Diving in Thailand for 6 days and 5 nights
Best of Thailand Dive Cruise: Surin, Similan and Richelieu Rock
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Itinerary of our dive cruise:
Thailand still counts some of the best dive sites in the world and this trip offers just the best Thailand has to offer! Day 1: You are welcome to board our boat from 4pm onward. |
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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, Reef Sharks etc.. After dinner onboard, we will leave to Koh Bon. |
Zebra shark
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Koh Bon Pinnacle
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Day 3 and 4: 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
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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!
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Marine turtle over reef
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School of Barracudas
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Koh Tachai...One of the smaller islands of the Similans archipelago
Whale shark in the blue
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Day 5: 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!
Day 6: 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
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6 days/5 night, 18 Dives
Price Diver: THB 50,000 in Master Cabin THB 47,000 in Deluxe Cabin THB 45,000 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 18 Dives including 3 Nights dives • Towel, shower gel • Sea kayak and hammock |
NOT INCLUDED:
• Marine Park Fee* 2600-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 ฿3,600 for the whole cruise • Optional Black water dive (500thb/ diver) • 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.
Black water dives are unguided and only suitable to experienced divers.
One of the latest reviews from TripAdvisor...
Fantastic well run boat
Review:
5, based on
139 reviews
"Fantastic well run boat" by
Dartmoortrekker, written on
April 20, 2021
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.
I am a PADI DM and have been diving for 26 years I have been on 20 or so liveaboards including several in Thailand. I was on the trip over Songkran in mid April and we did 12 dives in Surin, Richelieu Rock Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.
The Smiling Seahorse is a very well designed and maintained boat purpose built as a liveaboard to the owners’ design. There are many good safety and convenience features not always seen on other boats. It is at the top of the mid range, not luxury but with everything you need. Great value for money in my view.
The diving was exciting and great by Thai standards. We saw two whalesharks at Richelieu and a distant manta at Surin. Loads of other fish action especially when the current was pumping. The owner changed the itinerary to allow us to see the whalesharks which only stayed for one day. This already made the trip a success on day 1.
Considerable attention is paid to safety and the 16 divers are split into 4 groups each with their own DM. Pick ups are normally by the big boat, though an inflatable is also available. The captain manoeuvres the boat with great skill. Hire equipment is well maintained and nitrox mix a reliable 31 or 32%.
Franck and Camille the owners and the rest of the team are really friendly and helpful and make you feel at home. There are social activities including a bbq on the last day. Franck managed to keep the 6 kids on the trip occupied without any impact on the adult customers. Quite a feat!
Cabins are pretty spacious with a small locker but space on the floor for bags. I would personally go for en suite next time as the common bathrooms are on the dive deck - worth the extra cost iLeisure areas include the confortable saloon and spacious sundeck.
Food is plentiful and good and soft drinks free. Beer and wine is modestly priced.
Overall, this was an excellent trip and the best liveaboard I have done in Thailand. I will book again next season without any doubt and would be happy to do the Myanmar route on this boat whenever it restarts.
