MV Dolphin Queen is a hugely popular Burma (Myanmar) liveaboard diving boat which can host up to twenty two lucky guests in air-conditioned comfort on 5-day and 6-day diving cruises from Khao Lak, in southern Thailand. In addition to Burma (Myanmar) diving safaris, for exciting adventures around islands which just being discovered, Dolphin Queen also makes regular trips to Thailand’s best diving areas as well.
There are three cabin types on Dolphin Queen, and all of them have air conditioning and opening windows, to allow the wonderful sea breeze to pass through. 4-bunk cabins are the best value, but there are also twin-bunk & double bed cabins available. Mealtimes and socializing takes place at the back of the upper deck, in the open-air covered communal area. There are also plenty of places to stay alone to sunbathe and/or read a book.
Divers on Dolphin Queen are taken care of by a friendly & professional team of western dive staff and Thai crew. Diving groups are made up of no more than four guests (of a similar level) per Divemaster guide, and delicious food is served throughout the day, with free tea, coffee, snacks, fruits & drinking water whenever you like. There is a motorized dinghy to retrieve divers and to take guests onto the wonderful islands of these mostly uninhabited and unexplored islands.
Diving safaris into Burma on Dolphin Queen are a lot of fun, and possibly the best-value diving in Burma’s Mergui Archipelago. The teas on board are experienced, and they understand what all levels of diver want and need. They also know this area better than every other dive centre, because they’ve been operating trips here the longest. If there’s a new dive site or special creature, the crew on Dolphin Queen are the ones to find it. Guests board Dolphin Queen in Khao Lak, which is part of Thailand’s southern Phang Nga province. After sailing through the night, the captain and tour leader deal with Thai and Burmese immigration and diving permit paperwork, then it’s off into what some say is the best diving in Southeast Asia. Finally, the equipment rental costs are the best value of any boat, but in no way lower quality or condition than any other liveaboard diving safari trip.
Please note that to dive in Burma, you need to supply a copy of your passport at least 2 weeks before departure. This is for the Myanmar diving permit, which costs around $200 USD.
Prices & Schedule
MV Dolphin Queen Diver Prices Overview 2024 / 2025 | |||||
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Destinations | Duration | 4 bunk cabin | Twin cabin (main deck) | Double cabin (main deck) | Double cabin (upper deck) |
Boat Schedule and prices coming soon |
Itinerary
MV Dolphin Queen liveaboard guests should arrive for check in, final payment and equipment check at the PADI 5-star dive centre no later than 8.00am on the day of departure, but can also do so on any day beforehand. Free pickup can be organised for you from nearby hotels and guest houses in Khao Lak and Bang Niang areas. Departure from the dive centre in Khao Lak to Kura Buri Pier is at 9.00am.
On arrival aboard MV Dolphin Queen you will be introduced to our dive staff & boat crew, given a general briefing and dinner is on board as Dolphin Queen sails into the night.
Facilites, Layout and Specifications
MV Dolphin Queen Layout | |
Main Deck Upper Deck Sun Deck |
|
1. Diving platform. | 15. Self-service counter. |
2. Deck showers. | 16. Double-bed guest cabin. |
3. Gearing up area. | 17. Wheelhouse. |
4. Compressors. | 18. Sundeck. |
5. Main stairs to upper deck. | 19. Oxygen station. |
6. Toilet / Shower. | 20. Depth sounder & GPS. |
7. Galley. | 21. Life raft, with survival equipment. |
8. Crew cabins. | 22. Nitrox blending station. |
9. 4 bunk guest cabin. | 23. Fire extinguisher. |
10. Anchor. | 24. Sundeck shaded area. |
11. Dinghy. | 25. Satellite phone. |
12. Bench. | 26. Twin bunk guest cabin. |
13. Dining area tables. | 27. Benches. |
14. Stairs from upper deck to sun deck. |
MV Dolphin Queen Specifications | |
Length: | 24 metres. |
Width: | 5.5 metres. |
Hull: | Wood. |
Engines: | 2x 6 Cylinder 315 HP Hino Engines. |
Electricity: | 220 v AC 24/12 v DC. |
Compressors: | 2x electric Bauer Mariner II (240 lt. per min) with air cooler and 40 Luxfer tanks. |
Water: | 12,000 litres. |
Navigation: | Radar, GPS satellite navigation, depth sounder, & compass. |
Safety: | CB Radio, satellite phone, life jackets, sonar, first aid, oxygen, life raft (with survival equipment). |
Accommodation: | 4x double cabins, 1x twin bed cabin, 3x 4-bunk cabins - all air conditionined. |
Boat Staff: | 1 captain, 1 engineer, 1 cook, 1 assistant cook and 2 deck hands (attended First Aid + CPR Course). |
Dive Staff: | 6 Divemasters / instructors (multi lingual). |
Courses
There are several options for taking part in PADI diving courses aboard MV Dolphin Queen's trips into Burma. By far the two most popular courses are Advanced Open Water and Nitrox Enriched Air.
Advanced courses are very popular aboard liveaboard cruises and diving safaris. On Dolphin Queen, you get to complete all the trip dives with your instructor and the use of a dive computer for the duration of the cruise.
Nitrox diving (Enriched Air) is one of the most popular courses to take on a diving safari, mainly due to the opportunities to stay deep for longer periods of time in The Similan Islands. In fact, the PADI course is theory only, which is quite daft, because anyone wanting to learn Nitrox diving want, and need, to learn to dive on Nitrox with practice, not just a book of tables. On Dolphin Queen you get four free tanks of Nitrox to practise what you have learnt, and there are several options for further fills during the remainder of the trip. The manual, certification and a Nitrox computer are included in the competitive price.
Please contact us with any questions about completing a course on Dolphin Queen.
Courses | |
---|---|
Courses | Prices |
PADI:
Nitrox
(4 Dives)
Including: Includes 4 free Nitrox tank fills, manual, certification, use of Nitrox computer
|
216
USD |
PADI:
Advanced Open Water
(18 Dives)
Including: Manual, certification card and use of computer for all of the trip
|
253
USD |
Transfer details
Arriving at the dive center early in the morning (8.00am) is necessary for the staff to check paperwork and receive final payment. Free pick up from local hotels is available on request. Trips into Myanmar involve paperwork for immigration and the 'diving permit,' which needs to be paid in US Dollars, and with nice clean bank notes, too! The drive to the pier for Myanmar trips can take 90 minutes, and the boat should sail before sunset. Therefore, it is important for every guest to follow the necessary shedule and arrive in good time.
Booking / Enquiry