Liveaboard FAQ and General Info

We are a couple and require a double bed during our liveaboard dive trip. Do all boats have double beds?

Many do, but not all. Use our search engine directly to the left here and you will see a chart in the results section which clearly states if there are double beds or not.

We have children who are under 10 and not divers. Can we bring them?

Yes, most boats will allow you to have kids younger than 10 in your cabin/ bed for a very reduced price. If you want to book their own beds, they pay the same as an adult would pay.

We have children who are over 10 and certified divers. Are they OK to dive on a liveaboard boat?

Yes, no problem. If they are between 10 and 12 years of age, they can go to a maximum of 12m. If they are between 12-15 they can go to maximum of 21m. That is a standard set by PADI and the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC). Normally the supervising adult is required to dive with their children unless special arrangements are made in advance.

What if my friend or spouse is a non-diver? Will they enjoy the trip?

If he/ she is comfortable on boats, then yes. There is lots of good snorkeling to be had, and the above water scenery is very pretty. Most days there will be opportunities to go ashore on the islands. Most boats offer only a small discount for non-divers, however. This is because the boats sell a bed; the diving doesn't cost that much to do, it’s boat operations which are expensive.

There are so many destinations around your area. How do we get started finding the right trip?

Tell us a little bit about your experience level, and what type of diving you enjoy. Also let us know what type of boat comfort level you prefer. You can do a schedules search on virtually every page of our website. This page is a good place to start, just enter your proposed dates in the upper left corner. Also, we have full dive site descriptions of all the dive sites in Thailand on our site, over 25,000 words from a book that John wrote.

We have specific dates that we can dive. How do I search for specific dates on your website?

Enter your dates and/ or destination in the upper left corner of this page and press find. You should get results. If not, broaden the search with new dates or more destinations. Then, send us an email with the trips you are interested in and we’ll get back to you with availability. Or, you can add trips to the shopping cart via the schedules page.

I’m interested in diving on a liveaboard, but not sure if I have been diving enough. What are the minimum criteria?

All liveaboard boats in Thailand offer dive guide services as part of the package. This is included in the price and usually the ratio is four or six-to-one guide. Some people prefer diving with a guide simply because with a guide you’ll see more underwater. As long as you are entry level certified, the crew will take care of you. Some of the dive sites in Burma—and depending on tide conditions--may not be suitable if you have very little experience or have not dived in a few years, but please ask. Most liveaboards offer up to four dives per day, so even if you sit a few dives out, you will still have a good trip and get to see amazing stuff. No one ever said you must do every dive. If you don’t feel up to it, sit a dive out. All the boat crews do their best to make you feel comfortable and give you extra help if you need it.

I’m a non-diver so far. Is it possible to get certified on a liveaboard boat in the Similan Islands?

We do not encourage students to dive in national park areas due to environmental considerations. Yes, theoretically its possible, but it’s better if you get certified before the trip, then choose a trip. Most of the course is theory and pool anyway, so why spend all the money for a boat just sitting watching TV? There are very few shallow areas suitable for dive training in the Similan Islands or in Burma. The Open Water course only takes three or four-days, and this can be shortened if you study before you get on a plane. Most boats offer PADI Specialty training and advanced courses. Nitrox is a very good course to take on a liveaboard trip, and is immensely practical.

What services do you offer? Are you an operator?

We are liveaboard specialists and your one-stop website for information on diving in Thailand and Burma. We work very closely with the boats we represent, and we make it easy for you to find a trip that fits your needs without wasting lots of time having to surf the web for days or weeks. Although we do not own or operate the boats directly, we do have a very close relationship with the boat owners and we represent only the boats we can exchange ideas with. This is why we don’t offer 60 liveaboard boats and 40 day trip boats like some other online operators. Our powerful schedules search on almost every page allows you to find the trip you want, for the price you want, and for the dates you want quickly and easily. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about your trip to Thailand in great detail, including helping with hotels or other non-diving related activities you may be interested in while here. Send us an email and see just how friendly we can be.

We are thinking of chartering a boat rather than doing a join-in liveaboard. Do you do that, and do I get a better deal?

Yes, if you are a group of people this is an excellent idea, as you will then only dive with friends and can choose your own itinerary (based on our guidance). If you want to do a few extra dives at one location before moving on, you can. We do these types of charters all of the time. Prices can be better than individual prices but vary from boat to boat. Some boats offer free spots, others offer group discounts. Let us know the size of your group, how many days you want to go diving, if you are couples or individuals, and how comfortable you want to be and we’ll send you some suggestions.

I will be visiting Thailand between June and September. What can I expect as far as diving goes?

That is our low season, and it will be difficult to find any liveaboard trips during this time. We often have short two-day overnight trips to Phi Phi Islands, but not to the Similan islands. Have a look here for an in depth explanation of the weather pattern during that time of year. Generally, for the best diving and the widest variety of possibilities, it's best to come between October and May.

Why are the boats priced so differently?

Prices vary because of trip length, safety equipment on the boat, crew experience, and of course comfort level. It’s the old adage, ‘you get what you pay for’ kind of thing. It’s capitalism and a free market economy, so prices are based on what it costs to run, and what the competition is charging. Most liveaboard operators are individual owners and not big corporations, and certainly are not wealthy, far from it, so the prices are usually based on what costs really are.

Why aren't liveaboard trips a lot cheaper in Thailand than other countries?

Good boats are as expensive in Thailand as they are in other countries. Over all, boat and crew quality is very good here. Most boats do not take more than 12-16 customers, we tend to have a very high crew-to-guest ratio, and we cover big areas (almost 600km to Richelieu Rock and back; triple that for a trip into Burma). Since fuel prices are fairly high here, boats are expensive to operate. Finally, our liveaboard season is only half the year from October until May (unless the boat is operating in Indonesia or some other area as well). So the boats have to make to support themselves for a whole year, with income from just six months.

Is it necessary to book liveaboards a long time in advance?

Generally, yes, if you are picky at all. It depends on the boat and the time of year. Peak season for Thailand and Burma is December through April, and many of the boats get booked up way in advance. Sometimes there are trips, generally shorter ones, which can be booked a few weeks (or even a few days) in advance. However, for the longer trips on better boats, it pays to book early.

Do you require pre-payment?

Yes, we do. We require 30% as a deposit with the balance due 45-60 days before. The reason for this is that we do not overbook liveaboard trips. If the boat takes 12 persons, for instance, we only book 12 persons, never 15. Hotels can get away with this as if they are overbooked, they’ll put you someplace else. However, it’s difficult to find another liveaboard with a similar schedule for a similar price leaving at the same time.

Do you take payment by credit card?

Yes, we sure do. We do it through a secure online system via our website. When you book, we explain all of that. We never charge you for credit card purchases unless we tell you ahead of time. We do not keep your credit card number on file; it’s all done through our bank, the Siam Commercial Bank here in Phuket. Click here to find out more.

I have more questions, how may I contact you?

Please visit this page for many different ways to contact us.

liveaboard schedules & prices

Liveaboard dive boats visit the following locations in the Andaman Sea:

All trips generally do not include:

1. Airport pickup and return
2. Soft drinks and alcohol
3. Personal diving equipment
4. National Park or Immigration Fees
5. Hotel accommodation
6. Tips and diving instruction

Sometimes this is not the case, however. Please check with us at time of booking for specific information. Additionally, in most cases towels and underwater lights are included in the price, but again, please confirm this with us.

Equipment Rental Prices:

1. BCD: $7.00 per day
2. Regulator with gauges and octopus: $7.00 per day
3. 3 mm Shorty Wetsuit: $5.00 per day
4. Mask and Snorkel: $3.00 per day
5. Fins: $3.00 per day
6. Computer: $6.00 (not always available)
7. Full set w/o computer: $20.00
8. Full set w/computer: $25.00

liveaboard schedules & prices