North Andaman Sea Diving: From Tap Lamu to Ranong
This week, we enjoyed a short liveaboard trip through the North Andaman Sea, and it was a real pleasure to welcome an old friend from the UAE, Chris, back onboard. Chris used to own a dive centre where Franck and I, Camille, did our very first dives as a buddy pair, so having him with us again made this trip particularly special.
We were also delighted to welcome Marshal and Noi back onboard for their ninth cruise with us. A huge thank you to both of you for your continuous support throughout the years. It was also wonderful to make new friends from the UAE, Brazil, the USA, Taiwan, France and Ireland.
Thank you all for trusting us with your holidays and for sharing another memorable week at sea with us 🙂
From Tap Lamu to Ranong
Beginning at Tap Lamu Pier and concluding in Ranong, our long-established home port, this itinerary offered a wonderful snapshot of what Thailand has to offer underwater, culminating with the spectacular Richelieu Rock.
Throughout the cruise, the wonders of the Andaman Sea continued to amaze us. Our underwater explorations introduced us to a remarkable variety of marine creatures, delighting both new and experienced divers alike.
From a psychedelic batwing sea slug carefully hiding among purple sponges to impressive schools of trevallies and emperors, the reefs were alive with colour and movement. We also encountered a family of Clark clownfish preparing for a new arrival, with their mother gently tending and blowing over her eggs.
We were fortunate to spot yellow goatfish and giant moray eels on the reef, while giant lobsters peeked out from hidden crevices, giving us a glimpse into their secretive world. Every dive seemed to offer another small discovery, from familiar reef residents to creatures that required a little more patience and careful observation to find.
Small Creatures and Colourful Reef Life
Our journey brought us face-to-face with fascinating creatures such as a ghost pipefish carrying eggs and the brightly coloured yet elusive Pikachu nudibranch. Their intricate forms and ability to blend seamlessly with their surroundings left us in awe of nature’s ingenuity.
The vibrant yellow-margin triggerfish and charming pufferfish added even more bursts of colour to our underwater encounters. Not to be forgotten, the mantis shrimp and porcelain crab, nestled in its anemone, showcased the extraordinary diversity of crustaceans that call the Andaman Sea home.
Blackwater Diving in Thailand
A highlight of our adventure was the blackwater dive, where we descended into an entirely different underwater world. Away from the familiar reef scenery, the darkness revealed an incredible variety of life drifting through the open water.
Amidst the darkness, we were captivated by the graceful movements of pretty squids and a multitude of mysterious crustaceans and worms. Blackwater diving offers a glimpse into the remarkable vertical migration that takes place in the ocean after sunset, with tiny and often bizarre creatures appearing from the depths.
This alien world reminded us once again of the boundless wonders that lie beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered.
Memories Shared at Sea
The camaraderie and shared experiences made the trip even more special. After a week of exploring the underwater world together, we bid farewell to the reefs with mixed emotions, grateful for the memories we had created along the way.
The smiles, laughter and shared sense of awe will stay with us long after the cruise has ended. This is one of the things we love most about liveaboard diving: the diving itself is only part of the experience. Spending several days together at sea creates friendships, shared stories and moments that become part of the journey.
To our beloved return guests, Marshal and Noi, we express our deepest gratitude for choosing to journey with us once again. Your enthusiasm, camaraderie and love for the underwater world added immeasurable joy to our week at sea.
And to Chris, it was particularly special to share the North Andaman Sea with an old friend whose connection with Franck and me goes all the way back to our very first dives together as buddies. To all our guests, old friends and new friends alike, thank you for being part of another memorable adventure aboard The Smiling Seahorse.
