The Smiling Seahorse is a 25 m steel-hulled liveaboard motor vessel operating trips from the port of Ranong. A maximum of 16 divers can be accommodated on board, meaning small dive groups of up to 4 divers as you explore the remote and pristine waters of Burma and some of the best dives sites in Thailand's Andaman Sea. The liveaboard offers unique blackwater diving cruises and onboard underwater photography classes.
The Smiling Seahorse aims to provide personalised service and, with 8 attentive crew members, there is always a friendly atmosphere and someone on hand to assist you. The liveaboard operator takes its commitment to conservation of the marine environment seriously. You can expect reusable aluminium drink bottles, reef-friendly soap, shampoo and hair conditioner, and support pf various local marine conservation projects.
The upper deck open-air saloon is the social centre of the boat. Here there are a number of comfortable couches, tables and chairs where you can enjoy mealtimes, read up on the local marine life and chat to your fellow guests over a sundowner from the bar. There is a huge half-shaded sundeck with sun loungers where you can work on your tan or relax in the shade. There are also a couple of hammocks for maximum chill factor. Other facilities on the liveaboard include TV, DVD music system and computer. So you can watch movies, or enjoy some of the marine and general interest books and magazines. Photographers will appreciate the Smiling Seahorse's dedicated camera room, and the nitrox and 15 litre scuba tanks for extended bottom time.
Accommodation consists of twin or double share air-conditioned cabins, all on the middle or upper decks. Master and Deluxe cabins have ensuite bathrooms, while Standard cabins share bathrooms. The Smiling Seahorse liveaboard is the ideal choice for those on a budget who are not seeking a luxurious experience, but rather a pioneering sense of discovery in the remote Burmese waters of the Andaman Sea. Normally this means you can expect your fellow guests to be young, enthusiastic divers with a sense of adventure!
There are 8 guest cabins on the Smiling Seahorse - 6 on the main deck and 2 on the upper deck. The main deck has 2 Master cabins with double beds, plus 4 Deluxe cabins which can be twin bunk or double bed configuration. All main deck cabins have ensuite bathrooms. The Master cabins have a giant panoramic window.
On the upper deck are 2 Standard cabins which can be twin bunk or double bed configuration. Guests in Standard cabins use the 2 extra bathrooms on the main deck. All cabins have windows and doors that open to the outside that allow sea view, plenty of natural lighting and a lovely breeze.
All the cabins have:
- Air-conditioning
- Reading lights
- Bedding
- Towels and reef friendly toiletries
- Shelves and space for luggage
- 2-pin mains outlet 220 V, 24 hours per day
- Fire alarm
- Life jackets
No. of bathrooms / showers - 8 / 8 - hot water
Similan, Surin Islands & Richelieu Rock
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: Surin Islands, Similan Islands, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock
Day 1
Your adventure begins at the Smiling Seahorse dive centre in Ranong, where you will meet the friendly crew. Here, they'll assist you with the necessary cruise paperwork and ensure any rental gear you require fits properly. After a short transfer to the harbour, you will step aboard the spacious 25-metre liveaboard, your comfortable floating home for the journey ahead. Before it sets sail, all passengers will gather at the stern for a traditional good luck ceremony to bless the liveaboard. The first evening is the perfect time to relax and get to know your fellow guests over a delicious sunset dinner. You'll then rest overnight, waking up the next day refreshed and ready for your first dive at the stunning Surin Islands.
Core Days
Your inaugural diving day on this safari is dedicated to exploring the vibrant reefs surrounding Surin Island. The adventure continues on the next day as your guides lead you to the renowned pinnacles of Koh Bon and the submerged plateau of Koh Tachai. With a variety of sites to choose from, only Koh Tachai is notably exposed to stronger currents, offering thrilling drift dives. The seascape is dominated by magnificent gorgonian sea fans and coral bommies, which provide habitat for a fascinating array of unusual critters and colourful reef fish.
During the high season, when nutrient-rich waters abound, you may be graced by the presence of manta rays and the occasional whale shark. The reefs are alive with activity; watch for green turtles calmly grazing on corals, sleek sea snakes hunting in the crevices, and massive schools of snapper and barracuda creating a dynamic, moving tapestry. Encounters with the curious Napoleon wrasse or the sight of a leopard shark resting on the sandy bottom are 2 more unforgettable highlights that leave divers in awe.
The liveaboard then progresses to the spectacular Similan Islands, Thailand's premier dive destination. This archipelago is famed for its crystal-clear azure waters. Below the surface, a dramatic landscape unfolds, featuring hard and soft coral gardens alongside massive boulders that form swim-throughs and canyons. Drift diving is common here, allowing you to effortlessly glide over reefs teeming with an incredible diversity of unusual and fascinating marine life.
Final Day
Your liveaboard safari with the Smiling Seahorse concludes with an unforgettable grand finale, featuring 2 spectacular morning dives at the world-renowned Richelieu Rock. Consistently ranked among the top 10 dive sites on the planet, this iconic location offers a breathtaking concentration of the Andaman Sea's most famous marine life all in a single, magnificent spot. After completing these final dives and enjoying one last breakfast onboard, you will disembark at the pier in Ranong, bringing your incredible underwater journey to a close.
Note: this itinerary sometimes uses the port in Khao Lak. Please check the port details for your particular trip.
Similan, Richelieu Rock & Hin Daeng (8 Days / 7 Nights - 25 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, caverns, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Ha, Koh Tarutao, Surin Islands, Similan Islands, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock
Day 1
Your journey starts at the Ranong dive centre, where you'll be greeted by the Smiling Seahorse crew. They'll help you complete boarding formalities and fit any rental equipment. A quick transfer takes you to the liveaboard, which becomes your home for the expedition. Before departure, the crew will hold a traditional good luck ceremony at the stern. The first evening features a sunset dinner, ideal for meeting the other divers. After a night's rest, you'll wake up prepared for your first dive at the magnificent Surin Island.
Core Days
In the south of the Thai Andaman Sea, the submerged pinnacles of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are blanketed in red and purple soft corals, attracting immense fish action, while Koh Ha is famous for its spectacular cavern systems. Koh Tarutao offers diverse and vibrant scuba diving in the remote Andaman Sea. You can explore dramatic granite boulders, swim-throughs, and walls adorned with soft corals and colourful sea fans. The area is renowned for its healthy reefs full of tropical fish, and it's an excellent spot to encounter larger marine life like reef sharks and rays.
The Smiling Seahorse will visit the Surin Islands, known for their pristine coral reefs and as the final refuge for rare species in the Andaman Sea, such as Napoleon wrasse. Just to the south, the Similan Islands offer world-class diving with dramatic underwater granite boulders, swim-throughs, and incredibly rich marine biodiversity. Koh Tachai is an offshore pinnacle famous as a pelagic magnet, where strong currents attract huge schools of fish, barracuda, and sharks. Finally, the submerged seamount of Richelieu Rock is arguably Thailand's best dive site, a kaleidoscope of colourful soft corals that serves as a premier location for spotting whale sharks and manta rays.
Day 8
This great Smiling Seahorse diving safari concludes with 2 final dives on the last morning. Afterwards, the liveaboard will sail to Chalong Pier in Phuket for disembarkation.
Note: this itinerary uses different ports in Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong. Please check the port details for your trip.
Thai Andaman Sea (Whale Shark Special)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, onboard experts on sharks and manta rays
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, caverns, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Ha, Koh Tarutao, Surin Islands, Similan Islands, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock
Day 1
Meet the Smiling Seahorse crew at their dive centre in Ranong, where you will be asked to fill in cruise paperwork and try any rental gear that you need. A short ride to the harbour and you are finally on board the 25m liveaboard that will be your home for the duration of the trip, then a little good luck ceremony at the stern of the boat before starting the cruise. A sunset dinner is the perfect chance to get to know the other guests. You will wake up and dive on the next day.
Your adventure begins at the Smiling Seahorse dive centre in Ranong. After completing your cruise paperwork and testing any rental gear, a short transfer takes you to the harbour. Step onboard the 25m liveaboard, your home for the next week. A traditional good luck ceremony at the stern blesses the cruise, followed by a sunset dinner - a good opportunity to meet your fellow divers. Rest well; your first dive awaits tomorrow morning.
Core Days
This is a special cruise to focus on whale sharks. Marine Biologist and Conservationist Kirsty Magson from Thai Whale Sharks will be your host. The itinerary has been designed to maximise your chances to see whale sharks in the Thai Andaman Sea. Kirsty will share her intimate knowledge of these gentle giants in Thailand and the threats which they face. You can contribute to conservation efforts by recording sightings in the global database of whaleshark.org, and learning more about these rare pelagics.
This Smiling Seahorse liveaboard safari will explore the region's most legendary sites. You'll begin at the world-renowned Richelieu Rock, a pinnacle consistently ranked among the top 10 dive sites on the planet. This single location bursts with the Andaman Sea's famous biodiversity, from tiny seahorses to majestic mantas. Exploring the Surin Islands, Koh Bon, and Koh Tachai, you'll dive among vast gorgonian sea fans and coral bommies. Be ready for unusual critters, vibrant reef fish, and the thrilling possibility of manta rays and whale sharks, especially during the nutrient-rich high season of Feb-Apr. These sites are also known for green turtles, hunting sea snakes, massive schools of snapper and barracuda, Napoleon wrasse, and leopard sharks resting on the sandy bottoms. The Similan Islands offer Thailand's most spectacular underwater scenery. 9 granite islands, topped with jungle, are surrounded by clear blue waters. You'll drift along sloping reefs, and swim-throughs formed by huge boulders, and explore hard and soft coral gardens full of marine life.
You'll also venture to the southern Andaman Sea and the submerged pinnacles of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, which are blanketed in stunning red and purple soft corals. These sites are famous for massive fish action and are prime cleaning stations for manta rays and occasional whale sharks. The lagoons and cavern systems of Koh Ha provide a dramatic change of pace, perfect for exploration. And, true to our mission, if whale sharks are reported near Koh Tarutao or Koh Lipe, we will gladly adjust our course for a chance to swim with them!
Final Day
Savour 2 final dives on the last morning of your safari, reflecting on an incredible week of diving. Afterwards, Smiling Seahorse begins to cruise back to port. You will disembark in Ranong after lunch with unforgettable memories.
Note: This itinerary sometimes uses different ports. Please check the port details for your specific trip.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
Your culinary experience aboard The Smiling Seahorse is designed to be as rewarding as the diving. All meals are served buffet-style in the open-air dining area on the upper deck, allowing you to dine in the fresh sea air. The daily schedule typically includes 5 services:
• After a good night's rest, grab a coffee and cookies while listening to the first dive briefing.
• A full breakfast will follow the 1st dive.
• Lunch after the 2nd dive.
• Dinner will take place after the divers return from the night dive.
• Snacks, drinks and fresh fruit are provided throughout the day, including biscuits, candy bars, ice cream, fresh fruit, toast, drinking water, soft drinks, and fresh coffee or tea
There will be 4 dives throughout the day: 2 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon and 1 night dive.
While the liveaboard does not have a fixed menu, the Smiling Seahorse chefs prepare a delightful mix of Thai and international cuisine. You can expect a choice of up to 4 different main dishes per meal sitting. For breakfast, imagine fresh fruit, toast, and cooked options; lunch and dinner could feature dishes like fragrant pineapple rice, spicy tom yum soup, tom kha gai, phad Thai, succulent spare ribs, or a special BBQ. After the last dive of the day, beer, wine, and liquors are available for purchase.
A barbecue night is also on the schedule and it is usually a great night of fun, with the crew involved in singing and dancing.
The service begins with dinner on your first evening and concludes after lunch on the final day.
Please note that the Smiling Seahorse can cater to most dietary requirements with prior notice, so please inform us of your needs when you book.
