Diving in Thailand for 5 days and 4 nights

Best of Thailand Dive Cruise: Surin, Similan and Richelieu Rock

Itinerary of our dive cruise:
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Thailand still counts some of the best dive sites in the world and this trip offers just the best Thailand has to offer!
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  • Day 1: Meeting time in our Dive Shop 12.00-14.00 where we will have time to try wetsuits before we go to our boat MV Smiling Seahorse.
​We will leave from Ranong around 15.00. It’s also possible to get picked up at Koh Phayam around 18.00. After everybody is on board we will leave to Surin Island.
  • Day 2: The first day will be concentrated around Surin Island.
  • Surin Island is 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.
  • We will start out at Koh Chi in the north of Surin Island and go down to the southern part of Surin Island where we will make 4 quite enjoyable drift dives… We sometimes go visit the Sea Gypsies on Surin Island. The night dive will be around 19.00.
There is an opportunity to see Jenkins Stingray, Napoleon fish, a lot of sweetlips, Barracudas, Humphead Parrotfish, Manta Ray, Eagle Ray, zebra sharks etc..
After dinner onboard, we will leave to Koh Bon.
Picture
Zebra shark
Koh Bon Pinnacle
Koh Bon Pinnacle
  • Day 3: At Koh Bon we will make 2 dives, one at the ridge and one at Koh Bon Pinnacle.The main attraction here are Manta Rays but when they are not around, there is plenty of tropical fish to look at. There is also a very good chance for Whale Shark and Zebra Sharks.
  • At Koh Bon we will make 2 dives, one at the ridge and one at Koh Bon Pinnacle. Koh bon is a well known cleaning site for Manta Rays and the site most frequented by them in Thailand. There is also a very good chance to spot a Zebra Shark on the pinnacle. For the afternoon dive, we will go south to another dive site in Similan National Park. Your cruise director will choose from various dive sites in the Northern part of the Similan Islands and we will keep in touch with other boat if Mantas or Whale sharks have been sighted in the last few days. ​
Similan Islands
Similan Islands
  • ​You will love the view from the boat on some idyllic islands with lush green forest surrounded by white sand beaches, the visibility is usually very nice on 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 colorful fish as well as some Moray eels, turtles and mantis shrimps living in the rocky areas.​  Whale sharks are also commonly spotted there so keep an eye being your head for a gentle giant passing above!
Hawkbill turtle over reef
Hawkbill turtle over reef
Picture
School of Barracudas
Koh Tachai...One of the smaller islands of the Similans archipelago
Koh Tachai...One of the smaller islands of the Similans archipelago
Ko Bon
Whale shark in the blue
  • Day 4: we are going further south to the Similan islands with the famous dives sites Elephant Head, Donald Duck Bay, Deep six, west of Eden, Rocky Point and Anita's reef. Good chances there to spot whale shark, turtles, Manta, reef sharks, Napoleons... 
  • Then dive Koh Tachai Pinnacle where we usually have a very fishy dive: barracudas, trevalis, sweetlips, batfish a very nice dive spot. Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock are the best places to see whale sharks so keep your eyes opened!
  • On Koh Tachai you will have the choice between a sunset dive or Black Water dive (+500thb option)
  • And then enjoy a fantastic Barbecue :)

  • Day 5: 3 dives on ​Richelieu Rock, is always 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.
    ​We will make 3 dives here starting very early before we are heading back to Ranong. We will arrive on Koh Phayam around 06:00 pm and Ranong 08.00 pm.
Best of Thailand 5 days: Surin & Similan Islands (Koh Tachai, Koh Bon) and Richelieu Rock
5 days/4 night, 15 Dives

Price Diver:
THB 38,500 in Master Cabin
THB 36,000 in Deluxe Cabin
THB 31,000​ in Standard Cabin
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                            INCLUDED:                                                                       
•  Full accommodation and board 
(Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon bites, Dinner) 
•  All soft drinks, drinking water, filter coffee & tea
•  Fresh fruits, yoghurt & snacks 
•  12 Liter Alum. Cylinders, Weights & Weight Belt 
•  PADI Professional Dive Guide 
•  up to 15 Dives including 3 Nights dives
•  Towel, shower gel
•  Sea kayak and hammock 
                            NOT INCLUDED:

•  Marine Park Fee*         2200-THB / diver
        *subject to change without prior notice
•  PERSONAL INSURANCE COMPULSORY 
•  Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes 
•  Equipment rental (600 THB/ day) 
•  Computer rental (300 THB/day) 
•  PADI Courses
•  Nitrox : 250 THB/tank or ฿2,900 for the whole cruise
•  Optional Black Water dive (500 THB/dive)
•  Photographer coaching
•  ​Private guide 2500 THB/day
•  Transfers to and from Ranong on demand (prices)
Note: This itinerary is provided as sample itinerary and can be modified by The Smiling Seahorse based on weather forecast or other unforeseen circumstances.
Black water dives are unguided and only suitable to experienced divers. ​

One of the latest reviews from TripAdvisor...

Amazing Liveaboard and the friendliest crew!
Review: 5, based on 139 reviews "Amazing Liveaboard and the friendliest crew!" by , written on March 10, 2021
Spent 4 night aboard the Smiling Seahorse and enjoyed every minute of it! The diving was exceptional, boat incredibly comfortable, crew attentive and food was great! Really had an amazing time and can’t wait to be back. Cherry on the cake was that Franck the owner of the boat went around dive groups taking photos of all of us, which was incredibly nice and a fantastic souvenir.
★★★★★ by renslo1 March 10, 2021
reviewed at Tripadvisor
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