2024 Special Marine Biology Expedition in Thailand
9D8N expeditions to learn more about the coral reef inhabitants
From Phuket on the 18th February to Khao Lak on the 26th of February 2024
The Smiling Seahorse team has partnered with a team of marine biologists to offer you a more educational expeditions, which will combine the best aspects of liveaboard diving with daily marine biology presentations!
What's special about this Marine Science expedition?
Not only you will dive on some of the most beautiful dive sites in Thailand, but you will share this cruise with a fantastic marine biologist, Piers Baillie, who will share with you some of his knowledge of the ocean wonders through daily presentations and can answer all the questions you may have about the reef ecosystem.
Meet Piers Baillie...
Piers Baillie- Marine Biologist
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A highly qualified marine biologist with a passion for conservation and education. Since he got his degree from the UK, Piers has worked tirelessly to establish multiple research and monitoring programs in Thailand.
As well as education on Marine sciences through a marine ecology and conservation program he developed, that is taught to students of all ages from around the world. In addition to being a published author, with his textbook “An Introduction to Corals and The Reefs They Form” available on Amazon, Piers is also an award-winning underwater photographer. Piers brings personal experiences and real-life examples into all his lectures, offering a unique insight into the field of marine conservation. Piers’s values are very much aligned with those of The Smiling Seahorse : committed to making a positive impact in marine conservation and inspiring the next generation to care for our oceans. |
What will you learn on this Marine Science Expedition:
Throughout the cruise, Piers will offer a series of lectures, covering a range of topics surrounding animal behaviours and interactions.
These will directly relate to species that can be observed during the scheduled dives – adding to the excitement and fascination when certain behaviours are seen throughout the week. Piers will deliver a presentation on the following topics:
1. Key symbiotic relationships within coral reef ecosystems.
2. Adaptations for different predation methods.
3. Predator avoidance methods – how to survive!
4. Cooperative hunting behaviours between different species.
5. Animals that work in pairs.
6. Competition – how to win against competing individuals.
7. Communication on the reef.
8. Contests and animal fighting
These will directly relate to species that can be observed during the scheduled dives – adding to the excitement and fascination when certain behaviours are seen throughout the week. Piers will deliver a presentation on the following topics:
1. Key symbiotic relationships within coral reef ecosystems.
2. Adaptations for different predation methods.
3. Predator avoidance methods – how to survive!
4. Cooperative hunting behaviours between different species.
5. Animals that work in pairs.
6. Competition – how to win against competing individuals.
7. Communication on the reef.
8. Contests and animal fighting
Learn about the Symbiotic relationship between clownfish and their anemone
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And about other interesting behaviours you can witness yourself over the 29 planned dives!
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Itinerary of Thailand Marine Science Expedition 2024This itinerary will explore the best dives sites in Thailand both in the South and North Andaman Sea from Malaysia to Myanmar's border.
Appointment at Phuket Tian Sin Pier between 12 and 2pm We will get onboard in Phuket Tian Sin Pier at 4pm and plan 3 to 4 dives per day (including sunset, reef night dive on Blackwater diving) and a daily presentation about Marine behaviours. We will be back on land in Khao Lak, Tap Lamu around 4pm on the last day. The last dive ends no later than 1 p.m. |
In the South Andaman, we will visit:
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Hin Daeng and Hin Muang (Red rock and Purple rock), not far from Malaysian border, are amazing dive sites, offering steep walls, big fish and colourful soft coral. Both Mantas and Whale sharks are sighted there regularly next to many smaller pelagics such as tunas, schools of Jack, barracudas and Leopard sharks.
Koh Haa is more famous for its massive cavern systems (in which you can even see massive stalactites). And we might even go all the way to Koh Lipe near the Malaysian border. |
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In the North Andaman, we will visit Surin and Similan National parks
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SIMILAN NATIONAL PARK:
Koh bon is a well known cleaning site for Manta Rays and the site most frequented by them in Thailand. There is also a good chance to spot a Zebra Shark on the pinnacle. Koh Tachai Pinnacle is a very fishy dive: beside Whale sharks and Manta rays, we can see schools of barracudas, giant trevally, blue fin trevally, sweetlips, batfish, tunas in the blue. We will also visit some dive site in the south of the Similan National Park: The visibility is usually excellent around the Similan islands and we hope to spot leopard sharks, blue spotted stingray, school of snappers and fusiliers, emperor fish, clown trigger fish and more tropical colourful fish as well as some Moray eels, turtles and mantis shrimps living in the rocky areas. Whale sharks can also be spotted there so keep an eye out in the blue for a gentle giant passing above! |
Koh Bon Pinnacle
Delicate coral reef inhabitants
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Koh Tachai...One of the smaller islands of the Similans archipelago
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SURIN NATIONAL PARK:
Less know but unmissable! Especially Richelieu Rock, still listed in the top 10 dive sites in the world! And you will quickly understand why! Not only is it a great place to see Whale Sharks but it can also be described as a big aquarium with more or less everything … from seahorses to jack fish and plenty of kinky cuttlefish action and we hope again a sighting of something big in the blue... The rest of Surin Island, not dived by many other boats but it is a very good spot for macro life such as ghost pipe fish, frog fish and nudibranchs and the first place where we can see Whale Sharks and Mantas. There are also many Jenkins Stingray, sweetlips and Barracudas around and the regular sighting of Humphead Parrotfish, Eagle Ray and Reef Sharks. |
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We may offer you the chance to also experiment Blackwater diving on this cruise once or twice if you are up for it!
There is no better way to discover how life begins in the ocean! Not sure what blackwater is all about? Read about it here! |
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Our boat: MV Smiling Seahorse, the newest liveaboard around!
Built by and for divers in 2018, the MV Smiling Seahorse is the newest dive boat currently cruising the Andaman sea
The Smiling Seahorse has been operating since 2012, both in Thailand and Myanmar with a new boat built in 2018.
Ocean preservation is very important to us and these "special expeditions" are an integral part of our sustainability strategy.
We promote responsible diving, low impact tourism and also reduce/ reuse/ recycle as much as we can and offer (refillable) organic, reef friendly amenities onboard such as Reef friendly Soap, Shampoo and hair conditioner. We are proud to represent Thailand on Swim with Mantas "Responsible Operator Wall of Fame".
Our boat, MV Smiling seahorse, was built by and for divers and took its maiden voyage in November 2018.
We added all the "little extras" you may want on a new liveaboard: a spacious dive platform, a camera room, lovely lounge areas, a massive sun deck, 8 cabins for only 16 guests all with large windows and doors to the ocean.
We keep dive groups small and organise each group to stagger their diving times to ensure that the already spacious dive deck never has too many divers gearing up together. While your group is ready to jump in for a dive, the next group will be doing safety checks and the following group is still upstairs taking their last sips of water during their dive briefing. Everyone is a VIP on the MV Smiling Seahorse!
Ocean preservation is very important to us and these "special expeditions" are an integral part of our sustainability strategy.
We promote responsible diving, low impact tourism and also reduce/ reuse/ recycle as much as we can and offer (refillable) organic, reef friendly amenities onboard such as Reef friendly Soap, Shampoo and hair conditioner. We are proud to represent Thailand on Swim with Mantas "Responsible Operator Wall of Fame".
Our boat, MV Smiling seahorse, was built by and for divers and took its maiden voyage in November 2018.
We added all the "little extras" you may want on a new liveaboard: a spacious dive platform, a camera room, lovely lounge areas, a massive sun deck, 8 cabins for only 16 guests all with large windows and doors to the ocean.
We keep dive groups small and organise each group to stagger their diving times to ensure that the already spacious dive deck never has too many divers gearing up together. While your group is ready to jump in for a dive, the next group will be doing safety checks and the following group is still upstairs taking their last sips of water during their dive briefing. Everyone is a VIP on the MV Smiling Seahorse!
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INCLUDED
• Full accommodation and board (Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon bites, Dinner) • All soft drinks, drinking water, fresh coffee & tea • Fresh fruits, yogurt & snacks all-day • 12 L scuba tank, Weights & Weight Belt • PADI Professional Dive Guide (for up to 4 divers) • up to 29 Dives • Towels, reef-friendly amenities • Sea kayak and hammock |
NOT INCLUDED
. Marine Park Fee * 4,000 THB / diver *subject to government's change . COMPULSORY IF YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR OWN: - PERSONAL INSURANCE (General Travel insurance is highly recommended) - Computer rental 300 THB/day - Equipment rental 600 THB/ day . OPTIONS: - 15L Tank 250 THB / day or 2,000 THB for the whole cruise - Nitrox : 250 THB/tank or 5,700 THB for the whole cruise - Private guide 3,000 THB/day - Optional Blackwater dive 500 THB/ dive . COURSES: - PADI Courses - Photographer private coaching . Transfers to and from the boat on-demand (prices) . Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes . Gratuity/ tips (1000 THB / day /pers is common practice) |
Note: This itinerary is provided as sample itinerary and can be modified by The Smiling Seahorse based on weather forecast or other unforeseen circumstances.
The space is limited on this very special expedition! Book early to avoid disappointment!
1 of the latest reviews on our liveaboard
The Smiling Seahorse Andaman dive cruises.!
Review:
5, based on
176 reviews
"Superb liveaboard diving with The Smiling Seahorse" by
GA C, written on
March 07, 2023
They completely delivered and I loved every minute of the experience, I'm a recreational diver with ~50 dives over 20 years, PADI AOW + NOx; and this was my first live aboard (LAB) experience; a bucket list item for me. I wish I had done this sooner. My experience with Similing Seahorse excellent.
BOOKING
Their website provides a lot of good fundamental detail that very representative of the reality. I picked a date and tour that worked for me and sent my inquiry. One of the owner's, Camille, responded and answered many of my questions. She also helped me book things around the tour itself, including a Phuket activity, transportation from my hotel in Patong, Phuket to the pier, and after to Ranong, one of their suggested hotels (Sook), and a private car I used the day after the end of tour. She or one of her staff is usually responsive within a day (keep in mid time zone differences), with a few reasonable delays due to things like monsoon season floods, being on the one of the tours, or whatever.
I had one logistics issue where I had been told that my ride from Patong would pick up at 3pm, and the driver came at 2pm and wondered where I was, thinking I was a no show. SS contacted me and I pointed out the 3pm time I was told and asked if the driver could wait as I was 20 minutes away and could not leave immedately. They rectified the situation by arranging with the driver to wait until 3. I really appreciated the live responsiveness. All the other arrangements worked out without any issues.
THE CABINS
As so many people have mentioned, the boat is really nicely arranged. I had a Main Deck Deluxe cabin (with bathroom). The rooms are expectedly efficient in size with a double bed that can be converted into a bunk. The matress is asian stiff with a light comforter. I ended up just using the sheets because Thailand is warm. There are two large shelves for each person in the room, air conditioner, and a window. There's a latch on the door only to keep it from swinging. Our group quickly reached a point where we'd just leave our doors wide open for circulation.
The bathroom has a full western flush toilet that cannot accept non-organics so toilet paper must be thrown in the garbage. But since you're wet over half the time, I ended up exclusively using the bidet sprayer to get clean. The shower head is adjustable and on a hose with an instant hot water unit, with the entire bathroom doubling as the shower room (asian style). I loved how after each dive I could pull off my gear and head straight to my cabin's bathroom to release.
In the end, other than sleeping at night or using the bathroom, I was rarely in my cabin, choosing instead to take advantage of the many common areas of the boat the hang out or relax. Some of my fellow passengers and crew would spend their downtime in the cabin for privacy, but I personally found it to be more valuable to either go to the sundeck or the upper deck tables or lounge area.
THE BOAT
There is a bottom deck in the hull which most of the boat crew stay in, and if not working, they seemed to disappear into this area. This had the effect of them seemingly fading away when not activity working. Ths made the boat feel less crowded, but I felt bad that they kept having to disappear like that.
The Upper Deck has the eating area where food is served and water and beverages are always available, and snacks were "endless" (both fresh fruit and less healthy snacks). 4 tables of capacity 6 were very comfortable areas for eating meals, socializing, or working on your dive logs. At the back of the deck was a mattressed lounge area where it was easy to hang out or take a nap. The whole deck is open air allowing a breeze to flow while still being protected from the sun. The "cockpit" room is also on this deck, and at any time guests could pop in and see the navigation in action.
The Main Deck has the kitchen, a "camera/equipment" dry room where you can charge electronic devices and batteries and do camera stuff, and a fresh water dunk tank for camera/computers/lights to soak in. I recommend bringing a surge protector as at one point the boat's electricity briefly went out. After that my USB brick was dead; ah life on a boat. The rear is where all the scuba gear resides with everyone having an assigned station. Cubbies are available for holding onto random items between dives. Hangers are there for hanging wetsuits between dives. This is also where the nice-wide launch deck is. Two fresh water showers are on this launch deck, and there are two fin-friendly ladders, plus a large lattice for a place to remove your fins and/or wait your turn before going up the ladder, yet out of the way from divers falling backwards from the ladder.
The sundeck at the top has wicker lounge "chairs" and a canvas roof to protect the people from sun. The other half is an open deck with bench seating. Hidden in the bench are padded mats for lying in comfort. This deck was the most cool and breezy because of it's fully open design. It was my quiet serenity place to go to during breaks. Others also used it for naps and yoga.
The boat is small enough to never feel lost, yet big enough I never felt confined on the boat; there was always some place I could go to suit my mood. I was surprised at how quickly and easily either crew or guests could melt away and disappear. Launched about 4 years ago, the boat feels fresh still and I loved it. The cushions and lounge mattress and pillows did not smell everything felt reasonably clean. Considering how everyone tends to walk around in beach attire and can't help but be sweaty, I was a little concerned.
THE FOOD
The cook is Thai so he would create meals that were Thai, or Thai-inspired using available ingredients, or Western style. While not Michelin star, it tastes like Uncle was cooking you good everyday food. It exceeded my expectations as I was unsure what to expect, and was just hoping it would be better than just sustinance.
They fed you breakfast, lunch, hearty snack, and dinner and honestly it was easy to over eat. Endless stacks were available, and alcoholic beverages were available for purchase with a policy that if you drink you are done diving for the day.
THE DIVE DAY
The day would generally start at 630am with a "wakey wakey dive briefing!" and by 7 people were up and guides were briefing on the dive site. Jump in the water about 7, come back for breakfast. Jump in the water about 1030am, come back for lunch. Jump in the water about 2, come back for snacks. Jump in the water for a subset dive or a black water dive, come back for dinner. Each dive had about 2-230 hours so plenty of time for off gassing, eating, filling out dive logs, relaxing, and napping.
With 4 dive guides, we were all split into 4 dive groups. These groups would brief/gearup/launch in a pipeline so at no point were their too many people getting in the way with each other. It worked out well and seemlessly, yet at a relaxed pace. The crew was helpful if you wanted it, and the dinghy drivers were always there to pick you up when you surfaced.
Our guides James, Julian, Jun, and Mint were excellent, attentive, friendly, and seemed to enjoy their job. They clearly tried to accommodate the interests of the divers. The hardest part was deciding to stay with a particular guide/group, and try a different one. Each guide has their own styles, focus, and pace. But all were great.
Some people did certifications for Advanced Open Water or Nitrox, which seemed to go well. I had done these prior to the trip in anticipation and I'm glad I did, as it allowed me to chill during the down time.
BLACKWATER DIVE
I had never done a blackwater dive before and was apprehensive about bounyancy with no references, but it turns this was a lot easier than I had thought. The floating bouy with lights is the beacon of reference and it's clear to see how deep you are relative to the 10m/15m/20m light markers, and how far away. We were all blown away by the difference and density of sea life you see at night. If you get the opportunity, do it. Seahorse staff executed it flawlessly and really made the experience that much better.
GEAR and SAFETY
All the important gear is available so that divers who don't own a lot of equipment are well taken care of. I brought my own mask/fins/snorkle/wetsuit/computer, and rented the rest of the gear. The BCD was in good shape and performed well; although not "new". On their website it loos like they sell equipment as it begins to age, insuring their standard of rental equipment.
They utilized good safety protocols, including requiring everyone have a computer or rent one (which they have). The dive guides carried a spare computer so that if yours failed (and you stayed at or above their depth) they could hand the spare to you and you continue to dive. Otherwise, a failed computer meant you were not diving for the rest of the day. They required delayed SMB's (and provided you with one if you didn't have one) and made everyone practice deploying it on the check dive. They were attentive to track everyone in their group and at no point were we at risk of losing someone. At the same time, they evaluated everyone's dive experience so if part of the group needed to go up, the rest could split off and stay together longer. With the deployed SMB's the dinghy drivers seemed to always be ready to get us (unless they were dealing with a different group).
The next time I can do a LAB in Thailand I'll join Smiling Seahorse again for one of their other itineraries.
