SIMILAN LIVEABOARDS
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE
THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE
Click a budget class to narrow down your selection and then click the boat you are interested in.
A Similan liveaboard with Diversion is the best way to experience the Similan Islands. Dive a wider range of Similan dive sites at a safe, relaxed pace.
On a typical 4 day/night Liveaboard trip you can explore some of Thailand’s best dive sites to the North of the Similan Islands. Dive with Mantas at Koh Bon, huge schools of fish at Koh Tachai and enjoy Thailand’s most famous dive site; Richelieu Rock.
If this is your first time planning a liveaboard, find out how a multi-day trip adds something special to your experience. Recently certified or inexperienced divers need not worry. Liveaboard diving allows you to learn skills at a faster rate. Here are a few more reasons why a Liveaboard is the best way to experience Thailand diving.
Compared to day trips, a liveaboard offers more dives at a greater range of sites. Double the number of dives in fact! Up to four dives a day, Liveaboard dives are conducted in a more leisurely manner. A Similan liveaboard is geared for the diving enthusiast. Get the most from your Thailand diving holiday and spend the maximum amount of time underwater.
Plenty of time between dives and relatively short distances between dive sites. You will have more time to relax, soak up breath-taking views of tropical islands and meet like minded people to share your scuba experiences with. With more dives, food and accommodation included, a Similan liveaboard is by far the most economical way to log more dives.
We aim to tell you everything you need to know about your Similan Liveaboard before you make a booking. But our real passion lies in the wonders you can find beneath the surface.
Here are what we think are the best dive sites in the Similans. Click on an image to find out more. Or for a general overview, including up to date information on Similan Islands diving conditions, please visit our comprehensive guide to Similan Diving.
It is often the time you spend in between dives that determines the enjoyment of your Similan liveaboard. After all, you will only be spending 4 hours a day underwater. Our liveaboards vary in quality and we want to ensure you find the one to suit your needs. If you are unsure which Similan Liveaboard to choose, the easiest thing to do is ask. We understand your needs and preferences are unique. The quick guide below should help you get started.
For peace of mind, the first thing you need to know is that you are well looked after. This is important both on the boat and underwater. Our liveaboards meet stringent safety requirements and have the industry’s best professionals supervising all diving activities. Rest assured that we have taken care of this first step for you. With that in mind, how else do you choose which Similan Liveaboard is right for you?
Do you have any specific safety concerns?
A Similan Liveaboard may be part of a longer holiday in Thailand, so you need to budget what you spend. It may be the highlight of your holiday and worth splashing out more for the additional luxury. It is worth remembering that food and accommodation is included. Diving day trips often work out more expensive and more time consuming once everything is factored in.
Do you already have a rough idea of how much you would like to spend?
Most Similan liveaboards have one thing in common, they all offer a convenient dive platform geared to show you the best of the Similan Islands. Other facilities vary greatly. Experience tells us one of the most common requests is an en-suite cabin. Mid range and high end boats usually have excellent bathroom facilities, whereas budget boats may only have 3 or 4 toilets for all the staff and guests combined.
Do you have any food preferences, suffer from seasickness, need a babysitter or something else?
A typical Similan liveaboard is 4 days and 4 nights in duration. This is considered the optimum time needed to dive the best sites in the area. However there are shorter trips for those with limited holiday time or longer trips for those who feel 4 days is simply not enough. We offer 2 day to 6 day liveaboards. Some focus more on the Similan islands, whereas other spend more time in the remote Northern dive sites.
Not sure where and when is best to dive?
Availability is important, as some of the boats book up very quickly. In particular, Christmas and New Year trips need to be booked well in advance. Schedule refers more to how the trip fits in with the rest of your holiday plans. Some are able to plan their holiday around the diving. Others may need to travel on specific dates. Tell us what dates you are free to travel and we will find the Similan Liveaboard for you.
Are your dates flexible or do you have something more specific in mind?
It is easy to apply the adage ‘You get what you pay for’ when choosing your Similan liveaboard. To make things easier we have split the boats into three categories to suit different budgets. Some boats offer exceptional value, but maybe the additional services and on-board facilities add that extra something you are looking for.
Between 18-25 guests. Space is adequate but can sometimes feel a little cramped. One exception is Oktavia; the most spacious budget Similan Liveaboard.
Between 16-25 guests, but always feel spacious. There is plenty of room to move around, more relaxation areas, larger dive decks, and lots more private space.
Although some boats come close, there is really only one high-end Similan liveaboard. The Diva Andaman takes just 14 guests and is the ultimate in luxury.
If you are thinking about learning to dive on a Similan liveaboard, there are several benefits that add to your overall diving experience. Four days on a boat can be quite a commitment, but once you are sure you want to take the plunge, a Similan liveaboard is an excellent choice.
A Similan liveaboard is the perfect classroom environment for learning to dive. A liveaboard gives you ample time to study, practice and spend plenty of hours in the water honing your diving skills.
Diving courses on a liveaboard are always conducted at a much more relaxed pace. There is less pressure to complete tasks in a limited amount of time. You will have plenty of free time to enjoy the Similan Islands.
Should one or two skills require extra practice, do not worry. On a Similan Liveaboard you are constantly surrounded by the Ocean. Jumping in for a bit more practice is always an option.
A liveaboard also makes certain adventure dives easier to try such as night diving. You are spending the night on the boat anyway, why not try a dive after the sun has set?
There are many diving courses to choose from and several different certifying organizations. Follow the quick guide below to help you get started or Contact Us if you need any advice.
What better place to learn diving than the crystal clear waters of the Similan Islands. To make the course run smoother it is best to do theory & swimming pool sessions in advance.
The perfect course for a liveaboard. Lots of time with your instructor and a huge variety adventure dives. Enjoy the possibility of diving down to 30m(100ft).
A fun way to become a safer diver and a unique experience on a liveaboard. Check where all the flotation devices are located. Rescue scenarios can happen at any time.
Take your first step to becoming a Pro. You will need a bit more time, but the rewards are worth it. However, not all boats accommodate the Divemaster course. Contact us for details.
Ideal for a liveaboard because of the extended bottom times it allows. With 4 dives a day, Enriched Air Nitrox can help to keep you safer and also help you feel less tired.
Learn to dive down to 40m! You will have the opportunity to explore areas that very few people get to see. Some boats are better equipped to teach this course than others.
A liveaboard gives you ample opportunities to improve & practice your underwater photography skills. Contact Us to find out who are the best photography instructors.
Discover Scuba diving, Refresher courses, Peak performance buoyancy, Wreck specialty and more. The list of courses is long, so let us know what skills you want to improve.
‘The way the World learns to Dive’. PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the World’s leading Scuba Diver training organization. Founded in 1966, they are Internationally recognized and currently the biggest organization around.
SSI (Scuba Schools International) has been providing Scuba Diver training since 1970 and is the largest competitor to PADI. Since being bought out by equipment distributor MARES, they have made real efforts to improve & modernize their courses.
Founded in France in 1959, CMAS (World Underwater Federation) has one of the most extensive diver training systems. Some divers prefer the slightly tougher training method as they feel it helps to make them all round better and safer divers.
The most important decision you will make is which boat to learn on. Depending on which course you choose (and which organization you want to do it with), there will be a Similan Liveaboard suitable for you.
Some boats are designed to meet the needs of experienced divers. Their diving schedule will take you to dive sites that are more suitable for the Advanced Open Water, Deep Specialty and Photography courses.
Other boats are better suited for beginner divers. They spend more time in calm, shallow waters and are perfect for the Open Water Course. This gives you time to practice you skills without any strong currents.
Rest assured that we are here to help. If you have any questions or need any advice about Scuba diving courses in the Similan Islands, we can help advise you and narrow down your options.
Our new Similan Islands Dive Site E-book Guide features full colour maps and key facts about the dive sites you will likely visit on your Similan liveaboard. Download it for free and take it with you on your mobile or tablet as the perfect trip companion.
Learn more about the dive sites you will likely visit on your Similan liveaboard trip. Try our fully interactive, easy to use online Similan dive site guide. Featuring up to date maps, key facts, information and photographs of all the famous Similan sites.
Off the Chart Expeditions lift a typical scuba diving liveaboard to new and exciting levels. Born out of a passion for exploration and a long history of enjoying life on dive boats. Our bespoke expeditions offer what we consider to be the ultimate dive trip.