Liveaboard Diving Phuket

Many Phuket divers are unfamiliar with the idea of liveaboards, and make only local day trips, preferring to return to the hotel in the evening.

A liveaboard enables you to dive more remote and often better dive sites, and spend your evenings close to nature, out on the ocean gazing at stars far from the madding crowd. Cabins on board are comfortable and air-conditioned, food is tasty and plentiful, and you get to know a group of divers all sharing the same experience.

The liveaboard life is summed up by “Dive, Eat and Sleep”, which is not far from the truth! Most Phuket liveaboards carry a mixture of divers with a range of experience and backgrounds.

While a liveaboard to Burma is recommended only for those with a bit more experience, the Similan Islands are ideal for all divers. A typical 4 day tour will give you a maximum of 14 dives, including a couple of night dives. This may seem like a lot of diving, but your surface intervals are long and you will find a liveaboard cruise rewarding and relaxing.

All dives are made with a dive master or instructor, unless you prefer to dive as a group or buddy team. Some dive sites are not easy to navigate, so it is usually better to take advantage of your guides knowledge and experience. Dive groups are kept small – with a maximum of 4-5 divers per dive master, so you won’t feel crowded underwater.

Liveaboards operate year round from Phuket to the Similan and Surin Islands, Burma (Myanmar) and the South of Thailand (Phi Phi, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang).

The Similan Islands National Park is considered one of the top 10 destinations in the world due to the incredible variety of marine life, coral reefs and dramatic rocky landscapes. The Surin Islands, including Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock, are visited by most liveaboards in combination with the Similan Islands. These sites offer your best chance of encounters with Manta Rays and the giant Whale Shark. The months from February to April are best for Whale Shark sightings. The South Islands are also in the schedule of several Phuket liveaboards.

Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are among the best dive sites in Thailand, and the “big fish” are also regular visitors here.