Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock (6 Days / 5 Nights - 18 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and Bunsoong Wreck
Day 1
An afternoon transfer from Phuket Airport, or your hotel in Phuket or the Khao Lak area, to Thap Lamu pier, near Khao Lak, where the MV DiveRACE Class E crew will welcome you on board. The tour leader will explain the liveaboard features and the diving safari plan in detail while you sip a welcome drink before being assigned to your cabin. Unpack your scuba gear, chat with the other guests on board: dinner will be served next. Sailing overnight to the Similan Islands will take 4 to 5 hours.
Days 2-5
4 dives per day, and a day with 3 day dives and a night dive, in the Similan Islands are among the wonders that await beneath these clear blue waters. More than 200 species of hard coral grow in the area, while these islands have the greatest amount of reef fish in Thai waters. A varied bottom topography, with pinnacles covered in huge sea fans and barrel sponges, caves, swim-throughs, and coral gardens in shallow water that are also ideal for snorkelling in between dives.
Koh Bon is a island located 800m north-west of the Similans. It offers a good chance of encounters with manta rays that enjoy the treatment offered by the cleaner fish. Blacktip, whitetip and grey reef sharks are often spotted swimming around, while nurse sharks prefer to rest under the rocks and coral formations.
Richelieu Rock is one of Thailand's top dive sites, characterized by several pinnacles that attract schools of barracuda, snapper, sweetlips and trevallies. A multitude of colourful soft and hard corals, gigantic sea fans, and sea anemones that are home to clownfish, frogfish, harlequin shrimp, nudibranchs, pipefish and seahorses. Always keep your eye out for whale sharks and manta rays that are often sighted here.
Koh Tachai pinnacle is well known for strong currents that attract pelagics. Hard corals such as fire and staghorn corals cover most of the reef.
The crew will serve the main meals when guests are seated at the tables in the open-air dining area on the main deck. Delicious Thai, Asian and international dishes, with 4 to 5 dishes per sitting. Have a freshly ground coffee on the house before you get ready for the next dive. A barbeque night is also normally scheduled during the trip.
Day 6
Your diving is not over yet, as there will be 2 more day dives near Khao Lak, on the way back to port. It's all about wreck diving, with 3 choices for you: the Boonsung Wreck, the MV Sea Chart Wreck and the Premchai Wreck. Breakfast and lunch will still be served on this day. Return to Thap Lamu pier is estimated to be just after lunch, then transfer to your hotel or to Phuket Airport.
Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock (5 Days / 4 Nights - 14 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and Bunsoong Wreck
Day 1
An afternoon transfer from Phuket Airport, or your hotel in Phuket or the Khao Lak area, to Thap Lamu pier, near Khao Lak, where the MV DiveRACE Class E crew will welcome you on board. The tour leader will explain the liveaboard features and the diving safari plan in detail while you sip a welcome drink before being assigned to your cabin. Unpack your scuba gear, chat with the other guests on board: dinner will be served next. Sailing overnight to the Similan Islands will take 4 to 5 hours.
Days 2-4
4 dives per day, and a day with 3 day dives and a night dive, in the Similan Islands are among the wonders that await beneath these clear blue waters. More than 200 species of hard coral grow in the area, while these islands have the greatest amount of reef fish in Thai waters. A varied bottom topography, with pinnacles covered in huge sea fans and barrel sponges, caves, swim-throughs, and coral gardens in shallow water that are also ideal for snorkelling in between dives.
Koh Bon is a island located 800m north-west of the Similans. It offers a good chance of encounters with manta rays that enjoy the treatment offered by the cleaner fish. Blacktip, whitetip and grey reef sharks are often spotted swimming around, while nurse sharks prefer to rest under the rocks and coral formations.
Richelieu Rock is one of Thailand's top dive sites, characterized by several pinnacles that attract schools of barracuda, snapper, sweetlips and trevallies. A multitude of colourful soft and hard corals, gigantic sea fans, and sea anemones that are home to clownfish, frogfish, harlequin shrimp, nudibranchs, pipefish and seahorses. Always keep your eye out for whale sharks and manta rays that are often sighted here.
Koh Tachai pinnacle is well known for strong currents that attract pelagics. Hard corals such as fire and staghorn corals cover most of the reef.
The crew will serve the main meals when guests are seated at the tables in the open-air dining area on the main deck. Delicious Thai, Asian and international dishes, with 4 to 5 dishes per sitting. Have a freshly ground coffee on the house before you get ready for the next dive. A barbeque night is also normally scheduled during the trip.
Day 5
Your diving is not over yet, as there will be 2 more day dives near Khao Lak, on the way back to port. It's all about wreck diving, with 3 choices for you: the Bunsoong Wreck, the MV Sea Chart Wreck and the Premchai Wreck. Breakfast and lunch will still be served on this day. Return to Thap Lamu pier is estimated to be just after lunch, then transfer to your hotel or to Phuket Airport.
Koh Tarutao, Hin Daeng & Hin Muang (5 Days / 4 Nights - 14 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Ha, Koh Lipeh: 8 Mile Rock; Anemone Reef, Coral Restoration Site
Day 1
An afternoon transfer from Phuket Airport, or your local hotel, to Chalong pier, where the MV DiveRACE Class E crew will welcome you on board. The tour leader will explain the liveaboard features and the diving safari plan in detail while you sip a welcome drink before being assigned to your cabin. Unpack your scuba gear, chat with the other guests on board: dinner will be served next. Sailing overnight to the first dive site.
Days 2-4
4 dives per day, with 3 day dives and a night dive, are the norm in the southern Andaman Sea. Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are submerged boulder pinnacles covered with healthy soft corals in various shades of red and purple. A lot of fish action takes place here, especially when there is a current, including manta rays and even whale sharks. Koh Ha is famous for its cavern systems.
Surrounded by gin clear water, Koh Tarutao is still largely unknown to the established tourist sector, but you can explore here at some of the best snorkelling and diving spots in Thailand. The waters are rich in coral reefs and crustaceans, and are home to about a quarter of the world's tropical fish species, including lionfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, groupers and trumpetfish. Dolphin encounters are common and the rare dugong is here too. Eight Miles Rock is exposed to strong current and passing pelagics such as big as mantas and whale sharks can be spotted occasionally.
The crew will serve the main meals when guests are seated at the tables in the open-air dining area on the main deck. Delicious Thai, Asian and international dishes, with 4 to 5 dishes per sitting. Have a freshly ground coffee on the house before you get ready for the next dive. A barbeque night is also normally scheduled during the trip.
Day 5
Your diving is not over yet, as there will be 2 more day dives near Phuket. Breakfast and lunch will still be served on this day. Return to Chalong pier just after lunch, then transfer to your hotel.
Similan, Richelieu Rock & Hin Daeng (7 Days / 6 Nights - 22 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Similan Islands, Boonsung Wreck, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Surin Islands, Koh Ha, Hin Daeng, Hin Muang
Day 1
An afternoon transfer from your hotel in Phuket to Panwa Pier, near Khao Lak, where the MV DiveRACE Class E crew will welcome you on board. The tour leader will explain the liveaboard features and the diving safari plan in detail while you sip a welcome drink before being assigned to your cabin. Unpack your scuba gear, chat with the other guests on board: dinner will be served next. Sailing overnight to Koh Ha will take 4 to 5 hours.
Days 2-6
4 dives per day, and a day with 3 day dives and a night dive, in the Similan Islands are among the wonders that await beneath these clear blue waters. More than 200 species of hard coral grow in the area, while these islands have the greatest amount of reef fish in Thai waters. There are pinnacles covered in huge sea fans and barrel sponges, caves, swim-throughs, and coral gardens in shallow water that are also ideal for snorkelling in between dives.
Koh Bon offers a good chance of encounters with manta rays that enjoy the treatment offered by the cleaner fish. Blacktip, whitetip and grey reef sharks are often spotted swimming around, while nurse sharks prefer to rest under the rocks and coral formations. Koh Tachai pinnacle is well known for strong currents that attract pelagics. Hard corals such as fire and staghorn corals cover most of the reef.
Richelieu Rock is one of Thailand's top dive sites, characterized by several pinnacles that attract schools of barracuda, snapper, sweetlips and trevallies. A multitude of colourful soft and hard corals, gigantic sea fans, and sea anemones that are home to clownfish, frogfish, harlequin shrimp, nudibranchs, pipefish and seahorses. Always keep your eye out for whale sharks and manta rays that are often sighted here.
Hin Daeng, a submerged boulder pinnacle covered with healthy soft corals in various shades of red. A lot of fish action takes place here, especially when there is a current, including manta rays and even whale sharks. The cruise will also feature a couple of dives at Hin Muang, Purple Rock, as it is covered in purple soft corals and anemones. You can discover a great variety of marine marvels here, from reef sharks to tiny harlequin shrimp. Koh Ha is famous for its cavern systems.
The crew will serve the main meals when guests are seated at the tables in the open-air dining area on the main deck. Delicious Thai, Asian and international dishes, with 4 to 5 dishes per sitting. Have a freshly ground coffee on the house before you get ready for the next dive. A barbeque night is also normally scheduled during the trip.
Day 7
Your diving is not over yet, as there will be 2 more day dives at Boonsung Wreck, near Khao Lak. Breakfast and lunch will still be served on this day. Arrive at Thap Lamu Pier just after lunch, then transfer to your hotel.
Note: this itinerary sometimes runs in reverse so please check exact port details above.
[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].
