Notes: Child policy: minimum age is 10 years old. All children pay adult rate.
Dive experience: All divers must be certified to dive to 30m. Any diver who does not meet this requirement can take the Deep Adventure Dive or the full Advanced Open Water Diver course onboard (pay on arrival).
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, soft drinks, drinking water, hot drinks, transfers to Khao Lak hotels, dives (as detailed in the trips above), dive equipment rental (full set, incl. dive computer, torch & SMB), experienced English-speaking divemasters (max. 4 divers per guide), sales tax.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): dive insurance (can purchase onboard), park fees (from: USD 54, cash only). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash THB or credit card (+4%)).
Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, 15 litre tank (USD 9 per day), transfers to the boat from Khao Lak and Phuket airport/hotels. 10% discount for own use of scuba equipment. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: For North Andaman Sea trips: Check in is at Sea Dragon Dive Centre, Khao Lak. Customers who need to be fitted with diving equipment must arrive at the latest by 4 pm on the Day 1. All customers will be required to complete a registration form and liability release form and show their certification cards before departure. Once checked in, they should return to the dive centre by 6 pm ready for departure. Customers should eat before departure; MV Andaman does not serve dinner onboard on the first night although there will be fruit and cookies available. At the end of the trip, Andaman provides transfers from the harbour back to the dive centre, normally arriving before 5 pm, and then transfer the customers to their resort if they are staying in the Khao Lak/Bang Niang area. Taxis to Phuket, the airport, or other areas can be arranged.
For South Andaman Sea trips: check-in on Day 1 at Phuket harbour (Asia Marina pier) at 4-5 pm. Safaris depart at 7 pm. Dinner is served onboard on the first night. Trips return to the Asia Marina Pier at 5 pm on final day. We can arrange taxis to Phuket hotels, the airport, or other areas.
For more details, including airlines, see our Thailand travel information section. Last dive of each trip is 11:30 am. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.
Non-diver rate: Approx. 20% discount.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin and pay the regular price, or pay a supplement equal to the non-diver price for their own private cabin.
Dive clubs and group discounts: There is no group discount policy on the MV Andaman.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): USD 2 857. Maximum 20 guests.
The Andaman Sea has a reputation that precedes it. For divers, the names alone, Richelieu Rock, the Similan Islands, Koh Tachai, are enough to quicken the pulse. But getting to these legendary sites demands more than just a boat; it requires a vessel and a crew that understand what divers actually need. The Andaman liveaboard, operated by Sea Dragon, has been doing exactly that for years, running economy liveaboard trips out of Khao Lak with a focus on safety, small groups, and seriously good food.
At 26 metres long with a steel hull, the MV Andaman is built for the open water. It handles the crossing to the Similans with a stability that wooden boats at this price point simply cannot match. Accommodation is air-conditioned throughout, with cabins that all have sea-view windows. The dive deck is generous, with space for each guest to gear up without feeling crowded, and there are 5 separate relaxation areas spread across 3 decks. It is a functional, comfortable platform designed for one purpose: getting you in the water as often and as safely as possible.
What sets the MV Andaman liveaboard apart is the guiding philosophy. Groups are capped at 20 guests, with 5 dive guides on board. That works out to a maximum of 4 divers per guide. The dive team consists of PADI-certified Divemasters and Instructors, many of whom have been with Sea Dragon for years. Briefings are thorough, groups are split by experience level, and the guides are known for their sharp eyes and genuine enthusiasm. This is not a cattle boat; it is a well-run operation where the quality of the dive experience is the priority.
Sea Dragon has been operating in Khao Lak since 1993, making it one of the longest-established dive operators in the region. They are a PADI 5 Star IDC Center, which speaks to their commitment to training and professional standards. The management is European, the crew is a blend of Thai, Burmese and European staff, and the atmosphere is professional without being stuffy. It is an operation built on experience, not hype, and that credibility matters when you are days from shore.
The diving itself is why you are here. The MV Andaman runs trips ranging from 3 to 11 nights, covering the Andaman Sea's greatest hits: Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, the Surin Islands and the Similan Islands, as well as Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Richelieu Rock, in particular, is often cited as the best dive site in Thailand, a submerged pinnacle teeming with marine life. With up to 22 dives on a week-long trip, including night dives, there is ample opportunity to explore these world-class sites. The boat's schedule is designed so that trips can be combined back-to-back, allowing for longer expeditions without repeating the exact same route.
The MV Andaman liveaboard offers an attractive blend of value, experience and genuine expertise. The food is famously good: the onboard BBQ on the final evening is something of a legend among past guests. The crew are accommodating, the dive guides are professional, and the boat gets you to the best diving in Thailand. For many scuba divers, it is the benchmark for a no-nonsense, thoroughly enjoyable liveaboard adventure in the Andaman Sea.
The MV Andaman has 2 en-suite double bed cabins, 2 standard double bed cabins, and 2 x 6-bed dorm cabins. All cabins are on the main deck. Other than the 2 en-suite cabins that have their own private bathrooms, the other cabins share 3 guest bathrooms on the main deck.
All the cabins have:
- Air-conditioning
- Bathroom with hot water shower, toilet and hand basin
- Sea-view windows
- Towels and toiletries
- Reading lights
- Bedside cabinet in private cabins
- Bedding and shelves
- Fire warning system and fire extinguishers
- Life jackets
- Mains outlet 220 volts - 24 hours per day
No. of bathrooms / showers - 5 / 5 - hot water
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, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock. Beach visits.
Day 1
Check-in is open throughout the day on Day 1. Leave your luggage at the dive centre's storage area and take the afternoon to wander the local streets, relax on the sand, schedule a spa treatment, or enjoy an early meal. Return to the dive centre in the early evening for boarding the MV Andaman. If you have hired scuba equipment, the team will have already transported it to the vessel and assembled it for you. Those with personal gear should carry it on board themselves. Once the crew has delivered the vessel orientation, set aside time to run through your kit carefully before getting comfortable in your cabin.
Core Days
The MV Andaman spends its core days exploring the northern Andaman Sea's finest dive sites. The Similan Islands form a cluster of 9 uninhabited islands, each ringed by expansive hard and soft coral formations and submerged granite boulders. More than 20 dive sites await exploration, with reefs bustling with tropical fish: angels, butterflies, lionfish, snappers, and clownfish, alongside bigger hunters such as trevallies and tuna. Turtles, rays, and reef sharks are frequent visitors to these waters. On land, the islands are cloaked in dense jungle and fringed with brilliant white beaches, where the sand is so fine it feels almost silky underfoot. A trek Donald Duck Rock lookout on Island nr 8 rewards visitors with sweeping views across the bay.
Koh Bon, a limestone island incorporated into the Similan Islands National Park, offers a vertical wall and gently sloping hard coral reefs beneath the surface. These are adorned with vivid soft corals in shades of yellow, blue, orange, and pink. Giant manta rays are often observed feeding and gliding through the water here, with whale sharks making occasional appearances. Octopuses, giant moray eels, lionfish, scorpionfish, napoleon wrasse, and barracuda are also commonly encountered. Koh Bon is consistently ranked among the region's premier dive destinations.
Koh Tachai boasts a pristine beach, dense jungle, and remarkable underwater terrain. The standout site is a submerged flat-topped crown reef just offshore, supplemented by rocky bays, a western wall dive, and a southern slope of hard coral. Divers regularly see batfish, giant trevalliy, clown triggerfish, boxfish, and banded sea snakes. The site features spectacular sea fans and some of the most vibrant coral gardens in the area. Koh Tachai is a staff favourite and a staple of every liveaboard itinerary.
The Surin Islands, situated near the Myanmar border and designated a national marine park, remain relatively secluded. They are home to the Chao Leh, the Andaman Sea's traditional sea gypsies. Shallow coral gardens offer excellent snorkelling, while deeper sloping reefs and submerged rocky pinnacles cater to divers. Common sightings include batfish, angelfish, boxfish, Jenkins whip rays, nudibranchs, lobsters, crabs, and shrimp. With luck, you might also spot humphead parrotfish, turtles, or reef sharks.
The region's standout attraction is Richelieu Rock, a horseshoe-shaped limestone pinnacle that stays mostly hidden beneath the surface, exposing barely a metre at low water. Being the only rock of its kind in the area, it acts as a natural gathering point for marine life. Its slopes are draped in purple soft corals and support hundreds of anemones, each hosting different clownfish varieties. Dense congregations of glassfish cling to sections of the rock, offering cover for boxfish, blennies, hawkfish, and tobies. Schools of barracuda, jacks, batfish, emperors, and snappers move through regularly. Seahorses and ghost pipefish make occasional appearances, and on lucky days, manta rays or whale sharks drift past. By any standard, Richelieu Rock is a world-class dive site.
Final Day
After your second dive of the day, the MV Andaman sets course for the nearest harbour. Return to Thap Lamu from the Similans, or Khuraburi from Richelieu Rock. Lunch is served while underway, leaving you time to relax and pack. Before docking, your Trip Supervisor will settle any outstanding tabs. A crew tip box is available if you wish to show appreciation. The team will aim to capture a group photo as a keepsake. After arrival at the dive centre, collect valuables from the safe, pick up any stored luggage, and your taxi will be arranged for the transfer back to your Khao Lak hotel.
Surin Islands & Richelieu Rock (4 Days / 3 Nights - 9 Dives)
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: Surin Islands, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock
Day 1
Drop your luggage in the storage room during the afternoon and explore the town, go to the beach, grab a massage, and/or eat dinner. We meet back at the dive centre in the evening, ready to board the MV Andaman. If you have your own equipment you will take it with you in our taxi to the boat in Khuraburi. If you are using Sea Dragon equipment, the dive staff will take it to the boat earlier and set it up for you. After the boat briefing, take time to check your equipment thoroughly before settling into your cabin.
Core Days
The MV Andaman liveaboard spends its core days exploring the northern Andaman Sea's finest dive sites. Koh Tachai offers several distinct dive sites, ranging from gentle sloping reefs to dramatic rock walls. The island is home to one of the most impressive dive sites in Thailand, and between January and May, manta rays or whale sharks sometimes visit to feed in the nutrient-rich currents. The colourful corals, huge sea fans, and abundant fish life make every dive here memorable.
The Surin Islands are a group of 5 islands close to the Myanmar border. The diving here features granite boulder sites and superb coral reefs. The islands themselves are picturesque and quiet, with stunning beaches and excellent snorkelling in the shallows. Between dives, you can jump in with your mask and snorkel to look for turtles in the shallow water, or simply relax in a hammock.
Richelieu Rock is the crown jewel of the region. This submerged pinnacle, rising from deep water in the middle of nowhere, is legendary for the sheer diversity of its marine life. The rock is always packed with fish, and if you are lucky, you might encounter a whale shark or spot one of the seahorses that occasionally make an appearance. It is the kind of dive site that liveaboard divers dream about.
Day 4
After the second dive on the last day, the MV Andaman heads for Khuraburi pier. Lunch is served during the journey, giving you time to relax and pack your belongings. Before arrival, your trip supervisor will collect any outstanding payments for beer, courses, logbooks, and other extras. You can also leave a tip for the boat crew in their private tip box. The crew will try to get a group photo as a memento of the trip. Arrive back at the dive centre late afternoon. Valuables are returned from the safe, any stored luggage is collected.
[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].
A day on the MV Andaman liveaboard follows the rhythm of the sea, with the dive schedule dictating the pace. The daily routine typically includes up to 4 dives, starting with an early morning dive, followed by breakfast, then a mid-morning dive and lunch, an afternoon dive with snacks, and often a night dive before dinner.
Meals are served in the large, shaded dining area on the middle deck, which features 2 long wooden tables with cushioned seating. The atmosphere is lively and social; guests are encouraged to move around at mealtimes and meet fellow divers from around the world. Breakfast offers a Western-style spread of bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, and potatoes, alongside fresh bread, toasters, jams, and fruit. A traditional Thai rice soup is also available each morning. Lunch and dinner showcase Thai cuisine, with dishes such as curries, coconut soups, fresh vegetables, and whole fried fish. Fresh seasonal fruit is provided for dessert after every meal.
Between dives, snacks are always available. Before the first dive, a light snack is offered with tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. Cornflakes, cookies, and fresh tropical fruit are available throughout the day. For drinks, tea, coffee, soft drinks, and water are included. Alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, are available for purchase.
On the final night of 3-day and 4-day trips, the crew hosts a BBQ evening on the top deck. The boat boys prepare the grill, the dive staff mix signature cocktails, and the cook provides handmade sauces. This is a popular and memorable event, often accompanied by music and shared stories of the week's diving.
The MV Andaman offers ample space to relax. The middle deck serves as the central communal area for briefings and meals. The top deck features an open-air sundeck with sun mattresses and bean bags, plus a shaded section with seating. Hammocks are also available for reading or afternoon naps. The vessel includes a spacious saloon with TV, music, and a gaming zone. Vegetarian and vegan options are available upon request. Guests with allergies should inform the dive centre in advance so the cook can prepare separate dishes.
