Blues Runner
Contributor
Ten days of incredible Thailand diving on board the Phinisi. Thirty extraordinary dives on mostly healthy diverse reef systems. Five extra pounds on the waistline after consuming five meals per day.
The Phinsi holds up to 18 divers in seven comfortable cabins. There are five double and two quad cabins. Each of the cabins has an escape hatch to the open deck directly above for emergencies. The boat hull is of heavy wood construction that provides a stable and safe dive platform.
The dive deck is comfortable. Each diver is assigned their own space for the duration of the trip. Diving is conducted from two rib tenders. The tenders are boarded from the starboard side of the vessel from a platform. Boarding can be somewhat tricky in rough conditions. Both the loading platform and tender each have two crew members assisting the divers on and off the tenders. The crew washes the diver’s wet suits, rash guards and boots after each dive. They are hung to dry on the dive deck for the next dive.
The trip consisted of two legs. The first four days were in Southern Thailand. Amazing variety of hard and soft corals plus many reef and macro specimens. The southern formations tended to be limestone based. The visibility in the south was obscured by much plankton and spawning clouding the water.
The second leg of the trip took us north along Phuket to the Similan and Surin Islands. The initial northerly trek was along large granite deposits (think magma from far below). There were some amazing boulders to see. The visibility as we headed north was mush improved 80-100 feet consistently. The water temperatures on both legs was in the 82 degree range. The highlight of the north for me were the famous Richelieu Rock pinnacles. The amount and variety of marine life was amazing. The glass minnows were chased around the pinnacles by the abundant Trevally. If you like scorpion fish you have found heaven.
The mostly Thai crew was extremely caring and safe! They made you feel as a part of their family. There was abundant food to fuel the diving and wine or cold cervezas for evening relaxation when the days diving was done. Sharing a few of my favorite photos.
The Phinisi is part of the Master Liveaboard Fleet.
Master Liveaboards - Liveaboard diving and dive travel experts
Thailand is on my must return list.
“Never enough”
The Phinsi holds up to 18 divers in seven comfortable cabins. There are five double and two quad cabins. Each of the cabins has an escape hatch to the open deck directly above for emergencies. The boat hull is of heavy wood construction that provides a stable and safe dive platform.
The dive deck is comfortable. Each diver is assigned their own space for the duration of the trip. Diving is conducted from two rib tenders. The tenders are boarded from the starboard side of the vessel from a platform. Boarding can be somewhat tricky in rough conditions. Both the loading platform and tender each have two crew members assisting the divers on and off the tenders. The crew washes the diver’s wet suits, rash guards and boots after each dive. They are hung to dry on the dive deck for the next dive.
The trip consisted of two legs. The first four days were in Southern Thailand. Amazing variety of hard and soft corals plus many reef and macro specimens. The southern formations tended to be limestone based. The visibility in the south was obscured by much plankton and spawning clouding the water.
The second leg of the trip took us north along Phuket to the Similan and Surin Islands. The initial northerly trek was along large granite deposits (think magma from far below). There were some amazing boulders to see. The visibility as we headed north was mush improved 80-100 feet consistently. The water temperatures on both legs was in the 82 degree range. The highlight of the north for me were the famous Richelieu Rock pinnacles. The amount and variety of marine life was amazing. The glass minnows were chased around the pinnacles by the abundant Trevally. If you like scorpion fish you have found heaven.
The mostly Thai crew was extremely caring and safe! They made you feel as a part of their family. There was abundant food to fuel the diving and wine or cold cervezas for evening relaxation when the days diving was done. Sharing a few of my favorite photos.
The Phinisi is part of the Master Liveaboard Fleet.
Master Liveaboards - Liveaboard diving and dive travel experts
Thailand is on my must return list.
“Never enough”
