Notes: Child policy: minimum age is 10 years old. All children on the MV Explorer liveaboard pay the adult rate.
Dive experience: All divers must be certified to 30m to dive with the M/V Explorer. Any diver who does not meet this requirement can take the Deep Adventure Dive or the full Advanced Open Water Diver course onboard (pay onboard).
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, nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers (USD 5 per tank (packages available)), 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: Check-in takes place on the first day at the Sea Dragon Dive Centre in Khao Lak. Guests who require diving equipment to be fitted should arrive no later than 4 pm. Before departure, all guests must complete a registration form and liability release, and present their certification cards for verification. Once the check-in process is complete, guests are asked to return to the dive centre by 6 pm, ready to depart. As no dinner is served onboard the MV Explorer on the first evening, guests should eat before leaving. Fruit and cookies will be available on board.
At the conclusion of the trip, transfers are provided from the harbour back to the dive centre, typically arriving before 5 pm. From there, guests staying in the Khao Lak or Bang Niang area are transferred to their resort. Taxis to Phuket, the airport, or other destinations can be arranged on request.
For further planning advice, including airlines, see our Thailand travel information section. The final dive of each trip concludes at 11:30 am. A minimum surface interval of 18 hours is recommended before any flight.
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 standard rate, or pay a supplement equal to the non-diver price for sole occupancy of a cabin.
Dive clubs and group discounts: None.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): USD 2 571. Maximum 16 guests.
The Similan Islands and the surrounding waters of the North Andaman Sea hold a well-earned place on many divers' wish lists. Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, and the Surin Islands offer a combination of vibrant coral gardens, granite boulder formations, and the chance of encounters with manta rays and whale sharks during the January to May season. The MV Explorer liveaboard provides a practical and economic way to explore this region, with a schedule that suits divers of varying time constraints and experience levels.
What sets the Explorer liveaboard apart is the flexibility of its tours. Rather than offering a single fixed cruise length, the vessel runs 3-day, 5-day, 8-day, and 13-day diving tours, which can be combined back-to-back for a longer stay. The 13-day option is essentially 3 trips run consecutively, covering the best sites from the Similan Islands in the south to Richelieu Rock in the north, and back again. This modular approach allows divers to revisit favourite sites multiple times or extend their trip without needing to book a different vessel.
The MV Explorer is a 26-metre wooden-hulled vessel that underwent refurbishment in 2023. It accommodates a maximum of 16 guests on 2 decks, which keeps the atmosphere relaxed and the dive groups small. Cabins are air-conditioned with sea views and most have en-suite bathrooms. The vessel offers ample space to relax between dives, whether on the sun deck or in the shaded lounge areas. The boat's design reflects its purpose: it was built by divers, for scuba divers.
For dive operations, the MV Explorer operates with a maximum of 4 divers per guide. This ratio ensures personal attention and allows guides to tailor dives to the group's experience level. Full diving equipment is included in the tour price, along with a dive computer, surface marker buoy, and torch for night dives. The vessel also offers a discount for divers who bring their own gear. Nitrox is available for an additional cost.
The operator behind the MV Explorer is Sea Dragon Dive Center, which has been operating in Khao Lak since 1993. As a PADI 5-Star IDC Center, the company employs qualified instructors and divemasters with extensive experience in the Andaman Sea. Safety is a priority, with all dives planned to a maximum depth of 30 metres and a free dive computer provided for every guest.
Onboard, meals follow a familiar liveaboard routine: a light snack before the first dive, a Western-style breakfast after, Thai-style lunch, an afternoon snack, and dinner in the evening. The cuisine blends Thai and Western dishes, and vegetarian or vegan options are available on request. Between dives, guests can snorkel from the boat, take a dinghy to one of the islands, or simply relax in a hammock.
For divers considering a trip to Thailand's Andaman Sea, the Explorer liveaboard offers a combination of flexible scheduling, small dive groups, and solid value. Whether you have 3 days or 13, the vessel provides a comfortable base for exploring some of the region's most celebrated dive sites.
The MV Explorer has 6 en-suite cabins on the main deck - 2 double bed cabins and 4 convertible double/twin bed cabins. There are also 2 double bed cabins on the upper deck that use the 2 shared bathroom facilities 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
- Bedding and shelves
- Fire warning system and fire extinguishers
- Life jackets
- Mains outlet 220 volts - 24 hours per day
No. of bathrooms / showers - 8 / 8 - hot water
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
This 3-night itinerary takes in the finest dive sites of Thailand's northern Andaman Sea. The Explorer liveaboard departs from Khuraburi pier and focuses on 3 destinations that consistently rank among the country's best: Koh Tachai, the Surin Islands, and Richelieu Rock. With 9 dives scheduled, including a night dive, this trip suits divers who want to experience the region's premier sites without committing to a longer cruise. The trip begins with an afternoon check-in at the dive centre in Khao Lak. After the boat briefing, there is time to check equipment thoroughly before settling into cabins and departing for Khuraburi.
Core Days
Koh Tachai is the first destination on the itinerary. This isolated island, added to the Similan Islands National Marine Park in 1998, offers a variety of dive sites ranging from gentle sloping reefs to dramatic rock walls. The submerged flat-topped pinnacle just off the island is the standout site, known for vibrant coral gardens, huge sea fans, and abundant fish life. Schools of batfish, giant trevallies, and clown triggerfish are commonly sighted, along with banded sea snakes and nudibranchs. Between January and May, manta rays and whale sharks occasionally pass through to feed on the nutrient-rich currents.
The Surin Islands lie close to the border with Myanmar. This archipelago of 5 islands is home to the Moken people, traditionally known as sea gypsies. The diving here features granite boulder formations and healthy coral reefs, with shallow gardens ideal for snorkelling. Common sightings include angelfish, boxfish, Jenkins whip rays, and lobsters. Turtles and reef sharks are often encountered in the shallower areas. Between dives, guests can snorkel from the boat or take a dinghy to one of the stunning white-sand beaches.
Richelieu Rock is the crowning site of this itinerary. This horseshoe-shaped limestone pinnacle rises from deep water, almost completely submerged, and acts as a magnet for marine life. The rock is covered in purple soft corals and hundreds of anemones, home to several species of clownfish. Clouds of glassfish shelter in the crevices, while large schools of barracuda, jacks, and batfish patrol the surrounding waters. Seahorses and ghost pipefish are occasionally spotted by sharp-eyed guides, and there is always the possibility of a manta ray or whale shark passing by.
Day 4
After the second dive on the final day, the Explorer returns to Khuraburi pier. Lunch is served during the crossing, allowing time to relax and pack. The boat arrives back at the dive centre in the late afternoon, where valuables are returned and onward transfers are arranged. This itinerary offers a concentrated dose of Thailand's best northern diving, with the Explorer providing a comfortable and well-organised base throughout.
Surin Islands & 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
This itinerary aboard the Explorer liveaboard covers the full spectrum of Thailand's northern Andaman Sea. From the granite boulders and coral gardens of the Similan Islands to the submerged pinnacle of Richelieu Rock, the trip takes in 5 distinct destinations. It is a comprehensive introduction to the region's best diving, with ample time for beach visits and surface intervals in some of Thailand's most picturesque settings. After a boat orientation and briefing, there is time to set up gear and settle into cabins before departing from Thap Lamu harbour for the Similan Islands.
Core Days
The Similan Islands form a cluster of 9 uninhabited islands, each ringed by hard and soft coral formations and submerged granite boulders. With more than 20 dive sites, the reefs here are bustling with angelfish, butterflyfish, lionfish, snappers, and clownfish, alongside larger species such as trevallies and tuna. Turtles, rays, and reef sharks are frequent visitors. On land, the islands are cloaked in dense jungle and fringed with white-sand beaches. A short hike to the Sail Rock viewpoint on Island 8 rewards visitors with sweeping views across Donald Duck Bay.
Koh Bon, a limestone island incorporated into the Similan Islands National Park, offers a vertical wall and sloping hard coral reefs adorned with soft corals in shades of yellow, blue, orange, and pink. Giant manta rays are often observed feeding here, with whale sharks making occasional appearances between January and May. Octopuses, giant moray eels, lionfish, scorpionfish, napoleon wrasse, and barracuda are also commonly encountered.
Koh Tachai boasts a pristine beach, dense jungle, and remarkable underwater terrain. The standout site is a submerged flat-topped pinnacle just offshore, supplemented by rocky bays, a western wall dive, and a southern slope of hard coral. Divers regularly see batfish, giant trevallies, clown triggerfish, boxfish, and banded sea snakes. The site features spectacular sea fans and vibrant coral gardens.
The Surin Islands, situated near the Myanmar border, remain relatively secluded. They are home to the Moken people, traditionally known as 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, and shrimp. With luck, you might also spot humphead parrotfish, turtles, or reef sharks.
Richelieu Rock is the crowning site of the tour. This curved limestone pinnacle stays mostly hidden beneath the surface, exposing barely a metre at low water. As 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.
Final Day
After the second dive on the final day, the Explorer returns to Thap Lamu harbour. Lunch is served while underway, leaving time to relax and pack. The boat arrives back at the dive centre in the late afternoon, where onward transfers to Khao Lak hotels are arranged. This tour offers a thorough exploration of Thailand's premier northern dive sites, with the Explorer providing a comfortable and well-organised base throughout.
[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 typical day on the MV Explorer follows a rhythm that will feel familiar to anyone who has spent time on a liveaboard. The schedule revolves around the diving, with meals timed to fit neatly between surface intervals. The first wake-up call comes at 6:20 am, giving you time to grab a tea or coffee and a light snack before the dive briefing at 6:40 am. The first dive typically begins around 7:30 am, and by the time you surface, a full Western-style breakfast is waiting.
Meals on the Explorer are served in the shaded dining area on the middle deck, which doubles as the space for dive briefings. 2 large wooden tables with cushioned seating create a social atmosphere, and guests are welcome to move around at mealtimes. Breakfast includes bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, and potatoes, alongside fresh bread, jams, and fruit. A traditional Thai rice soup is also available each morning. Lunch and dinner follow a Thai-style theme, with dishes such as mild curries, coconut soups, fresh vegetables, and whole fried fish. Fresh seasonal fruit is served after every meal.
The daily routine on the Explorer is built around 4 dives on each full day, including a night dive. The second dive usually takes place around 11:30 am, followed by lunch at 1 pm. The third dive is at 3:30 pm, with an afternoon snack served afterwards. The night dive is typically at 7 pm, with dinner at 9 pm. Between dives, there is ample time to relax on deck, snorkel from the boat, or take a dinghy to one of the islands.
Snacks are available throughout the day at no extra charge. Cornflakes, cookies, and fresh tropical fruit are always within reach, and a light snack is provided before the first dive each morning. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks, and drinking water are also included. For those who fancy something extra, fresh coffee and ice cream are available for purchase 24 hours a day, and a selection of local beers and wine is available in the evenings.
On the final night of the tours, the crew hosts a BBQ on the top deck. The boat crew prepares the grill, the dive staff mix signature cocktails, and the cook provides handmade sauces. It is a relaxed and sociable way to mark the end of the trip. The MV Explorer liveaboard also has a spacious saloon with TV, music, and a gaming zone, plus a refrigerator for guest use. Vegetarian and vegan options are available on request, and guests with allergies or intolerances should inform us in advance so the cook can prepare suitable dishes.
