Showing posts with label Oktavia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oktavia. Show all posts

Sunday, 21 July 2013

Customer Feedback

Oktavia Similan Liveaboard
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

Friday, 5 July 2013

Thailand Liveaboards in October

Oktavia Similan Liveaboard
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.

Friday, 3 August 2012

Single Cabins on Thailand Liveaboards

MV Hallelujah has slightly reconfigured it's cabin arrangements for this coming season by adding a VIP single cabin on the upper deck.
Hallelujah Single Cabin
Hallelujah Single Cabin

This is noteworthy because so few boats have dedicated single cabins. Most boats have cabins in twin bed format (two single beds, either bunks or side by side) or Double bed format (one large bed). So if you want a private cabin you get it by paying for both berths in a two person cabin. You can have the second berth at the non diver rate which is usually 10-20% cheaper than the diver rate. So that means the single supplement is +80-90%.

To use MV Hallelujah as an example, a cabin is 31,800 baht per diver based on twin sharing. To get a private cabin you pay 31,800 baht plus a single supplement of 27,030 baht (31,800 minus 15% non diver discount) giving a total price of 58,830 baht. Or you can book the single cabin for 51,800 baht.

A couple of other boats are more generous to solo travelers who want a private cabin. LeMahe offers single use of a double/twin cabin for 32,000 baht.

Oktavia has a lower than usual single supplement of 33% so you can have single use of a twin/double cabin on a 5 day Similan trip for 33,782 baht or the Master (en-suite) cabin for 47,082 baht.

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Oktavia Liveaboard Review

Have a look at this customer survey from Oktavia. The guests seem pretty happy!

We've had great feedback from Oktavia all season, even from a French diver who unluckily broke her ankle a few days before her trip. She decided to still go on the boat and Oktavia did everything possible to make her trip a pleasure including upgrading her to the master cabin FOC. This is what she had to say:

"Hi Paul, 
The trip was really great, the crew was really nice to me and try to make me forget the fact that I could'nt dive :-(
The boat, the food and the diving staff were awesome. If we come back in thailand, we'll definitely go dive with you.
Thanks for the upgrading for the last 3 days, it made the live on board a lot more easy...
Best regards and thanks again"

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

Free rental dive equipment on Oktavia Liveaboard

MV Oktavia is offering free dive equipment rental for these trips:

Dates: 9-14 February: 5 days 5 nights
Diving at: SimilanKoh BonKoh TachaiRichelieu.
Price: 25,400 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

Dates:  9-11 February: 2 days 2 nights.
Diving at: Similan Islands only.
Price: 13,000 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

Dates:  12-14 February : 3 days 2 nights.
Diving at: Koh BonKoh TachaiRichelieu Rock.
Price: 19,400 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

For more info and booking please contact us

MV Oktavia

Sunday, 29 January 2012

Free rental dive equipment on Oktavia Liveaboard

MV Oktavia is offering free dive equipment rental for these trips:

Dates: 3-8 February: 5 days 5 nights
Diving at: SimilanKoh BonKoh TachaiRichelieu.
Price: 25,400 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

Dates:  3-5 February: 2 days 2 nights.
Diving at: Similan Islands only.
Price: 13,000 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

Dates:  6-8 February : 3 days 2 nights.
Diving at: Koh BonKoh TachaiRichelieu Rock.
Price: 19,400 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

For more info and booking please contact us

MV Oktavia

Sunday, 8 January 2012

Free rental dive equipment on Oktavia Liveaboard

MV Oktavia is offering free dive equipment rental for these up coming trips:

Dates: 10-15 Jan: 5 days 5 nights
Diving at: SimilanKoh BonKoh TachaiRichelieu.
Price: 25,400 baht per diver (incl. dive gear) / 20,300 baht per snorkeler

Dates: 10-12 Jan: 2 days 2 nights.
Diving at: Similan Islands only.
Price: 13,000 baht per diver (incl. dive gear) / 9,000 baht per snorkeler

Dates: 13-15 Jan Dec: 3 days 2 nights.
Diving at: Koh BonKoh TachaiRichelieu Rock.
Price: 19,400 baht per diver (incl. dive gear) / 15,600 baht per snorkeler

For more info and booking please contact us

MV Oktavia

Sunday, 4 December 2011

Free rental dive equipment and Nitrox on Oktavia Liveaboard

MV Oktavia is offering free dive equipment rental and free nitrox for these up coming trips:

Dates: 5-10 Dec: 5 days 5 nights
Diving at: SimilanKoh BonKoh TachaiRichelieu.
Price: 25,400 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

Dates: 5-7 Dec: 2 days 2 nights.
Diving at: Similan Islands only.
Price: 13,000 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

Dates: 8-10 Dec: 3 days 2 nights.
Diving at: Koh BonKoh TachaiRichelieu Rock.
Price: 19,400 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

For more info and booking please contact us

MV Oktavia

Monday, 28 November 2011

Free rental dive equipment on Oktavia Liveaboard

MV Oktavia is offering free dive equipment rental for these up coming trips:

Dates: 29 Nov - 3 Dec: 5 days 5 nights
Diving at: Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu.
Price: 25,400 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

Dates: 29 Nov - 1 Dec: 2 days 2 nights.
Diving at: Similan Islands only.
Price: 13,000 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

Dates: 2 - 4 Dec: 3 days 2 nights.
Diving at: Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock.
Price: 19,400 baht per diver (incl. dive gear).

For more info and booking please contact us

MV Oktavia

Sunday, 30 October 2011

MV Oktavia improvements and itinerary change

MV Oktavia Liveaboard
The weather in the Andaman sea is perfect at the moment. The sea is flat and the sun is shining. The forecast for November is for more of the same. So with that in mind MV Oktavia have added Richelieu Rock and Koh Tachai to their 4 day 4 night trips in early November. Previously these trips were only going to dive Similans and Koh Bon.

The trip dates are 4-8 Nov, 9-13 Nov, 14-18 Nov. All the trips are confirmed and have some space still available. The diver price is 21,500 baht.

I was on Oktavia last week for a look around. She's got an improved dive platform, a shiny new dingy and some new sun loungers. She's been completely repainted and all the soft coverings has been replaced. She's looking good. The crew are the same as last year with Bernie as tour leader.

More Oktavia details here

Saturday, 6 August 2011

New Liveaboard - MV Oktavia

Oktavia Liveaboard sailing into the sunset
Ok, not a new liveaboard for the Similan Islands, Oktavia has been running successfully for 3 seasons, but a new addition to the ThailandLiveaboards.com portfolio.

Why have we added Oktavia? The short answer is that we kept hearing such good things about the boat and the whole operation in Khao Lak. As we dug a little deeper we found that Oktavia does the basics very well and does somethings differently (and better) than other comparably priced boats.


  • We like the itinerary options. A choice of Similan Islands numbers 4-8 for 2 days or Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock for 3 days or Similan Islands 1-9 plus Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock for 5 days
  • We like that guests get a good night's sleep on the first night with the boat on a mooring with the engines off, not motoring to the Similans.
  • We like that all are welcome on board. Men, women, singles, couples, old, young and also kids. Oktavia is a very child friendly dive boat. This won't appeal to everyone but there are diving and snorkeling families out there who will be welcomed on board Oktavia in a way that they are not on other liveaboards. The owner couple of Oktavia are on most trips and in our experience this improves the level of service.
  • We like that all are treated equally on board Oktavia. Snorkelers and non divers are catered for as well as divers. There are 4 dedicated snorkeling excursions per day with snorkeling guides and snorkeling briefings. There are trips to the beach, beach football, nature walks and more.
  • We like that despite being a big boat (29.5m), Oktavia takes a maximum of 20 guests. Actually she has capacity for more but chooses not to pile 'em high. There is loads of space on Oktavia both in the cabins and on the upper deck and sundeck. Being a big, wide and heavy vessel also keeps Oktavia stable in the water.
  • We like that Oktavia is generous to solo divers/guests who want a private cabin. Oktavia charges just 33% single supplement whereas most lifeaboards charge 80-90%.
  • We like that Oktavia teaches all levels of PADI dive courses on the boat. Non divers can try an intro dive or can get fully certified as PADI Open Water. Most liveaboards do not offer PADI certification in the Similan Islands so this is a plus.


Oktavia departs from Thap Lamu pier, Khao Lak. We can arrange transfers to Khao Lak for Phuket based divers. For more details about Oktavia schedules and Prices see here.

Relaxing between dives onboard Oktavia



Similan beaches have really white sand...

...and really clear water

Wonder how many attempts to get this shot?
Rak maak
 
Did he jump or was he pushed?

Too many Singha's last night?

Back from the beach

Thumbs up

Nature walk on Similan Island 4

Filling in logbooks?

Happy families

Welcome all, young and old

Catching fish between Khao Lak and Similans

Happy fisherman

Reel fun

Boat captains look younger every year