Showing posts with label Surin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Surin. Show all posts

Sunday, 16 September 2012

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.

Saturday, 8 September 2012

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.


Saturday, 25 August 2012

Similan and Surin National Park Rises?

According to this article posted in the Bangkok Post entrance fees to Thailand's National Parks are due to rise from October. That will include our favourite dive locations like the Similan Islands Marine National Park, Surin Islands Marine National Park and Phi Phi Islands Marine National Park.

Local dive operators have had no official confirmation of the new prices which will be different for Thai nationals and foreign tourists.

The current national park entry fee for Similans and Surin national parks is 400 baht and is said to be rising 50 to 100 baht. The current diving fee is 200 baht per day and there is no indication that this will rise.

We are also still waiting for information on how the extra funds raised will be used in the national parks. Common feedback from our diving customers is that they are happy to pay national park fees anywhere in the world if they can see those fees being used to protect the local marine environment. But in Thailand they are often disappointed to see fishing boats within national boundaries and fishing nets on reefs.

More information as soon as we have it.

Wednesday, 16 May 2012

Similan and Surin Snorkeling Liveaboard

Snorkeling liveaboard in the Similan Islands
We are pleased to offer a new liveaboard boat on our website that is dedicated to snorkelers only. Most snorkeling tours to the Similan Islands are day trips by speedboat that invariably limit in water fun but this 3 day 3 night Snorkeling Discovery Tour takes the time to visit the best of the Similan Islands, the Surin Islands plus Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.

Snorkelers are guaranteed the best snorkeling in Thailand's Andaman Sea, the clearest water and the most plentiful fish. By including Koh Bon in the itinerary you have the opportunity to snorkel with Manta Rays and lucky snorkelers may even see Whale Sharks at Koh Tachai.

Snorkeling tour route
As well as all the snorkeling there are plenty of excursions on to the islands and beaches with short nature trails and view point climbs. Similan Island beaches have beautiful fine white sand with no inhabitants. In Surin you'll get to meet the Moken sea gypsies who still live their traditional life there.

At just 12,900 baht for 3 days with 3 nights accommodation on board and all meals included it's great value. Trips depart from Khao Lak or Kuraburi from November to May (see schedule) but if you are staying in Phuket we can arrange transfers for you. These trips have been running successfully for two full seasons now and feedback has been excellent.

More details here: Snorkeling Liveaboard

Sunday, 12 February 2012

Last Minute Surin Liveaboard - MV Daranee

MV Daranee has a last minute price for her trip on 14-17 February 2012.

Boat: MV Daranee
Dates: 14-17 February 2012
Destination: Surin IslandsKoh BonKoh TachaiRichelieu Rock
Price: Twin/Quad bunk cabins 18,900 baht per diver (reduced from 21,400 baht)

For more details about MV Daranee see here

To book contact us

MV Daranee


Monday, 6 February 2012

Last Minute Surin Liveaboard - MV Daranee

MV Daranee has a last minute price for her trip on 7-10 February 2012.

Boat: MV Daranee
Dates: 7-10 February 2012
Destination: Surin IslandsKoh BonKoh TachaiRichelieu Rock
Price: Twin/Quad bunk cabins 18,900 baht per diver (reduced from 21,400 baht)

For more details about MV Daranee see here

To book contact us

MV Daranee


Friday, 13 January 2012

Last Minute Surin Liveaboard - MV Daranee

MV Daranee has a last minute price for her trip on 17-20 January 2012

Boat: MV Daranee
Dates: 17-20 Jan 2012
Destination: Surin IslandsKoh BonKoh TachaiRichelieu Rock
Price: Twin/Quad bunk cabins 18,900 baht per diver (reduced from 21,400 baht)

For more details about MV Daranee see here

To book contact us

MV Daranee


Friday, 6 January 2012

Last Minute Richelieu Rock Liveaboard - MV Daranee

MV Daranee has a last minute price for her trip on 10-13 Jan 2012.

Boat: MV Daranee
Dates: 10-13 January 2012
Destination: Surin IslandsKoh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock
Price: Twin/Quad bunk cabins 18,900 baht per diver (reduced from 21,400 baht)

For more details about MV Daranee see here

To book contact us

MV Daranee


Friday, 9 December 2011

Last Minute Similan Liveaboard - MV Daranee

MV Daranee has a last minute price for her trip on 16-19 December 2011.

Boat: MV Daranee
Dates: 16-19 December 2011
Destination: Surin Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock
Price: Twin/Quad bunk cabins 18,900 baht per diver (reduced from 21,400 baht)

For more details about MV Daranee see here

To book contact us

MV Daranee


Monday, 8 August 2011

Backpacker Liveaboards in Khao Lak

Nangnuan budget liveaboard
We've just added three more liveaboards to ThailandLiveaboards.com. All three boats fall in the budget category and are popular with packpackers. All three boats depart from Khao Lak (we can arrange transfers if you are staying in Phuket).

There are a lot of lower budget dive boats departing from Khao Lak. New ones come and go all the time so it's hard to keep a check on quality. So we have chosen three boats from a long standing Khao Lak dive centre with a good reputation. We sold these boats last year on our KhaoLakLiveaboards website and got good feedback.

These liveaboards are great value. The prices include a full set of dive equipment (including dive computer). To book you just need to pay a 20% deposit. You can pay the balance when you arrive in Khao Lak.

MV Andaman does 4 day 4 night trips (13 dives) to Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock for 17,900 baht per diver (incl. equipment).

MV Mariner One offers 3 day 3 night trips (9 dives) for 15,300 baht per diver (incl. equipment). You can choose the Similan Koh Bon itinerary or the Surin, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Itinerary. Or combine both trips for just 26,900 baht.

MV Nangnuan is the real budget boat. There aren't many boats left like this. She's small and has no cabins. She takes just 8 dives who sleep on mats on the covered upper deck. Facilities are basic but everyone comes back happy from these trips. It's a friendly, fun boat and the diving is the same great Similan diving as on the fancier boats. Nangnuan does 3 day 2 night trips (9 dives) to Similan and Koh Bon for 11,900 baht per diver (including equipment). It's often necessary to book Nangnuan early because she only has 8 spaces available.

For a full list of our Similan liveaboards departing from Khao Lak and Phuket look here.

Tuesday, 12 July 2011

New Daranee Itinerary for 2011/12 Season (Similan or Surin)

MV Daranee Simila/Surin liveaboard
The vast majority of Thai liveaboards run 4 day 4 night itineraries. These trips dive mostly around the Similan Islands but also include a few dives at Richelieu Rock (best chance to see whalesharks) and Koh Bon and Koh Tachai (best dive sites for Manta Rays).

For the coming season MV Daranee has decided to try something new. From November to May you can choose to dive either:

3 days 2 nights (9 dives) in just the Similan Islands
or
4 days 3 nights (13 dives) in Surin Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.

The 2 night Similans only cruise will suit divers on a budget and short of time.

The 3 night Surin trip is is great if you just want to focus on seeing bigger stuff or if you've dived the Similans before. Not many boats really dive Surin, it is much less visited than the Similans.

Also, a special offer. If you book the Similan and the Surin trip you can have one night free accommodation between the trips in their Patong hotel.

Details of the Daranee schedule, itinerary and prices are here.

It's nice to see a boat operator trying something new and we think divers are going to like the new format. Daranee has always been a favourite of ours in the budget category.