Notes: Child Policy: Children between the ages of 10-15 years old are allowed on board only if they are divers. Non-diving children between the ages of 0-15 years old are not allowed on board. All guests are charged the same price.
Dive experience: At a minimum, an open water certification from any dive association is required to participate in these Mandarin Queen dive trips.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, soft drinks, drinking water, hot drinks, round-trip transfers from Phuket and Khao Lak airport/hotels, dives (as detailed in the trips above), nitrox fills for certified divers, experienced English-speaking divemasters (max. 5 divers per guide), snorkelling guide, 12 litre aluminium tanks, weights and weightbelts, sales tax.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Dive equipment (USD 15 per day), park fees USD 75. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash THB, or bank card (+3%)).
Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks, dive computer (USD 30 per day), dive insurance, 15 litre tank (USD 9 per day), torch. 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: The Mandarin Queen 9 uses Thab Lamu Pier in Khao Lak for its North Andaman liveaboard trips. Transfers are provided between 4-7:30 pm from Phuket and Khao Lak, for boarding at 8 pm. The boat leaves late in the evening. The last dive on the final day is at 3 pm, before the Mandarin Queen returns to the pier at 4 pm. From there, transfers return you to your accommodation in Khao Lak or Phuket by 7 pm. Please remember to allow at least 18 hours before flying after diving. For information on flights and airlines, see our Thailand travel information section.
Non-diver rate: USD 90 discount.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - solo travellers may choose to share a cabin and pay the regular price, or pay a supplement equivalent to the non-diver price for their own private cabin.
Dive clubs and group discounts: None.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): USD 7 188. Max. 24 guests, plus 4 tour leaders FOC.
For scuba divers, the Andaman Sea needs little introduction. This is the stuff of bucket lists: the granite boulders of the Similan Islands, the manta ray cleaning stations at Koh Bon, and the legendary whale shark encounters at Richelieu Rock. Yet accessing these world-class sites in comfort and style has long been a challenge. That equation changed with the arrival of the Mandarin Queen 9 liveaboard. Launched in 2023, this 37.5-metre steel-hull vessel has quickly established itself as a modern benchmark for liveaboard diving in Thailand. For divers seeking a fresh, well-appointed platform from which to explore the North Andaman's finest reefs, the Mandarin Queen 9 is an enticing option that balances contemporary amenities with genuine dive-focused functionality.
The first thing that strikes you about the Mandarin Queen 9 is the space. With accommodation for just 26 guests across 13 en-suite cabins, the boat never feels crowded. This is not a floating backpacker hostel; it is a vessel designed for comfort. Cabins are fitted with televisions, air conditioning, hairdryers, and well-appointed bathrooms with water heaters. Whether you choose a Master cabin with a queen-size bed and sea views on the main deck or a twin cabin on the lower deck, you will find a quiet, comfortable retreat after a day of diving. The spacious layout extends across 4 decks, with generous indoor and outdoor social areas that invite relaxation and conversation.
For the diver, the Mandarin Queen 9 liveaboard is equipped with thoughtful details that elevate the experience. The dive deck features 4 showers, ample rinse tanks for both equipment and cameras, and a dedicated camera room with five individual workstations, a crucial asset for underwater photographers. The vessel is powered by a robust technical setup, including a Bauer compressor and a nitrox membrane system, enabling the operator to offer one of the most attractive perks in the region: free nitrox for up to 15 dives. This not only represents significant savings but also allows for longer bottom times and reduced fatigue, maximising your time in the water. Dives are conducted in small groups with a maximum of 4 to 5 divers per guide, ensuring personalised attention and safety.
The culinary experience aboard the Mandarin Queen 9 matches the quality of the diving. The crew serves 4 buffet-style meals daily, blending Thai and Western cuisine, with vegetarian and vegan options available upon request. Soft drinks, milk, snacks, fruit, coffee, bread, and tea are all included throughout the cruise. After dinner, the spacious saloon transforms into an entertainment hub, complete with a PlayStation 5 and Nintendo for those wanting a different kind of adventure. But the real highlight after a day of diving is the sundeck, which features a jacuzzi - the perfect spot to watch the Andaman sunset with a cold drink in hand.
The operational pedigree behind this vessel provides additional confidence. The Mandarin Queen 9 is operated by Phuket Dive Center, an established name in the region with a fleet of vessels and a long history of guiding divers in Thai waters. The marine-grade steel hull and twin Cummins engines ensure stability and safety, while the vessel is equipped with full safety gear, including life rafts, a comprehensive first aid station, and oxygen. This is a serious operation run by people who understand the unique challenges and rewards of Andaman Sea diving.
The Mandarin Queen 9 liveaboard represents a new standard for liveaboard diving in Thailand. It combines the allure of the Andaman Sea's legendary dive sites with the comfort and modern facilities of a brand-new vessel. For the discerning diver who values space, safety, and the little extras that make a trip truly memorable, the Mandarin Queen 9 delivers an experience that is as refined as the reefs it visits.
There are 13 guest cabins on the Mandarin Queen 9 liveaboard. On the main deck there are 2 double (queen-size) bed cabins and 6 twin bed cabins, and on the lower deck there are 2 double (queen-size) bed cabins and 3 twin bed cabins. All cabins have private bathrooms.
All the cabins have:
- Individual controlled air-conditioning
- Private bathroom with toilet and hot water shower
- Towels (2 beach/2 small), toiletries, hairdryer
- Windows on the main deck, portholes on lower deck
- Television
- Reading lights
- Daily housekeeping
- Wardrobe, mirror and shelves
- Bedside cabinet
- Life jackets and fire alarm
- Bedding and space for luggage
- 220 volts - 24 hours per day (EUR/US-style sockets)
- Storage space for luggage
No. of bathrooms / showers - 13 / 13 - hot water
Similan, Surin Islands & Richelieu Rock (5 Days / 4 Nights - 15 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, Surin Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock
Day 1
Begins at Tab Lamu Pier in Khao Lak, where you board the Mandarin Queen 9 liveaboard in the late afternoon. After settling into your cabin, the crew delivers a comprehensive safety briefing and dive protocols. As dinner is served, the vessel slips its moorings and cruises west through the night towards the Similan Islands, leaving the mainland behind and the Andaman Sea ahead.
Core Days
Over the following days, the Mandarin Queen 9 traces a classic North Andaman route, taking in the region's most celebrated dive sites. The Similan Islands present a landscape of gigantic granite boulders, carved by time into dramatic swim-throughs and archways. Reefs here are thick with hard and soft corals, and schools of fusiliers and snappers constantly drift across the slopes. Deeper sections attract larger pelagics, while the macro life rewards careful eyes.
Moving north, Koh Bon is a site every diver hopes for. This submerged ridge is one of the most reliable places in Thailand to encounter manta rays, which visit the cleaning stations on the pinnacle's summit. Currents can run strong here, sweeping across the top of the reef and drawing in nutrients, which in turn attract the mantas. The wall itself drops into deep water and is covered in colourful sea fans and gorgonians. Further north lies Koh Tachai, a site famous for its own pinnacle where the current delivers nutrient-rich water and, with it, the chance of leopard sharks and even the occasional manta ray.
The crown of the trip is Richelieu Rock, often described as Thailand's finest dive site. This horseshoe-shaped pinnacle barely breaks the surface, rises from 40 metres of depth and is smothered in soft corals, anemones, and sea whips. The sheer density of marine life here is astonishing. Enormous schools of trevally and barracuda circle the reef, while whale sharks pass through with seasonal regularity. The visibility can be variable, but when conditions align, the scale and colour of the underwater scene are unrivalled anywhere in the Andaman Sea.
Day 5
The Mandarin Queen 9 completes 3 dives before turning south for the return to Tab Lamu Pier. Disembarkation takes place during the afternoon, after which transfers take guests back to their hotels in Phuket or Khao Lak.
[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 Mandarin Queen 9 liveaboard follows a classic dive safari rhythm, with meal times set to keep energy levels high throughout the day. A light breakfast is offered before the first dive, with a full breakfast served afterwards. Lunch follows the second dive, a snack is available after the third dive, and dinner is served after the evening or night dive. This structure ensures you are always fuelled for the next underwater adventure.
Meals are served buffet-style on the upper deck. The cuisine blends Thai and Western dishes, with vegetarian and vegan options available upon request. The menu across the cruise offers considerable variety. For breakfast, you might find American breakfast options, Thai rice congee, or noodles with soup, alongside fresh fruit. Lunch could include Thai chicken rice, roasted pork and crispy pork belly on rice, or Thai set menus featuring dishes like green curry, Pad Thai, and stir-fried shrimp and squid. Snacks are substantial and varied, ranging from burgers and fried chicken to sandwiches, Thai pork toast, fried wontons, and pizza. Dinner might be a Thai set with Tom Yum Goong and holy basil chicken, a hot pot buffet with Thai, Chinese, and Japanese styles, or a steak selection with spaghetti and soup. Soft-serve ice cream is served daily. Soft drinks, milk, coffee, and tea are also complimentary throughout the day.
Between dives, the Mandarin Queen 9 provides space to relax and socialise. The sun deck and lounge are popular spots for resting, while the camera room offers a dedicated area for equipment preparation. The crew handles the logistics, allowing divers to focus on the underwater world. The dining experience is a social highlight, with guests sharing stories of the day's sightings over a meal. The combination of good food, a comfortable vessel, and a well-planned schedule creates a relaxed and efficient atmosphere.
