Similan, Surin, Richelieu Rock & Khao Lak (6 Days / 5 Nights - 18 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, very popular, wall diving

Dive sites and activities: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock

Day 1
Upon arrival at Tap Lamu pier in Khao Lak, you’ll step aboard the Dolphin Queen and be greeted by the crew with a welcome drink. After settling into your cabin, the team will provide a full orientation covering safety, onboard facilities, and the dive plan for the trip. A dive guide will assist with preparing and checking your equipment so it’s ready for the first morning dive in the Similan Islands. The boat sets off later that evening and reaches Similan Islands National Park just after midnight.

Days 2-5
A typical day on this liveaboard begins with a wake-up call around 6 am, followed by the 1st dive. After surfacing, you’ll have approximately 3 hours before the 2nd morning dive. Once completed, enjoy a refreshing shower and head to the open-air dining area on the upper deck for lunch. The afternoon offers time to visit a nearby beach, snorkel, or relax in your air-conditioned cabin before the 3rd dive. Afterward, snacks, fruit, and drinks are available until the night dive at 7 pm.
Diving in Thailand’s Andaman Sea is as exhilarating as expected. After 2 days exploring the Similan Islands, the boat travels north to Koh Bon, renowned for regular manta ray sightings at its cleaning station. Next is Koh Tachai, where strong currents bring in large schools of trevally, barracuda, tuna, and reef sharks hunting through clouds of glassfish. The underwater scenery-granite boulders, coral plateaus, and towering sea fans-is unforgettable.
The highlight of the trip is Richelieu Rock, a horseshoe-shaped pinnacle famed for both macro life and pelagic encounters. Dive guides often locate seahorses, ghost pipefish, and nudibranchs, while whale sharks, eagle rays, and barracuda cruise through the blue. With excellent visibility and staggering biodiversity, it’s a site that truly has it all.

Day 6
Wake up and enjoy 2 morning dives before the boat returns to Tap Lamu pier in Khao Lak. The crew will assist with onward travel arrangements, whether you’re heading to Phuket Airport or continuing your holiday at a nearby hotel.

Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock (4 Days / 3 Nights - 10 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, very popular, wall diving

Dive sites and activities: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock

Day 1
After boarding the Dolphin Queen at Tap Lamu pier in Khao Lak, you’ll be welcomed by the dive staff and crew with a cocktail and shown to your cabin. A briefing will follow, covering boat amenities, safety procedures, and rules for your diving safari. A dive guide will assist with setting up and checking your equipment so it’s ready for the first morning dive in the Similan Islands. The boat departs in the evening and arrives at Similan Islands National Park just after midnight.

Days 2-3
The liveaboard diving tour you’ve chosen includes 4 dives per day, offering a full schedule for certified divers who want to maximise their time underwater. This typically consists of 2 morning dives, 1 in the afternoon, and either a sunset or night dive to round off the day.
A typical day on Dolphin Quuen starts with a wake up call at around 6 am and is followed by the 1st dive. After your 1st dive you'll have around 3 hrs before the 2nd morning dive, after which you can take a shower and head to the open air dining area on the upper deck. You can then decide to visit a local beach, snorkel, or simply relax in your A/C cabin before the 3rd dive in the afternoon. After your dive, snacks, fruit and drinks are available until the night dive which will take place at 7 pm.
Diving in Thailand’s Andaman Sea is every bit as thrilling as you’d hope. After 2 days exploring the Similan Islands, the boat heads north to Koh Bon, where manta rays often glide in, to be cleaned by wrasse at the ridge. It’s one of the best places in Thailand to see these graceful giants.
Next up is Koh Tachai, a site known for its strong currents and dramatic underwater topography. The pinnacles here are alive with huge schools of trevally, barracuda, tuna, and reef sharks, all hunting through clouds of glassfish3. The action is intense, and the scenery—granite boulders, coral plateaus, and towering sea fans—is unforgettable.
The trip’s highlight is Richelieu Rock, a horseshoe-shaped pinnacle famed for its macro life and pelagic encounters. Dive guides often point out seahorses, ghost pipefish, and nudibranchs, while whale sharks, eagle rays, and barracuda cruise through the blue. The visibility is excellent, and the biodiversity is staggering.

Day 4
Wake up to 2 final morning dives, before the boat returns to Tap Lamu pier in Khao Lak after lunch. Once ashore, the crew will assist with transfers to Phuket Airport, or a local hotel if your holiday continues. It’s a smooth and relaxed end to your diving adventure.