32 meter steel hull liveaboard offering 8 deluxe double cabins with air-con, bathroom (shower – WC, hot-cold water), wardrobe, camera charging facilities, storage space and of course life jackets. In addition to the deluxe cabins, she 2 budget cabins below deck.
The Mermaid II is considered on of the most comfortable Phuket liveboards and can accommodate up to 16 guests.
The 8 double deluxe cabins are located on the main deck and benefit from a large panoramic window.
These cabins have a double bed and a single bed (max 2 persons per cabin) while the below deck budget cabins have twin bunks, A/C and share a bathroom with one more double cabin.
The large dive deck has more than enough room for 16 divers to prepare and has individual storage boxes for your gear, many rinse tanks and a camera table. The wide dive platform has a number of fresh water showers and 2 sets of ladders allowing for easy sea access.
Feeding time takes place in the dining room located on the main deck where you can satisfy your hunger at the self-service buffet serving delicious Thai and comparatively bland, but equally-delicious-in-its-own-way western food.
The large and spacious saloon has plenty of comfortable seating, large panoramic windows, a bar, tea and coffee facilities (included in the price), and music center. TV/DVD and a library well stocked with useful informative material.
Outside you will find the shaded party deck with a combination of comfortable sun and lounge chairs. In front of the wheelhouse is the 2nd out side deck – the sun deck – also benefiting from comfortable sun loungers.
NITROX is available on all liveaboard cruises as well as a number of PADI scuba diving courses.
4 days/nights Phuket – Simians – Richelieu Rock – Phuket
Day 1 (Monday) – Transfers to Patong between 5:00-6:00pm to register for the cruise at the Royal Phawadee Village where a gourmet Thai buffet will be served. Transfer to the Mermaid II for a safety briefing at 7:30pm after which you can settle in to your cabin. Traditional firecrackers are set off to bring good luck to the cruise as you set of one the 6-hour voyage to the simian Islands. Dinner is served on board.
Day 2 (Tuesday) – Welcome to paradise. You will be woken at 7:am, if you went to bed. Following an optional continental style breakfast, the 1st dive takes place at the East of Eden dive site at 8:00am. Following the dive, a full breakfast is served.
Elephant Rock Head is the location for the 2nd dive where you can enjoy lots of coral, hungry sharks, giant trevally and lots of large fish at this memorable dive site. Peacock Mantis, Shrimp, Dragonets, Nudibrans and Whiskered Pipefish are also to be encountered here.
The Mermaid II then cruises to Koh Bon in search of Mantas for the 3rd dive while the 4th dive of the day is a night dive at Koh Bon. Lion Fish, Sea Stars, Crustaceans and Morays feature here in varying numbers.
Dinner is served on board after which you can relax, read, watch, listen, chat, lounge and/or indulge in alcoholic beverages on the party deck.
Day 3 (Wednesday) - Following a quiet, early morning sail, you will find yourself in the fabulous environs of the Plateau, Koh Tachai. Here your guests will be the resident school of Bat Fish, Leopard Sharks, Barracuda and Big Eye Trevally. Angler Fish, Mantas and Whale Sharks have also been known to frequent this dive site.
A 2 hour cruise north to the world famous Richelieu Rock follows, where you will indulge in a further 2 breathtaking dives. Here you will experience Ghost Pipefish, Sea Horse, Harlequin Shrimp, Frog Fish and many more marine species appealing to both the macro and big fish enthusiasts. The marine life here is too much to list but you can also expect to see Chevron Barracuda, Fusiliers, Yellow Stripped Snapper, Jacks and Giant Garoupa.
If conditions are favorable, a gem of a sunset dive at Richelieu takes place or we sail to Koh Tachai for an excellent night dive. The Mermaid II takes shelter in a quiet, secluded bay at Koh Tachai for the night.