Guest reviews of Smiling Seahorse
What customers say about their experience with us
Excellent service
Review:
5, based on
139 reviews
"Excellent service with The Smiling Sea Horse" by
Pawat, written on
December 19, 2020
Apart from amazing underwater experience around Andaman Sea (Surin Island, Bon Islands, Tachai and Richelieu rock), the life on this boat is safe and relax.
This diving boat defines the standard of what should diving boat look like. The rooms are cozy in tiny space with shower room inside. The ventilation is perfect since the door and windows are on the rear side of the boat.
Sleeping on this boat is different. You never feel running engine when you go to bed. However in the morning, the boat is ready for new dive site.
Total number of traveller (around 18) is match the boat size. The platform for giant strike to the ocean is organized with all equipment spread around evenly for red and blue team. (Look at the platform picture)
The food is excellent. Loving barbecue on last dinner and everything on the fridge
If you care about environment, this boat provide you with their bottle to refill water all the time on the trip. This boat also provide different buckets for each type of rubbish. The straw for coconut is also stainless.
If you love to find out what you saw underwater, they provide many book to find the creatures you found.
Surely go diving again with The Smilling Seahorse
Surin Islands, Tachai and Richelieu rock with The Smiling SeahorseDiving
Review:
5, based on
135 reviews
"Surin Islands, Tachai and Richelieu rock Diving with The Smiling Seahorse with The Smiling Sea Horse" by
Andrew G, written on
December 03, 2020
My wife and I intended to dive the Andamans for quite some time now. One reason for which we kept postponing was that in general the liveaboards leave from Khao Luk, which for us meant taking an expensive flight from Bangkok to Phuket.
We were very happy to find out that The Smiling Horse liveaboard starts its trips from Ranong, a much nicer and quieter city in our opinion, easy accessible from Bangkok by plane at a cheaper price.
Our diving trip was amazing. We were the only boat in usually crowded places such as Richelieu Rock, Tachai or Ko Bon. Lots of fish, good visibility for most of the trip, great food.
The thing I personally liked the best is that nitrox is available on board. With daily dives at over 23 meters, and a total of 10 dives spread over a 3 day period of time, nitrox becomes an important safety factor. And a good way to prolong the bottom time a little bit and enjoy the exceptional marine environment the Andamans have to offer.
The liveaboard has great staff and experienced dive leads. We stayed in the master cabin, a comfy room with its own private bathroom.
Many thanks to Franck and Camille, the owners as well as to all the crew involved in creating a great experience for us.
Peach and Andrew
Read our full guest book
Thailand December 2020... So many lovely reviews!
Dives at Black Rock were spectacular!
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Unbeatable
"Thank you all for this very relaxing and beautiful trip to and unknown world! Selina had the best 1-to-1 OW course she could imagine and I enjoyed the various dive sites, the relaxing time on the boat and the excellent (really, unbeatable) food!
Thank you all very much and hope to see you again! Gregor & Selina"
"Nous avons passé notre Open Watera bord: premiere plonge a vie, nous avons plonge pendant 5 jours . Comment est-ce qu’on va pouvoir s’amuser maintenant, les prochaines plongees vont probablement ressembler a une photo sans filter rouge, ou tout est monochrome et sans couleur.
Apres trois mois de voyage, ces 5 jours ci nous on redone de la vigeur (ok, le corps est un peu fatigue) mais etre passé a cote de cette experience aurait ete un vrai gachie!
Franck, Camille ainsi que leur bateau et staff sont incroyables et hyper chaleureux. Si l’avenir me le permet, je reviendrai!
Merci a Franck pour son temps et son experience. Merci a Camille de sa gentillesse et son sourire.
Romain (france) et Caro (Canada)"
"We have spent on MV Thai Sea about 6 days. Everything was arranged perfectly: diving, food, accommodation and warm, friendly environment. During this trip, many things happened for the first time. That’s why we’ll definetly never forget this wonderfull journey.
Great thanks,
Dmitry, Mynkin, Moskow, Russia"
Thank you all very much and hope to see you again! Gregor & Selina"
"Nous avons passé notre Open Watera bord: premiere plonge a vie, nous avons plonge pendant 5 jours . Comment est-ce qu’on va pouvoir s’amuser maintenant, les prochaines plongees vont probablement ressembler a une photo sans filter rouge, ou tout est monochrome et sans couleur.
Apres trois mois de voyage, ces 5 jours ci nous on redone de la vigeur (ok, le corps est un peu fatigue) mais etre passé a cote de cette experience aurait ete un vrai gachie!
Franck, Camille ainsi que leur bateau et staff sont incroyables et hyper chaleureux. Si l’avenir me le permet, je reviendrai!
Merci a Franck pour son temps et son experience. Merci a Camille de sa gentillesse et son sourire.
Romain (france) et Caro (Canada)"
"We have spent on MV Thai Sea about 6 days. Everything was arranged perfectly: diving, food, accommodation and warm, friendly environment. During this trip, many things happened for the first time. That’s why we’ll definetly never forget this wonderfull journey.
Great thanks,
Dmitry, Mynkin, Moskow, Russia"
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"Whether there is a causal relationship between us finishing up our 6 days liveaboard trip to Burma and the world as we know it coming to and end, I dare not say… In fact, little tells us that things are ending from where we are, cruising the sea between Burma and Thailand. Yet, my view and awe over the world beneath the surface. Of the oceans will not be the same after this trip. Some fantastic diving, at times exciting, other times relaxing, and other times again pushing me to the limit of capabilities, forcing me to face deep fear, however regaining mastery of myself and leaving more experienced and braver than before."
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"In diving, as in life, its about breathing, listening to the breath of the ocean, of night and day. Eating and diving, diving and sleeping, and breathing in and breathing out in a never ending of life.
Life in the seas is more spectacular, amazing, terrifying, entertaining and inspiring than one can imagine before going down there. And in the end, it’s where we come from and a source of life on this planet, someplace to take care of and respect rather than exploit. The diversity is immense, leaving you awe struck and humble…
This liveaboard trip has been a wonderfully personal and intimate experience. Thanks to the crew, the cook, the dive masters and to our fellow liveaboard friends. Thank you for enriching our lives.
Finally lets extend our best hopes to Burma opening up to the diving community and tourism in general in a sensible and environmentally sustainable way.
From Norway with love, Lars and Kristin"
Life in the seas is more spectacular, amazing, terrifying, entertaining and inspiring than one can imagine before going down there. And in the end, it’s where we come from and a source of life on this planet, someplace to take care of and respect rather than exploit. The diversity is immense, leaving you awe struck and humble…
This liveaboard trip has been a wonderfully personal and intimate experience. Thanks to the crew, the cook, the dive masters and to our fellow liveaboard friends. Thank you for enriching our lives.
Finally lets extend our best hopes to Burma opening up to the diving community and tourism in general in a sensible and environmentally sustainable way.
From Norway with love, Lars and Kristin"
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"Dearest Camille and Franck + crew+ divemasters...
What a wonderful break! I came with only 4 dives and left with 17! I swear the manta ray (or whatever it was) was larger than your boat and the shark was twice the length of Franck (shark cave, night dive) at least 30 feets long!!! I lved turning off my cellphone, my emails and enoy the quiet of the sea. Franck took very good care of me underwater as I was his personal remorah. He made it easy to dive even in the dark shark cave. I knew he was ready to defend with courage and knife when the huge ray went for the attack... Thank you, I will be back with more freinds! Tamara" |
"Franck et Camille parfaits a tous les niveaux, l’equipage aux petits soins le cuisinier impeccable, le capitaine imperturbable, et l'"accompagnateur" sympatique.
Thierry, Francais expatrie au congo."
"Thank you so much for the wonderful liveaboard experience. The trip which made me very happy. Everyone onboard was accomodating and easy to deal with. I felt at home on the MV Thai sea.
Good Luck with everything going forward.
Scoot, USA"
"Tout d'abord les repas! Un regal! Je ramenerais bien le cuisto a la maison!
Les plongees, surprenants, des jardins de gorgones splendides, le requin nourice dans sa cachette avec ses raies copines, amazing!!! Tant pis pour les requins baleines et les mantas... ca fera l'occasion de revenir! Oh oui, oui, oui!
Un equipage souriant, serviable, discret. Et la cerise sur le bateau: Camille et Franck, tout simplement adorables!!! et tellement plus que ca!!!
Bonne chance a vous et a votre merveilleuse aventure!
Cecile. Le puy en vela, France."
Fantastic finish to our vacations
"Dear Franck and crew,
Thank you for all this very relaxing and beautiful
Nov 18-21 2012 - Tim & Julia- Germany
Dear Camille, dear Preben, dear Pong, dear crew,
Thank you for this nice trip to Surin and Richelieu Rock. Was a fantastic finish for our vacations. Really beautiful places you have showed us. Food was great, next time I will need a larger wet suit
On our way back the Andaman sea wanted to show us that it can also be nasty and not always nice and beautiful. Bur thanks to sea sickness pills this wasn't a problem.
Thanks,
Tim& Julia
PS: Snorkeling was very much fun, too- especially because I had the sites for myself."
"Nous avons passe 4 jours fabuleux avec de superbes plongees mais aussi des paysages idylliques.
Nous revions de nous balader sur une plage deserte... mais nous l'avons fait.
Dommage que le requin baleine et les mantas n'etaient pas au rendez-vous.
Merci a tout l'equipage: Camille pour son acceuil et sa gentillesse, Preben pour les plonges, Pong pour sa joie de vivre et le reste de l'equipage pour leur gentilesse et discretion.
Merci au cuisto qui nous a regale pendant 4 jours.
Delphine et Seb (Nice-France)"
"Kamiel & Germa - Netherland
Dear Camille, Franck & Crew,
Second time on board of the MV Thai Sea, you'll probably see us again.
Thanks for an amazing trip!
Kamiel and Germa"
Thank you for all this very relaxing and beautiful
Nov 18-21 2012 - Tim & Julia- Germany
Dear Camille, dear Preben, dear Pong, dear crew,
Thank you for this nice trip to Surin and Richelieu Rock. Was a fantastic finish for our vacations. Really beautiful places you have showed us. Food was great, next time I will need a larger wet suit
On our way back the Andaman sea wanted to show us that it can also be nasty and not always nice and beautiful. Bur thanks to sea sickness pills this wasn't a problem.
Thanks,
Tim& Julia
PS: Snorkeling was very much fun, too- especially because I had the sites for myself."
"Nous avons passe 4 jours fabuleux avec de superbes plongees mais aussi des paysages idylliques.
Nous revions de nous balader sur une plage deserte... mais nous l'avons fait.
Dommage que le requin baleine et les mantas n'etaient pas au rendez-vous.
Merci a tout l'equipage: Camille pour son acceuil et sa gentillesse, Preben pour les plonges, Pong pour sa joie de vivre et le reste de l'equipage pour leur gentilesse et discretion.
Merci au cuisto qui nous a regale pendant 4 jours.
Delphine et Seb (Nice-France)"
"Kamiel & Germa - Netherland
Dear Camille, Franck & Crew,
Second time on board of the MV Thai Sea, you'll probably see us again.
Thanks for an amazing trip!
Kamiel and Germa"
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Absolutely the right decision to do the trip: No Doubt! |
"This last minute decision made me discover a happy smiling seahorse inside of myself. No Manta no cry, no whaleshark no cry, the liveaboard experience is bigger than that! great underwater buddies and bettter aquaman and mermaids on board.
Wanna make noise with water tank? Wanna get your specialty in naked rescue lighters? Wanna jumps with a banana from the top of the deck?
Everything fun is possible and encouraged by the wonderful people and crew on board. And if you've been traveling long, say goodbye to that constant hunger of the backpacker, food is great and most of the time you find a new surprise snack or delicious meal.
Lovely bubble making!!!
Marc - Spain"
"Absolutely the right decision to do the trip. NO DOUBT!!!
Great team, great staff, wonderful mantas, seahorses, bat fish and and and...Surin and Richelieu Rock and more ... WOW!
I did my AOW with fantastic care and support.Thanks to Franck, Billy and of course Camille!
Bisous, Elmar, Berlin, Germany"
"One of the most exciting trips I've ever had!
Thanks so much for everything... Shall hopefully be seeing you soon for a Burma trip :)
xxx Carissa
I love diving!!!
Carissa - Australia"
Wanna make noise with water tank? Wanna get your specialty in naked rescue lighters? Wanna jumps with a banana from the top of the deck?
Everything fun is possible and encouraged by the wonderful people and crew on board. And if you've been traveling long, say goodbye to that constant hunger of the backpacker, food is great and most of the time you find a new surprise snack or delicious meal.
Lovely bubble making!!!
Marc - Spain"
"Absolutely the right decision to do the trip. NO DOUBT!!!
Great team, great staff, wonderful mantas, seahorses, bat fish and and and...Surin and Richelieu Rock and more ... WOW!
I did my AOW with fantastic care and support.Thanks to Franck, Billy and of course Camille!
Bisous, Elmar, Berlin, Germany"
"One of the most exciting trips I've ever had!
Thanks so much for everything... Shall hopefully be seeing you soon for a Burma trip :)
xxx Carissa
I love diving!!!
Carissa - Australia"
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Burma trip: food really good, diving even better! |
"A big thank to everybody, a special thank to the cook, food was really good. Diving even better! I had an amazing time.
Thank you for everything!
See you,
Martin - Switzerland"
"A huge thank you to Franck, Preben, Pong and the rest of the crew for this unforgettable experience. A special thank you to Franck for your patience with me and all those remarls and advices that made me a big deal more comfortable in the water and of course, thank you to the cook. The food was amazing.
See you soon guys.
Dimitri, London"
"I want to thank Preben, Franck and Pong for the nice days we have been together. i was a little bit afraid of diving in Burma but Franck made me feel safe all the time. The food was great and so the boat.The crew was fantastic, specially Mr Pong.
See you next year guys!
Luciano, bella nina, Brazil"
Thank you for everything!
See you,
Martin - Switzerland"
"A huge thank you to Franck, Preben, Pong and the rest of the crew for this unforgettable experience. A special thank you to Franck for your patience with me and all those remarls and advices that made me a big deal more comfortable in the water and of course, thank you to the cook. The food was amazing.
See you soon guys.
Dimitri, London"
"I want to thank Preben, Franck and Pong for the nice days we have been together. i was a little bit afraid of diving in Burma but Franck made me feel safe all the time. The food was great and so the boat.The crew was fantastic, specially Mr Pong.
See you next year guys!
Luciano, bella nina, Brazil"
Surin Island trip: We had an awesome time!
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"Ulia, Sarah, Julia - Germany
Dear Franck and Camille and the crew, We had an awesome time on your boat and felt very welcome and at home!!! Nice weather, great snorkeling, amazing diving and delicious food, plus really nice and friendly people. Would love to do it again and we will tell our friends!!! Thank you so much!!! "Tschuss" from the 3 German Girls" |
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That special atmosphere that you only find on a boat, not too small, not too big, just right!"Dear Team,
Thank you for five unforgettable days. great dives, splendid scenery, very good food, great "relax" and that special athmosphere that you only find on a boat ,not too small, not too big, just right! Un prazer muito obrigado a todo o pessoa, Bertinho" |
"Camille, Franck, Preben, Pong and crew,
Very much enjoyed the trip. I really appreciated the effort of Franck and Camille while diving, showing me all the wonderful creatures on the reef in Burma. and thank you for diving safely, all the time.
The food and service onboard was fantastic! We never went hungry.
Hope to come back to Burma and dive with you again.
Cheers,
Mike"
"Thank you for a nice trip. food was good, diving was good and in general, everything on this trip was good.Hope to come back sometime and join another liveaboard with you.
Perti - Finland"
Very much enjoyed the trip. I really appreciated the effort of Franck and Camille while diving, showing me all the wonderful creatures on the reef in Burma. and thank you for diving safely, all the time.
The food and service onboard was fantastic! We never went hungry.
Hope to come back to Burma and dive with you again.
Cheers,
Mike"
"Thank you for a nice trip. food was good, diving was good and in general, everything on this trip was good.Hope to come back sometime and join another liveaboard with you.
Perti - Finland"
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The dive sites are really amazing! And the best: you are the only boat!!! |
"24-29 February - Julia and Flo - Germany
Dear Franck, Prebenand of course the crew,
Thanks a lot for the last 5 days! it was really a great time to be diving with you.
After the late start all things get better and better!
The athmospere on the boat is really perfect! You feel like a little family... because we have only been 7 divers.
The dive sites are really amazing! And the best: you are the only boat!!! PERFECT!
Thanks for the mantas and the zebra sharks (for me it was my favorite dive!)
Special thank for the cook! It was always extremely good!
Also thanks to Pong for Rowing us to the nicest beach I've ever been!!!
I think we will see you again!
Julia and Flo"
"J’attendais cette croisière avec impatience et mes attentes ne furent pas déçues !Superbes sites de plongées, intacts avec de fantastiques coraux, et le plaisir de voir qu'il reste encore quelques sites très peu explorés.Je devrais revenir, et ce sera avec un grand plaisir, pour voir les raies manta qui sont passées, les vilaines, lors d'une plongée que j'ai zappée.J'ai beaucoup apprécié la bonne humeur de Franck, à qui je souhaite beaucoup de succès pour son nouveau job.
Un dernier mot pour l’équipage, super efficace, et la délicieuse cuisine servie tout au long de la croisière.
Comme disais Swarzy: "I'll be back"
Bruno"
"Dear Thai-Sea-Team!
We had a great time with you! The "taxi crazy" japanese guys really missed a lot...Nice crew, relaxed diving, great food and many many beautiful and friendly fish... and of course MANTAS!!!
Thank you, merci, Danke, Kop Kun Kah!!!
Karoline and Philipp, Hambourg"
Dear Franck, Prebenand of course the crew,
Thanks a lot for the last 5 days! it was really a great time to be diving with you.
After the late start all things get better and better!
The athmospere on the boat is really perfect! You feel like a little family... because we have only been 7 divers.
The dive sites are really amazing! And the best: you are the only boat!!! PERFECT!
Thanks for the mantas and the zebra sharks (for me it was my favorite dive!)
Special thank for the cook! It was always extremely good!
Also thanks to Pong for Rowing us to the nicest beach I've ever been!!!
I think we will see you again!
Julia and Flo"
"J’attendais cette croisière avec impatience et mes attentes ne furent pas déçues !Superbes sites de plongées, intacts avec de fantastiques coraux, et le plaisir de voir qu'il reste encore quelques sites très peu explorés.Je devrais revenir, et ce sera avec un grand plaisir, pour voir les raies manta qui sont passées, les vilaines, lors d'une plongée que j'ai zappée.J'ai beaucoup apprécié la bonne humeur de Franck, à qui je souhaite beaucoup de succès pour son nouveau job.
Un dernier mot pour l’équipage, super efficace, et la délicieuse cuisine servie tout au long de la croisière.
Comme disais Swarzy: "I'll be back"
Bruno"
"Dear Thai-Sea-Team!
We had a great time with you! The "taxi crazy" japanese guys really missed a lot...Nice crew, relaxed diving, great food and many many beautiful and friendly fish... and of course MANTAS!!!
Thank you, merci, Danke, Kop Kun Kah!!!
Karoline and Philipp, Hambourg"
Best of Thailand
"I will just say that we never had such delightful food on a boat trip as this one. good variation, plentiful! and very tasty...
We will join you next time when you do a culinary trip to Burma and o yeah, the diving was very good too...
Thanks to you all who made this possible!!
Cheers,Eelco from Netherland"
"An excellent experience with an excellent crew. Liveaboard # 7? Now approaching the islands from the North, great dive sites but no Manta ray. Food and beverage where very tasteful, great Barbeque! Not to mention the fresh coffee in the morning.
Germa, Kamiel, Cintha, Guus
We will be back!Germa, Kamiel, Cintha, Guus"
"16h45 Nearly at Koh Payam where we will get off, we miss the last hour of this nice company.
Have been diving around the world, but must admit, together with the crew of Smiling Seahorse, this has been one of the great trips we have made. We hope to join soon on the trip to Burma, dont loose the cook!
Joan, www.bottles-up-diving.com
Joan - Netherland"
"I can only recommend this safari. Good boat, good food, good diving. I felt always safe since I'm not a 1st class diver. I wish Camille and Franck all the best for starting up The Smiling Seahorse and maybe I'm going to come back one day to see mantas and whale sharks...
Cheers and Danke,Lars
Lars - Germany"
We will join you next time when you do a culinary trip to Burma and o yeah, the diving was very good too...
Thanks to you all who made this possible!!
Cheers,Eelco from Netherland"
"An excellent experience with an excellent crew. Liveaboard # 7? Now approaching the islands from the North, great dive sites but no Manta ray. Food and beverage where very tasteful, great Barbeque! Not to mention the fresh coffee in the morning.
Germa, Kamiel, Cintha, Guus
We will be back!Germa, Kamiel, Cintha, Guus"
"16h45 Nearly at Koh Payam where we will get off, we miss the last hour of this nice company.
Have been diving around the world, but must admit, together with the crew of Smiling Seahorse, this has been one of the great trips we have made. We hope to join soon on the trip to Burma, dont loose the cook!
Joan, www.bottles-up-diving.com
Joan - Netherland"
"I can only recommend this safari. Good boat, good food, good diving. I felt always safe since I'm not a 1st class diver. I wish Camille and Franck all the best for starting up The Smiling Seahorse and maybe I'm going to come back one day to see mantas and whale sharks...
Cheers and Danke,Lars
Lars - Germany"
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What a boat! What a crew! What a holiday!!! |
"What a boat! What a crew! What a holiday!!!
I feel lucky to have been the first customer of The Smiling Seahorse and wish you all the best for the future with many more amazing dives! Franck and Camille shared their enthousiasm and passion with us and the boat had a great atmosphere.
Thank you for the most amazing dives, the best and most plentiful food and my first taste of Oxygen!!!
Emilie and Chris
Ps : special mention to my sister, "I'm very jealous of your new job!"
"Merci Camille, Franck, Preben. C'etait 3 jours inoubliables, trop cool! Superbes plongées (sportives) un grand moment! Rendez-vous pour le requin baleine next time...
A tres bientôt,
Steph, club Moana, Cagnes/ mer"
More reviews on Trip Advisor:
I feel lucky to have been the first customer of The Smiling Seahorse and wish you all the best for the future with many more amazing dives! Franck and Camille shared their enthousiasm and passion with us and the boat had a great atmosphere.
Thank you for the most amazing dives, the best and most plentiful food and my first taste of Oxygen!!!
Emilie and Chris
Ps : special mention to my sister, "I'm very jealous of your new job!"
"Merci Camille, Franck, Preben. C'etait 3 jours inoubliables, trop cool! Superbes plongées (sportives) un grand moment! Rendez-vous pour le requin baleine next time...
A tres bientôt,
Steph, club Moana, Cagnes/ mer"
More reviews on Trip Advisor:
- Read 8 reviews of The Smiling Seahorse
