Day 1: Check-in on board MV Mermaid
As guest arrivals take place all through the day depending on flights, you are welcome to board when you arrive and spend some time looking around Sorong, gearing up, etc. Following the boat and safety briefing, it’s overnight to the Misool area. It is almost impossible to put together a daily itinerary due to the magnificent diving everywhere we go. 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!
Days 2 – 6: Misool area
With literally 100’s of dives around this magnificent area, we will be in diver’s paradise for a few days. Soft corals, gorgonians – some of the pretties corals in the world and the kingdom of the pygmy seahorse! Pinnacles with masses of fish. Bluewater mangroves (crocs depending) Islands, we will thoroughly enjoy the Misool area including Sagof Islands, Wagma and Farondi islands; Wailbatan and Warakaret Island, Kaling, Pele Islands.
Days 7 – 8: Fiabacet and Farondi Islands
After the 3rd dive of the day, spend some time going around the lagoons in the dinghy for amazing sights and wildlife. Then, we may head north to Waigeo Island. Perhaps, we will spend the day around Batanta Island, a black sand environment – great muck diving! The Mantas call us to Dampier Strait where they hang out at their cleaning stations. But this place is also fabulous for macro diving with critters such as Pegasus, Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse, pipefish, etc. And two dives at a small island called Arborek, with a lovely village and a jetty great for diving! The jetty pillars are covered in soft corals – a photographer’s delight and also good for macro such as signal gobies, nudibranchs, and more Pohtohi’s, etc. Dive around the island of Kawe, a great place for schooling fish, and beautiful reefs covered in black coral bushes. And dive Alyui Bay (or a full day around Alyui Bay).
In Alyui Bay, there is a pearl farm. We can tour the pearl farm and learn how they harvest the pearls and the whole process of pearl farming. You can even buy pearls. Diving in Alyui bay is good for macro and wide-angle. Walls covered in soft corals and sea fans with lots of nudies and pygmies. Also, a great night dive in the jetty; Raja Epaulette Shark (walking sharks), wobbegongs, crocodile fish, toadfish, and frogfish. Dive around the island of Yanggefo – beautiful mangrove areas, stunning reefs covered in orange and purple soft corals, and submerged reef with lots of schooling fish, and pygmies. The Strait of Dampier is also well known for the amount of schooling fish. There are several pinnacles with zillions of fish. Also, the tips (capes) of several islands with again lots of schooling fish; schools of barracudas, school of bigeye jacks, snappers, zillions of fusiliers and surgeonfish, etc and lots of wobbegongs.
Day 9: 2 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 10: After breakfast, we transfer you ashore to continue your vacation or it’s time to head home to start planning your next Mermaid Liveaboards cruise! With so many new itineraries and opportunities to choose from, you will be back and back and back for more and most welcome on board Mermaid Liveaboards – Asia’s Premier Liveaboard Fleet!
Marine Life: Soft corals, gorgonians, pygmy seahorses, Blue water mangroves, Manta Rays, amazing muck diving, Epaulette Shark, wobbegongs, crocodile-fish, toadfish, frogfish and so much more!
