Diving with Mermaid Liveaboards!
- Darewrecks415 .
- Aug 7, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 6, 2022
This was my first liveaboard for diving. Despite paying about 4000USD, I had the most incredible diving experience ever, so much I think (also due to my camera/video equipment) that I should strictly do liveaboards when I dive from now on. This liveaboard was a 2 week mission in the waters of Indonesia.
The boat itself: I am not a picky person, but the boat and living quarters was fine for me. I was bunked with another US American and we got along fine. I didn't notice any issues during my stay while sleeping, or using any of the facilities.
The staff: The staff was incredible! Everyone was super down to earth and helpful. The chefs were amazing and because of my gluten free diet, the chefs made me an array of different meals everyday, catering to my diet. That is huge for me! The team was prepared during pre dives and answered all questions. Marcelo, the videographer of the company also spent time sharing some tips on filming and editing, which is crucial information for me.
The guests: There's something about cohesiveness when you plan a trip where everyone shares the same passion as you. Like Galapagos Islands, everyone is there for the same reasons pretty much, so its very easy to get along and talk to guests. We're all divers and many of us videographers and photographers of various skill levels and its great to meet professionals who are willing to share game. We all got along.
The experience: This was hands down the best experience I ever had diving. First, the life in Indonesia was incredible. You wouldn't even notice an issue with ocean life if this was your first place diving. It was pristine! The diversity of not only the life but the settings of each dive were varied and different.
We would do four dives a day. Well, I did, I want my moneys worth, with one night dive! We set foot on 3 different islands to hike, see Komodo dragons, and visit a village. Because of the daily dives, I started getting really proficient with getting my camera gear ready, building my own confidence for shooting, and learning from the pros who are willing to share knowledge. The dives were various skill levels. Some dives were super easy and relaxed, others were drift dives where the current takes you for a ride, and others had currents so strong I only stayed underwater for 20 minutes because I was running out of air.
Conclusion- I would recommend Mermaid Liveaboards or any liveaboard experience despite the cost. The connections you can make and knowledge you can receive if you're lucky is priceless as is the experience. For visuals, check out my video on the experience!
Here are PDFs of the dives.
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