What was neither new nor a surprise was the quality of the diving. Diving conditions are at their best at this time of year, and over 30 metres of visibility is becoming the norm! The combination of clear water, healthy reefs and an incredible variety of marine life made this Thailand liveaboard trip a real treat for both macro photographers and divers looking for big schools of fish.

Richelieu Rock was the highlight for macro-life seekers. There were plenty of ghost pipefish and tiger egg cowries to be found on the sea fans at the moment, while the harlequin shrimps were posing beautifully for us. We also met a tiny new seahorse. Isn’t he sooo cute?

We were also delighted to find the giant frogfish again, which has been living at the bottom of Richelieu Rock since the beginning of the season. Let’s hope he stays there until the end! We also found three red freckled frogfish, camouflaging themselves incredibly well inside the crack they had chosen as their hiding place.

Koh Tachai was the highlight for those loving big schools of fish. In particular, the barracudas formed a giant tornado around us! It was one of those classic Andaman Sea encounters where the sheer number of fish makes the whole dive feel completely different.

We had two rebreathers onboard, ten divers in sidemount and twelve divers in single tanks. With four technical and four recreational drop-offs and pick-ups every day, we kept well busy! It was a great mix of diving styles, with everyone able to enjoy the exceptional conditions and marine life of the Andaman Sea.

Time onboard was also well appreciated: we dived, we ate four delicious meals per day, and we slept! And that’s the recipe for a fantastic long diving getaway. After a full day exploring Thailand’s dive sites, there was nothing better than coming back onboard for good food, a little relaxation and some well-earned sleep.

And on the way back, we were welcomed into Ranong province by a great pod of dolphins!

Thank you all for coming from Bangkok, Koh Tao and Koh Lipe, and we look forward to seeing you again very soon!

You can find all the photos from this trip in this Facebook album.

Built by and for divers in 2018, MV Smiling Seahorse is a purpose-built liveaboard designed for exploring Thailand’s best-known dive sites in comfort. From macro-rich Richelieu Rock and the schools of fish at Koh Tachai to the clear waters around Koh Bon and the Similan Islands, our Thailand liveaboard trips combine full days of diving with comfortable time onboard.