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Choosing the best Similan Islands liveaboard boat of diving safari cruise is not getting any easier. Nowadays, there are more boats on offer and just about all of them are excellent value, visiting the best diving sites in Thailand. Some are based on the most competitive prices, while others want to offer luxury to Thailand's best diving. In addition, the various boats on offer all have something different from the others. We have a unique system to help readers filter the boats which they may be interested in, but here we also explain the many other factors.

Liveaboard diving involves spending a few days and nights or more aboard a boat which sails around the best scuba diving sites. Guests and passengers relax on the boat between three or four dives each day. Most days include a trip to a beach or bay. The diving begins early in the morning and the last dive is at night. the Similan Islands in Thailand are extremely popular for liveaboard diving.

Scuba diving in Thailand is an extremely popular sport and growing every year. It is good fun, and educational for new divers to learn about marine conservation as well as that sharks and other sea creatures should be treated with respect, rather than fear. It is good for the country's economy as it enables local and international businesses to prosper, including attracting local tourists and those from abroad. Thailand has many beautiful islands, beaches and diving spots on both its coasts. From a diving visitor's point of view, there are a few aspects to consider when choosing the best places in Thailand to go scuba diving. The two coasts, Gulf in the east and Andaman Sea to the west, have several different areas for scuba diving, some of which are better for accommodation, non-diving activities, and of course different kinds and levels of diving conditions and marine life.

Many new visitors to Thailand are unaware of exactly where places are, and can waste time and money travelling around unnecessarily. Those coming to join a Similan Islands liveaboard cruise or day trip directly from Phuket airport should understand why it's not a good idea to travel into Phuket's main town and resort areas.

Although The Similan Islands are becoming quite well known as Thailand’s premier diving location, there are those who say that Richelieu Rock is the best actual dive site. Unfortunately, some people are led to believe that Richelieu Rock is in The Similan Islands and expect to dive there on a Similans cruise. This is not the only confusion about Thailand’s best diving sites, so here’s a summary of what is where.

While it is commonly written and said that diving at The Similan Islands on Thailand's west coast is only for experienced and certified scuba divers, this is not absolutely true. Although most visiting tourists on the day trip boats and liveaboard cruise ships are scuba divers with experience, looking for something better than they can find near the mainland, it is also worth mentioning that the demographic of passengers on Similans boats is extremely diverse. Not only do novice divers enjoy Similan diving safaris, non-divers and even children are frequently found to be relaxing on boats, snorkelling and exploring the beaches.