Embarking on a Spectacular Underwater Journey Across Thailand's Pristine Waters...
Gathered from distant corners of the globe, a diverse band of adventurers—hailing from England, the USA, Switzerland, France, and Germany—joined us aboard for an expedition that promised not just a multinational escapade but a passage through time itself, courtesy of a vintage PADI Advanced Open Water certification from the enchanting year of 1985, graciously provided by the remarkable American guest, Craig.

Our underwater odyssey commenced with a lovely dive into the depths of Surin National Park, unveiling a canvas teeming with vibrant marine life. The check dive served as a tantalizing precursor to the grandeur awaiting us at Richelieu Rock. The iconic rock, a tapestry of vibrant soft coral in all colors and life, offered a dazzling showcase of aquatic wonders—seahorses, harlequin shrimp, and an array of captivating fish species turned the dive into an exhilarating spectacle.

Journeying to Similan National Park: Encounters with Sharks and Barracudas...
Our vessel cruised towards the illustrious Similan National Park, where the ocean revealed its secrets in subtle yet profound ways. The sight of reef sharks, guitarfish, nurse sharks, and the majestic school of barracudas added a thrilling dimension to our underwater exploration, casting a spell of awe over our diverse band of intrepid voyagers.

Exploring Koh Lanta National Park's Hidden Treasures...
Venturing further, we navigated towards the Koh Lanta National Park, a realm brimming with unexpected encounters. Some among us were graced by the presence of manta rays at Hin Meaung, while others delved into the mystique of ghost-pipefish sightings at Hin Deang. The expedition continued its southern trajectory, leading us to Tarutao National Park, where the depths unraveled an assortment of wonders.

Tarutao National Park's Kaleidoscope of Marine Marvels...
In Tarutao's embrace, our diving escapades transcended the ordinary. The ocean floor was an exhibition of rare and captivating marine life—a symphony of ghost-pipefish, seahorses, colossal pipefishes adorning the sandy bed, a juvenile cuttlefish, vibrant nudibranchs, and the charming sea moth delighted our senses, painting an unforgettable underwater tableau during the day and we could do a blackwater dive that night with many more creatures to discover.

Rediscovering Manta Rays and Final Encounters...
Returning to Hin Deang - Hin Meaung, we sought out the elusive manta rays once more. Some among our cohort were fortunate enough to witness their ethereal presence, marking a poignant highlight in our aquatic sojourn. As our expedition drew to a close, the pristine waters around PP Island and the final dive near Phuket revealed a parting gift—encounters with the elegant leopard shark, seahorses, and a myriad of colourful nudibranchs.

Gratitude and Farewells...
The Smiling Seahorse team extends heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed guests. Your trust in us to curate a memorable diving experience and enrich your holiday with unparalleled underwater adventures is deeply appreciated. We hope this journey has not only deepened your scuba diving prowess but has also etched indelible memories, infusing your vacation with unparalleled joy and wonder.

​Your presence onboard has illuminated our expedition, transforming it into an unforgettable passage through Thailand's mesmerizing aquatic realms. As you continue your ventures beyond these azure depths, may the memories of this odyssey linger as cherished souvenirs, beckoning you to explore the uncharted depths of the ocean once more. Until we meet again, dive deep and savor the beauty of our world's hidden treasures.

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There are many species of trigger fish who belongs to the Balistidae family. They live in shallow water near coral reef except for the oceanic triggerfish (Canthidermis maculata) who's spend his life in the blue.

The most know, specially for his aggressive behavior against divers, is the Titan Triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens). They are in fact protecting their eggs.

​Female will lay their eggs few days before new and full moon after male and female will perform some prespawnings behavior like blowing and touching, to create their nest on sandy or rocky area. They will blow water to create a hole in the floor where the female will lays his eggs. The male will protect and defend the territory from any species swimming too close, and also from the other male triggerfish. Generally, a male will fecund the eggs of few females within his territory.

They are known to attack diver who are swimming too close to their nest, and a common diver mistake would be to escape them by shallowing up. Their territory is in a cone shape from the nest getting bigger while going up. So the good reaction would be to swim away horizontal to get out of their zone quickly, keeping our fins in the direction of the fish to avoid any harm.

Another good way to avoid any attack would be to observe their change of behavior.

​They would rise their dorsal fin first, then lean on one side as a last warning, then finally if we are getting even closer to them, they will swim towards us trying to bite whatever they can catch.
This generally happen only when they are keeping an eye on their eggs...

Another trigger fish we love is the clown triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum) with its white dots on the lower part of the body and its yellow blotch on the back and the face.
​They are less common than the titan, the redtooth or the yellow margin, but still can be found in the archipelago.

The redtooth triggerfish (Odonus niger) live specially on our pinnacle and like when there is current.
​They will go and hide in cracks and little cavities to rest. They form school and eat mainly plankton.

The yellowmargin triggerfish (Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus) is also very common in the archipelago. It lives in coral reefs and can grow up to 60 cm.

Guests: America, China, Switzerland, Taiwan, Andorra, Spain, Norway, New Zealand, Canada, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Germany.
Our North and South Andaman cruise embarked on a week-long journey filled with exploration, adventure, and a delightful mix of guests from around the globe. From April 25th to May 2nd, 2023, we set sail from Tap Lamu pier, eager to uncover the captivating underwater wonders that awaited us.
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Surrounded by an international camaraderie, we began our expedition with a remarkable start. The first day brought us to the renowned Surin National Park, where the marine world welcomed us with open arms. Delving into the turquoise waters, we were greeted by the mesmerizing sight of Kulh's stingrays gliding gracefully across the sandy seabed. The garden eels and vibrant fish added to the vibrant tapestry of marine life. With exceptional visibility, the underwater realm unfolded before our eyes, revealing its true magnificence.

Next on our itinerary was the legendary Richelieu Rock, a destination that left us in awe. This submerged pinnacle proved to be a cornucopia of marine diversity. As we descended into its depths, we were surrounded by an abundance of life. Schools of fish in all shapes, sizes, and colors, ghost pipefishes hiding among the soft and hard corals, and the regal presence of Harlequin Shrimps captivated our senses. Everywhere we turned, glass fishes twinkled in the sunlight, creating an ethereal spectacle that will forever be etched in our memories.

To our esteemed guests, we hope you thoroughly enjoyed the trip and experienced unforgettable moments. Your presence and enthusiasm added an extra layer of joy to our adventure. We extend our sincere gratitude to each of you for choosing The Smiling Seahorse as your gateway to the wonders of the Andaman Sea.

Continuing our journey south through the archipelago, we arrived at the Similan National Park. The second day was spent exploring the vibrant dive sites of Koh Tachai and Koh Bon followed by the wonders of Three Trees, Elephant Head Rock, and West of Eden, treating us to four exhilarating dives, including an enchanting night dive.

​Our encounters with turtles, lobsters, barracudas, trevallies, fusiliers, and the delicate beauty of Spanish dancer eggs added to the tapestry of marine life we witnessed.
The blackwater dive that night added an extra touch of intrigue, revealing the mysterious creatures that inhabit the depths of the sea.

The following days we crossed over to the South Andaman Sea starting with Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. These dive sites in the Koh Lanta National Park offered a different perspective, emphasizing macro marvels and showcasing a plethora of nudibranchs and crustaceans as well as a cool albeit grumpy Stone fish. The rich biodiversity hidden within the coral reefs was a testament to the delicate balance of nature.

As we ventured further, the stunning coral reefs of Tarutao National Park near the pretty Koh Lipe island captivated our senses. The impressive underwater landscapes dazzled us, offering glimpses into a thriving marine ecosystem.
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Our journey culminated in the enchanting Phi Phi Islands and Shark Point. Here, we encountered the graceful blacktip reef sharks, alongside a multitude of beautiful nudibranchs and flatworms. The marine life surrounding us was a testament to the splendor and diversity that the Andaman Sea has to offer.

We split ways in Phuket with hearts full of gratitude, reminiscing about the extraordinary marine encounters and the shared moments of awe and wonder. To our esteemed guests, we express our deepest appreciation for joining us on this extraordinary adventure. The memories we have created together will forever be treasured.

We hope you all enjoyed the trip and had an amazing time with us.
Thank you for choosing The Smilling Seahorse! 

Ahoy! Me hearties! Get ready for a diving adventure reprot that will make your heart skip a beat!

The MV Smiling Seahorse has just taken off on an 8-day trip, cruising from the southern border with Malaysia to the northern border with Myanmar. We welcomed 14 guests from different corners of the world, all eager to explore the Andaman coast of Thailand with us. From Canada to Australia, everyone was thrilled to dive into the deep blue and witness the breathtaking marine life of Thailand.

Our first day kicked off in Mu Ko Lanta National Park, where we encountered an array of stunning sea creatures. We saw stonefish, mantis spearing fish, batfish, and even huge tuna swimming around the dive sites. As we explored the park, we learned that Ko Lanta was once known as "Pulao Satak," which means "Long Beach Island" in Malay. Later, many Thais, both Buddhist and Muslim, moved to the island making the island known as the island of "a million eyes" ("lan ta" in Thai).

Mu Ko Lanta National Park (Thai: อุทยานแห่งชาติหมู่เกาะลันตา) is a national park in the southern part of Krabi Province, Thailand, consisting of several islands, beautiful beaches and diverse marine life, it's no wonder people from all over the world flock to this destination.

On the second day, we ventured to Tarutao National Park and 8 Miles Rock for the first 2 dives, where we witnessed schools of fish hanging in the split of the current and huge trevallis! The famous Stonehenge saw our divers in the afternoon. it is such a stunning site with soft and hard coral mixing perfectly with barrel sponges and all types of anemone and we got super lucky meeting this cool fish: bearded leatherjacket (photo top left). Truly one of the weirdest fish you can encounter on a dive. With its distinct, tough-looking appearance and rough skin, this fish is truly a sight to behold. The bearded leatherjacket (Anacanthus barbatus) is typically found in rocky reefs and kelp beds in the southern hemisphere, and can grow up to 60cm in length. Despite its tough apparence, it's actually quite friendly and curious, often swimming up to divers to check them out. So if you're lucky enough to spot a bearded leatherjacket on your next dive, take a moment to appreciate this amazing creature!

A lot of people know Koh Lipe but don't know it is part of the Tarutao National Park with hundreds of small islands scattered from 20 to 70 kilometres from the south-westernmost point of mainland Thailand. 

Another exciting experiences we had on the trip was to take two blackwater dives. Pelagic nudibranchs, flounders, and pelagic snake hanging out with a remora in the darkness were all part of the fun! 

After lipe we went back west passing a day through Lanta National park again to dive more amazing dive sites around Koh Haa and then crossed overnight to the Similan islands where we leisurely explored Southern islands for a day and the northern islands for the second day.

Koh Bon and Koh Tachai are two very popular dive sites in the North of the Similans and had us spellbound: The schools of glass fish were so dense that it was difficult to see through them and the hunting trevalli were coming from everywhere at the same time for the feast!

The next day we were thrilled to stay around the great pinnacle of Richelieu Rock in the Surin National Park for the whole day. The photographer among us had a hard time deciding between their macro or wide-angle lens due to the abundance of marine life big and small!

Our diving adventure took us to Similan National park and Racha Noi next one our way back to Phuket and what a dream come true. We saw everything from Kuhl's stingray, big schools of barracuda, nudibranch, and even wipe coral shrimp. 

The Similan Islands have been made famous for the wealth of their coral reefs teeming with wildlife and usually great diving conditions it is rare to have bad visibility here and both divers and snorkelers can see a number of marine species and brids more diverse than anywhere else. The beach stop are not to shabby either!

Ahoy there, fellow adventurers! We've just returned from an epic liveaboard dive trip in the North Andaman of Thailand, and boy oh boy, was it a blast!

Some people want to see All of the Andaman Sea in a week on our 8d/7n North And South Andaman, other prefer to take there time and explore more dive sites in the same area. On this 7 days/6 night cruise we really have time to explore many sites in Surin and Similan islands and dive places we oversee on our more fast pace expeditions.
Our guests this week came from Germany, France, England, America and Israel to dive with us and we had a blast! Thanks again for choosing us. Also, congratulations to Aveline for her Advanced Open Water certification and a happy birthday to Ken!

It was nice to start this cruise from Ranong, our main port since 2012 and one we dont get to see much since COVID which gave some of our guests the chance to board from the paradisiac little island of Koh Phayam. We spent the first day in the Surin National Park where a Juvenile shaded batfish greeted us at Yellow Rock, such a graceful angel of the sea. A big blotched stingray was also sleeping under a rock on the same divesite and Pikachu nudibranch were in their usual location next to Torinla but we also really enjoyed the big school of sweetlips forming a ball on the satellite finger reef.

We embarked on a southward cruise to reach the Similan National Park, where we indulged in three unforgettable days of diving, completing a total of twelve dives. The water was crystal clear, teeming with a diverse array of marine life. Our underwater explorations yielded sightings of fascinating creatures like sharks, rays, and the adorable nudibranchs with their eggs.
We were fortunate to observe a large and striking spearer mantis shrimp, as well as a few ribbon eels, both the in black and yellow, as well as blue and yellow (did you know their colors tell their sex? more in the blogpost) . Additionally, we came across some multibar pipefish, carrying their eggs on their bellies.
Our experience at Tachai was particularly remarkable, with excellent conditions that allowed us to witness an immense school of barracuda, black tip reef sharks, and various species of trevallies hunting above the pinnacle. It was truly a remarkable adventure that we'll cherish for a lifetime.

One of the highlights of our trip was discovering a bright juvenile clown triggerfish nestled in the crevices of Koh Bon Pinnacle. However, the night and blackwater dives proved to be even more remarkable, as we encountered an abundance of fascinating marine life. We were thrilled to spot numerous nudibranchs and crustaceans, including the elusive slipper lobster and spider crabs, amongst the vibrant and diverse reef ecosystem.

What really captivated our attention were the peculiar creatures in their larval stage, which were drawn towards the bright lights of our bright pumpkin. It was an awe-inspiring sight that truly made the night and blackwater dives unforgettable experiences.

Our last day and a half was spent diving in the Surin National Park, exploring the world-renowned dive site of Richelieu Rock. As expected, the breathtaking underwater world left us in awe. The diversity of fish species was astounding, with schools of emperors, trevallies, and rainbow runners growing bigger and bigger by the day.
We were mesmerized by the stunning soft corals that adorned the reef in shades of pink, orange, purple, and blue, providing shelter to countless glassfish and shrimps. It was a truly spectacular sight that will stay with us for a long time to come.

On behalf of The Smiling Seahorse, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our very special guests for choosing us as your dive partner in the Andaman Sea. It was an absolute pleasure having all of you on board, and sharing this fantastic trip with us.

We would like to give a special shout-out to our returning guests Boris, Nicolas, and Philippe. It is always a joy to have familiar faces on board and to dive with passionate divers like you. We hope to see you again soon for more exciting underwater adventures.