The Mermaid I liveaboard dive boat was completed in early 2002 and she has added a whole new dimension to diving in the Andaman Sea. She is 94 ft (27m) long, has a beam of 21ft (7m) and only takes 15 passengers, plus crew.

She is of rugged steel construction and is powered by two Hino 510HP engines giving her power to spare. She cruises at a steady 9 knots but can reach speeds of 12 knots when required. She has two 50kW generators for plenty of reliable power for the air conditioning and other systems on the boat. She has large fresh water tanks and watermaker so never has a water problem.

The interior saloon on Mermaid 1 is fully air conditioned and tastefully decorated, like the rest of the boat, in teak trim. The furniture and other decorations are enhanced with a teak finish. The saloon is intelligently placed on the top deck, just behind the wheelhouse, where the views are best.

Directly behind the saloon is an outdoor area with a comfortable couch protected from the sun and rain by a roof. Forward on the bow, we have an area designed for sun lovers. Here’s the area to work on your tan when you’re not diving or otherwise occupied.

This boat was designed with comfort and practicality in mind. She has 1 master suite with sweeping views of the sea. 3 of her Deluxe cabins have double beds that can be converted into twins or singles when desired. Of the remaining 2 Deluxe cabins, one has double bed accommodation and the other is a single cabin for those of you who prefer privacy. The 2 Budget cabins below deck have twin beds.

All cabins offer well-decorated, comfortable en suite facilities. All heads have a sink with a cabinet below for storage, a vanity mirror, a toilet, and a shower with hot and cold running water. All cabins are air conditioned of course, and use a marine air conditioner for reliability and flexibility. You have control over the environment on this boat.

One of the most beautiful things about the Deluxe cabins is that they all open outside to the side of the boat not only affording a beautiful view, but for fresh, non-conditioned air if you so choose (the standard cabins are below deck and do not offer a large window). The cabins are on the main deck, closer to the water, so boat movement is felt less. All cabins feature stocked mini bars including chilled fresh drinking water.

Down one deck we find one of the most important parts of the boat, the dive deck and platform. On Mermaid 1 it is well laid out and very spacious, allowing plenty of room for the guests and crew to suit up without bumping into one another. The platform, at water level, is just a few steps down and features two stainless steel ladders with wooden steps for easy boarding after the dive.

The Mermaid 1 offers full Enriched Air or Nitrox on board. And, for those of you not yet Nitrox certified, we offer these courses right on board for your convenience.

This boat does a 9 night itinerary covering the best of Thailand and Burma, with stops at the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and the Mergui Archipelago.

The camera handling area is incorporated as part of the stern dive deck. This makes it much easier for you photographers to handle your gear easily and out of the air conditioning.

This boat offers DVD/CD burning, 110 v adapters and lots of charging areas and multiple separate rinse tanks for cameras. If you are just starting out you can take an Underwater Digital Photographer course onboard.