Phuket Liveaboard Diving – If you want to dive at Thailand’s best dive sites join a Phuket liveaboard. There are liveaboards available for just one night on board, or you can stay 4 or 5 nights and visit all the best dive sites. Liveaboards depart from Phuket or Khao Lak to the Similan and Surin Islands plus Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Hin Daeng, Hin Muang and the Phi Phi Islands. Longer trips also dive Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago. Liveaboards include four dives per day and full board accommodation.
There are Phuket liveaboards to suit all levels of diver from beginner to advanced and there are boats for all budgets from back backer to 5 star.
Phuket Liveaboard Cruises
MV Giamani
- Max. 10 Divers.
- Depart from Chalong, Phuket.
- Similan Island, Richelieu Rock, Burma & Phi Phi Islands .
- Nitrox available.
Diva Andaman
- Sailing Liveaboard.
- Max. 15 Guests.
- Nitrox available.
- Good for Scuba Divers & Non-Divers alike.
June Hong Chian Lee
- Unique Sailing Junk.
- Max. 18 divers!
- Similans, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.
- Nitrox Available.
Liveaboard cruises from Khao Lak
Khao Lak is just an hours drive north of Phuket Island and the most popular port for Thailand Liveaboards. Below a selection of popular boats.
MV Pawara
- Max 22 Scuba Divers
- Good value for Money
- En-suite cabins
- Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai
MV Deep Andaman Queen
- Max 21 diving guests
- Huge Master cabin with sea view
- Nitrox is available
- Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai
MV Oktavia
- Good Value for money!
- Good option for snorkelers!
- Affordable Private cabins!
- Similan & Surin Islands!
The best time to dive Thailand’s Andaman sea dive sites is November to April. During these months the Similan and Surin national marine parks are open and weather conditions are favourable. The Similan Islands is often described as the best dive destination in Thailand, it is made up of nine granite islands, all of which are fringed with white sand beaches and lapped by gin clear water.
The majority of liveaboard trips include the Similan Islands in their itineraries and also venture further north in to the Surin Islands marine park. The small islands of Koh Bon and Koh Tachai are popular because divers encounter manta rays there on a regular basis. Richelieu Rock, an open ocean pinnacle dive site, is the best place in Thailand to dive with whale sharks. These pelagic giants are most commonly seen from February to April.
An alternative Thailand liveaboard destination are the twin pinnacles of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang (Red Rock and Purple Rock). These submerged limestone rocks are covered in colourful soft corals and are a magnet for fish from all around, including pelagics. These dive sites have the added advantage of being dived by fewer boats than the Similan islands.
Liveaboards either depart from Phuket or from Thap Lamu pier close to Khao Lak. We arrange transfers to/from the boats. We also provide dive equipment if you need it. PADI and SSI dive courses can be completed on the liveaboards. Many boats have nitrox available for certified nitrox divers.
A typical day on a liveaboard includes three day dives at three different dive sites plus a night dive. Time between dives is spent eating, sleeping, relaxing on board or visiting the island beaches.
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