There’s so much information to get through, that we understand anyone getting tired or confused. Different boat itineraries and prices; How to get from a certain place to where the boats leave from; and Who is able to dive in certain situations or locations? are all questions which we hope to answer here. This section is never complete, but we try our best to keep it up to date. At almost any given time something is a little different to the true facts, but we do what we can to give as much honest information as possible.
Some Similan liveaboard trips are either too long or too short. You can’t please everyone all of the time. Fixed schedules are easy to manage for the dive centres, but the guests’ convenience and happiness is vital. MV Oktavia has a novel solution to keeping everyone happy, by offering 2, 3 4 & 5 night diving safaris at Thailand’s best dive sites.
Not only is a liveaboard diving safari the best place to take part in a PADI or SSI course, it’s also the cheapest. Those learning to dive or advancing their level are in the perfect environment to concentrate on and enjoy scuba diving, and are free from distractions such as late nights out. In addition, the prices are unbeatable. Because the diving itself has already been paid for in the price of the cruise, and because the instructors are already on board and working, the price customers pay is incredibly low.
Although The Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock are considered the best diving sites in Thailand, there are two other wonderful places to dive, just on the other side of Phuket. Fantastic underwater experiences can be had at Hin Daeng & Koh Haa, too. While most diving liveaboard boats concentrate on The Similans, and more commonly day trip boats dive at Hin Daeng & Koh Haa, there are three liveaboard boats which visit all of the best dive sites in Thailand, throughout the season.
Two of Khao Lak’s most popular liveaboard diving boats are own and operated by a small & friendly, but experienced & professional team. The competitive rates are just part of the reason that trips on these two boats are often sold out in advance.
When diving from MV Camic, guests can choose when they join and how long they stay on each trip. The liveaboard boat stays out at sea, circulating around The Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock, and guests arrive and leave on a new, fast, safe and stable speedboat. There is therefore no need to follow schedules set by liveaboard diving trip’s.
Spending four or more days and nights aboard a boat is not easy for most people. Rocking in the waves, nowhere to go for a walk and usually small sleeping quarters. When spending $1,000 or more on a diving safari in Thailand, guests can choose from at least five large liveaboard boats which offer a range of facilities aimed to increase passengers’ comfort and convenience.
While most Similan liveaboard diving safari trips set sail from Khao Lak (100km) north of Phuket, there are a few which cut out the journey by road and sail directly to the Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock from Phuket. And why not? An extra couple of hours spent at sea, sailing into the night, takes nothing out of a Similan diving cruise from the passengers’ point of view.
Choosing the best Similan Islands day trip is not the easiest thing to do. Firstly, nearly everyone books in advance and the boats are either out at sea or moored at the pier far from Khao Lak’s centre. Therefore potential guests don’t get the opportunity to take a look and choose. While all of the diving day trips to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock are professionally run and safe, there are some differences which could help guests choose one over the others.
Similan Islands liveaboard diving trips are becoming ever more popular, and we feel privileged to be able to offer the largest selection of cruises to the best diving sites in Thailand. After every trip, guests return to land happy and full of stories after up to a week at sea, enjoying Thailand’s diverse marine life. While the most popular trips are 4D/4N, some people find that 3 diving days and two or three nights at sea is adequate. Also, there are those who want to concentrate on, or avoid, the ‘Northern Sites’ of Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock.
When compared to more expensive diving cruises, budget liveaboard trips usually have more guests on board and some cabins which accommodate 4 or 6 guests. The food may be more run-of-the-mill, but is still delicious, fresh and enjoyed by all on board. The marine life, however, has no idea which divers paid extra for luxuries, so the underwater experience is pretty-much the same for all Similan diving safaris. However, what normally separates ‘budget’ from ‘more expensive’ is the complimentary transfers from Phuket to Khao Lak. However, there are at least seven Similan Islands liveaboard trips which offer free Phuket pick ups, and drop offs.
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