Mars 2025 Marine biology expedition with Whale Sharks Specialist
A special 9 days/ 8 nights South and North Andaman cruise to know more about whale sharks in Thailand
The Smiling Seahorse team has partnered with two Marine Mega Fauna Foundation to offer you a very special cruise around the Andaman Sea Gentle Giants!
We combine the best aspects of liveaboard diving with daily marine biology presentations!
We combine the best aspects of liveaboard diving with daily marine biology presentations!
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The itinerary is not fixed, we will remain flexible in case we hear of a Whale Shark sighting both in the North and South Andaman Sea! -Day 1: Appointment at Phuket between 2pm and 4pm Departure from Phuket at 5pm - Day 2: Koh Lanta National Park, Hin Daeng, Hin Muang - Day 3: Tarutao National Park, Koh Lipe - Day 4: Koh Lanta National Park, Koh Haa - Day 5: South Similan, Three Trees, West Of Eden - Day 6: Similan National Park,Koh Bon, Koh Tachai - Day 7: Surin National Park, Richelieu Rock. - Day 8: Surin National Park, Richelieu Rock. - Day 9: Surin National Park, Richelieu Rock. For the return, we will get back to Ranong at 8pm Drop off at Koh Phayam possible at 6pm. The last dive ends no later than 11:30 am. |
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The whale shark is a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of 18.8 m. The whale shark holds many records for size in the animal kingdom, most notably being by far the largest living non-mammalian vertebrate. Wikipedia
In Thailand, you can find a huge variety of marine life and underwater scenery. The reefs of the Similan Islands are well known worldwide, while the islands of Phuket, Phi Phi and Koh Tao attract divers and sunseekers alike. But top of most people's diving wish list is to dive with a whale shark. In Thailand, there are several diving locations where the whale shark is seen fairly regularly. |
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Who are our partners for this new discovery cruise?
Manta Trust Thailand exibition
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Thailand Whale Shark project:
Started in 2017, Koh Tao Whale Sharks was started by Marine Biologist and Conservationist Kirsty Magson to assess and monitor the population of whale sharks around Koh Tao and the surrounding area. After the success of the project and will over 280 positively identified individuals found, Koh Tao Whale Sharks became Thai Whale Sharks. The goal of Thai Whale Sharks is to build on the success and begin to monitor and map the movement of individual, understand more about the habitat use and time at location and to distribute code of conduct and learning resources for businesses that interact with these animals. Thai Whale Shark aims to record all whale shark sightings in Thailand in partnership with the worldwide database of The Wildbook for Whale Sharks photo-identification library. |
They are looking to understand more about these animals and their populations around Thailand by using Citizen Science to help them to gain information. Any person that spots a whale shark and has a photo to go alongside it, is able to submit their sighting to either their Facebook page or their email. Once these images are submitted they are then able to run the image through their database as well as the global database of whaleshark.org to find a match.
These matches are only possible due to the unique spots and stripes along the body of the whale shark. These patterns are much like human finger or thumb prints and enable them to identify the animal to an individual level.
Photos of the left hand side of the animal in between the gills and the dorsal fin is the ID Location as well as any distinguishing scare or blemishes, the estimated size of the animal and the dive site it was seen.
These matches are only possible due to the unique spots and stripes along the body of the whale shark. These patterns are much like human finger or thumb prints and enable them to identify the animal to an individual level.
Photos of the left hand side of the animal in between the gills and the dorsal fin is the ID Location as well as any distinguishing scare or blemishes, the estimated size of the animal and the dive site it was seen.
Whale shark in good company...
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Photos of the left hand side of the animal in between the gills and the dorsal fin is the ID Location
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Unique spots and stripes along the body of the whale shark
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Josh is a graduate of a bachelors degree in Ocean Science and Marine Conservation, at the university of Plymouth. After completing an internship with New heaven reef conservation program in 2022, Josh returned to work as a conservation instructor on the program, helping assist with new projects whilst also conducting his own on fish aggregation around artificial reefs and focused on utilizing Mineral Accretion Devices (MADs) to enhance biodiversity and act as an extension of the reef. Josh makes it a priority to finding ways to develop techniques and theory’s to educate our future conservationists. He has a passion for all things marine, especially Batfish and Spotted Eagle Rays. Although he has had experience of marine science and conservation, Josh hopes he can learn from other peoples experiences, stories and different environments to become a more well-rounded marine scientist.
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Josh Johnson
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What's special about this Special trip?
We have designed this itinerary to maxime our chance to see whale sharks in Thailand but mostly, this is your chance to meet Kirsty and ask all the questions you may have about these gentle giants!
This is your chance to contribute to Whale Sharks conservation efforts:
- by recording any sighting we may have
- by educating yourself about these rare pelagic
- by contributing financially to these expeditions
This is your chance to contribute to Whale Sharks conservation efforts:
- by recording any sighting we may have
- by educating yourself about these rare pelagic
- by contributing financially to these expeditions
Of course sightings are 100% natural and cannot be predicted or guaranteed but we sure will learn a lot from Kirsty.
Whale shark at Richelieu Rock
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Itinerary of this Thailand whale shark expedition 2025
In the South Andaman, we will visit:
- 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 whale Shark 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 parksSIMILAN 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 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! 
A whale shark in Richelieu Rock
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Koh Bon Pinnacle
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. |
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, we organize dive cruises from 3 to 14 days from Ranong both in Thailand and Myanmar. 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 small groups and organize each group to stagger their gear-up and entry times to ensure that the already spacious dive deck never has too many bodies moving around at once. 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 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 small groups and organize each group to stagger their gear-up and entry times to ensure that the already spacious dive deck never has too many bodies moving around at once. 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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Interested?...
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9 days/ 8 nights, 29 Dives
From Phuket The 23/03/2025- 5pm to Ranong the 31/03/2025- 8pm Price per diver 2024-2025: THB 75,000 in Standard Cabin THB 79,000 in Deluxe Cabin THB 84,000 in Master Cabin
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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 - Free 1 Blackwater dive • PADI Professional Dive Guide (for up to 4 divers) • up to 29 Dives • Towels, reef-friendly amenities • Sunbeds and Thai seats |
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: - Nitrox : 250 THB/tank or 5,700 THB for the whole cruise - 15L Tank 300 THB / day or 2,400 THB for the whole cruise - Private guide 5,000 THB/day 1000 THB/ Extra Blackwater 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.
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The space is limited on this very special expedition! Book early to avoid disappointment!
The Smiling Seahorse Andaman Dive cruises
Review:
5, based on
194 reviews
"The best Similan diving expérience!!" by
fiftystatesevenconts, written on
April 21, 2024
The title says it all and every component of the Smiling Seahorse stands out. The dive sites were varied and each one offered something new to shout about. I reached my 900th dive on this trip from Khao Lak to Phuket, and have been on many live-aboards, and this one knows what divers want. They help you don your wetsuit, hold on to your tank before you jump in or climb back up the ladder, to save your back for your 24 dives in a week, put your fins on for you, remove them after the dive, and would likely breathe for you if requested.
James, my extremely experienced guide and cruise director, did everything in his power to make all my dives special. What resulted in that, were some pretty special dives: 8 black tipped sharks in a few minutes, 5 massive blotched fantail rays, a guitar shark, a leopard shark, a deadly stonefish, giant clams, and rivers of fish swimming through the corals, actually blocking my view of him at one point, and it was hard to follow him, like in a fog! These big schools of fish are one of the main reasons for a live-aboard, remoteness, and these are some incredibly healthy reefs.
The food was excellent as well, with mountains of it offered 3 times a day, plus a "snack", which really amounted to 4 meals a day.
If you want to feel like every day is your birthday, with your invited guests including countless green morays, cuttlefish, huge schools of giant trevallies and bright fusiliers carpeting the ocean, get aboard the Smiling Seahorse.
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