Cheap, fun liveaboard to Similan/Surin?

[Cal71]

Hi all--I've been checking out all the past threads and you guys are a wealth of information... I've been doing some research and wanted to get some more opinions...

I'm going to be in Phuket on Nov 9th, and looking to do a liveaboard trip to the Similan & Surin Islands... I'm looking for a fairly cheap boat (20,000 baht or less) and I'm travelling alone--so I'm willing to share a cabin or take a bunk... Not that I'm a party animal or anything, but I'm looking for a fun, social boat--but hopefully not too many divers... Some of the websites sounds like they'll take upwards of 20 guests on a trip which seems like a lot... Are liveaboard trips usually full up?

I tracked down a few boats leaving on Nov 10th or 11th and wondered if anyone had personal experiences or recommendations they could share about either the dive op or the boat?
Sea Dragon--MV Andaman
West Coast Divers--West Coast Explorer
Andaman Divers--MV Daranee
Ocean Phuket--MV Vilai Samut
Sea King--Really Wicked Witch
Siam Dive--Atlantis 2000

 

[scuba734]

Cal71
I went with Vilai Samut once about a year and a half ago. That trip was not a chartered one, so every other divers were foreigners, and half of them were Japanese.
The boat was OK, no better nor worse than others of the same range. I really don't know whether unchartered trip would still be like the one I went. The other point is Vilai Samut leaves from Pa Tong, not Phuket, so it was a bit difficult for me. The food so, so not bad, not good, let's say eatable.
Dive leader, one of them is real good even though he is of the higher age group. Knows lot of place for specific marine life, not "let's just and see what we can" type. Bedrooms had to be shared, and bath rooms too.

 

[Batfish]

There is a new boat this year called Le Mahe. It takes only 12 people and all cabins have private bathrooms. Sounds expensive? Think again. There is so much competition, that the owner has put the price way down for the first season (it will go up next year) so you can have a quite plush boat for only 16,000 Baht.

Explorer is also good value and is larger than the Le Mahe. I have never known anyone to come back unhappy from this boat.

I wish you happy diving here in Thailand!


Le Mahe Liveaboard
Explorer Liveaboard

 

[joshcrossman]

What did you end up taking? How was the diving?

My wife and I will be doing a live aboard on the Parinee over Christmas and curious how it was.

Cheers,

Josh