Thailand 
MV Marco Polo sails to The Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock for 3-day and 4-day trips. From 2022 just 12 guests join each cruise, and while most are certified divers, non-diving guests are welcome to join. The boat is 23 metres in length and it has a very good reputation and lots of repeat customers.
There are six cabins on Marco Polo, each accommodating two guests. New for 2022 all cabins have air-conditioning and private en-suite bathrooms. The cabins are brand-new, with bunk beds and large bathrooms. At the rear of the main deck is where the well-designed diving platform is, with an extremely-quiet compressor, plenty of tank slots, and Nitrox facilities. EANx certified divers get free Nitrox 32% fills throughout the trip.
On the upper deck is where guests eat and socialize. There is a small indoor lounge saloon. Here is where great food is served throughout the cruise, and includes western and local cuisine, all freshly cooked every day. However, most guests decide to enjoy their time outside on the same deck. Here we have a covered area with several tables and seating. Guests can enjoy the sea breeze and beautiful scenery while chatting in small or larger groups, or even relaxing alone. There's also a sundeck on the roof of Marco Polo that has soft mats and is partially shaded.
The dive trips on Marco Polo allow enough time to enjoy all of Thailand’s best diving sites without having to miss any out or race from one to the next. Marco Polo now sails from Khao Lak. The 4D/4N trips leave in the evening, and the 3D/2N trips leave in the morning. 4-day trips start at The Similans, before sailing north to Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. And the 3-day trips go directly to Koh Bon, then onto Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.
The amount of time aboard enables divers to take part in diving courses, such as the Advanced or Nitrox. Having completed these courses enables you to dive deeper, and for longer. For anyone wanting to fully immerse themselves in the best diving in Thailand, and staying on board with not too many other people, Marco Polo is a great option.
Prices & Schedule
| MV Marco Polo Diver Prices Overview 2025 / 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Destinations | Duration | Twin |
| , , ( 11 Dives) | 3D / 2N | Twin987 USD |
| , , , ( 15 Dives) | 4D / 4N | Twin1,420 USD |
Itinerary
After being allocated cabins and introduced to the crew and safety procedures, guests enjoy dinner/breakfast on board while getting to know one another.
For 4D/4N trips, Marco Polo sails into the night, the boat arrives at the dive sites in The Similan Islands at about midnight, allowing everyone on board to get a good night’s sleep before the diving starts first thing in the morning.
The 3D/2N trips leave in the morning, but you still get a full day's diving in, starting at Koh Bon.
The first dive of the trip is always at an easier dive site, and known as a 'check dive’. The Divemasters, instructors and cruise leader make a better and final decision of who will dive with who, using their assessment of each diver’s confidence and air consumption.
There are up to four dives per day, including a night or sunset dive. Meals or snacks are served before, between & after every dive, and there are excursions to beaches and snorkelling reefs when possible.
On the final day of the cruise, there are three dives before Marco Polo sets sail back to Khao Lak, arriving around 6.00pm.
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Itinerary Name (click the itinerary name to open) | Days / Nights | Number of dives |
| Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | 4D / 4N | 15 Dives |
| Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | 3D / 2N | 11 Dives |
Facilites, Layout and Specifications
| MV Marco Polo Layout |
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| MV Marco Polo Layout & Specifications | |
| Length. | 23 metres. |
| Width. | 6 metres. |
| Dive Deck . | 24 m2 (260 ft2). |
| Cabins. | 6x twin bunk cabins ith air conditioning and private bathroom |
| Electricity. | Every cabin has 220v outlets with electricity 24 hours a day. |
| Oxygen. | 50 litre oxygen tank. |
| Central compressor station. | ( 400 litres/minute ) (virtually noise-free tank re-fillings). |
| Compressors. | 2 Bauer mariner compressors. |
| Generators. | 3 generators 220/12V. |
| Safety. | GPS, dinghy, life raft, telephone. |
| Entertainment. | TV, video & hi-fi. |
Courses
Spending time on a liveaboard diving boat cruise boat is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most of us. Doing so while sailing to and from some of the best diving spots in the world, and certainly the best in Thailand, is even more enjoyable. During Marco Polo’s liveaboard safaris, some guests gain more experience and love for the hobby each time they descend below the waves. Others have 50-100 logged dives or more, but still want to increase their certification level or skills.
Taking part in a diving course onboard Marco Polo is a very popular choice for many of our guests. Affiliated with both PADI and SSI, the multilingual instructors on Marco Polo are able to offer great-value courses during the cruise. The most-commonly taken courses are Advanced Open Water Diver and Nitrox (Enriched Air). Some guests even do both!
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| Courses | Prices |
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Contact us
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Transfer details
Free transfers are available on departure and return days. These are at fixed times and dependent on the location/destination of the guests.
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MV Marco Polo Scheduled Transfers 4D / 4N Trips
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| 16:00 - 18:30 | Pick up from Phuket : Free |
| 19:00 | Pick up from Khao Lak : Free |
| 20:00 | Departure ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak ) |
| 17:00 | Return ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak ) |
| 18:00 | Drop off to Khao Lak : Free |
| 18:00 - 19:00 | Drop off to Phuket : Free |
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MV Marco Polo Scheduled Transfers 3D / 2N Trips
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| 5:30 - 6:30 | Pick up from Phuket : Free |
| 07:00 | Pick up from Khao Lak : Free |
| 07:30 | Departure ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak ) |
| 17:00 | Return ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak ) |
| 17:30 | Drop off to Khao Lak : Free |
| 18:30 | Drop off to Phuket : 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
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