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Manta Queen 5 is one of the very-popular Manta Queen liveaboard fleet that offers 3-day trips to the best diving areas in Thailand without being too challenging for newer and less-experienced divers. Manta Queen 5 takes its guests to the Similan Islands & Koh Bon. The destinations are ideal for safe and colourful diving, snorkelling and beach excursions. Koh Bon has the best diving of the trip and there is often a good chance of seeing Manta Rays at Koh Bon, especially in March & April.
The boat has recently been completely renovated and transformed into the great-value, safe & sturdy liveaboard diving boat that it is today. There are 11 twin cabins, all of which have air-conditioning, and at 26 metres long, there’s plenty of space to chat in pairs or small groups, or relax alone and soak up some sun or gaze at the night stars while enjoying a wonderful sea breeze.
Diving from Manta Queen 5 is extremely-good value. The prices are among the lowest, guests enjoy 11 dives, compared to 9 or 10 on similar trips, and there’s even free pick up and drop off from local areas. Lots of delicious food is served buffet style and throughout the day there are snacks, fruits and some drinks for free. Equipment rental is the cheapest, and everything is well run & organised, yet safe and fun. New for Oct. 2018, MQ5 has free Wi-Fi!
Divers of all levels of experience and certification are welcome and will enjoy the trips. This includes those with less experience and even people who would like to learn to dive. In fact, on Manta Queen 5 is the very best place to do your PADI Open Water Diver Course. There is a wide range of other courses available, all taught by qualified and experienced PADI instructors.
Some websites show the trips to be 4D/3N but this is wrong. Manta Queen 5's trips are 3D/3N.
MV Manta Queen 5 Prices & Schedule
| MV Manta Queen 5 Diver Prices Overview 2018 / 2019 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destinations | Duration | Twin bunk cabin | |||||
| Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Boonsung Wreck, ( 11 Dives) | 3D / 3N | Twin bunk cabin496 USD | |||||
MV Manta Queen 5 Itinerary
The itinerary below is more detailed. In summary, MQ5 leaves in the evening, and a light evening meal is served on board. Diving starts the following morning. Please do not believe websites that claim the trips are 4D/3N because this is untrue. The boat departs in the evening and returns in the afternoon less than 72 hours later. The websites which show 4D3N are trying to mislead you and show the 'per-day rate' to be cheaper.
There are four dives per day for two days, then three dives on the final day.
Detailed itinerary information is listed below.
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.
| Itinerary Name (click the itinerary name to open) | Days / Nights | Number of dives |
|---|---|---|
| Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Boonsung Wreck | 3 Days / 3 Nights | 11 Dives |
MV Manta Queen 5 Facilites, Layout and Specifications
| MV Manta Queen 5 Deck Plan | |
 | |
| 1: | Twin Bunk Cabin |
| MV Manta Queen 5 Specifications | |
| Length. | 26 Metres. |
| Width. | 5 Metres. |
| Hull. | Wooden. |
| Engines. | 2x Hino 450 HP 10 Cylinder. |
| Generators. | 1x 40 KW 1x 50 KW. |
| Speed. | 8-9 Knots. |
| Navigation. | GPS Satellite Navigation, Sonar, Compass. |
| Safety. | VHF Radio, Emergency Oxygen Unit, Life Raft, Life Jackets/rings, First-aid Kit, Satellite Phones. |
MV Manta Queen 5 Courses
There is a selection of PADI diving courses available on Manta Queen 5, including Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN), and the usual selection of advanced and beginner courses.
In fact, due to the itinerary, MQ5 is the best opportunity to learn to dive, by taking the PADI Open Water Course. Guests wanting to do this need to arrive in Khao Lak a full day before departure to complete the theory part of the course, and to learn to dive in the dive centre's brand-new pool.
| Courses | |
|---|---|
| Courses | Prices |
Adventure Diver Including: Manual & Certification | 198 USD |
Nitrox Including: Manual, Certification & 2 fills | 228 USD |
Deep Specialty Including: Manual & Certification | 228 USD |
Peak Buoyancy Including: Manual & Certification | 228 USD |
Digital Underwater Photographer Including: Manual & Certification | 228 USD |
Advanced Open Water Including: Manual & Certification | 259 USD |
Open Water Diver* Including: Manual & Certification | 301 USD |
*Open Water Diver candidates need to arrive in Khao Lak at least one day before Manta Queen 5 departs from the pier. If no other divers are taking the course on your chosen cruise, there is a 1,200 THB surcharge per day for one-on-one tutoring.
E-learning candidates are welcome, too. Please enquire for details and prices BEFORE signing up for e-learning on the PADI website.
MV Manta Queen 5 Transfer details
Manta Queen 5 uses minivans to collect divers from local hotels & Phuket airport. Each minivan has a pre-booked route at set times and guests' names.
Those who are staying in Khao Lak can have free scheduled transfers at 4.00-4.30pm.
Manta Queen 5's Phuket guests can get transfers for 300 THB / person. The scheduled pick ups times are 11.30am-3.30pm, depending on where the pick up is.
From Phuket Airport the pickup time is 3.00-3.30pm.
Everyone is taken to the dive centre to fill out a few forms, pay the trip balance, and try on any rental equipment.
At the end of the MQ5 cruise, everyone is brought back to the dive centre, then transferred to their chosen hotel. Return transfers are available for 300 THB.
MV Manta Queen 5 Scheduled Transfers 3D / 3N Trips | |
|---|---|
| 11:30 - 15:30 | Pick up from Phuket : 9 USD |
| 16:00 - 16:30 | Pick up from Khao Lak : Free |
| 18:00 - 18:30 | Transfers ( Khao Lak ) |
| 19:00 - 20:00 | Departure ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak ) |
| 15:00 - 16:00 | Return ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak ) |
| 15:00 - 16:00 | Transfers ( Khao Lak ) |
| 17:00 - 18:00 | Drop off to Khao Lak : Free |
| 17:00 - 19:00 | Drop off to Phuket : 9 USD |
Genuine MV Manta Queen 5 Reviews
MV Manta Queen 5 Reviews
