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Discover Scuba Diving Similan Islands

Discover Scuba Diving Similan Islands.

You don't need to be certified to dive to enjoy diving at the Similan Islands. You can do a days diving at the Similan Islands departing from Khao Lak A one day 2 dive day trip by speedboat from Khao Lak is 6,400 baht.

Discover Scuba Diving on a Similan liveaboard. 

Most Similan diving liveaboards don't provide Discover Scuba Diving onboard, you should be certified before joining the boat. Most snorkeling liveaboards do not have scuba cylinders or PADI Dive Instructors on board who can teach diving.

MV Oktavia is a dive and snorkeling liveaboard that runs 2 day 2 night liveaboard trips to the Similan Islands. With Oktavia you can join the boat as a snorkeler and if you fancy trying diving a PADI Instructors can take you on a dive for 1,500 baht. Any further dives are just 1,000 baht each. This is the perfect boat for diver and snorkeler couples or groups with mixed interests.

Phuket Discover Scuba Diving options:

These are our DSD options available from Phuket:

• Beach Dive. 2,900 baht. 
• Boat dives. Full day with 2 or 3 dives. Group Instruction. 4,900 baht.
• Boat dives. Full day with 2 or 3 dives. Private 1 to 1 diving. 5,500 baht.
• Half day swimming pool then 1 day boat with 2 dives. Group Instruction 5,900 baht.
• Half day swimming pool then 1 day boat with 2 dives. Private 1 to 1 diving. 6,500 baht. 
• Snorkeling day trip to Racha Yai with 1 dive. 4,100 baht

Learn to dive in the Similan Islands

Learning to dive

In previous posts I've talked about the availability of continuing education courses on Thailand liveaboards, both PADI and SSI courses but I noted that most boats do not offer dive certification courses on board. It is more common for people to first learn to dive and then join a liveaboard as a certified diver. However if you want to do the PADI Open Water certification on a liveaboard we do have some boats that can teach you. 

You can do the full PADI Open Water course in the Similan Islands or you can do your theory and pool training at your local dive centre first, then complete the open water dives at the Similan Islands (this is called an Open Water referral).

Usually an Open Water course consists of training in a swimming pool first. But as there is no swimming pool in the Similan Islands you will instead do confined water training in a shallow bay in "swimming pool like conditions." The beauty of this is you have more space to practice and you'll even see fish on your confined water sessions.

Liveaboards that offer the PADI Open Water course in the Similan Islands are:

• Scuba Adventure. Departing from Phuket
• Similan Explorer. Departing from Khao Lak
• Oktavia. Departing from Khao Lak with transfers available from Khao Lak

You can do the PADI Open Water course on Oktavia for just 10,000 baht on one of their 4 day or 5 day trips.

Not sure if you want to do the full dive certification? You can join Oktavia as a snorkeler and do a Discover Scuba Dive for 1,500 baht. A Discover Scuba Dive (DSD) is not a certification course, it's just a fun experience under PADI instructor supervision. If you enjoy it you can go on and get certified. Or you can just do more DSD's at 1,000 baht each. 

If you want to learn to dive in the Similan Islands but don't fancy a liveaboard you can do the PADI Open Water course in Khao Lak with day trip diving to the Similans.

Need more info? Please ask us

SSI Dive Courses on Thailand Liveaboards

Following on from last week's post about PADI Dive Courses on liveaboards I should also mention that there are a few liveaboards teaching SSI (Scuba Schools International) courses on liveaboards too.

Fewer people will have heard of SSI than PADI and while PADI is still the most popular dive certification agency to train with SSI they seem to be on the way up. They have been popular in Phi Phi and Koh Tao for a while and we are getting more requests now in Phuket and in Khao Lak for SSI training. 

One reason for this will be price. SSI courses are basically the same as PADI courses in terms of standards (you can cross over from one to the other) but the SSI courses have cheaper materials and cheaper certification costs. So for example, liveaboards with SSI instructors can offer the Advanced PADI or the Advanced SSI course to their divers with the SSI course being 1,000 baht cheaper than the PADI course. Which one would you choose?

We know of three boats that can currently offer SSI courses on board. They are MV Giamani, MV Saimai and MV Hallelujah. Giamani and Saimai can teach courses in English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. It is essential to book these courses in advance as there are far fewer available SSI instructors than PADI instructors.

PADI Dive Courses on Thailand liveaboards

Virtually all Thailand liveaboards have PADI Instructors on board to teach PADI dive courses. Most boats do not teach beginner divers as it's considered too disruptive to the schedule. (Some will teach the PADI Open Water Course and will even take non divers on Discover Scuba Dives. I'll post about these boats later).

The most common courses taught on the liveaboards are the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course and the PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Specialty. Both these courses can be integrated easily into the regular dive schedule. Both courses are very worthwhile taking for several reasons.

• The courses are cheaper when integrated with the liveaboard.
• If you are joining the liveaboard with limited experience of diving below 18 metres or if you haven't dived for a while you can gain confidence under instructor supervision.
• Many liveaboards around the World require PADI Advanced cert as a minimum to join the trips.
• Joining a boat with an Advanced cert card means you are buddied with other more experienced divers, not with the novices who could suck their air down quickly and shorten your dive time.
• Being Nitrox certified allows you to stay down longer at greater depths.
• Or diving your normal profile with nitrox adds an extra margin of safety. This is especially beneficial on multiple day dive trips or in remote areas where re-compression chambers are not with in easy reach. Older divers should also consider the safety benefits of absorbing less nitrogen.
• Many divers find diving with nitrox less fatiguing than diving with air.
• A Nitrox cert can lead on to more technical dive training.

Advanced and nitrox are not the only courses available on liveaboards in Thailand. Other popular courses are the PADI underwater digital photography specialty and the  PADI Deep Diver specialty. These and other specialty courses should be booked in advance to assure that a qualified instructor is aboard with all the necessary materials.

Please ask us about on board dive courses when you book your Thailand Liveaboard

Customer Feedback

Here is some feedback from two guests on Oktavia in late April. It's pretty typical of what people think of Oktavia.

Hi Paul

We had a great trip on the Oktavia. The crew  was very friendly and so was the owner who was also on the trip.

The boat was the best liveaboard I have been on in Thailand and the food was great.

The diving was exceptional with 15 dives 4 of them on Richelieu Rock which is one of the best dive sites in the world.

Thanks again for all your help,we had a fantastic time.

Thanks

Cliff and Anna

Phuket day trip dive boat feedback

Here is a very constructive review of two Phuket day trip dive boats from Christian who dived on them this weekend.

Hi Paul,

Just wanted to thank you for your help with the dive bookings. It was
easy and nice to have someone knowing the schedule of all the boats
and the payment went swiftly.

We had a great time both days, even though visibility was much better
on the saturday.

If any of your future customers ask, then as for boats, the Kamala
Dive Center boat was really great, with a lot of space (3 decks) and
great food. We got a big breakfast (scrambled eggs, sausages,
hashbrowns, fruit, toast), a nice lunch and banana-pancakes after the
3rd dive, and fruit all day. And the staff was nice to :)

The SSD boat was smaller, felt quite small, not especially well laid
out. The breakfast was sandwiches (the divemasters on the boat made
scrambled eggs to, but for themselves only... ) , the lunch was
average, and the fruit only watermelon. They had a nice coffee machine
on board though, with real coffee beans!

From the two days of diving I would recommend the Kamala boat.

Thanks again, and if I come back to Phuket, I will not hesitate to
contact you again.

Best regards,
Christian

Confirmed Hin Daeng Liveaboard in August

MV Saimai Hin Daeng Liveaboard

MV Saimai

21-23 August 2013
3 days 2 nights to Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Haa and Phi Phi Islands
10 Dives
Price: 18,900 baht

It is also possible to join this Saimai trip for just 2 or 3 nights.

Please contact us for more details

Thailand Liveaboards in October

MV Oktavia:

We have had two announcements from the Thailand National Parks department this week. Firstly, confirmation that marine park entrance fees will rise next season from 400 baht to 500 baht per foreigner.

Better news is that the the Similan and Surin marine national parks will be opening a couple of weeks early this year on 15 October.

So far two boats have added October dates to their schedules. they are Octavia and Deep Andaman Queen. More boats are sure to follow.

Seachart 1 Wreck day trip dives from Khao Lak

Seachart 1 cargo ship

From November we will be offering daily dive trips by longtail boat to the Seachart 1 Wreck.  The price is 2,900 baht each.

Or you can do two dives by longtail boat to the Boonsung Wreck for 2,500 baht each.

We need a minimum of 2 divers to run a boat. This is a dive for experienced divers only at the shallowest part of the wreck sits in 24 metres of water and the maximum depth is 40 metres. 

The Seachart 1 wreck is a good dive site to dive with Nitrox. If you want to continue your diver education why not do your PADI deep diver specialty course on the Seachart Wreck plus your PADI Enriched Air Nitrox course. You can PADI wreck diver course on Khao Laks three main wreck dive sites, the Seachart, Boonsung and Premchai tin miner wrecks.

Dive and stay Phuket special offer

Fancy a weekend diving break in Phuket? Here's a great value package.

3 nights accommodation plus 2 days diving for just 6,950 baht per person.

Included:

• 3 nights at the Allano Phuket Hotel, Patong beach in a Superior room, twin sharing
• 1 day trip to Racha Yai (2 dives)
• 1 day trip to Shark Point, King Cruiser Koh Doc Mai (3 dives)

Not included: Flights, transfers, breakfast, dive equipment (500 baht per set per day)

Single supplement: 1,050 baht

Valid until 31 October 2013

Interested? Contact us

Old Thailand Liveaboards

For anyone who has been coming diving to Thailand over the last 15 years you may remember some of these old liveaboards. We've thought of 20 boats that we remember diving and working on. The full photo album is one our facebook page here. Let us know of any others that we've missed.

Some of these boats, like the Rhapsody and Atlantis X are at the bottom of the ocean, others like the Mermaid liveaboards, Black Manta and Ocean Rover just moved on to waters new elsewhere in Thailand or in Indonesia.

Free Nitrox on Pawara. And free WI-FI

Last season Pawara became the first boat to offer free WI-FI to it's guests, it's still one of the few boats that does.

This season it will also be offering free nitrox to certified divers.

If you are not nitrox certified you can do the PADI Nitrox specialty onboard.

Pawara is excellent value in the upper mid price range category. Cabins filled up fast last season.

To book please contact us

Boat Inspections

Every low season we take the chance to inspect the boats that we sell. We like to keep our knowledge of our boats current. Every year we drop some boats and add some new ones. This week we were up at Ao Por Grand Marina in north east Phuket to inspect a fleet of luxury motor yachts that are available for private charter, either day charter or overnight charter.

The fleet includes a Sunseeker 60ft, Azimut 50ft, Integrity 55ft and a Riviera 45ft among others. Most of the boats are ideal for 4-6 guests on an overnight cruise or 10-15 guests for a day trip.

If you have a group looking for a charter ask us for our recommendations. We can provide all inclusive packages with diving, snorkeling, fishing, gourmet meals, hotel transfers etc. Depending on the boat and charter duration you can go anywhere you want.

We can also offer fun day trips on two fast RIB's. Both are equipped with 250hp 4 stroke engines that power the boats to over 40 knots speed. They can take up to 10 passengers plus captain and one crew. They are ideal for a fun day trip to Phang Nga Bay, Koh Khai, Koh Yao or other nearby islands. At just 28,000 baht all inclusive for a group day charter they are very good value too.

Please contact us for charter rates

Ao Por Grand Marina

Free Nitrox on day trips

Our favourite Phuket day trip dive boat is MV Chocksomporn. Why?

• Small Groups: Max 20 divers. Lots of room on the dive deck. Space for everyone to sit onboard. Small dive groups based on experience level
• Experienced supervisors and guides: Full boat, safety and dive briefings. All dives guided by PADI divemasters
• Safety: All divers carry an SMB, full fiest aid kit on board plus emergency DAN O2, life jackets, fire extinguishers and all other legally required safety features.
• Service: Don't want to set up your gear, we'll do it for you.
• AC saloon: There is a big shaded upper deck plus plenty of room to sun bake but if you like to stay cool there is an AC saloon.
• Great food: and ots of it.
• Free soft drinks: Plus drinking water, tea, coffee, milo and snacks.
• Good transfers: By AC luxury minifans from your hotel to the boat. Fewer passengers means quicker transfers.
• Longer dives: Normally 60 minute dives but you can stay longer if your air allows. You won't be limited to 50 minutes like on the other boats.
• FREE Nitrox!!!: Nitrox 32 free to all certified divers. (If you are not certified you can take the PADI Nitrox specialty).

Similan Explorer review

I've just got some detailed and constructive feedback from a diver who went on Similan Explorer in late April. There are positives and negatives but overall it's positive. I thought I'd copy the full unedited review here.

Hey Paul,

It was really good! I had a very good time with some excellent diving. Even seen a couple of Manta's!

Feedback

Boat.

The boat was really good, looked clean and spacious. We where only with 6 divers though, I think if there where 20 divers on board it would be a lot less comfortable.

Crew

John and Lisa where great, professional and fun! The only comment I gave them is that they could share there knowledge more. They didn't always seem to realize that what they see every day is new to most other divers. Like drift diving for example, they could have made this into a interesting subject to have a bigger briefing about. Now they just named it. I think if they would have taken a little more time to teach in stead of just guide it would have been even better.

The Thai crew was super fun and friendly, the only comment I would have there is that they start yelling (in a friendly way, but still) GO! GO! GO! when people where entering the water. For non divers this might seem like normal, but as a diver I think entering the water is something that should happen slowly en safely. 

Food

Good and tasty food (considering it was made in a small kitchen on a boat) that was made with heaps of love and care by the Thai lady's.

I did get a fish bone stuck in my throat for about two days, but that can happen anywhere. What wasn't so nice though was the diarrhea I had for a couple of days afterwards.

Equipment

I used my own equipment, but for what I have seen it looked good.

Over all the trip was a 100% success! And the things that could be better don't way up to the rest that was amazing.

I hope this will help you.

Asia Liveaboards

If you are looking for a Thailand liveaboard now you are a little late, the Andaman sea season is all but over.

So what are your alternatives? There are plenty within Asia.

White Manta still has a few spaces left to Layang Layang in May. They saw Hammerheads on every trip last year.

White Manta also has one very rare liveaboard trip to Sipadan and Lankayan. There are still a few spaces for 1-8 June.

White Manta also has trips in Indonesia at the amazing Sangalaki/Derawan. Spaces available from 12 June.

Also in Indonesia, everyone is raving about Komodo these days. Mermaid II has 8 day trips availability June-October.

Departing from Singapore Dive Race has weekend trips in May and June to Tioman, Palau Aur, 7 seas wreck.

Still in Thailand but over in the gulf, Giamani has a few liveaboard trips available around Samui & Koh Tao

White Manta Liveaboard Review

White Manta has just finished it's second season in Thailand and is now on it's way round to Layang Layang. The feedback from White Manta guests is always excellent and it will be one of our top recommendations for next season. But book early because most trips were full months in advance this season. 

This feedback from Linda who was on the boat in February is typical:

Hello Paul!

The trip was AWESOME!!!!  The White Manta was beautiful, the staff wonderful, the food amazing!!! Oliver Fitch was our dive master and he was a delight.  Our room was roomy and very comfortable.  The diving was memorable.

I would highly recommend the White Manta!!

South Siam III Feedback

Another happy customer back from the Similan Islands and Koh Bon last week :)

Dear Paul,

 

I just saw your mail.

 

First of all, i would like to thank you for recommending South Siam 3.

 

I had a fantastic experience on the boat, the crew was fantastic, excellent food and very clean environs on board. I had not really expected the liveaboard experience to be so nice.

 

I would especially like to mention my experience with Adam, my dive guide on the boat.

 

Adam is a BRILLIANT guy, very helpful, patient and considerate and highly confidence inspiring. His feedback to me on what i was doing right/wrong after every dive made me overcome my initial anxiety and i could learn quite a bit about buoyancy control and finning technique just by observing him. Adam knew all the dive sites pretty well and i was told by most other divers on the boat that i was able to see more things down there than any of them, and that was only because of Adam. He gets 5 Stars in my books, and i would definitely give the boat & Adam a very good review on Tripadvisor as well, soon.

 

Overall the boat was great and so were the people (other divers) on board, the food was the high point, always fresh and very tasty, with a lot of variety.

 

I will definitely go back on the boat again in the future and would also recommend the boat & Adam to all my diving friends & acquaintainces.

 

A large part of the credit for my fabulous trip also goes to you, for making all the formalities so easy and especially for recommending the boat.

 

Thanks again for your help.

 

Please pass on my regards to the boat's crew.

 

Wishing you the best Paul, and hope to see you whenever i go down to Phuket next.

 

Cheers Mate

Rahul Joshi

Peter Pan Liveaboard Feedback

Another happy diver :)

Hey Paul,

Our trip on the Peter Pan liveaboard was awesome!

We had a really amazing adventure, doubled the amount of dives we had done and got way more comfortable diving.

I loved Sandra, who was our dive master. I just hope her ear is ok.

Rut and all of the entire staff on the boat were just wonderfully fun and professional.

I absolutely will recommend Peter Pan to anyone I talk to and maybe we will do the South trip one day.

We saw some great stuff. The most fish I have ever seen in my life. Not much on the big side, but that's ok.

Thanks again for being in quick contact with me everytime I emailed you.

I have no complaints.

And the cook on board was also incredible. Not only did he serve delicious food every day, he was extremely accomodating to my girlfriend's 

dietary restrictions at every meal. He always made something special just for her.

Thanks again!

Courtney

Say no to Shark Fin

Say no to shark fin soup this Chinese New Year!

Hallelujah Liveaboard Review

This is the feedback from a recent (Dec 2012) guest on Hallelujah liveaboard:

Hi Paul,
I had a great time on board Hallelujah. The dive instructors made everything they could to show us the good stuff, and we had lots of fun together. The boat crew was really helpfun and friendly, and I loved the food. The cofee was not so good, and some of the dive equipment was not 100%. But after all, the trip exceeded my expectations, and I will not hesitate recommending the trip to my friends. I also hope I will have the opportunity to go again to the Similand Islands with your crew another time.
Best Regards, Thor

Hallelujah consistently gets good reviews. To be honest the feedback from all boats is coming back positive at the moment, probably because the diving in December has been so good. When divers see cool stuff underwater they tend to rate the boats higher, they also leave bigger tips to the crew.

Happy New Year

Wishing you all the best for 2013.

We've had a great season so far, especially December when I think every trip saw manta rays at Koh Bon and/or Koh Tachai. January to April are normally even better. These manta photos were taken on a recent trip aboard Pawara.