Thailand Liveaboard Advice

[jejton]

My FIL and I are planning our next dive trip and would like to do a liveaboard. He's done a few. I haven't done any. We are both AOW, EAN certified. He has probably close to 300 dives, I have about 120 dives. We've done plenty of Florida diving and last spring did a trip to Cozumel. He's done many other trips before my diving days but neither of us have been to Thailand, for diving or otherwise, and thought it may have what we are looking for. Namely, variety of dives from easy to challenging, with healthy coral and fish and a variety of sea life. We would really like to do a liveaboard to get as many dives as we can and reach places that are not as accessible from shore, as well as avoid crowds. He usually does 2-3 dives/day, while I can happily do 4 or 5 if I don't meet my nitrogen limit. I don't mind wrecks and find them interesting at times but they aren't a must-have for any trip. The kicker is this - I work remotely and need to have a solid internet connection for my work. I can take time off, but unlikely I will be able to get 14 days off straight, so we are considering breaking this down into 2 trips, lets say 5-7 days, with a 2-3 day break topisde for a couple to log necessary work hours, before boarding for a second 4-5 day trip. We are considering February or, more likely, March for this trip.We also will be flying from the east coast of the U.S., if that makes any difference in suggestions. What do you experts advise ? Would a Thailand dive trip fit the bill? Can you give some suggestions on itinerary options that would allow us to combine two separate trips without overlapping much (or at all ideally)?

 

[JonnieB]

The diving in Thailand is decent, not spectacular like Indonesia or the Philippines, but the logistics are probably easier if it's your first trip to SE Asia and first LOB. March is the Andaman Sea dive season in Thailand (West Coast/Phuket side). You want to combine a "Southern Andaman" and "Northern Andaman" LOBS. There are several boats who do these week long trips back to back so you should find one you like. The southern trip will include Koh Lipe, Hin Daeng/Muang, Koh Haa, and the Phi-Phi Islands. The northern trip will include Koh Tachai, the Similan Islands, and Richelieu Rock. I have been on The Phinisi on the northern route and it is a nice boat, with very good food. They have a sister ship called "The Junk," which is a replica old style Chinese sailboat. They do the combined back to back northern and southern trips, with embarkation at Chalong Pier in Phuket. You need to book soon as these LOBS are very popular and many boats fill up early and March is still peak season.

From the East Coast, it's going to be a long-ass haul to Thailand. One way is get to Doha or Dubai on a Middle Eastern carrier and then fly direct to Phuket. The other option is fly to a major Asian hub like Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, or Bangkok and then to Phuket. Personally, I'd opt for the ME option. I would book directly with with the LOB company or through a local Phuket dive shop and not an online LOB consolidator. I live in Thailand so PM me if need more specific advice or dive shop recco.

 

[Seameadow]

My FIL and I are planning our next dive trip and would like to do a liveaboard. He's done a few. I haven't done any. We are both AOW, EAN certified. He has probably close to 300 dives, I have about 120 dives. We've done plenty of Florida diving and last spring did a trip to Cozumel. He's done many other trips before my diving days but neither of us have been to Thailand, for diving or otherwise, and thought it may have what we are looking for. Namely, variety of dives from easy to challenging, with healthy coral and fish and a variety of sea life. We would really like to do a liveaboard to get as many dives as we can and reach places that are not as accessible from shore, as well as avoid crowds. He usually does 2-3 dives/day, while I can happily do 4 or 5 if I don't meet my nitrogen limit. I don't mind wrecks and find them interesting at times but they aren't a must-have for any trip. The kicker is this - I work remotely and need to have a solid internet connection for my work. I can take time off, but unlikely I will be able to get 14 days off straight, so we are considering breaking this down into 2 trips, lets say 5-7 days, with a 2-3 day break topisde for a couple to log necessary work hours, before boarding for a second 4-5 day trip. We are considering February or, more likely, March for this trip.We also will be flying from the east coast of the U.S., if that makes any difference in suggestions. What do you experts advise ? Would a Thailand dive trip fit the bill? Can you give some suggestions on itinerary options that would allow us to combine two separate trips without overlapping much (or at all ideally)?

I can recommend Big Blue Diving Khao Lak. Just finished a trip with them in early December. Professional crew, safety conscious (important considering all the LOB incidents recently), professional on the diving side and other aspects. There trip might fit your timeframes, it's four nights and four days if you like with 14 dives. Similan islands, etc. A good time for the diving too.

The marine life is not as dense or diverse ass Raja Amat for example but much better than other areas of Thailand like Kho Tao or Phi Phi, and definitely still very good. The viz was amazing by all metrics, temps are great too.

 

[shimmer]

I can recommend Big Blue Diving Khao Lak. Just finished a trip with them in early December. Professional crew, safety conscious (important considering all the LOB incidents recently), professional on the diving side and other aspects. There trip might fit your timeframes, it's four nights and four days if you like with 14 dives. Similan islands, etc. A good time for the diving too.

The marine life is not as dense or diverse ass Raja Amat for example but much better than other areas of Thailand like Kho Tao or Phi Phi, and definitely still very good. The viz was amazing by all metrics, temps are great too.

How do you get to Khao Lak from Phuket airport?

 

[Centrals]

How do you get to Khao Lak from Phuket airport?

Orange Airport bus(outside domestic terminal) to Bus Terminal 1(B100.00) and then the pink songthaew to Terminal 2(B15.00). Bus to Khao Lak takes about 2hrs and costs peanut. Your arrival time is critical on this route. BTW, you need to know where to get off as there is no bus terminal in Khao Lak.
I am not sure if there is direct bus from the airport to Khao Lak.
Taxi is the quickest.
Similan + Koh Lanta(van from Bus terminal 1 to Krabi bus terminal and then transfer to any hotel on the west coast in Koh Lanta).
Stay away from Phuket eg Kata Beach.
Forget the suggestion to join LOB to dive the Southern Andaman Sea!! The sites between Phuket and Koh Phi Phi are NOT interesting at all.
If you have inclination and time then you might take a look at Koh Lipe.

Never been to the Kingdom. Then both of you ought to spend couple of days in Bangkok first. It has lots of interesting places for the tourists to visit.

 

[JonnieB]

How do you get to Khao Lak from Phuket airport?

It's only about a one hour drive north of the Phuket Airport. Either take a taxi (about $30-$40) or if you've booked a LOB, van airport transfers are included in the price.

 

[Barryattle]

"Cheaper than hotel taxi" cost us B1300 from Phuket airport to our hotel in Khao Lak about a year ago and the service was great (and, yes, cheaper than services booked via hotels). I was amazed diving at Richelieu Rock, though I haven't dived in the Philippines or Indonesia. It sure made me want to... But I can't comment on LOBs as I stayed on shore with my non-diving wife and took the long boat ride out and back for the day.

 

[Seameadow]

How do you get to Khao Lak from Phuket airport?

That specific company (Big Blue) will actually pay for your transport from Phuket, or lets say its included. They provide a taxi to and from the LOB.

 

[Wobbegong_th]

Most Liveaboard in Thailand do 4d3n, or 5d4n trip. Price are varied from Converted-fishing boat on the cheaper end to Purposed-built Luxury yatch.
There seems to be 2 market of liveaboard in Thailand, One cater to Foreigners, another for Thai divers. On a LOB that cater for Thais, crews & dive leaders may not have perfect english, but you'd typically find some other guest on board that can help.

(Note: as I'm a Thai, I can only speak about the experience for LOB cater to Thai divers - never been on those that mainly cater to foreigner)

Most LOB would scheduled for 3 day dives and 1 night dive each day, except for the last day that they may do only 2-3. They'll check your departure flight time to make sure that you are well over the 'no fly' limit.

If you get a Thai Mobile SIM card, you might be able to get Mobile internet signal even on the boat when they are near islands with cell tower. (recommend AIS sim card). If you're going North Andaman Route, the island with National Park Office have cell tower (2 Nat. park on this route - Similan & Surin). If you're going South, you'll get signal when you're near Koh Phiphi, Koh Lipe & Koh Tarutao.

I'd suggest you to take just one LOB trip, then spend some days on land to travel. That way, you and your FIL can have a dive trip, and you don't have to take too much time off work.

 

[shimmer]

I appreciate all the responses on how to get to Khao Lak!