Thailand Liveaboard Diving

Thailand's West Coast Andaman Sea

Thailand has long had the reputation of being one of the best dive destinations in the world, and there is no better way to take in the best that diving in Thailand has to offer than by liveaboard cruising along its spectacular west coast.

Not only do these liveaboards take in some world-famous dive sites against the backdrop of stunning Thai scenery, but they also represent great value for money.

The most popular trips run to the capital of Thailand diving - the Similan Islands - where there are a range of boats from backpacker standard to top notch luxury. Other excellent trips run the southern Andaman Sea route to Hin Daeng and Phi Phi Islands.

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The Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock

The Similans boast many great sites, including North Point which features excellent examples of the swim-throughs and arches that typify the topography of these beautiful islands. Elephant Head Rock is a curiously named site which also features dramatic underwater boulders, in and around which lives an impressive array of marine life, such as blue-ringed angelfish, Andaman sweetlips and the occasional Olive Ridley's turtle.

Trips to the Similans often include Koh Bon, one of Thailand's best sites for sightings and Richelieu Rock, a world-renowned dive site famed for the frequency of visits by passing whale sharks.

Some of the other dive sites you will visit on Similan Islands liveaboards are Batfish Bend, East of Eden, Koh Tachai and Sharkfin Reef. For more detailed information, visit our Similan diving website section.

Visit our liveaboard section here to explore your options for Similan liveaboards.

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Hin Daeng - Hin Muang

In the southern section of the Andaman Sea there is also some great diving and you can enjoy these sites by liveaboard. Hin Daeng is one of the top sites for Thailand dive sites, with whale sharks and manta rays. Hin Muang is home to the highest vertical wall in Thailand, dropping more than 60 metres and is a great place for bigger fish and schools of pelagics, but also for macro life, hiding among the anemones and soft corals.

The Phi Phi Islands are one of the best known destinations in Thailand, being amongst the most picturesque islands in the world. These islands and nearby Koh Ha are surrounded by many interesting caves and overhangs. Smaller marine life proliferates here such as clouds of glassfish, seahorses and shrimpfish. For more detailed information, visit our Thailand diving website.

Visit our liveaboard section here to explore your options for Hin Daeng liveaboards.

Surin Islands

These remote and infrequently visited islands in the far northern region of Thailand's Andaman Sea, have some of the healthiest and most extensive reef systems in Thailand. Koh Surin is well worth a visit though, as you'll often encounter fish species here that you won't see in other parts of Thailand, such as such as Napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, barramundi and yellow-mask angelfish.

At Koh Torinla you can dive with blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, turtles, guitarsharks and barracudas, and at South East Point there are blue-spotted jawfish, ribbon eels, titan triggerfish and ghost pipefish. For more detailed information, visit our Surin diving website section.

Visit our liveaboard section here to explore your options for Surin liveaboards.

Please note: some extended liveaboard cruises visit both the northern and southern Andaman Sea areas.

Thailand and South Myanmar Combination Cruises

Several liveaboard trips visit both the Similans and the south of Burma, and the two destinations go very well together. The Burma dive sites feature walls, caverns, tunnels, pinnacles, soft corals and sea fans. The marine life sparkles with diversity and there are chance encounters with some rare species such as frogfish and silvertip sharks. The ever-popular Similans are renowned for their underwater scenery of large granite boulders, sloping hard coral reefs and powdery white sand beaches.

Visit our liveaboard section here to explore your options for Thailand and Burma combination liveaboards.

Diving Season

The dive season in Thailand is year round. However for liveaboards you will be diving in the Andaman Sea off the west coast where the best conditions exist from October to April (the liveaboard season), with whale sharks visiting most frequently from February to May, and manta rays throughout the year.

Although the Phuket liveaboard season is between early October and mid May, there are a limited number of liveaboards to the Similan Islands and Phi Phi Islands all year round.

Reef Summary

Great for: Small animals, underwater photography, diving value-for-money, advanced divers, beginner divers, snorkelling, non-diving activities
Not so great for:
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 5 - 40m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 26 - 31°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: >250
Recommended length of stay: 4 - 10 days

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