Best of both worlds : Part I

Exploring the North Andaman by liveaboard

The North Andaman offers an incredible variety of diving, and this trip was a great example of how much can be explored by liveaboard. From the famous Similan Islands to the remote Surin Islands and the spectacular Richelieu Rock, each area has its own character and marine life.

For divers wanting to explore more of the region, our Thailand diving trips combine some of the best dive sites in the Andaman Sea in one adventure. And for those wanting to go even further, you can continue from Thailand towards the remote Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar.

For this past trip, we had on board a very lucky group of divers. They have embarked for a combo of two trips, that has already taken them to the very best sites of Thailand, and is about to make them discover everything Burma has to offer.

We came back two nights ago from the first part of this adventure, with eyes filled of beautiful images. Thailand has again spoiled us with loads of perfect moments : being the only boat around Surin on the first day, snorkeling AND diving with a whale shark on the second, enjoying Richelieu Rock without anybody else in the water and seeing this very special reef slowly awakening as the sun rose…

The first four days have gone so fast ! We left our divers on Koh Phayam to enjoy a well deserved rest : endless beaches of white sand, laid back atmosphere, hammocks and good food… Could you dream of a better place to stay in-between two diving trips ?

juvenile shaded bat fish — Juvenile batfish : just like any baby, you wish they’d never grow up…

And today, they will join us again on the MV Thai Sea to start the second – and twice longer – part of their trip. Burma awaits us, full of promises !

Always impressive, from 15m to the surface, school of barracudas.

To be continued…

Diving the North Andaman: Similan Islands, Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock

The North Andaman is one of Thailand’s most exciting areas for a liveaboard diving trip. The combination of the Similan Islands, Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock offers a great variety of underwater landscapes and marine life, from colourful coral reefs and rocky pinnacles to large schools of fish and encounters with pelagic species.

This 2015 trip was a perfect example of why we love exploring this part of Thailand by liveaboard. Our divers were able to experience several of the region’s highlights in just a few days, including the remote Surin Islands, a whale shark encounter and an early-morning dive at Richelieu Rock.

The Similan Islands

The Similan Islands are famous for their granite boulders, clear water and colourful underwater scenery. The islands offer a wide variety of dive sites, with dramatic rock formations, coral gardens and plenty of reef fish and macro life to discover.

A liveaboard allows divers to explore several different sites around the archipelago while avoiding the long daily transfers required on a land-based dive trip.

The Surin Islands

Further north, the Surin Islands offer a very different atmosphere. This remote national park is surrounded by clear tropical waters and relatively healthy coral reefs, with a great variety of reef fish and other marine life.

Being able to spend time around the Surin Islands is one of the advantages of travelling by liveaboard, particularly when conditions allow us to visit quieter sites away from the main diving areas.

Richelieu Rock

And then there is Richelieu Rock, one of Thailand’s most famous dive sites. The horseshoe-shaped pinnacle rises from deeper water and is covered in marine life. Large schools of fish move around the rock while smaller creatures hide among the corals and cracks.

Richelieu is particularly well known for the possibility of encounters with whale sharks, although sightings of wild animals can never be guaranteed. On this particular trip, our divers were lucky enough to encounter a whale shark during the first part of their adventure.

From Thailand to Myanmar

What made this trip particularly special was that the Thailand adventure was only the beginning. After four days exploring the North Andaman, our guests took a short break on Koh Phayam before joining us again for the much longer second part of their journey into the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar.

Combining Thailand and Myanmar on a single liveaboard adventure gives divers the opportunity to experience two very different sides of the Andaman Sea — from Thailand’s famous dive sites to the remote reefs and islands of the Mergui Archipelago.

Discover more of the Andaman Sea:

Marine life in Thailand – our guide to diving and liveaboard trips in the Thai Andaman Sea.
Similan Islands – discover the dive sites, marine life and underwater landscapes of the Similan Islands.
Surin Islands – explore one of Thailand’s more remote diving destinations.
Richelieu Rock – learn more about this iconic dive site and its incredible marine life.
Diving in Myanmar / Mergui Archipelago – discover the remote underwater world waiting across the border in Myanmar.