Every year the Thai authorities close the national marine parks to the public. This is due to strong and unpredictable winds and possible storms during the five months between mid-May and mid-October every year. The likely rough waters mean that it is unsafe for boats to sail into the Andaman Sea unnecessarily. On October 15th 2015, just a few weeks from now, The Similan Islands & Surin Islands (including Richelieu Rock) will reopen for recreational activities such as scuba diving.
For months the staff, crew and diving guests have been waiting anxiously to get back into the sea, where there are colourful reefs, and marine life of all shapes & sizes. Some of our boats offer day trip excursions to dive or snorkel at the best diving spots of Thailand, but most are what are known as liveaboard diving boats. They range in size from 20m to 40m in length, and normally sail for 4 days & 4 nights. Each Similan liveaboard boat schedule is designed to fit in the perfect number of trips throughout the season, and not all of them sail from the first day. The day trip boats tend to start offering trips at the beginning of November.
Dolphin Queen & Deep Andaman Queen departing 15th octFor guests who just can’t wait, there are at least two Similan liveaboards which plan to sail on October 15th, which are MV Dolphin Queen and MV Deep Andaman Queen, with both trips already confirmed, but with some spaces still left.
MV Pawara Dolphin Queen is an extremely-popular liveaboard diving boat that offers inexpensive trips to the best dive sites in Thailand. Guests can choose from 4-bunk, twin-bunk & double-bed cabins, all of which are fully air conditioned. PADI courses are available on board, with the Advanced Open Water and Nitrox Enriched Air being the most commonly chosen. The staff and crew are among the most experienced, and every trip is safe & friendly fun. Even with lower rates than many other Similan liveaboard trips, those on Dolphin Queen are among the best for organization, safety & professionalism. Deep Andaman Queen is a large. new, purpose-built diving ship with air-conditioned en suite cabins throughout and vast areas in the air-conditioned and outdoor communal areas. There’s even a 10% discount on the three October departures, for those quick even to grab a place.
MV HallelujahMore patient divers can join a number of other liveaboard boats setting sail later in October, offering trips ranging from 2D/1N to a week or more at sea. Boats including MV Hallelujah & The Junk are still offering early-bird discounts, but are filling up quickly. Another boat which is always popular is MV Pawara, which is nearly fully booked for the whole season. Pawara is so popular due its reputation of smoothly-run, safe, comfortable & enjoyable trips. So much so, that there will soon be a larger & more-luxurious sister ship to Pawara, known as MV Maneepura, due to be launched in February 2016.
We have on offer the widest selection of day trips and liveaboard cruises to the Similan Islands, including at different budget levels, multiple trip lengths, and to all the best diving locations in Thailand. Our team are available 24 hours a day to answer calls and emails, giving availability information and the best advice to help divers choose the perfect trip. Regardless of when you want to dive in Thailand, we will be able to offer a cruise or day trip to suit your needs, budget and preferences.
