2024 Manta Rays Expedition in Thailand
9D8N expeditions to learn more about Manta Rays in Thailand
Diving the best Manta spots in the South and Noeth Andaman Sea
From Phuket on the 18th February to Phuket on the 26th of February 2024
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in partnership with Thailand Manta Project
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The Smiling Seahorse team has partnered with Thailand Manta project to offer you a very special cruise which will combine the best aspects of liveaboard diving with daily marine biology presentations!
Our Special guest onboard: Thailand Manta Project Leader
JAMIE PIYADA MONMANEERAT
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Jamie Piyada Monmaneerat, Thailand Manta project Leader will be onboard to share her knowledge about Manta rays in Thailand.
Through multidirectional research, the Thailand Manta Project is working to shed light on the Manta populations on both sides of the Thailand population, and the threats that are impacting their life and put them in danger. Thailand Manta project collects datas about Mantas in Thailand and observe its economic impact in Thailand. It also plays a role in educating all stakeholders on how to make Manta tourism sustainable. |
Snorkeling with Mantas
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JAMIE PIYADA MONMANEERAT giving a talk about manta rays onboard MV Smiling Seahorse in March 2021
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What's special about this Manta rays Special trip?
We have designed this itinerary to maxime our chance to see giant oceanic mantas on the Andaman Sea:
We will visit 3 National Parks most commonly visited by the giants rays namely: Surin National Park and Similan National Park in the North Andaman and Koh Lanta National Park in the South Andaman.
We will visit the best dive sites in Thailand to See Manta rays such as Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Hin Daeng, Hin Muang and many more.
This is your chance to contribute to Manta and Whale Sharks conservation efforts:
by recording any sighting we may have |by educating yourself | by contributing financially
We will visit 3 National Parks most commonly visited by the giants rays namely: Surin National Park and Similan National Park in the North Andaman and Koh Lanta National Park in the South Andaman.
We will visit the best dive sites in Thailand to See Manta rays such as Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Hin Daeng, Hin Muang and many more.
This is your chance to contribute to Manta and Whale Sharks conservation efforts:
by recording any sighting we may have |by educating yourself | by contributing financially
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Of course sightings are 100% natural and cannot be predicted or guaranteed but we will have onboard a lovely Marine biologists to talk to us about this incredible creatures with daily presentation!
This is also your chance to ask all the questions you may have about the Oceanic Manta Rays. |
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Manta ray at Koh Bon...
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Itinerary of Thailand Manta Expedition 2024
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The itinerary is not fixed, we will remain flexible in case we hear of a Whale Shark or Manta sighting both in the South and North Andaman Sea!
We will get onboard in Phuket Tian Sin Pier and plan 3 to 4 dives per day (including sunset or night dive) and a daily presentation about these gentle giants. We will be back on land in Khao Lak, Tap Lamu Pier. What are the best dive sites to see Manta rays in Thailand? Manta rays in Thailand are found both in the South And North Andaman, the most famous dive sites for Manta Ray are Koh Haa, Hin Daeng, Hin Muang in the South as well as Koh Bon and Koh Tachai in the North Andaman. We will visit them all and many more! |
Jamie, is a Marine biologist and Manta rays conservationist, she will be happy to answer all the questions you may have about Giant Mantas and the many other species she is passionate about...
We will maximise our chances to encounter Manta rays but while they are not guaranteed, we are sure to see a lot more!
We will maximise our chances to encounter Manta rays but while they are not guaranteed, we are sure to see a lot more!
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) If we hear of Manta sighting near Koh Lipe, we may also take our boat in this direction! |
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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. Your cruise director will choose from a variety of dive sites and we will keep in touch with other boat if Mantas or Whale sharks have been sighted in the last few days. If some are gentle giants are sighted, we may stay put to spend a few dives with them. 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 are also commonly spotted there so keep an eye being your head for a gentle giant passing above! |
Koh Bon Pinnacle
Zebra shark
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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. |
Note: This itinerary is provided as sample itinerary and can be modified by The Smiling Seahorse based on weather forecast or other unforeseen circumstances.
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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. 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!
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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From Phuket Tian Sin on the
18th of Feb 2024 (6 pm) To Khao Lak, Tap Lamu on the 26th of Feb 2024 (3 pm) 9 days/ 8 nights, up to 29 Dives Price per diver: THB 68,000 in Standard Cabin THB 72,000 in Deluxe Cabin THB 76,000 in Master 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 29 Dives including Nights dives • Towel, shower gel • Sea kayak and hammock |
NOT INCLUDED
• Marine Park Fee* 3,800-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 5,700 THB for the whole cruise • Optional Black water dive (500thb/ diver) • Transfers to and from Ranong on demand (prices) |
The space is limited on this very special expedition! Book early to avoid disappointment!
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