Dive trip with Merdeka 3 - 2 nights

Boat

Merdeka 3, also marketed as the Merdeka “Spaboat,” is a traditional Indonesian-style phinisi operating overnight cruises from Phuket, Thailand. The operator focuses on a blend of diving, snorkelling, island exploration and unhurried time aboard rather than a high-intensity dive safari. Scheduled dive-and-chill trips, relaxed private charters and larger weekend celebrations are separate products and do not share the same capacity or inclusions.

The primary website does not publish a full technical sheet. Current specialist listings place the vessel at approximately 30–31 metres long and 6.5 metres wide, describe an ironwood/wooden construction, and associate the build or major commissioning with 2016. Because the operator itself does not confirm these measurements or a later refit date, website copy should use “approximately 30 metres” and avoid presenting 2016 as a guaranteed latest-refurbishment year.

Secondary specifications list one 350 hp Nissan engine, a 25 kVA / 230 V electrical system and a 3.6-metre RIB for diving and transfers. These details are useful for orientation but should be reconfirmed before appearing in a formal charter contract. Charging points are advertised, yet the number, socket format, USB provision and overnight charging rules are not consistently published.

The phinisi layout favours open-air living. Current photographs show a large covered relaxation deck with mattresses and cushions, a shaded lounge, outdoor dining tables and long views over the islands. Massage is a signature feature, but “free massage” does not define the number, duration, treatment type or therapist availability. A booking should state the included treatment rather than imply unlimited spa service.

Meals are served in a casual full-board format. The direct private-charter and weekend pages specify three meals daily plus snacks and fruit, with water and soft drinks included. Current sales material describes a mixture of Thai and international food, buffet or set-menu service, and the ability to request vegetarian or vegan meals. Allergies, religious restrictions and medical diets must be sent in advance; a compact marine galley cannot promise a fully isolated preparation environment.

The vessel is designed for divers and non-divers travelling together. Snorkelling, swimming, kayaking, beach visits, island exploration and time on deck can be combined with a smaller number of dives. This family-friendly positioning does not mean every activity is suitable for every child or non-swimmer. Minimum age, lifejacket fit, supervision, water confidence and the exact activity schedule require confirmation.

Current safety inventories published by specialist sellers include VHF radio, depth sounder, life rafts or rescue craft, lifejackets, fire alarms and extinguishers, first-aid supplies, bilge alarm, searchlight and satellite/mobile communication. Equipment can change, and the exact oxygen capacity is not clearly published on the operator's present pages. Guests should rely on the onboard muster, fire, man-overboard and dive-recovery briefing rather than a generic list.

Merdeka 3 has no published lift, accessible cabin or step-free route. Narrow marine stairs, raised door sills, bunk access, movement between the RIB and mothership, and wet exterior surfaces can all affect mobility. A traveller with balance, transfer or medical-equipment needs should request an individual assessment before paying.

Cabin

Merdeka 3's current cabin information contains a numerical error that must be explained. The operator headline says “6 cabins (18 berths)”, but its detailed list describes four king cabins, two quad-bunk cabins and one twin-bunk cabin. That is seven physical cabins and 18 fixed sleeping places:

• 4 King Cabins — maximum 2 guests each, 8 berths total: one king-size bed according to the operator, individually air-conditioned and fan-cooled, with an attached private bathroom and hot water. A current sales platform says the bed may be prepared as one king or two singles and describes large sea-view sliding doors. Treat split-bed setup as a request requiring written confirmation, not an automatic feature.
• 2 Quad-Bunk Cabins — maximum 4 guests each, 8 berths total: four individual bunk-style sleeping places, air conditioning and fans. The operator states that these cabins use shared bathroom facilities. Operator-linked 2024 photographs show two distinct quad cabins, supporting the quantity of two.
• 1 Twin-Bunk Cabin — maximum 2 guests, 2 berths total: two single bunk-style beds, air conditioning and a fan, with shared bathroom facilities outside or allocated separately rather than a reliably attached ensuite.

The resulting fixed-berth calculation is 8 + 8 + 2 = 18. The six-cabin headline is incompatible with the detailed room list and appears stale. Older dive-sales pages still describe six cabins and 14 guests—four kings, one quad and one twin—probably because only six rooms or 14 places were released to those departures. The safe website approach is to describe the physical layout as seven cabins/18 berths while making the saleable capacity specific to each cruise.

Bathroom wording also needs care. The four king rooms are clearly described as ensuite. Quad and twin rooms are described by the operator as sharing facilities, even though some reseller icons mark them “ensuite.” A current specification lists six bathrooms in total, which could reconcile as four attached bathrooms plus two common bathrooms, but the operator does not publish the exact assignment. Never promise a private ensuite to a quad- or twin-bunk guest without a room-specific confirmation.

All rooms are advertised with both air conditioning and fans, while hot water, pillows, bed linen and towels are included. A current seller estimates about 7 m² for each category, but no official measured floor plan is available, and a quad room with four bunks will naturally feel different from a king room. The figure should be treated as a sales estimate, not a surveyed guarantee.

The king cabins are the most private choice and the only category with a clearly attached bathroom. They suit couples; friends requiring separate beds must confirm the conversion described by the sales platform. The quad cabins are intended for families, groups or sociable solo travellers who accept bunk sleeping and shared facilities. The twin-bunk cabin can suit two friends but is not appropriate for a traveller unable to climb into a raised berth.

No public source consistently states cabin numbers, deck positions for every room, mattress dimensions, wardrobe size, safe, minibar, hairdryer, toiletries, USB layout or housekeeping frequency. Current imagery shows compact bunk rooms and a more spacious king layout, but an image cannot establish the exact cabin a guest will receive. Ask for the assigned cabin name, bed setup, bathroom access and current photograph on the booking confirmation.

Capacity changes with the product. Standard dive channels may sell only 14 guests. Direct private charters are capped at 18 people, matching the detailed fixed-berth total. The weekend-party page permits as many as 30 people, explicitly warning that guests above the cabin capacity sleep on covered deck areas and share cabin and bathroom facilities. “Up to 30” must never be converted into 30 cabin beds.

Single supplements, roommate matching, child rates and sole-use rules are not published as one universal policy. A group reserving all seven cabins should obtain a signed rooming list. Large event groups also need a clear division between fixed cabin berths, deck sleeping, bedding, bathroom sharing and maximum passenger approval.

Diving

Merdeka 3 is deliberately not a four-dives-per-day expedition boat. The operator promotes a balanced day with a couple of dives, leaving time for snorkelling, kayaking, beaches, sightseeing, massage and relaxation. Current specialist descriptions commonly refer to around two dives per day, but the exact package can offer more or fewer depending on route, arrival time, weather and optional extra dives.

Scuba inclusion depends on the product. Scheduled Dive & Snorkel or Dive 'n Chill departures normally include a defined dive package. On a direct private charter, the operator states that scuba can be added at extra cost based on the number of divers. The direct Weekend Party inclusion list does not include scuba. A customer must therefore book the correct product instead of assuming that every Merdeka 3 cruise contains diving.

Published South Andaman routes include Phi Phi, Koh Haa, Hin Daeng, Hin Muang and the Racha Islands. Phi Phi combines reef diving with limestone scenery and shore visits. Koh Haa offers protected lagoons and coral formations. Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are more exposed offshore pinnacles where current and depth can make the diving significantly more demanding. Racha Yai and Racha Noi provide a seasonal alternative, with Racha Noi generally requiring stronger buoyancy, current and open-water skills.

One current booking platform sets Open Water as the minimum certification and requires reasonable health, a completed medical form and at least 24 hours without flying after scuba. The operator does not publish one minimum logged-dive number for all routes. A newly certified guest may be comfortable on selected Phi Phi or Racha Yai profiles, while Hin Daeng, Hin Muang and Racha Noi can require recent experience and guide approval.

The vessel is listed with a dive deck, shaded preparation area, rinse points, separate camera rinse facilities, DIN adaptors and a RIB for entries and pickups. Tank size, valve standard, air-fill limit, weight allowance, diver-to-guide ratio and maximum group size are not consistently stated. These belong on the departure-specific dive sheet.

Nitrox is currently listed as unavailable and the boat is not marketed as technical-diving friendly. Rebreather support, oxygen/helium, booster, bailout, sidemount hardware and technical guides must not be inferred. The published product is recreational air diving unless a special charter contract says otherwise.

Rental equipment can be arranged. A current sales page shows a time-sensitive example of THB 500 per day for a set described as including a 15-litre tank, regulator, BCD, mask, snorkelling equipment, wetsuit and fins. The composition is unusual and may be a translation or bundle issue. Sizes, computer, torch, SMB, cylinder, valve and current price must be reconfirmed; do not promise free dive gear because an older reseller once labelled rental “free.”

Courses are offered, and a private charter can request scuba instruction. Discover Scuba Diving, Open Water or continuing education depends on medical clearance, instructor availability, water conditions and a separate fee unless clearly included. A try dive advertised by an older agent should not be treated as permanently free.

National-park access, currents, visibility, mooring availability and group ability control the daily plan. Manta rays, whale sharks, leopard sharks, reef sharks, turtles and seahorses are possible in the South Andaman Sea but are never guaranteed. Wreck entry, deep profiles, night diving and overhead environments require the correct training and explicit guide approval.

Travel and personal-accident insurance are excluded from direct packages. Scuba guests should also carry dive-accident coverage for recompression, marine evacuation and repatriation. Any short-term cover offered by an agency must be checked for depth, nationality, duration and exclusions; it does not automatically replace comprehensive insurance.

Other Information

Merdeka 3 has three distinct commercial formats—scheduled diving, overnight private charter and weekend event charter. Inclusions must be attached to the selected format.

Direct private-charter pricing currently states that it includes:

• Use of Merdeka 3 and lodging for the contracted charter period, up to the confirmed passenger and rooming limit
• Three meals per day plus snacks and fruit
• Bed linen and towels
• Masks and snorkels
• Water and soft drinks
• A complimentary massage, with duration and allocation to be confirmed
• A beer bundle of one case per charter day, stated as 24 cans

The direct weekend-event package currently includes:

• Full board and lodging from Friday night to Sunday evening under the set programme
• Three meals daily plus snacks and fruit
• Boat use, bed linen and towels
• Masks and snorkels
• Complimentary massage
• Water and soft drinks
• A stated beer bundle of four cases/96 cans for the group

Current scheduled Dive 'n Chill sales material may include:

• Accommodation, meals, drinking water, tea, coffee, selected soft drinks and snacks
• A defined dive package rather than unlimited diving
• Kayaking, fishing and stated shore excursions
• Cabin, deck and beach towels plus basic toiletries
• Massage
• The exact alcohol rule varies: a current agency lists alcoholic drinks as optional extras, while older boat summaries describe beer and wine as included. Use the selected invoice.

Normally excluded, optional or product-dependent:

• National-park and conservation fees; a current sales example shows THB 1,600 per trip, but government fees and route totals can change
• Airport and hotel transfers; the direct charter page gives a time-sensitive estimate of approximately THB 800–1,000 per minivan each way, paid to the driver
• Travel, personal-accident and dive insurance
• Scuba on a private or party charter unless separately priced
• Courses, extra dives, private dive guide, rental equipment and specialty services
• Nitrox and technical-diving support
• Gratuities, flights, hotels ashore, visas, medical costs and personal purchases
• Additional beer beyond the product bundle, wine delivery, birthday cake and other special orders
• Reliable Wi-Fi or mobile connection