First Asia Trip !! - Short Liveaboard versus ?

[mm2613]

Hey all. I am traveling with a friend (non-diver) and will have 4-5 days free out of Phuket for island hopping, etc. I figure I may be able to convince my friend to let me abandon him for a maximum of 3 days. Does anyone have any advice on whether a shorter liveaboard would be worthwhile or if I should try to set up from a shop in a particular spot? This would be for early March.

Thanks a bunch in advance !!

Cliffs: Can anyone recommend any 1-2 day liveaboards and does it make sense to do so over staying at a dive resort somewhere (and if the resort which island).

I'll continue to comb the threads and see if any recommendations are already out there.

- Mike

 

[MikkelBC]

If you are looking for maximum diving within 3 days, definitely do a liveaboard. 3 day liveaboards are available. Generally liveaboards are not that interesting for non-divers, so you would have to abandon your friend those days.
Since you are not yourself familiar with the various options and schedules, you might want to seek the help of a booking agent. I know that Steven who is also active on this forum would be happy to find a trip that suits your schedule.

 

[cruisensnooze]

Hi, We are booked with Sea Dragon out of Khao Lak on a 3 night liveaboard Fri 3 March to Monday 6 March. Been with them before and though the boat is basic it is run very well and the food is good. I think we will be doing 11 dives. www.seadragondivecenter.com Khao Lak is about 1hr drive north of Phuket and about $30 by taxi. We need to be at the centre about 6pm on the Friday and they take us to the boat. Hope this helps and never know may see you aboard! .....Chris

 

[stevenl]

The daytrips in the area are quite nice and you would be able to spend time with your non-diving friend. Some of the trips would also be nice for a non-diver, especially the trip to Racha Noi and Racha Yai.

A liveaboard of course is the ultimate way to go diving: nothing else to do but dive, eat, sleep and relax. There are 3 days/2 nights and 3 days/3 nights trips available that could suite you. However also important to know would be the number of dives you have done so far, your certification level and month/year of your last dive.

 

[SharkEsq]

I did a 2-night, 2-day liveaboard to Hin Daeng/Muang and Phi Phi (the MV Giamani) a few months ago that was nice. I think 2-days is uncommon - most other ones are 3 or 4 day trips. Only trick is that they only do it once a week, I think, so it might not line up with your dates. The day trip diving from Chalong isn't bad - the boats are a bit more crowded and hectic than the live-aboards, but it's never bothered me. And you'll usually be able to get in 4 dives a day on a liveaboard (except for the last day) as opposed to the 3-tanks on a day-trip. But if it's just for a couple days, the difference in # of dives isn't huge. But the diving in the Similans is, in my opinion, noticibly better than what you get from the day-trips. Stevenl helped me organize a 4-day liveaboard up there in the fall of 2015 and it was great.

 

[mm2613]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say thank you for the recommendations! I ended up booking a very last minute overnight stay on the Camic to dive the Similans and Ko Bon and had a wonderful time.

Mike.