MV Andaman

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 in Thailand. 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. Backpackers, solo travelers and families can stay in the 6-bunk cabins, and couples can take advantage of the double bed cabins, with or without private. 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 any waves. 

MV Andaman has 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. Finally, 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.

No other Similan diving boat has this selection of trips, or a better-run team of staff and crew. Add in the great value of the cruises, and extremely competitive equipment rental rates, which include the use of a diving computer, and for some there is no need to look at any other boat.

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 which includes 3 local dives before or after the trip. 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 is a PADI certification dive.

Prices & Schedule

MV Andaman is one of the best-known Similan liveaboard diving boats, and has an itinerary which is slightly different from most others. As well as a later departure in the evening of the first day, there is barbecue party on board each cruise.

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.