Diving liveaboard in Thailand and Myanmar
  • When & Where
    • Schedule and Prices
    • Destinations >
      • North Andaman Thailand >
        • Similan Islands
        • Surin Islands >
          • Richelieu rock
        • The essential Underwater photo Guide to diving Thailand
      • South Andaman Thailand
      • Mergui Archipelago >
        • Marine life in the Andaman Sea
        • Burma's best dive sites
        • The Ultimate Underwater photo Guide to diving Burma
  • ABOUT
    • Our Boat >
      • DELICIOUS FOOD
    • Guest Book
    • Diving in Thailand in 2022-2023 >
      • Ranong Departures >
        • 3D Thailand: Surin National Park
        • 4D Thailand from Ranong 5pm-7pm
        • 5D Thailand: Surin and Similan
        • 6D Thailand: Surin and Similan end to Ranong
        • 7D North Andaman: Surin and Similan from Ranong
        • 8D Thailand: North & South
        • Alternative itineraries for full charter >
          • 4D4N Evening to morning - Surin Similan
      • Khao Lak Departures >
        • 5D North Andaman from Khao Lak to Phuket
        • 5D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 6D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 6D North Andaman: From Khao Lak to Ranong
        • 7D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 7D North Khao Lak to Khao Lak
        • 8D North & South Andaman Thailand
      • Phuket departures >
        • 5D North Andaman from Phuket
        • 5D South Andaman: Lanta and Tarutao National Parks
        • 6D North Andaman: Phuket to Khao Lak
        • 8D Thailand: South & North
    • Blackwater diving in Thailand
    • Marine life in Thailand's Andaman Sea
    • Diving in Myanmar | Burma dive cruises >
      • 6D Burma : South Mergui Archipelago
      • 7D Burma: dive Black Rock
      • 8D Burma: Undiscovered Mergui
      • 9D Burma: Exploration trip
    • Dive Courses >
      • Learn to Dive
      • Continue diving education
      • Rescue diver
      • Professional Dive Courses
      • Hone your dive skills with a PADI specialty course
      • Photo coaching in Thailand on the Smiling Seahorse
    • FAQ
  • Plan your trip
    • Accommodation in Ranong
    • SHA+ hotels in Phuket
    • Bungalows in Koh Phayam
    • Khao Sok National Park
    • Taxi services >
      • Taxi services to and from Ranong
      • Taxi services to and from Phuket
      • Taxi services to Tap Lamu and Khao Lak
    • 10 things to do around Ranong
    • Covid-19 news & infos >
      • COVID-19 update travel to Thailand
      • Covid-19 protection on-board
  • PROMO
    • HOT DEALS
    • Whale shark expedition - 4 Feb 2023 - North and South
    • Manta rays expedition - 19 Mar 2023
    • Photo clinic + Blackwater 23 Jan 2024
    • UW Photo clinic North Andaman 31 Jan 2024
    • Manta rays expedition - 18 Feb 2024
    • Whale Shark Special - 19 Mar 2024 - North and South
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10th to 13th of December: a busy weekend on the Andaman Sea

17/12/2020

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This weekend was a long weekend due to constitution day and National Father’s day on the 10th and 11th of December which brought many divers and boats flocking to the national park. Busy, busy! We had a lovely group of Thais and expatriates from Bangkok, Rayong and Hat Yai that were not bothered by the crowds and were mesmerized by the treasures we found.
The sea was as flat as a lake and the sun was beaming during this fantastic cruise and we had some great dives.
This time we saw two ribbon eels (black and blue) at Koh Chi in Surin National Park as well as 5 Pikachu nudibranchs and a giant school or rainbow runners and trevallies! We were entranced by a cute yellow box fish and all the colorful tropical fish in the coral garden.

​A myriad of nudibranchs welcomed us on the night dive as well as hunting moray eels and a crocodile fish with its hypnotic green eyes. We enjoyed looking at a feather star taking a stroll as well as many scorpion fish and lionfish hiding amongst the corals and sponges.​
butterfly fish on the thai reef
hard coral table covered in fish
school of goatfish
School of yellowback goatfish
Thailand diving trip fish schooling
Blue trevallis and emperors hunting together
Koh Bon pinnacle was covered in schooling fish : jacks, big eye trevally, fusiliers and so many grouper species. We also fell in love with juvenile angelfish and sweetlips as they showed off their wiggly moves. 
Barracudas formed a tornado around us and we ogled Andaman sweetlips with their mismatched stripes and spots.

At the Reef we saw lobsters, batfish, snappers, trevallies, Maldive sponge snails, many nudis, grumpy titan triggerfish and groups of long faced emperors hunting and changing colors.

so many lion fish in one spot
schools of lionfish this season also gathering for father day :)
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a banded sea crate, always nice to meet a sea snake!
UWphoto of orangutan crab
Great macro life in Surin island this season. check out this Orangutan crab!
Koh Tachai was a magnificent fish soup yet again with batfish hovering in the current, unicorn surgeonfish, many sweetlips, a huge crack full of lobsters, Napoleon wrasse and even a very brave and curious octopus to name a few. ​
a diver hoovering next to a cuttlefish
a curious Cuttlefish came to say hello
We began the 3rd day at Torinla in a veritable ray paradise. Over the course of one dive we saw Kuhl's rays playing in the sand, a massive Jenkins whiptail ray hiding under a rock, and even an eagle ray and fantail ray cruising past. There were also many cute boxfish, whip coral cowries, and garden eels shyly poking their heads up when they thought no one was watching. 
sea jenkin ray under a rock
Jenkin whiptail ray hiding under a rock
happy scuba diver in the blue
We had such a lovely group of thai divers this week
On our surface interval we paid a visit to the Moken tribe settlement in the Surin national park to snap some photos, chat with the locals and bring some gifts of snacks and smiles to the children. Our charming boat crew even joined us for their first visit to the village. 
Surin islands sea gypsies moken village and dinghy
coming back from the Moken village: the Andaman Sea gypsies
​Richelieu rock was rocking and rolling with many boats and divers for our last 3 dives, but despite the crowds we saw some amazing things! Ornate ghost pipefish frolicked in the fan corals while a banded sea snake bumped into a diver on its way up to the surface for a breath startling it into changing its mind and retreating back to the depths. A massive school of chevron barracudas greeted us in the bottom while huge pickhandle barracudas came within mere centimeters of our mask during the safety stop.
porcupine fish at similan islands
porcupine fish
Moray eels hunted through the nooks and crannies, colourful nudibranchs munched on yummy hydroids and decorator crabs got creative using cuttlefish eggs to adorn their carapace. Love was certainly in the air as cuttlefish courted and fought to impress the discerning females. Some were more curious than others and one came in real close as if to offer a little kiss to an elated diver! The icing on the cake was a quick fly by from a speedy eagle ray during the safety stop of the night dive. 
lovely reef UW photography
the reef was alive with glass fish this week
Many thanks to this incredible group of divers for making this weekend memorable and sharing these delightful encounters with us. 
A massive congratulations to Aaron for completing his advanced open water certification as well as to Jerome, Amelie and Blaize for becoming certified enriched air divers!

Can't wait for the next trip! 
Follow us for more fishy stories and get in touch for last minute offers!

December 2020 dive trip review The Smiling Seahorse
liveaboard review surin and similan 2020 december 13th

Thanks for the lovely reviews! We can't wait to have you back onboard! ❤️❤️❤️

The smiling seahorse review december 13th 2020
avis sur le Smiling Seahorse croisiere de plongee de Ranong
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Beautiful Burma!

22/4/2019

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For this second last cruise in Burma, we have been spoiled with great weather and amazing outdoors sceneries!
Hundreds of islands, settled or non settled ones, with sea gypsies around, emerald waters and white sand beaches ... 
Sounds like paradise, doesn't it?
Here are some more amazing shots from the last trip!

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Last reviews :)

2/4/2019

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"A huge thank you for this wonderful week! Nice discoveries, top crew, top guides, top food, no complaints!"
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Why we love Burma ? Have a look below !!

3/3/2019

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Whale shark
Why we love Burma ? That's a question many persons are asking us, and the only way to know it's to try!
This week was a blast ! Good Divers, little bit of luck, blue water and we have an awesome trip with so many surprises.

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Great feedback...

14/2/2019

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"Great fun ... Caves + tunnels, turtles, sea snakes, eels, seahorses and much more."
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2019 first reviews... on the starting blocks

10/2/2019

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"If there was a way to take a photo of this journey it would be very colorful and lively, but mostly stunningly beautiful."
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New Year's reviews...

8/1/2019

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" Dive ... Eat ... Sleep: the best way! "
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"What a good trip! Thank you so much to all the team..."
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" It was my second trip, but my first with the new boat. All was perfect .... "
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" A really nice cruise on a great boat, with an amazing staff, and a very original New Year's Eve! "
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" Great Celebration and fireworks at New Year's night & day. We will definitely comeback ... "
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​" ... many, many thanks to you for the wonderful week of diving in Burma. It went out so good and safe for us just because of you! "
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" I can't say anything else than it's worth every penny and we need to come back. "
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Our Liveaboard trips
  • Thailand 5 days: Thailand: Surin Island, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock..
  • Burma 6 days: Myanmar: Western Rocky, Seafan Forrest, Shark Point, Bird Cave...
  • Burma 7 days: High Rock, Shark Cave, North Twin, Macleod Island, Western Rocky, Seafan Forrest
  • Burma 8 days: all of this + Black Rock
  • Burma 9 days: All of this + a day of exploration of the north + Burma banks
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    ​The Smiling Seahorse has been running dive cruises from Ranong since 2012.
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The Smiling Seahorse

170 Ruangrat Rd, Tambon khao nivet, Mueang Ranong District, Ranong 85000​
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© COPYRIGHT 2018-2020. The Smiling Seahorse ​
  • When & Where
    • Schedule and Prices
    • Destinations >
      • North Andaman Thailand >
        • Similan Islands
        • Surin Islands >
          • Richelieu rock
        • The essential Underwater photo Guide to diving Thailand
      • South Andaman Thailand
      • Mergui Archipelago >
        • Marine life in the Andaman Sea
        • Burma's best dive sites
        • The Ultimate Underwater photo Guide to diving Burma
  • ABOUT
    • Our Boat >
      • DELICIOUS FOOD
    • Guest Book
    • Diving in Thailand in 2022-2023 >
      • Ranong Departures >
        • 3D Thailand: Surin National Park
        • 4D Thailand from Ranong 5pm-7pm
        • 5D Thailand: Surin and Similan
        • 6D Thailand: Surin and Similan end to Ranong
        • 7D North Andaman: Surin and Similan from Ranong
        • 8D Thailand: North & South
        • Alternative itineraries for full charter >
          • 4D4N Evening to morning - Surin Similan
      • Khao Lak Departures >
        • 5D North Andaman from Khao Lak to Phuket
        • 5D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 6D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 6D North Andaman: From Khao Lak to Ranong
        • 7D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 7D North Khao Lak to Khao Lak
        • 8D North & South Andaman Thailand
      • Phuket departures >
        • 5D North Andaman from Phuket
        • 5D South Andaman: Lanta and Tarutao National Parks
        • 6D North Andaman: Phuket to Khao Lak
        • 8D Thailand: South & North
    • Blackwater diving in Thailand
    • Marine life in Thailand's Andaman Sea
    • Diving in Myanmar | Burma dive cruises >
      • 6D Burma : South Mergui Archipelago
      • 7D Burma: dive Black Rock
      • 8D Burma: Undiscovered Mergui
      • 9D Burma: Exploration trip
    • Dive Courses >
      • Learn to Dive
      • Continue diving education
      • Rescue diver
      • Professional Dive Courses
      • Hone your dive skills with a PADI specialty course
      • Photo coaching in Thailand on the Smiling Seahorse
    • FAQ
  • Plan your trip
    • Accommodation in Ranong
    • SHA+ hotels in Phuket
    • Bungalows in Koh Phayam
    • Khao Sok National Park
    • Taxi services >
      • Taxi services to and from Ranong
      • Taxi services to and from Phuket
      • Taxi services to Tap Lamu and Khao Lak
    • 10 things to do around Ranong
    • Covid-19 news & infos >
      • COVID-19 update travel to Thailand
      • Covid-19 protection on-board
  • PROMO
    • HOT DEALS
    • Whale shark expedition - 4 Feb 2023 - North and South
    • Manta rays expedition - 19 Mar 2023
    • Photo clinic + Blackwater 23 Jan 2024
    • UW Photo clinic North Andaman 31 Jan 2024
    • Manta rays expedition - 18 Feb 2024
    • Whale Shark Special - 19 Mar 2024 - North and South
  • gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
    • Most popular posts