Luko
Contributor
I have dived both the Andaman Islands and the Similan islands on liveaboards - and both are highly recommended and well worth splashing out the $$$. Similan islands are however a lot more crowded, but better value.
I also dived Sipadan last year and it really is a bucket list, despite its popularity and considered risks - I stayed at Borneo Divers on Mabul. My report is here, including the numbers of permits and how they are divided amongst the resorts - Fish soup for breakfast sampling Sipadans diving feast | Bags of Adventure
In fact Andaman islands are better dived from Havelock resorts not from live aboards, due to the fact most of the GPS sites are discovered and known from local resorts who dive there all year every day except in monsoon. Live aboards are not that frequent in that area and do not exactly know where to dive and when, (this is exactly the same case with Alor in Indonesia, much better dived with local resorts who will take you to uncharted sites from the live aboards).
Read your nice report on Sipadan and was happy to see Amine and Eljer are still there.
I was desesperate when 2 months ago I lost my faithful muck stick, which was a gift from Amine 5 years ago.