At 26 metres in length and 5.5 metres wide, MV Andaman is well equipped to accommodate up to twenty guests in air-conditioned comfort and withstand any sea conditions during the diving season. The boat is well-respected and extremely popular. The European team and German management ensure that everything runs smoothly and safely. This is complemented by Thai hospitality & friendliness, and of course great food on board.
Based in Khao Lak, and running Similan diving safaris for many years, MV Andaman’s team offers enjoyable cruises of 3 days, 4 days & 7 days to the best diving spots in Thailand. There are three cabin types, with something to suit almost every need and budget. Divers on a budget and families & friends normally stay in the 6-bunk cabins, and couples can stay in the double bed cabins, with or without private bathroom. All cabins have air conditioning and sea-view windows. There is also storage space for some luggage. There is a well-designed diving platform, which ensures every diver has space to sit, stand, and walk to the rear of the boat. There are also comfortable social areas, with lots of places to relax alone or in small groups on one of decks. Unlike most other diving liveaboards at this budget and size, MV Andaman has a steel hull, enabling it to sail more smoothly through waves.
There is a good choice of itinerary, too. There are the most-common 4-night trips, which visit the 'regular' Similan Islands as well as Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock & the Surin Islands. In addition, there are 3-night trips which only go to the northern areas, missing out the 'regular' Similans & Koh Bon. Quite a few of our Andaman guests choose to combine two trips and enjoy a whole week on board, getting a large discount for 7 days & nights and 22 dives. And now new for 2022-2023, there's the option of combining three trips to make an 11-day super cruise, with a discount on the price.
No other Similan diving boat has this selection of trips, or a better-run team of staff and crew. To ensure that everyone on MV Andaman enjoys the best diving possible in Thailand, each diver needs to be certified to dive to 30m. If you are Open Water (18m.) you can take part in a great-value PADI AOW course. For those who don’t have the time or budget to complete this Advanced (AOW) course, you can take part in the Adventure Deep dive at price of about $65, enabling you to enjoy the rest of the trip properly. This deep dive is done on the trip, and it is a PADI certification dive.
Prices & Schedule
MV Andaman Diver Prices Overview 2024 / 2025 | ||||
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Destinations | Duration | 6 Bed | Double | Double En Suite |
, , ( 9 Dives) | 3D / 3N | 6 Bed440 USD | Double477 USD | Double En Suite504 USD |
, , , , ( 13 Dives) | 4D / 4N | 6 Bed546 USD | Double599 USD | Double En Suite626 USD |
, , , , ( 13 Dives) | 4D / 4N | 6 Bed546 USD | Double599 USD | Double En Suite626 USD |
, , , , ( 22 Dives) | 7D / 7N | 6 Bed848 USD | Double941 USD | Double En Suite987 USD |
, , , , ( 22 Dives) | 7D / 7N | 6 Bed848 USD | Double941 USD | Double En Suite987 USD |
, , , , ( 35 Dives) | 11D / 11N | 6 Bed1,312 USD | Double1,458 USD | Double En Suite1,531 USD |
Do you have a large group and want to charter the whole boat?
click below to find out more |
Itinerary
At the beginning of each trip, there is a full boat and safety briefing. The first dive of each trip is a ‘check dive’ to enable the cruise leader to judge the ability of each guest underwater, then put divers into groups accordingly.
Before each dive, a dive briefing prepares guests for what they are likely to experience underwater. This is a good time to make requests for particular fish or other species.
The boat comes back to port in Khao Lak in the late afternoon on the final day, and everyone is brought back to the dive centre. Most Andaman guests can then get a free lift back to a Khao Lak hotel or guesthouse.
Click below to read more-detailed information about Andman's trips.
On one evening of each trip, (twice on 7D/7N, and three times on 11D/11N trips) there are three day dives, and a BBQ party is held on board instead of the night dive.
The itineraries below are the most-common for each trip, but these can sometimes be changed for a number of reasons. Small changes are made due to weather & sea conditions, special marine life sightings, overcrowded dive sites, local-authorities' instructions, and the needs & requests of the paying guests. The safety & comfort of all guests is most important at all times.
Itineraries | ||
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Itinerary Name (click the itinerary name to open) | Days / Nights | Number of dives |
Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | 4 Days / 4 Nights | 13 Dives |
Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon, Similan Islands | 4 Days / 4 Nights | 13 Dives |
Surin Islands, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | 3 Days / 3 Nights | 9 Dives |
Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | 7 Days / 7 Nights | 22 Dives |
Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon, Similan Islands | 11 Days / 11 Nights | 35 Dives |
Facilites, Layout and Specifications
MV Andaman Layout | ||
1. Dive platform. |
Upper Deck. Middle Deck. Lower Deck. |
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2. Stairs lower / middle deck. | ||
3. Dive station & tank racks. | ||
4. Double-bed en suite cabins. | ||
5. Engine room entrance. | ||
6. Toilets / hot-water showers. | ||
7. 6-bed bunk cabins. | ||
8. Double-bed cabins. | ||
9. Stairs middle / upper deck & middle / star deck. | ||
10. Dining & relaxing area. | ||
11. Service counter. | ||
12. Divemasters' cabin. | ||
13. Crew cabin. | ||
14. Galley. | ||
15. Wheelhouse & captain's cabin. | ||
16. Open air “Star deck” – beanbags & low tables. | ||
17. Covered sundeck – hammocks & sunbeds. | ||
18. Open air sundeck – sun mattresses. |
MV Andaman Specifications | |
Length: | 26 metres (87ft). |
Width: | 5.5 metres (18ft). |
Hull: | Steel. |
Engines: | 2x 6 cylinder 315 HP Hino. |
Fuel capacity: | 8,000 litres. |
Cruising speed: | 10 knots. |
Navigation: | GPS satellite navigation, compass. |
Water: | 12,000 litres. |
Electricity: | 220 V AC; 24 / 12 V DC ( 2 x 25 KVA and 1 x 20 KVA Generators ). |
Compressors: | 2x electrically-driven Bauer Mariner (230 litres per minute). |
Boat crew: | 1 Captain, 1 Engineer, 1 Cook, 1 Assistant Cook, 2 Boat Boys. |
Dive Staff: | 5 Divemasters / Instructors. |
Safety features: | CB radio, life jackets, life rings, fully stocked medical kits, 100% oxygen kit ( demand valve, DAN system ). |
Tender: | Rubber dinghy with 15HP outboard motor. |
Courses
Taking part in a PADI diving course not only increases a diver's enjoyment, certification level and experience, it also enables them to get more value out of every fun dive they do from that date on. This usually refers to increased time in the water, as well as their knowledge and understanding of the reef & its marine life. Those joining a Similan & Richelieu Rock diving safari aboard MV Andaman have several options regarding their PADI diving course.
Firstly, the management of MV Andaman insist that all diving guests are certified to dive to 30m. Therefore, those who aren't need to choose between taking part in an Adventure Deep Dive (1,800 THB) on board, or the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (AOW) course.
Transfer details
Guests are requested to arrive at the dive centre in central Khao Lak during the afternoon of departure day (or before) to complete final paperwork, pay the trip balance, and fit any equipment.
You are then free to roam around the seaside town and return before 6pm to be driven to the pier and board the boat.
At the end of the cruise, everyone is brought back to the dive centre, then offered free-of-charge transfers to local hotels and resorts in the Khao Lak area.
MV Andaman Scheduled Transfers 3D / 3N Trips
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14:00 | Arrival ( Dive centre ) |
18:30 | Transfers ( Khao Lak ) |
21:00 | Departure ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak / Kuraburi Pier, Phang Nga ) |
15:00 | Return ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak / Kuraburi Pier, Phang Nga ) |
16:00 | Transfers ( Khao Lak ) |
17:00 | Drop off to Khao Lak : Free |
MV Andaman Scheduled Transfers 4D / 4N Trips
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14:00 | Arrival ( Dive centre ) |
18:30 | Transfers ( Khao Lak ) |
21:00 | Departure ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak / Kuraburi Pier, Phang Nga ) |
15:00 | Return ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak / Kuraburi Pier, Phang Nga ) |
16:00 | Transfers ( Khao Lak ) |
17:00 | Drop off to Khao Lak : Free |
MV Andaman Scheduled Transfers 7D / 7N Trips
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14:00 | Arrival ( Dive centre ) |
18:30 | Transfers ( Khao Lak ) |
21:00 | Departure ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak / Kuraburi Pier, Phang Nga ) |
15:00 | Return ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak / Kuraburi Pier, Phang Nga ) |
16:00 | Transfers ( Khao Lak ) |
17:00 | Drop off to Khao Lak : Free |
MV Andaman Scheduled Transfers 11D / 11N Trips
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14:00 | Arrival ( Dive centre ) |
18:30 | Transfers ( Khao Lak ) |
21:00 | Departure ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak / Kuraburi Pier, Phang Nga ) |
15:00 | Return ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak / Kuraburi Pier, Phang Nga ) |
16:00 | Transfers ( Khao Lak ) |
17:00 | Drop off to Khao Lak : Free |
Guests who are unable to meet the scheduled pick ups or would like private transportation are welcome to contact us to arrange a private taxi at the most competitive rates.
Booking / Enquiry