MV DiveRACE Class E is a fantastic Similan and Myanmar liveaboard with an unusual name. Arriving on the scene in 2015, this steel mono-hulled motor yacht is 35m in length can accommodate up to 20 divers on scuba diving cruises around the Thai Andaman Sea.
Motoring at up to 13 knots and with features like ensuite cabins, a private massage room, and a BBQ pit on the sun deck, DiveRACE Class E seeks to be a liveaboard class apart. 18 crew are on hand to look after you on board and they will even serve you hot chocolate, juice, and a towel after each dive. The sun deck is a popular spot with sun loungers to soak up the sunshine at the Similan Islands, and built-in sofa chairs in the shade. Guests can also socialise in the air-conditioned saloon with circular sofa seating, or the open-air dining area, both on the upper deck.
The cabins are located on the lower deck and the main deck, where the large dive deck features 2 ladders, 4 fresh water showers and 2 toilets. Photographers will appreciate other features like camera rinse tanks on the dive deck, enriched air nitrox and multimedia stations throughout the boat.
There are 6 Deluxe cabins with windows on the middle deck - 2 with twin beds and 4 double bed. There are a further 4 Standard cabins with portholes on the lower deck - 2 with twin beds and 2 double bed. All cabins are air-conditioned and have en-suite bathrooms.
All the cabins have:
Air-conditioning
Sea-view windows (portholes on lower deck)
Private bathroom with toilet, hot water shower, hand basin, towels, toiletries
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and Bunsoong Wreck
Day 1
An afternoon transfer from Phuket Airport, or your hotel in Phuket or the Khao Lak area, to Thap Lamu pier, near Khao Lak, where the MV DiveRACE Class E crew will welcome you on board. The tour leader will explain the liveaboard features and the diving safari plan in detail while you sip a welcome drink before being assigned to your cabin. Unpack your scuba gear, chat with the other guests on board: dinner will be served next. Sailing overnight to the Similan Islands will take 4 to 5 hours.
Days 2-4
4 dives per day, and a day with 3 day dives and a night dive, in the Similan Islands are among the wonders that await beneath these clear blue waters. More than 200 species of hard coral grow in the area, while these islands have the greatest amount of reef fish in Thai waters. A varied bottom topography, with pinnacles covered in huge sea fans and barrel sponges, caves, swim-throughs, and coral gardens in shallow water that are also ideal for snorkelling in between dives.
Koh Bon is a island located 800m north-west of the Similans. It offers a good chance of encounters with manta rays that enjoy the treatment offered by the cleaner fish. Blacktip, whitetip and grey reef sharks are often spotted swimming around, while nurse sharks prefer to rest under the rocks and coral formations.
Richelieu Rock is one of Thailand's top dive sites, characterized by several pinnacles that attract schools of barracuda, snapper, sweetlips and trevallies. A multitude of colourful soft and hard corals, gigantic sea fans, and sea anemones that are home to clownfish, frogfish, harlequin shrimp, nudibranchs, pipefish and seahorses. Always keep your eye out for whale sharks and manta rays that are often sighted here.
Koh Tachai pinnacle is well known for strong currents that attract pelagics. Hard corals such as fire and staghorn corals cover most of the reef.
The crew will serve the main meals when guests are seated at the tables in the open-air dining area on the main deck. Delicious Thai, Asian and international dishes, with 4 to 5 dishes per sitting. Have a freshly ground coffee on the house before you get ready for the next dive. A barbeque night is also normally scheduled during the trip.
Day 5
Your diving is not over yet, as there will be 2 more day dives near Khao Lak, on the way back to port. It's all about wreck diving, with 3 choices for you: the Bunsoong Wreck, the MV Sea Chart Wreck and the Premchai Wreck. Breakfast and lunch will still be served on this day. Return to Thap Lamu pier is estimated to be just after lunch, then transfer to your hotel or to Phuket Airport. [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].
The crew of 18 comprises:
Cruise Director
Instructor
4 Divemasters
Captain
2 Cooks
2 Engineers
2 Deck hands
Maid/Stewardess
Masseuse
Enriched air nitrox - 2 motorised dive tenders - dive deck with 4 freshwater showers and 2 toilets - air-conditioned saloon with DVD video, music and games - open-air dining area - sundecks with mattresses and in-built sofa seating - multimedia stations - drinking water dispenser
Divers must be certified to Advanced diver level or take Advanced or Adventure Deep Diver on the trip.
Meals on DiveRACE Class E are enjoyed in the open-air dining area on the main deck. Meals are served at the table and get underway with dinner served on the evening of embarkation. A barbeque is normally scheduled during the trip. Breakfast and lunch are served on the final day.
Thai, Asian and international main meal dishes. 4 to 5 dishes per sitting.
Waitress served dining in the open air dining area on the upper deck.
Dinner is the first meal of the liveaboard cruise.
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fruit, water, snacks and biscuits are provided free of charge.
Soft drinks, beer and wine are also available for purchase.
Sample dishes - Sukiyaki Steamboat, Pad Thai, BBQ Chicken and seafood ...
Built in year 2015, refitted 2020
Size - 35m x 7.5m
Top speed - 13 knots
Cruising speed - 9-10 knots
2 x 1200 HP Cummins engines
2 x 80 KW Cummins generators
2 x Bauer dive tank compressors
12 litre and 15 litre aluminium tanks with DIN and international fittings.
Enriched air nitrox system
Electricity 220V - 24 hours per day
Water capacity - 20,000 litres
Fresh water maker - 6,000 litres per day
Fuel capacity - 14,000 litres
Environmental waste storage tank
2 Solas life rafts (for 50 passengers)
2 x 40 HP motorised tenders
VHF radio
Lowrance global positioning system (GPS)
Lowrance radar
Lowrance sounder
Lowrance plotter
Samyung autopilot
Closed circuit TV
Searchlight and life rings with lights
EPIRB and distress flares
Satellite telephone
Medic first aid box
Oxygen 25,0000 litres
50 x life jackets
15 x fire extinguishers throughout
"Great accommodation, attention to our food preferences. There was constant service and attention to even the smallest details
The dive masters and boat staff were always very attentive and kept a close eye on everyone." - Himmat Kalsia, India, 29 March 2024 ...
"Good service. Small dive groups, 4 divers per DM. Attentive to special requests, like dietary requests. Most important observes safety on board and diving.
Dive The World gave quick follow-up in queries and help assistance.
" - Cristina, Macao, 27 February 2024 ...
DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES
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MORE TRIP DETAILS
Notes: Please note that for Myanmar trips the bookings will be closed 2 weeks before the trip departure date to allow time for immigration procedures.
Dive experience: Requirement is an open water quallification with a minimum of 10 logged dives.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, return transfers to the boat from Phuket airport and hotels in tourist areas (Kata, Karon, Rawai, Chalong, Patong) and Khao Lak area, dives (as detailed in the trips above), experienced English-speaking divemaster(s) (4-5 divers per DM), tanks, weights and weightbelts, all taxes.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (USD25 per day), Similan and Surin park fees at approximately USD6 per day, with an entry fee of USD15 per park, dive insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash only).
Optional extras: Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (USD6 per fill) or (USD77 per 14 dives), dive computer (USD8 per day), dive torch (USD8 per day), 15 litre tanks (USD8 per day). 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: DiveRACE Class E's Similan liveaboard trips depart from Tap Lamu, near Khao Lak. Trips to Hin Daeng & Hin Muang depart in the evening from Chalong Bay. A minibus service from all hotels in Phuket or Phuket Airport to and from the boat is provided with pick-ups usually around 4-6:30 pm, depending on itinerary. Boarding also starts at 6:30 pm, and the boat departs from the pier after dinner at 8-11 pm.
The last dive of the trip will be at around 12 noon on the last day of the trip, and the boat will return to the pier around 1:30 pm. Please allow at least 18 hours before flying after diving. For more details, including airlines, see our Thailand travel information section.
Non-diver rate: 20% off the published prices.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 80% of the published price.
Dive clubs and group discounts: See whole boat charter rate below.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): 10% off the published price of a full boat: USD6 761, Christmas and New Year: USD6 824.
Click to view product. Special discounted trips highlighted in yellow
