New luxury liveaboard to Burma

It seems that everyone wants to visit Burma this season and what better way to do it than on board the luxurious Diva Andaman. Explore the many wonders of the Mergui Archipelago in ultimate comfort. Dive all the best dive sites including the Burma Banks. Kayak around untouched islands.

Diva Andaman cruises in Mergui

Diva Andaman has scheduled just two cruises into Burma for this season. The 10 day trips are 17-26 February 2013 and 6-15 March 2013. February and March are the best months to dive Burma. Both trips depart from Ranong in Thailand and return to Phuket. This is the full itinerary:


Day 1
Transfer to Ranong Pier for boarding at 3pm
Thai Immigration procedure, safety and trip briefing
Cruising to Kawthoung followed by Burmese Immigration procedure
Dinner on board while cruising to the Mergui Archipelago

Day 2
1st and 2nd dive at High Rock
Lunch on board while sailing to 3 Islets
3rd and 4th dive at 3 Islets
Dinner on board while cruising to Black Rock

Day 3
5th, 6th, 7th and 8th dive at Black Rock
Dinner on board while cruising to the Burma Banks

Day 4

9th, 10th and 11th dive at the Burma Banks
Sailing to North Twin

Day 5
12th and 13th dive at North Twin
Lunch on board while sailing to South Twin
14th and 15th dive at South Twin
Sailing to Western Rocky

Day 6
16th and 17th dive at Western Rocky
Sailing to Kawthoung. Burmese Immigration procedure
Cruising to Ranong followed by Thai Immigration procedure
Cruising to Richelieu Rock

Day 7
18th, 19th, 20th and 21st dive at Richelieu Rock
Dinner on board while sailing to Koh Tachai

Day 8
22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th dive at Koh Tachai
Dinner on board while cruising to Koh Bon

Day 9

26th, 27th, 28th and 29th dive at Koh Bon
Dinner on board while cruising to the Boonsung Wreck

Day 10
30th dive at the Boonsung Wreck
Breakfast and lunch on board while sailing to Patong in Phuket
Disembarking at Patong in Phuket at 5pm


You can see Diva Andaman's full schedule and prices here. Or contact us for more information.

New low budget liveaboard for Burma

Dophin Queen Liveaboard

We've just added a new Burma liveaboard to our collection.

MV Dolphin Queen will run six trips to the Mergui archipelago this season.  The 5 day 5 night trips will start and finish in Ranong (we can arrange transfers from Phuket if needed). Starting at 35,500 baht this is the best value Burma liveaboard available.

To see all Burma liveaboards take a look at our website.

Singapore to Phuket trip

MV Dive Race

This trip is a bit different.

Dive Race is just finishing off it's Singapore diving season and will be returning to Phuket next month. You can join them on the transit and get a few dives in along the way. These are the details:


Depart: 29th Oct 2012 - 7pm from SAF Yacht Club
Arrival:  Estimate 2nd or 3rd Nov 2012 at Chalong Pier

Diving would begin south of Phuket.

Dive Sites: Koh Doc Mai, Phi Phi Islands, Hin Deang, Hin Muang (aiming for 5 dives)

Price: 600 SGD

You must have advanced cert and experience as there will be no guides for the trip! We will dive in buddy teams!

Things to note:
- meals are provided for during the sailing
- bring own entertainment as the first 2.5 days are pure sailing until we reach Langkawi or Phuket (depends on time of day)

September on Patong Beach Phuket

These photos are just a few random snaps from my phone to show what is fairly typical low season weather in Phuket in September. I spent the day on Patong beach with my family yesterday from 11am until about 6pm. These photos were taken at around 1pm.

You can see that the weather was overcast and that there was a nice onshore breeze blowing. It was threatening to rain all day until about 3pm when the clouds cleared to blue sky. I could see that it was raining in the mountains behind Patong but we stayed dry on the beach.

Note the breaking waves and the red flags flying to warn against swimming. There was a rip current just off shore. That's normal at this time of year. In high season the sea is generally flat as the find comes from the east not the west.

I was surprised at how many people there were around Patong considering that September is one of the quieter months. Weekends are always busier because locals hit the beach and weekenders from KL, Singapore and Bangkok fly in but even so I remember that five or so years ago the beach would've been virtually empty in September.

South Siam Liveaboards first trips

South Siam III

South Siam has announced the start dates for their two liveaboards for this season which is approaching fast.

South Siam III starts on 20 October. South Siam III dives the Similan Islands and Koh Bon. It's a great budget boat that offers a totally flexible schedule, stay one day or stay ten, up to you.

The first Similan day trip is 20 October. The first Koh Bon day trip is 21 October.

South Siam IV starts trips to Richelieu Rock on 27 October. South Siam IV is a great option for divers with limited time who still want to dive Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.

Both these boats already have plenty of bookings and are confirmed to start on the above dates.

Free Nitrox on Deep Andaman Queen

Book a dive cruise with Deep Andaman Queen liveaboard 3 months or more in advance and get free Nitrox.

(Normally 250 baht per cylinder).

Thai Marine National Park Entry Fees Increases

Similan Islands National Park

I posted last month about a likely increase in marine park fees and those increases have been confirmed this week.

The new entrance fees for the Similan National Park is 500 baht and for the Surin National Park (which includes Richelieu Rock) it is also 500 baht.

This will affect all liveaboards, diving day trips and snorkeling day trips into the Similan and Surin national parks from October 2012 onwards.

The daily diving fee has been held at 200 baht per day. So, for example, a diver on a typical 4 day liveaboard to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock would pay 1,800 baht in park fees made up off 500 baht Similans entry fee, 500 baht Surin entry fee plus 4 days diving at 200 baht per day. A snorkeler on the same trip would just pay 1000 baht in entrance fees.

Note that these are the prices for foreign tourists. Thai national pay less.

Andaman Islands Liveaboard

7 day 8 night liveaboard in the Andaman Islands

Dates:
13-21 February 2013
22 February - 2 March 2013
3-11 March 2013

Price: Starting at 93,750 Thai baht


Itinerary
7 Days / 8 Nights – starting/ending at Port Blair

Departure Day
6:00 pm – Meet at the Pier
7:00 pm – Departure to Button Island

Day 1:
4 Dives – North / Middle / South Button Island

Day 2:
2 Dives – Button Shoal
2 Dives – Campell Shoal
Cruising over night to Narcondam Island.

Day 3 and 4:
4 Dives each day around Narcondam Island.
Visit the Island with it s extinct volcano.
Cruising overnight to Barren Island.

Day 5:
4 Dives around Barren Island.
Visit the Island with its active Volcano (if no activity).

Day 6:
2 Dives around Invisible Bank.
2 Dives  around Flat Rock.

Day 7:
2 Dives around The Sisters Island.
2 Dives around Passage Island.

Arrival Day
Cruise back to Port Blair.
12:00 pm – Disembark from the boat.

If you are interested in one of these trips please contact us for more details.