For divers seeking a genuine Andaman Sea adventure without the complexity of a long trip, the Manta Queen 2 liveaboard presents an uncomplicated and attractive proposition. This 22-metre vessel, purpose-built for exploring the northern Andaman Sea, delivers a focused 3-night expedition to some of Thailand's most revered dive sites: the granite boulders of Koh Bon, the pristine reefs of Koh Tachai, and the legendary Richelieu Rock. What makes the Manta Queen 2 so appealing is its direct approach: it strips away the unnecessary to concentrate on what truly matters, offering an exceptional, high-value dive holiday.
A primary strength of the Manta Queen 2 is its ability to provide a high-quality dive experience with an enviable guide-to-diver ratio. With a maximum of just 20 guests, the boat never feels crowded. Groups are kept deliberately small, typically 4 to 5 divers under the supervision of a single dive lead. This ensures your safety, allows for a more personal service, and means your guide has the time to point out the ghost pipefish, ribbon eels, and crustaceans that thrive in these nutrient-rich waters, making every dive count.
The vessel’s simple yet effective design enhances the overall experience. The Manta Queen 2 features comfortable, air-conditioned cabins available in twin, double, or 4-bed shared configurations with shard bathrooms. Beyond the essential in-cabin comforts, the boat provides a spacious dive platform for effortless entries and exits, and a sundeck for relaxing between dives. Free wi-fi is available, allowing you to share a snapshot of your underwater discoveries when signal permits. The focus here is on the diving, but the amenities ensure a comfortable home for the duration of the cruise.
The value proposition of the Manta Queen 2 liveaboard is refreshingly straightforward. The cruise price is largely all-inclusive, leaving you with a clear budget. It is this simplicity, combined with the calibre of scuba diving, that makes the Manta Queen 2 such an effective choice for divers wanting a premium experience without hidden costs or complicated planning.
Booking with the Manta Queen 2 is a decision backed by extensive local experience. The boat operator has been running liveaboard trips since 2003. As an established SSI Training Centre, they employ a team of over 40 multilingual dive professionals, speaking languages from English and French to German and Chinese. This operational depth provides a significant layer of safety and professionalism, with a track record of delivering consistently high-quality trips.
Ultimately, the Manta Queen 2 offers an ideal balance of adventure, value, and intimacy. It takes you directly to the highlights of the North Andaman, provides exceptional service from an experienced team, and returns you to shore after just 3 nights and 10 dives with memories of some of Asia's most iconic underwater landscapes. For a diver seeking a manageable, high-calibre liveaboard, this vessel presents a dependable option.
There are 9 guest cabins on the Manta Queen 2. There are 5 twin bed cabins (5 sqm) and 2 double bed cabins (6 sqm) on the main deck, and 1 more double bed cabin (6 sqm) and 1 quad bunk bed cabin on the lower deck (9 sqm). All the cabins share 3 bathrooms on the main deck.
All the cabins have:
- Individual controlled air-conditioning and small fan
- Shared bathrooms with toilet and hot water shower
- Towels, toiletries, hairdryer
- Windows on the main deck
- Reading lights
- Daily housekeeping
- Mirror and shelves
- Life jackets and fire extinguisher
- Bedding and space for luggage
- Mains outlet 220 volts - 24 hr per day
- EUR/US-style sockets
No. of bathrooms / showers - 3 / 3 - hot water
Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock (4 Days / 3 Nights - 10 Dives)
Trip highlights: whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, and Boonsung wreck
Day 1
Your adventure begins with an evening departure from Thaplamu Pier, near Khao Lak. Check-in at the dive centre runs from 4 pm to 6 pm, before a transfer takes you to the Manta Queen 2 liveaboard for boarding. After settling into your air-conditioned cabin and setting up your dive gear, the crew will conduct a safety and boat briefing. A welcome dinner is served as the vessel gets underway, heading north towards the celebrated dive sites of the Andaman Sea .
Core Days
The Manta Queen 2 liveaboard is purpose-built for divers who want to experience the very best of Thailand's North Andaman region without a lengthy commitment.Koh Bon marks the first major stop. This limestone ridge drops sharply to 40 metres, and its west ridge is a reliable cleaning station for manta rays. Divers often spend their bottom time hovering in the blue, watching these giants glide in to be attended by cleaner wrasse. Grey reef sharks and giant trevally are common here, adding to the pelagic action.
Koh Tachai follows, offering a dramatic underwater crown reef that rises from the depths to within 12 metres of the surface. Strong currents sweep nutrient-rich water across the site, feeding dense thickets of gorgonian fans and sea whips. It is a place to park yourself in the blue and watch barracuda spiral overhead or wait for a manta to materialise from the haze.
The centrepiece of the trip is Richelieu Rock, a submerged pinnacle in the Surin Islands that is widely regarded as one of the world's finest dive sites. This isolated rock is smothered in soft corals of pink, purple, and orange that cluster so thickly they obscure the rock itself. Between February and April, whale sharks pass through with some regularity, drawn by the density of plankton. For macro enthusiasts, Richelieu is equally rewarding: ghost pipefish sway in the current, seahorses grip coral branches, and harlequin shrimp hide among sea anemone . The site's position near the Burmese border gives it a remote, wild feel, and the sheer density of marine life,from schooling barracuda to tiny nudibranchs, makes every dive here an event.
Day 4
The last morning opens with an early dive at Koh Bon Pinnacle, a submerged rock formation off Koh Bon that often attracts mantas for cleaning . After breakfast, the Manta Queen 2 heads for the Boonsung Wreck, a retired tin dredger resting upright in approximately 32 metres of water. Corals encrust the hull, while schools of trevally, batfish, and groupers patrol the deck and railings. It's a fitting contrast to the reefscapes of the previous days. The wreck is accessible to recreational divers and provides a satisfying final dive. Lunch is served as the boat cruises back to Thaplamu Pier, arriving in the early afternoon for transfers to Khao Lak or Phuket.
[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].
Life onboard the Manta Queen 2 liveaboard follows a steady rhythm of diving, eating, and relaxing. The morning call comes early, typically around 6:30 am, timed to get you in the water before the wind picks up. There is a self-service light breakfast for the early risers, then the first dive briefing, and you are in the water. After surfacing, a proper hot breakfast is laid out to refuel you for the day ahead.
The breakfast spread on the Manta Queen 2 is substantial. Alongside the familiar eggs cooked to order, sausages, ham, and bacon, the kitchen crew offers a rotation of classic Thai breakfasts. You might find jok, a comforting rice porridge, or khao tom, a rice soup with minced pork and ginger. Other mornings, khao man gai (Thai-style chicken rice) or a crispy kai jeow (Thai omelette) appears. Fresh seasonal fruit, yoghurt, muesli, toast with spreads, and hot drinks are always on hand.
Lunch is served around 12:30 pm, and dinner follows at approximately 7:30 pm, with snacks and fruit placed out between dives. All meals are served buffet-style, freshly prepared, and the menu showcases the galley's broad expertise in Thai cuisine, with some Western dishes available too. The kitchen crew does not use MSG in any of the cooking. A typical lunch or dinner on the Manta Queen 2 liveaboard might feature pad krapao, a fragrant holy basil stir-fry with rice, chicken or pork, topped with a fried egg. Another day, you could find khao soi, laab moo, a spicy minced pork salad with toasted rice powder. Rich curries are also frequent: gaeng keow wan (green curry) with chicken and eggplant, or gaeng panaeng, a milder, creamier red curry. Seafood might appear as goong pad nam prik pao, prawns stir-fried with chilli paste. Salads like yam woon sen (glass noodle salad) bring brightness to the table.
Desserts are a highlight. Khao niaow ma muang, mango with sticky rice, is a favourite when in season. On other days, you might find tub tim grob (red rubies, water chestnuts in coconut milk). If the weather is fine, the crew fires up the barbecue on the sun deck, bringing out grilled snapper, garlic-and-pepper chicken wings, and moo yang, slices of marinated pork neck with a spicy dipping sauce.
Between dives, the galley keeps a steady supply of salted peanuts, prawn crackers, and seasonal fruit. Soft drinks, juice, tea, and coffee are available throughout the day. The Manta Queen 2 crew cooks with real care, and guests regularly comment on the high standard of the food. Vegetarian and vegan diners are well catered for, and any allergies or dietary requirements can be noted when you book. The daily routine is straightforward: the crew manages the meals and logistics, and you focus on the scuba diving.
