$ 11 |
Wetsuit – long* item | US$ 11 |
Mask/Snorkel* set | US$ 11 |
Full Foot Fins* item | US$ 11 |
Open Heel Fins plus Boots set | US$ 16 |
Compass item | US$ 5 |
Underwater Camera – per day excl.strobe | US$ 42 |
Dive Computer Item | US$ 11 |
Dive Torch item | Free |
Weights/weight belt item | Free |
Surface Marker Buoy item | Free |
15 Litre tank – subject to availability item | Free |
Liveaboard
The Deluxe Cabins did, the two budget cabins did not. By default, this trip is offered in a Deluxe Cabin.
Yes. The Mermaid has Starlink on board. You get complimentary 3GB and can buy more data with it.
5 GB US$ 53
10 GB US$ 84
15 GB US$ 126
20 GB US$ 158
All prices are subject to VAT (+ 11%)
Yes, and you’re not necessarily sharing with someone of the same sex, so just ask us about the possibilities.
Zodiacs mainly.