My third ten day trip of diving on board the Phinisi. Twenty-seven dives on mostly healthy reef systems.
The Phinsi was built in Indonesia in 2007. She holds up to 18 divers in seven comfortable cabins. There are five double and two quad cabins. Each of the cabins has an individual escape hatch to the open deck directly above for emergencies. Safety and evacuation drills were held on embarkation day. 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 talented chefs serve five delicious meals per day. The smells from the galley pique your appetite. Light breakfast before the first dive. Full hot breakfast at the completion of the first dive. Lunch is served after returning from the second dive. Snacks are served after the third dive. Dinner is next after the fourth dive of the day. There are always fruit and home baked cookies available on the fan tail dining table in case hunger pangs start before one of the meals!
This trip began in the north with embarkation from Thap Lamu. My previous itineraries departed from Chalong in the south of Phuket and eventually traveled north. The highlight of the north is Richelieu Rock pinnacles. This is Thailand's premier dive site. The amount and variety of marine life still amazes me. The glass minnows were chased around the pinnacles by the abundant Trevally. I always hope for pelagic visitors at this site. No luck this trip.
From Richelieu Rock we continued south among the Similan and Surin Islands. The substrate becomes large granite deposits (think magma from far below). There were some amazing boulders to see. Plenty and varied marine life.
The Southern Thailand leg of the trip holds an 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 reduced a little by unusual wind activity for late February.
The average dive temperature on both legs was in the 82 to 83 degree range.
The mostly Thai crew was extremely caring and safe! They always make 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.
Luxury Diving Liveaboard | Thailand and Myanmar
https://masterliveaboards.com/
The Phinsi was built in Indonesia in 2007. She holds up to 18 divers in seven comfortable cabins. There are five double and two quad cabins. Each of the cabins has an individual escape hatch to the open deck directly above for emergencies. Safety and evacuation drills were held on embarkation day. 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 talented chefs serve five delicious meals per day. The smells from the galley pique your appetite. Light breakfast before the first dive. Full hot breakfast at the completion of the first dive. Lunch is served after returning from the second dive. Snacks are served after the third dive. Dinner is next after the fourth dive of the day. There are always fruit and home baked cookies available on the fan tail dining table in case hunger pangs start before one of the meals!
This trip began in the north with embarkation from Thap Lamu. My previous itineraries departed from Chalong in the south of Phuket and eventually traveled north. The highlight of the north is Richelieu Rock pinnacles. This is Thailand's premier dive site. The amount and variety of marine life still amazes me. The glass minnows were chased around the pinnacles by the abundant Trevally. I always hope for pelagic visitors at this site. No luck this trip.
From Richelieu Rock we continued south among the Similan and Surin Islands. The substrate becomes large granite deposits (think magma from far below). There were some amazing boulders to see. Plenty and varied marine life.
The Southern Thailand leg of the trip holds an 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 reduced a little by unusual wind activity for late February.
The average dive temperature on both legs was in the 82 to 83 degree range.
The mostly Thai crew was extremely caring and safe! They always make 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.
Luxury Diving Liveaboard | Thailand and Myanmar
https://masterliveaboards.com/
I dived with the Phinisi (north) during Covid and agree the crew and food is amazing. The diving is pretty good as well. (Though I prefer south Andaman to the north.) The cabins can be a bit cozy and noisy but there is plenty of covered and uncovered deck space to sleep out under the stars in the cool breeze if one wishes, which is what I did.
!
