Purpose-built by divers in 2007, the Thailand Master liveaboard, is a traditional Indonesian style sailing yacht. Her official name is ‘Cheng I Sao’ and she is fully equipped to provide a stylish and comfortable liveaboard experience. At 34 metres long and constructed from Asian teak and ironwood, she can accommodate up top 18 divers. Cheng I Sao was a legendary female Chinese pirate who roamed the Andaman Sea. Now you can join her there on 7 and 10 night cruises of the Burma Archipelago and the northern Thai Andaman Sea.
Apart from the wonderful charm of cruising on a traditional sail boat, the Thailand Master takes great pride in striving to provide the best cuisine on the sea! With double breakfasts, authentic style Asian lunches, Thai and western dinners, plenty of snacks (sweet and savoury), most guests rate this aspect of the cruise as 5 star. Meals are served in a covered open-air area when weather permits, or in the air-conditioned saloon.
Diving activities are co-ordinated from a dedicated and shaded dive deck area on the main deck of the liveaboard. Each diver has a personal kit-up area and storage crate, and are allocated a personal diving towel. Not only will you arrive in style at the dive sites, you will then be escorted to and from the drop off points by one of the dinghies - no need for any surface swims! All guests are allocated SMBs to assist in this purpose. The dive guides on the Thailand Master are among the most experienced in the region and will provide extensive insights in to the local marine life that you can expect to see. The dinghies are also used to shuttle guests on island visits, which are an integral part of the liveaboard cruises.
Guests are accommodated in cabins with ensuite private bathrooms. There is a choice of twin share or quad share (for those on tighter budgets). There is an indoor saloon with a flat screen TV and movie selection, fish books and games, and for those that enjoy doses of natural vitamin D, there is a sun deck with beds. Also onboard is a yacht boutique that sells merchandise and various items of scuba equipment.
Phi Phi islands, Hin Daeng & Hin Muang (5 Days / 4 Nights - 14 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, caverns, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Ha, Phi Phi Islands, Shark Point, King Cruiser Wreck, Anemone Reef, Koh Dok Mai, Racha Noi, Racha Yai
Day 1
Upon boarding the traditional phinisi liveaboard, Thailand Master, you will be welcomed by the tour leader, shown to your cabin, and invited to settle in. An introductory briefing will provide a detailed overview of the yacht's amenities and the exciting itinerary for the days ahead. The adventure commences as the liveaboard sets sail, with the schedule featuring up to 4 dives per day to fully explore the premier sites of southern Thailand's Andaman Sea.
Core Days
The liveaboard route showcases a spectacular range of world-class dive sites, each with its own unique character. To the south, the submerged pinnacles of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are legendary for their vibrant carpets of red and purple soft corals. These sites are renowned for pelagic action, where strong currents often attract majestic manta rays and even the occasional whale shark. Further north, the limestone caverns of Koh Ha offer ethereal diving experiences, while the myriad sites of the Koh Phi Phi National Park feature mini-walls and shallow coral gardens teeming with life, including blacktip reef sharks, tigertail seahorses, turtles, and cuttlefish.
The Thailand Master's planned dive circuit also includes iconic Phuket locations like Shark Point and Anemone Reef, which are blanketed in colourful anemones and soft corals and are a known habitat for the elusive leopard shark. Nearby, the sunken ferry, the King Cruiser, provides an artificial reef encrusted with life and patrolled by schools of snapper. The vertical wall of Koh Dok Mai is a macro-haven, famous for critters like frogfish and bamboo sharks. In contrast to the limestone, the granite boulder topography of Racha Noi offers a different seascape, often with exceptional visibility. Its southern pinnacle, though sometimes challenging due to currents, offers a year-round chance to encounter manta rays.
Above the surface, the journey is equally stunning, with breathtaking views of Phi Phi Island's famous beaches and towering karsts. Guests of the Thailand Master have opportunities for sightseeing trips via dinghy to fully appreciate the landscape.
Day 5
Your last day begins with a hearty breakfast and 2 final opportunities to explore the underwater world. Following lunch, relax on the sun deck as the liveaboard returns to Chalong, where you will disembark during the afternoon.
Similan, Surin, Richelieu Rock & Khao Lak
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands and Khao Lak
Day 1
The adventure begins with an early evening embarkation at Tap Lamu Pier in Khao Lak. Upon boarding the traditional Phinisi liveaboard, guests are welcomed by the tour leader, assigned to their cabins, and invited to settle in. A comprehensive briefing will follow, detailing the Thailand Master's features and the exciting dive itinerary for the days ahead - an exploration of the very best of the northern Thai Andaman Sea.
Core Days
The Similan Islands, an archipelago of 9 granite islands, represent Thailand's most spectacular dive destination. Their underwater seascape is characterised by immense boulders, dramatic rock formations, and winding swim-throughs, set against a backdrop of hard and soft coral gardens. Drift diving is prevalent here, with currents nourishing reefs abundant with marine life.
Nearby, the Surin Islands are renowned for their exceptionally healthy reefs, which host Thailand's greatest variety of hard corals. This biodiversity supports a vibrant population of marine life, including Napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, and a significant number of turtles that still nest on the shores.
A pinnacle of any liveaboard diving safari is Richelieu Rock, a world-class site famous as the premier location for encountering the majestic whale shark. During the season, eagle and manta rays are also frequent visitors. The site offers a dramatic contrast, where massive schools of trevally and barracuda patrol the strong currents, while cryptic critters like frogfish and ghost pipefish inhabit the nooks of the pinnacle itself.
For additional pelagic encounters, the submerged plateaus of Koh Bon and Koh Tachai provide further opportunities to witness sharks and manta rays. Closer to the mainland, a series of accessible wrecks near Khao Lak offer captivating subjects for underwater photographers.
The penultimate day of the cruise includes 3 dives, before the liveaboard begins its return journey to port.
Final Day
After a final breakfast onboard the Thailand Master, guests will disembark. The day concludes with a coordinated transfer back to your local hotel.
Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Khao Lak
Day 1
Your diving expedition begins with an early evening embarkation at Tap Lamu Pier. Upon boarding the traditional Thailand Master liveaboard, the tour leader will welcome you, assist with your cabin assignment, and conduct a detailed orientation. This session will cover the boat's amenities and outline the planned itinerary for the upcoming days. The safari is structured with up to 4 dives per day to experience the renowned sites of the northern Thai Andaman Sea.
Core Days
Nestled in the Andaman Sea, the Similan Islands form Thailand's premier diving archipelago. This stunning national park comprises 9 granite islands, each cloaked in dense tropical jungle and fringed by waters of exceptional clarity. Below the surface, a dramatic seascape unfolds, featuring massive boulders, swim-through passages, and canyons adorned with both hard and soft coral gardens. These nutrient-rich waters facilitate thrilling drift dives, where currents support abundant marine life.
Further north, the submerged pinnacle of Richelieu Rock offers world-class diving. This site presents the highest likelihood of encountering whale sharks in Thai waters, while seasonal visits from eagle and manta rays add to its appeal. The location showcases remarkable biodiversity-from massive schools of trevally and barracuda patrolling the currents to minute critters like frogfish and seahorses concealed in the limestone crevices.
Additional pelagic encounters await at Koh Bon and Koh Tachai, where submerged plateaus attract sharks and rays. For photographic opportunities, several accessible wrecks near Khao Lak provide captivating artificial reefs encrusted with marine life.
Final Day
The final morning includes breakfast and 2 concluding dives before disembarkation from the Thailand Master in Khao Lak.
Similan, Richelieu Rock & Hin Daeng
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, caverns, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Khao Lak, Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Ha, Phi Phi Islands, Shark Point, King Cruiser Wreck, Anemone Reef, Koh Dok Mai
10 night trips also include Koh Lipeh
Day 1
Embark on an unforgettable diving safari aboard a traditional Thailand Master liveaboard to discover the premier sites of the entire Thai Andaman Sea. The journey commences with an early evening embarkation at Tap Lamu Pier in Khao Lak. Once all guests are aboard, the tour leader will provide a warm welcome, assist with cabin assignments, and conduct a comprehensive briefing on the liveaboard amenities and the exciting itinerary for the days ahead.
Core Days
Embark on a journey to the world-renowned dive destinations of the Thai Andaman Sea, where diverse underwater landscapes and prolific marine life create an unparalleled diving experience. The expedition explores the spectacular Similan and Surin Islands. The Similans offer a dramatic underwater world of massive boulders, swim-throughs, and winding canyons, often experienced as thrilling drift dives. To the north, the Surin Islands are celebrated for having the greatest variety of hard corals in Thailand, creating a vibrant backdrop for encounters with marine life not seen elsewhere in Thailand, such as Napoleon wrasse and bumphead parrotfish, as well as numerous sea turtles.
A highlight of any safari is Richelieu Rock, a pinnacle famed as the best site in Thailand to encounter the majestic whale shark, alongside seasonal visits from manta rays. The site offers a breathtaking spectacle of large schools of trevally and barracuda, while its crevices hide myriad tiny critters. For further pelagic action, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai provide additional opportunities to spot sharks and manta rays.
Venturing south, the submerged pinnacles of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are draped in stunning red and purple soft corals and are known for attracting large pelagics, especially in currents. The Koh Ha archipelago offers unusual dives through its caverns, while the sites around the Phi Phi Islands feature mini-walls and coral gardens teeming with blacktip reef sharks, octopus, and a wealth of macro life. Further north, Shark Point and Anemone Reef are adorned with colourful anemones and soft corals, offering a chance to spot the elusive leopard shark.
Above the surface, the journey is framed by stunning views of pristine beaches, dense forests, and towering limestone karsts. Opportunities for sightseeing and exploration via the liveaboard's dinghy will be available throughout the expedition.
The diving concludes on the penultimate day with a schedule of 3 dives, before the Thailand Master begins its return journey to port.
Final Day
After breakfast, guests will disembark from the liveaboard. The safari concludes with a coordinated transfer back to your local hotel
Note: this trip operates to and from Chalong and Khao Lak, so please double check the ports of departure and return.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
Throughout your liveaboard safari, meals are served in the comfortable indoor salon and on the shaded outdoor deck of the Thailand Master, creating a relaxed, communal atmosphere.
Your daily schedule typically begins with a light early breakfast of coffee, tea, toast, and condiments before the first dive, followed by a more substantial 'Full Monty' breakfast afterwards. This main breakfast offers a wide selection, including eggs prepared to order daily, bacon, ham, baked beans, fresh bread, pancakes, warm croissants, yogurt, and fresh tomatoes and cucumber. An Asian option, such as rice soup, is also always available.
Lunch is a focal point of the day, featuring a generous Asian-style buffet with 3 to 4 dishes built around fresh seafood, meat, and vegetarian options, accompanied by a choice of rice, noodles, and plentiful fresh salads and vegetables.
Dinner is a similarly multi-course mixed affair with a full complement of Thai and Asian dishes, as well as some western food which might include pasta, pork steak and fries, Mexican food, or goulash and potatoes, ensuring a satisfying end to your day of exploration.
Complimentary fresh fruit is available throughout the day, along with cookies for a quick energy boost. A special treat, such as doughnuts, banana cake, or a warm custard, awaits after the night dive.
Your liveaboard package includes a selection of soft drinks, juices, coffee, and tea.
For those seeking an extra-special experience, trips often feature a beach BBQ, weather permitting. The Thailand Master culinary team takes great pride in providing a first-class dining experience, with delicious, varied, and plentiful food designed to refuel you after thrilling days underwater.
