The MV Dolphin Queen is wooden-hulled vessel, operated by the experienced team at Similan Diving Safaris, is engineered for purpose, offering direct access to the Andaman Sea’s premier sites across 3- or 5-night dive trips. A tour on this liveaboard connects the iconic granite boulders and coral gardens of the Similan Islands with the nutrient-rich pinnacle of Richelieu Rock, including the pelagic hotspots of Koh Bon and Koh Tachai, to maximise time across a cross-section of Thailand’s celebrated marine parks.
Life on board the Dolphin Queen liveaboard is defined by practicality and a relaxed, communal atmosphere. The vessel accommodates up to 24 guests in air-conditioned cabins, all featuring sea-view windows. The social heart of the boat is the open-air dining and lounge area on the upper deck, where meals are served and dive briefings are held against a backdrop of ocean breezes. Here, guests can review the day’s sightings with the help of onboard fish identification books or simply unwind. The sun deck, complete with loungers and hammocks, offers an ideal vantage point for spotting marine life during transit.
Despite being an economy option, the vessel undergoes a comprehensive annual overhaul, with all diving systems serviced by certified technicians before each season. This commitment extends to the dive deck, which is laid out for efficiency with individual gear stations. The crew provides attentive support, handling tank refills and assisted entries. To enhance your diving, the Dolphin Queen liveaboard offers enriched air nitrox, 15-litre tanks, and DIN adaptors, providing flexibility for extended exploration.
The expertise of the liveaboard team elevates the experience and brings over 25 years of regional knowledge to each diving trip, with PADI-recognised service standards. The Dolphin Queen dive guides possess intimate site knowledge, capable of pointing out cryptic macro life as readily as navigating currents for pelagic encounters. Their multi-lingual briefings and in-water guidance provide a secure framework, allowing you to dive with confidence. This depth of experience ensures a well-managed tour that adapts to conditions while prioritising safety.
Itineraries are crafted to deliver a rich sampling of the Andaman’s diversity. Dolphin Queen's 5-night trip is particularly comprehensive, journeying from the Similans north to the Surin Islands, dedicating multiple dives to the world-class Richelieu Rock. Days follow a schedule optimised for diving, with up to 4 dives daily including night and dusk dives, all structured around safe surface intervals. This pace is balanced by the constant availability of snacks, fresh fruit, and hydration options, including electrolyte sachets.
The Dolphin Queen liveaboard represents a low-cost yet valued choice for certified divers who prioritise a genuine, operationally sound dive trip centred on the region's finest sites. It combines proven reliability, a knowledgeable crew, and a relaxed onboard environment. For scuba divers looking to explore the Similans and Richelieu Rock through the lens of a dedicated, long-established operator, the Dolphin Queen offers a trustworthy and rewarding option into the heart of the Andaman Sea.
There are 3 Standard quad bunk bed cabins and 2 Double bed cabins and 1 twin bunk bed cabin on the liveaboard's main deck. The are also 2 Deluxe double bed cabins on the upper deck.
All the cabins have:
- Air conditioning
- Windows
- Bedding
- Mirror
- Cabinet and shelves
- Mains outlet 220 Volts AC
No. of bathrooms / showers - 3 / 5 - cold water
Similan, Surin, Richelieu Rock & Khao Lak (6 Days / 5 Nights - 18 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: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck
Day 1
Your Similan liveaboard adventure begins at Tap Lamu pier, where you'll board the Dolphin Queen and receive a welcome drink from the crew. Once settled in, a comprehensive orientation will cover safety, the liveaboard's facilities, and the dive itinerary. Your guide will then help you prepare your gear for the next day's first dive. The Dolphin Queen departs that evening, arriving at the Similan Islands National Park by early morning.
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Core Days
The diving in Thailand’s Andaman Sea is as exhilarating as expected. After 2 days exploring the vibrant coral gardens and underwater granite formations of the Similan Islands, the journey continues north to the submerged pinnacle of Koh Bon. This site is renowned for its regular manta ray sightings, where these graceful giants often circle the cleaning stations. Next, you'll explore Koh Tachai, an underwater crown where strong currents attract massive schools of trevally and rainbow runners, while tuna and reef sharks hunt through dense clouds of glassfish. The scenery - a dramatic landscape of colossal boulders, coral plateaus, and towering sea fans - is truly unforgettable.
The Surin Islands are Thailand's most pristine, protected environment, showcasing some of the healthiest reefs in the Andaman Sea. The reefs themselves are a spectacle, teeming with vibrant butterflyfish, angelfish, and immense schools of snapper and fusiliers. It is particularly renowned for opportunities to spot Napoleon wrasse and bumphead parrotfish, and it's one of the best sites in Thailand to spot eagle rays soaring over the sand flats and leopard sharks resting on the seabed.
The undeniable highlight of the Dolphin Queen liveaboard expedition is Richelieu Rock, a magnificent horseshoe-shaped pinnacle world-famous for its staggering biodiversity. Here, dive guides expertly point out cryptic macro life like seahorses, ghost pipefish, and nudibranchs, while the blue water beyond often reveals cruising whale sharks, manta rays, and patrolling barracuda. With its sheer density of marine life, Richelieu Rock is a world-class dive site that truly has it all, offering an unforgettable finale to your liveaboard tour.
Day 6
The final day offers a bittersweet start with 2 last morning dives, a final opportunity to witness the magic of Thailand's underwater realm. Following these dives, you can enjoy a last meal on board as the Dolphin Queen sets a return course for Tap Lamu.
Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock (4 Days / 3 Nights - 10 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: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock
Day 1
After boarding the Dolphin Queen at Tap Lamu pier in Khao Lak, you’ll be welcomed by the dive staff and liveaboard crew with a cocktail and shown to your cabin. A briefing will follow, covering boat amenities, safety procedures, and rules for your diving safari. A dive guide will assist with setting up and checking your equipment so it’s ready for the first morning dive in the Similan Islands. The boat departs in the evening and arrives at Similan Islands National Park just after midnight.
Core Days
This Dolphin Queen liveaboard tour is designed for certified divers, featuring a full schedule of 4 daily dives. This typically includes 2 morning dives, an afternoon session, and a spectacular sunset or night dive to conclude each day. Diving in Thailand’s Andaman Sea is every bit as thrilling as you’d hope. The adventure begins by exploring the reefs and boulder formations of the Similan Islands. After exploring the Similans, the boat heads north to the submerged ridge of Koh Bon, a renowned cleaning station where majestic manta rays are frequently sighted. It’s one of the best places in Thailand to see these graceful giants.
Next up is Koh Tachai, a site known for its strong currents and dramatic underwater topography. The area is alive with huge schools of trevally, barracuda, tuna, and reef sharks, all hunting through clouds of glassfish. The action is intense, and the scenery - granite boulders, coral plateaus, and towering sea fans - is unforgettable.
The trip culminates at world-famous Richelieu Rock, a submerged horseshoe-shaped peak boasting staggering biodiversity. Here, you can find tiny macro life like harlequin shrimp, nudibranchs and ghost pipefish on one dive, while the next might bring encounters with graceful whale sharks or eagle rays cruising in the blue. It’s an unforgettable finale to an action-packed itinerary.
Day 4
Wake up to 2 final morning dives, before the boat returns to Tap Lamu in Khao Lak after lunch. Once ashore, the crew will assist with transfers to Phuket Airport, or a local hotel if your holiday continues. It’s a smooth and relaxed end to your diving adventure.
[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].
During your stay onboard the Dolphin Queen liveaboard, all meals are served as a buffet in the open-air dining area on the upper deck, allowing you to dine while enjoying the gentle sea breezes. The daily schedule typically integrates dive sessions around the fixed meal times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The dining service commences with dinner on the first evening of your cruise.
Your day will begin with a continental breakfast, and subsequent meals feature a delightful mix of European dishes and local Thai delicacies. The brevity of the Dolphin Queen trips ensures that all ingredients are exceptionally fresh, with a plentiful supply of tropical fruit available throughout the liveaboard tour.
For lunch and dinner, you can expect a buffet service where you can choose from 4 main dishes each evening.
To keep you energised between dives, complimentary snacks such as fresh fruit, candy bars, and biscuits are provided. The afternoon offers time to visit a nearby beach, snorkel, or relax in your air-conditioned cabin.
For your drinks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soft drinks, and drinking water are all free of charge, while wine and beer are available for purchase.
Please note that we are happy to cater to vegetarian requirements, but we do require prior notice to make these arrangements.
"
The staff on the boat were all brilliant. Very friendly and chatty. The crew were also smiley and very helpful when getting us ready for the dives and back out of the water. Food was much better than I was expecting too – credit to the chefs, especially considering the size of their kitchen! Equipment was all fine and looked relatively new. " -
Rhiannon Mechem, UK, 21 March 2017 ...
"
The guys on the Dolphin Queen were fab. Also the Thai crew and kitchen.
The food was unbelievable!! Big shout out to Ivan and Mike. Their instruction and personality made it a special trip." -
David Austin, New Zealand, 21 November 2014 ...
"
The Thai 'boat boys' were amazing. Always ready and eager to help get your equipment ready and help keep you safe. We had a deluxe room. Very nice but needed a light above the mirror." -
Link Neimark, USA, 23 April 2012 ...
"
Great service. They organized everything for me and was accommodating to all my requests. The dive masters were good and took care of us, ensuring risks were minimized. The boat crew were very helpful and attentive to my unspoken needs. The facilities and supplied equipment were good and there were spares. I have no complaints. I would recommend the Dolphin Queen liveaboard to anyone." -
Su-Hsien Kuan, Australia, 13 January 2012 ...
"
Dolphin Queen was very good. The pickup service is excellent and reasonable. Great dive crew considering it was end of season. No dive cameras were offered for hire onboard which I would have hired for sure. I did my advanced with Gino and he ran it really well." -
Collis Couper, Australia, 8 May 2011 ...
"
They were a very well run organisation, with friendly staff and boat staff that were very helpful for us. Equipment was in great condition and we didn't experience any problems." -
Thomas Hogan, Australia, 6 May 2011 ...
"
The Thai staff and the dive crew were all fabulous. Very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the Similans area. The boat accommodation was clean and the food supplied was delicious. The diving was excellent and the beach time was loads of fun." -
Emma Jones, Australia, 23 February 2010 ...
"
Diving was good, food was good, the liveaboard staff worked very hard. Overall thorougly enjoyed my time and wished I could have stayed longer. " -
Marsha McDaniel, USA, 1 December 2009 ...
