DIVES TOTAL: 25
Day 1 (Dives Total: -)
Check-in on board Mermaid II. As guest arrivals take place all through the day depending on flights, you are welcome to board when you arrive and spend some time unpacking and setting up your equipment, etc. Following the boat and safety briefing, Mermaid II will start cruising to the area of Misool. The first cruising will be done overnight.
It is almost impossible to put together a daily itinerary due to the magnificent diving everywhere Mermaid II goes. No trip is the same, with so many different sites to visit and explore. If there is somewhere in particular you really have your heart set on, please discuss with the Cruise Director who will do their utmost to get you there – conditions, ship and your safety allowing!!
Day 2-4 (Dives Total: 11)
Misool area with literally hundreds of dive sites around this magnificent area, you will be in divers’ paradise for a few days.
Soft corals and gorgeous gorgonians, home to the much sought-after pygmy seahorse! Pinnacles with masses of fish. Islands you will thoroughly enjoy in the Misool area include the Balbulol, Sagof, Wagmab, Farondi, Wayilbatan, Warakaraket, Fiabacet, Yillet, Kalig and Pele Islands.Cruise to Dampier Strait
Day 5-7 (Dives Total: 12)
Dive around Penemu Island and visit the viewpoint. Or dive around the island of Kawe, a great place for schooling fish with beautiful reefs covered in black coral bushes and a very good chance to have encounters with Manta Rays.
Heading to the central part of Raja Ampat dive around the island of Yanggefo, with beautiful mangrove areas, stunning reefs covered in orange and purple soft corals and submerged reef with lots of schooling fish.
Arborek and Sawanderek Villages are some of the most beautiful islands to visit and great to dive under their jetty! The jetty pillars are covered in soft corals – a photographer’s delight and also good for macro such as signal gobies, nudibranchs, pipefish, blue ringed octopus and more.
The Mantas are then calling us to visit the famous Dampier Strait in the central part of Raja Ampat. Here Mantas hang out at their cleaning stations along with all the schooling fish that the sites have to offer. At some of the sites in the Dampier Strait, the macro marine life is amazing with critters such as the seamoth, Pontohi pygmy seahorse, pipefish and more.
The Dampier Strait is also well known for an incredible amount of schooling fish. There are several pinnacles with zillions of fish. The tips (capes) of several islands are also home to lots of schooling fish - barracudas, bigeye jacks, snappers, zillions of fusiliers and surgeonfish and much more. As if that weren’t enough, here you can find lots of wobbegong sharks.
Day 8 (Dives Total: 2)
Two dives in the Strait of Dampier. More of the same. Fish, fish, fish, glorious corals and all! Then back to Sorong we must go. The crew will take care of rinsing and packing your equipment during this 4-5 hour run.
Day 9 (Dives Total: -)
After breakfast, Mermaid II staff will transfer you to the airport or hotel in Sorong.
*For the 10 days/9 nights trips we add one day in Misool or Dampier Strait and 4 dives, Total dives of the trip 29 Dives
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to changes beyond the operator’s control. The exact itinerary, route and number of dives for your cruise may be adapted to best suit the weather conditions, tides and currents, season and other prevailing events.