Similan liveaboard - Choices?

[gee13]

Hi

I have travelled mostly around the coral triangle. It could be time to see whats on offer from the Andamans. I hear there are liveaboards going out of Phuket to Similans. Particular want to dive Richeliue Rock. Any recommendations? I have read about the MV Nautica. Requirements are Nitrox, Safety First and mid-high budget is fine for me.

They have a schedue that also goes to the Mergui Archipelago near Burma, but Im not sure whether the diving there is good or not.

When and where are the Whalesharks? planning for between Jan-Marh next year.

Thanks for your input.

[Quero]

Hi Gee,

Nautica is a good boat, and there are others in the same price category, with Nitrox, and including Richelieu in the itinerary. What would help narrow down the options is a projected trip length. If you want a four-day Similans/Surins trip, most of the boats do have them. If you want a longer trip, for example, six days or more (even 10 days), only a few boats offer the longer trips. What are you aiming for?

Whalesharks are hit or miss. There is no really reliable place where we regularly see them. When they're around, it tends to be Feb/March, but then they may be seen at any time of year, if you're lucky. Not too long ago there were whale sharks near Phi Phi, which isn't a place where we "expect" to see them.

[MA]

Hey gee. Two words. THE JUNK!!

Hoping to head back around the same time so keep in touch with your dates!

[Quero]

:ermm: MA--The Junk is an interesting boat, but doesn't offer Nitrox, which gee specified as being a requirement

[gee13]

Hey MA!!! :D How are you? Just got back from Sipadan.

I did look at that famous JUNK boat, I do prefer the option of Nitrox and it is much preferable though not entirely essential. Thanks also Quero, any other suggestions I should look at? Im happy to do a 7-10 day itinerary having come all the way from Australia.

Otherwise I find the Nautica to suit my needs, so should I consider the Mergui archipelago at all?

How safe are the waters around that region, particularly around the Burma border?

[Quero]

There are pros and cons to doing the Burma trips, but in my opinion, the cons are "heavier" on balance in comparison to the pros. I wouldn't spend the time or money on another Burma trip.

[similandiver]

Safety wise - The waters are fine. However, it's really important to consider how remote the region is AND the political issues. There are NO evacs possible from the outside. So no matter what happens, the dive operator has to get to Kawthuang (Burmese side of the border with Thailand). Then passing through immigration (which happens at their own pace and not at night...regardless of the persons condition) and then onto Phuket (200km South).
A few operators (higher end, with a reputation to protect) will be able to sort this out but the budget operators lack satellite phones, oxygen supplies and training.

[clibero]

Check this website, I am using it to plan my trip in December, it has information about most of the liveaboard boats available, schedule, prices and booking button =)

Similans Liveaboards & PADI Dive Courses, Scuba Diving daytrips in Phuket Thailand (http://www.scubadivingphuket.net/)

[Quero]

You do realize that there are boats and offers not listed there, right? It's pretty tempting to use a website with a button for booking, I admit, but here where there are so many options that are hard to distinguish, I think it generally works better to interact with an actual human agent rather than a push-button web-agent. But YMMV....

[aquamarin]

What Quero says..........I recommend contacting an agent: they know the boats and they can recommend the boat(s) that suit your needs and wishes. It's very easy to post nice pictures on a website, but it may be a different situation when it comes to reality. You mention safety as a factor. Well, just as an example: life rafts have to be inspected yearly to ensure they work correctly and that the first-aid kits inside haven't expired. I'm sure you won't find any websites stating "we do have life rafts, but they haven't been inspected for 5 years". The agents have a better overview and the good ones only recommend boats they know are good and safe

I wish you a wonderful time in the Andaman Sea :D
Karin

[lord khram]

I agree entirely, for those that are not in the know about the Thai diving industry I would also recomend using an agent for booking live aboards (for most things I would recomend otherwise).
It is commonplace for diving customers to not recieve exactly what they are expecting, and all the good agents would not recommend companies that partake in such practices to protect their own reputations.

[clibero]

Hello Gentleman,

Quero: Yes, see my statement, it has information about most of the boats, not all. And the booking button sends you an email to a human being, so it is not a computer - computer system, there is human behind it. If you are on the other side of the world, like myself, it doesn't matter the system that you are using, there is still some risks on it and booking it only when being in Thailand in December is not an option due to the number of people doing it at same time.

Karin: One of the boats that is listed there is the junk, so they are not unknown boats and you can easily google them for additional information. Also, you can have a PADI certified liveaboard, which is almost (not 100%) certified as qualified boat. Thanks for the wished =)

In General, I am using the website without problem, same as I buy airplane tickets via websites and also booking hotels, just be sure of the risks and how to mitigate them.

Carlos

[Quero]

Obviously, Carlos, you do what you are comfortable with and what works best for you. But for others who may be reading this thread, it might be useful to know that the list in the website is not only incomplete (for example, Karin's boat, Oktavia, which is a really nice choice, isn't listed), but the list is also outdated. The boat Explorer IX is no longer in service, for example, and will be replaced by Halleluja. It could be that whatever person pulls the booking data from the web-booking knows this, but... the point remains that the customer pressing the 'booking" button doesn't know it and is presented with incorrect information on which to base a decision about making a purchase. That's a pretty big risk, in my opinion, and I wouldn't personally be willing to take it if, like you, I were traveling halfway around the world for a dive trip. As I said earlier though, YMMV (você que sabe).

[stevenl]

Also, you can have a PADI certified liveaboard, which is almost (not 100%) certified as qualified boat.
Hi Carlos,

Please, use any website you are happy with. But a PADI certified liveaboard does not exist.

[similandiver]

And of course the only ones listed are those Liveaboards that work with agents.

Not all LOB's offer their services through third parties.

[timchea]

How about recommending a few reputable agents for live aboards operating out of Phuket.
I'll be there about the middle of February 2012.

[Mortizia13]

I'm planning my trip to Similan right now too!! Want to go at the end of January 2012.
After read a lot of suggestions I decided to start in Khao Lak. It's not far from Phuket and rates are cheaper 'coz you are closer to Similan.
I've been checking some dive centers. Here you are the links I check only if you want to have a look!! :D


1. Liveaboard Phuket (http://www.southsiamdivers.com)
2 Diving Similan Islands Thailand | Liveaboard, Day trips, PADI Courses | Diving Khaolak Thailand Khao lak Scuba Adventures PADI 5 Star IDC Similan Dive Center (http://www.khaolakscubaadventures.com)
3 Diving Similans from Khao Lak - Liveaboards & Day Trips to Similan Islands - Thailand (http://www.seadragondivecenter.com/index.htm)
4 Diving Khao Lak | Khaolak Dive | Khao Lak Dive Center (http://www.khao-lak-diving.com/)
5 iQ-Dive Khao Lak - Resorts Khao Lak, dive Similan islands (http://www.iq-dive.com/acc_reso.html)
6 Kon-Tiki Thailand Diving & Snorkeling Center (http://www.kontiki-thailand.com/default.aspx?pageId=37)
7 Similan Diving Safaris | Diving Similan Islands, Khao Lak, Thailand: liveaboard, day trip diving, PADI Courses and snorkeling trips to the Similan Islands in Thailand (http://www.similan-diving-safaris.com)
8 Diving at Similan Islands with Phuket Divers. (http://www.phuketdivers.com)
9 www.calypsophuket.com
10 Big Blue Diving - Koh Tao - Thailand - Home (http://www.bigbluediving.com)
11 Thailand Diving | Phuket Liveaboards | Scuba Diving Similan Islands | PADI 5 Star (http://www.sunrise-divers.com)

Good luck!!!!

[Quero]

I'm planning my trip to Similan right now too!! Want to go at the end of January 2012.
After read a lot of suggestions I decided to start in Khao Lak. It's not far from Phuket and rates are cheaper 'coz you are closer to Similan.


Looks like you've been spending hours browsing the web! This note is only meant to give you a little insight into a misconception you've got. It's not actually any cheaper to start in Khao Lak (except maybe you can find cheaper accommodation pre-trip, but I'm not 100% sure of that even). Otherwise, regardless of where you start, the trip price is going to be the same for any particular boat you book on, whether you start out on Phuket or at Khao Lak. In fact, most operators offer no-cost transfers from Phuket on the day of the sailing and back again, whereas if you travel from the airport directly to Khao Lak you will have to pay for a ride up there (and back again when you leave). Anyway, I just wanted to set you straight on costs.

[Buadhai]

Think of it this way: The round trip from your hotel to the boat is included (generally) in the price of the cruise. The trip from the airport to your hotel is on you. If you really want to save money, stay at a hotel near the airport.

[aquamarin]

timchea, it's a fair question, and I hope other people will answer it. I can't as I work with several really good and professional agents, but from "the other side" ;)