Similan area Liveboard operators

[PPo]

We are going to Thailand in end of november (2014). Unfortunately we have to skip Myamar / Burma live board but we are going to Similan for 4-6 days. We have been in Similan twice before (2005 just after 2004 Tsunami and year 2006 again) so we do not have any "must to go" diving sites (for example Richelieu Rock, it was fantastic dive site). We are quite experienced divers and we have own gears with us.

We are looking dive operator / vessel. Please recomend some vessel / operator wich is good or tell if we should avoid some. And reason "why" will be always good to mentioned.

Our "specificaton" for Vessel / operator:
- safety first.
- exclusive not needed
- asian food
- small groups
- size of the vessel should not too big

We are not looking for exlusive.

Thank you.

 

[Christine N]

I did 3 live aboards on the Similan-Surin-Richelieu, with Similan Diving Safaris. It's a small but cheap boat compared to other liveaboards, but great crew, staff and dives! I did three times the 5 day cruise (18 dives) on the Similan Explorer, with superbe fix guides Luca & Lisa. Groups of max 4-5 divers with a guide, and divers with same experience are in the same group. So for experienced divers like you, you don't have to be in a group with beginners.
The communication between other live-aboards is very well: we were warned that whalesharks were seen in Richelieu, and we prompt changed course to there and spend 3 dives with whalesharks (but I suppose you will not be in the right season). Later we were advised there were manta rays at Koh Bon, and we immediately headed for them and had a marvelous full hour with them. DANCE OF THE MANTA RAYS, THAILAND, KOH BON, MARCH 21ST 2014 on Vimeo.
Food is tha i, nice but not extrordinary, breakfast is international, besides the meals there is a open kitchen in case you are hungry, cabins are small,no private bathrooms but you just use your cabin to sleep...
Although there is a lot of dead coral (from tsunami, rough weather or global warming?), we did wonderfull dives, saw a lot of beautifull things ( +- 50 ghostpipefish in 1 cruise, seahorses, leopardshark, baby blacktipsharks, manta, whaleshark, many nudibrach, many many fish...). And, Richelieu is really the top!
Every day you can make a visit to one the beautiful islands and a visit is planned to the sea gipsy people (the Moken village).
About safety: good, we never had any problems, safety stops every dive, zodiac help in case of strong current, even anti-dehydration drinks ...
If you decide to go with them, give Lisa & Luca a big hug from me!

 

[weeksd]

White Manta liveaboard. Excellent liveaboard. Steel boat that has been properly constructed. Remember three thai built wood vessels sunk last year alone. Liveaboard crew very organized. Dive crew very good with briefings and in the water. They do let you do your own dives. Almost all dives done from the inflatable so pickup is also done by inflatable. Some thai boat all divers jump off main boat and get picked up by the main boat. I find this extremely dangerous as i have seen the liveaboard drive just about right over dive flags trying to pick up there divers. Food is served buffet style. Excellent food. Will dive with white manta again in the future.

 

[PPo]

Thank you for all about your post. We just reserved liveboard to White Manta. We received so many recomendation from our other frends as well.



Weeksd: "Remember three thai built wood vessels sunk last year alone"

Some of my frends from same dinving club was onboard while that boat (M/V Blue Star) sunked after fire. If we are speaking a same vessel operated by Chalong Seasport
Chalong Sea Sports

.

Phuket: 20 divers rescued as boat sinks in Andaman Sea


ChritineN: "Although there is a lot of dead coral (from tsunami, rough weather or global warming?)"

Few underwater pictures just after Tsunami from Similan can be found from:

Matkakertomus Thaimaasta 2005, Similanin sukellukset
Matkakertomus Thaimaasta 2005, Similanin sukellukset
Matkakertomus Thaimaasta 2005, Similanin sukellukset
Matkakertomus Thaimaasta 2005, Similanin sukellukset

 

[nudisusie]

Hi Ppo

Try The Junk (June Hong Chian Lee) i was aboard her in 2012 -
good solid boat, not overly luxurious but comfortable and there was plenty of space on the dive deck and in the lounge.
max 18 guests with 3 dive guides so small groups
Asian cuisine - was wonderful - if the chef is still Yao ;-)
The crew are EXCELLENT - lovely thais who are fun & professional and know the dive sites.

They have 6 night trips in November and were offering a 20%discount if booked by end of October - which i think makes the trip around 25,000 THB / 800US$ pp (including diving and meals).

If you are spending any time in Phuket- let me know, we could meet up ;-)
All the best
Susie