LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE
At a glance...
- Visits Similan Islands and Koh Bon
- Daily departures, popular choice for young divers with limited time
- Dive The World Gold Range product
- Good option for snorkellers and divers
- Shared bathrooms
Click on an image to enlarge
The South Siam III serves as a mobile liveaboard dive platform stationed in the Similan Islands to which guests are transferred daily by speedboat, so you can get on or off whenever you want. No other boat offers you quite as much flexibility.
Strictly speaking, South Siam III is not a true liveaboard as it does not make a cruise, and new guests can join on a daily basis. However, it is a good option for budget travellers who are short of time and do not mind a more crowded boat. The 30 metre long Similan liveaboard boat is built to handle large numbers of divers.
There is a very big shaded area for relaxing and eating meals on the upper deck, a large sundeck with sun loungers and an air-conditioned saloon with TV/DVD and music system. All cabins have sea views and individually controlled air conditioning, they are pleasantly decorated and each bed has it's own reading lamp.
Finally, if you're a snorkeller or non-diver, the trip accommodates you equally as well as the scuba divers, and excursions onto the islands' white sand beaches are provided if you'd like to do some beachcombing.
Scheduled departures, prices, destinations, durations...
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More Trip Details...
Dive experience: Divers need to be at least Advanced Diver certified, or have 50 logged dives with the most recent dive within 1 year. Otherwise, divers must hire a private guide or take the Advanced course on board.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, return transfers to the boat from Phuket hotels (Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamala, Chalong only) or Khao Lak hotels (Bang Nieng, Nangthong and Khaolak center areas only), dive insurance, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) (5-6 divers per divemaster), snorkeling equipment, torch, tanks, weights and weight belt, all taxes.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment rental (US$ 15 per day) to be paid in advance, towel (please bring your own), Similan and Surin park fees (to be paid in advance) at approximately USD 6 per day, with an entry fee of USD 15 per park entry. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash in THB or credit card subjected to bank fee).
Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, dive computer (USD 12 per day), nitrox fills (available in 12 liters tank only) for enriched air certified divers (USD 9 per fill), 15 liters tank (US$ 9 per day), private guide (USD 58 per day). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash in THB or credit card subjected to bank fee). Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: The South Siam III trip to the Similan Islands starts with an early morning minibus transfer (from Phuket at 6-7 am, from Khao Lak at 7:30 am) to Khao Lak (a 2 hour journey). Boarding time is at 8:30 am, when a speed boat will take you out to the liveaboard boat (approximately 1 hour). The last dive of the tour will be at around 2 pm, and the speedboat transfer arrives back at the pier at 4:30 pm. The minibus return transfer will have you back in Phuket at 7 pm / Khao Lak at 5 pm. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving. For more details, including airlines, see our Thailand travel information section.
Non-diver rate: approx. 22% off the published price. Please ask us for more details.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of the non diver price in addition to the published price. Please ask us for more details.
Dive clubs and group discounts: None.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): This boat is not available for whole boat charter.
Cabins, Berths, Showers, Bathrooms...
There are 2 double bed cabins and 6 twin bed cabins on the main deck, and 6 more twin bed cabins on the lower deck of this Similan liveaboard.
All the cabins have:
- Individually controlled air-conditioning
- Seaview windows
- Shared bathrooms and showers
- Reading lights
- Mains outlet
- Dressing table
- Bedding
No. of bathrooms / showers - 6 / 6 - hot water
Crew, Facilities, Dive Courses...
Crew comprises:
- Tour Leader
- 5 Divemasters
- Captain
Motorised dinghy - Dive deck - Air-conditioned saloon with DVD video, music system, general and marine libraries - Sundeck with sun loungers and matresses
Dive certification course available including PADI Advanced Open Water.
Menu, Cuisine Type...
- Thai main meal dishes and continental breakfast.
- Buffet-style service on the upper deck - choose from 2 or 3 main dishes with rice and salad.
- Breakfast is also provided on first day of the trip.
- Operator rates their dining as highly important and it is actually pretty good!
- Coffee, tea, soft drinks, hot chocolate, water, fruit and biscuits are provided free of charge.
- Beer is also available for purchase.
- Most dietary requirements can be catered for on this liveaboard - please send notice of your requirements.
- There is no fixed menu.
Technical Specifications...
- Built in year 2003
- Size - 30m x 6.5m
- Top speed - 11 knots
- Cruising speed - 10 knots
- 2 engines
- Generator
- 1 x dive tank compressor
- 12 litre aluminium tanks with international A-clamp fittings - DIN adapters are also available
- Electricity - 24 hours per day
- Water capacity - 16,000 litres
- Fuel capacity - 8,000 litres
Navigation, Safety Features...
- Motorised dive dinghy
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
- Satellite telephone and fax
- Mobile telephone
- Oxygen cylinders - 16,000 litres
- Standard medic first aid box
- 30+ Life jackets on main deck
- 3 Fire extinguishers
- Customer diving insurance is included
- No life raft
Customer reviews:
"
Staff was very accommodating. They took pictures of the trip at no charge. The dive staff was excellent with their briefings and the plans were always clear. " -
Shannon Masel, USA, 27 November 2019 ...
"
The crew was absolutely fantastic. Everyone from the boat staff to the dive staff was courteous, kind, and extremely professional, with a bit of fun mixed in too :). We felt very safe and well taken care of the whole trip." -
Chris Dyer, USA, 02 December 2018 ...
"
I was on SSD 3 for a two day one night trip to the similan islands. The boat and trip were well organised with good catering staff. The boat was well maintained. The group dive briefings were ok. The transfers were well organised." -
Richard Chere, UK, 21 November 2018 ...
"
We got a pick-up from hotel when we arrive and a drop-off to hotel after we're done with diving. The service on board is excellent. You don't need to worry about your equipment and luggage throughout the dive. It's all taken care of." -
Jacky B.O.C, Canada, 28 November 2016 ...
"
The SSD is operated in a very professional way, very efficient. The staff are friendly, helpful and attentive. The food is good." -
William Wan, Canada, 23 January 2014 ...
"
I was pleased with the operation. There were only a few issues but they were isolated incidents that didn't diminish the fact that the whole Similan dive trip was fantastic. One of the dive guides was great. One of the Thai national guides was ignorant of his divers at best. The food on the boat was excellent. The mates on the boat were excellent and the accommodations were a great value. The boat was nice and I will be taking more live-aboard trips in the future due to this positive experience (it was my first liveaboard)." -
Dave Brown, USA, 14 June 2011 ...
"
Clean, comfortable air conditioned cabins, hot water showers, great food, excellent dive master and friendly staff. Even though we expected it to be crowded having 28 people on the boat diving, the crew did an excellent job of staggering the dive times slightly, so we felt like we were diving by ourselves!" -
Joy Kwek, Hong Kong, 18 February 2010 ...
"
Staff was excellent, responsible and helpful. Equipment was very good (most likely are from Dive-The-World). Food was good and arrangement was very good, detail briefing before starting each dive." -
Gilbert Lai, Hong Kong, 31 March 2009 ...
"
Food was good, dive instructors were very good, their boat organisation and staff were excellent, facilities on board both boats I went on were very good in general." -
John Doyle, Ireland, 2 January 2009 ...
"
Excellent value for money, well organised, friendly, safety conscious and divemasters with excellent knowledge of the Similans." -
Peter Chan, New Zealand, 17 March 2008 ...
"
The service aboard the liveaboard boat was fantastic, the crew on board couldn't do enough for us. The dive master we had was awesome, he knew all the spots and things to see." -
Peter Owens, Australia, 8 February 2008 ...
"
They were on time for pick-up, were well organized in assigning different groups. Dive boat was comfortable, had shower facilities, good quality food/refreshments, etc. Ratio of DM to divers was good (in my case 1:3, but in all cases I saw, not more than 1:4). DM was energetic and enthusiastic and took time to look for interesting things and point them out." -
Cynthia Dickins, HK, 31 July 2007 ...
"
Obviously it was my first time to take organised trips by you and dive in Phuket. I did not understand the system initially, but I just followed as I was told. All went so smoothly. I did not feel that I had left out or anything. (I joined by myself). Quite interesting to have met people from all over the world in a way. My divemasters were very helpful. They understood my diving skills and sort of observed me well. As I am just a resort diver, I had ended up showing my buddies my uncontrolled moments (too light weights etc). Thanks to my buddies as well!" -
Meiko Mazda, Japan, 10 April 2007 ...
"
I had a truly wonderful experience. Everything was taken care of, and everything was great! I am so glad that I ended up going with them because it really was a fantastic experience - I didn't want to leave!! Good equipment, excellent liveaboard/room/bathrooms, and perfect weather on top of it all." -
Carrie Soults, USA, 3 January 2007 ...
"
Transfers were timely and efficient, the live-aboard exceeded expectation in cleanliness and facilities, the crew were truly excellent and the divemasters patient and seemingly very professional." -
Ben Davies, Singapore, 6 December 2006 ...
"
Transport was efficient and the service on board was excellent, and the food was great. I was extremely satisfied and have recommended the same package to several friends." -
Dustin Bouwhuis, USA, 16 June 2006 ...
"
Boat in good condition, good crew, place to relax both inside and outside. Great lunch, enough to drink, good help to get out of the water." -
Alex Strom, Norway, 12 April 2006 ...
"
I was very impressed with the 3 days on the South Siam boats. The staff were all friendly and helpful and the dive sites excellent." -
Melissa Thurston, Australia, 5 April 2006 ...
"
Our divemaster, 'Jos' was excellent. He took great pictures and was a classy guide under the water. The food was great and the overall experience was very memorable." -
Bruce Gershenhorn, USA, 2 April 2006 ...
"
The staff were very professional, especially the guide; very patient and responsible. I'll ask for the same operator and the same guide next time I book with you." -
Wu Honglei, Singapore, 21 November 2005 ...
"
I thought that South Siam Divers ran a first-rate operation. Andrae and Yos were very accommodating. The food was excellent and the boat crew was very attentive to our needs. Actually, I would say that they pampered us, helping us quickly into and out of our gear." -
Reginald Kearney, United Kingdom, 19 October 2005 ...