Pawara is a spacious steel hulled liveaboard, built locally in Phuket and launched in 2006. Her 35 metre hull and stabiliser extensions give it a large and stable platform from which you can explore all the best dive sites of the Andaman Sea.
'Pawara' is an ancient Thai word meaning Treasure of the Corals, and the boat is certainly a gem if you are looking for an affordable, high quality option to explore the best of Thailand's dive sites. The itinerary covers the Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and also Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Ha and the Phi Phi Islands.
This Phuket liveaboard's facilities, such as the 35 square metre saloon (with TV/DVD player, free Wi-Fi internet and Play Station), dining room and the huge 72 square metre sundeck give guests plenty of space to relax between dives. Both the saloon and dining room are air-conditioned, and you also have access to a large shaded deck area on the main deck, for those that prefer fresh air but aren't sun worshippers. All Pawara's cabins have private bathrooms, except the budget cabin.
From 2013, MV Pawara is delighted to announce the use of complimentary nitrox for all its EANx-certified guests, allowing them to get even more diving pleasure from their Thailand liveaboard trips.
There are 2 Master double bed cabins at the front of the main deck, 4 Deluxe twin bunk bed cabins on the main deck, 4 Standard twin/double cabins and 2 Budget cabins on the lower deck. The Master cabins are larger and have windows aplenty. The Deluxe cabins have large windows, whereas the Standard cabins have portholes. All cabins have en suite bathrooms, except the Budget cabins (shared bathroom).
All the liveaboard cabins have:
- Individual control air conditioning
- Large seaview windows (portholes only lower deck)
- Toilet & hot water shower with toiletries
- Welcome wine (mini bottle)
- Bedding, towels & blankets
- Wardrobe & storage space
- Built in safe
- Hair dryer
No. of bathrooms / showers - 10 / 10 - hot water
Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock (5 Days / 4 Nights - 14 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, Richelieu Rock and Khao Lak
Day 1
The MV Pawara departs from Tab Lamu pier in Khao Lak. Upon boarding, the tour leader will greet you, assist with cabin assignments, and provide a detailed orientation covering the liveaboard's features and the dive plan for the coming days. A welcome dinner is served as you begin the overnight transit to the Similan Islands, with an estimated arrival at midnight. After a good night's sleep in your cabin, you will be prepared for the diving activities that start the following morning.
Core Days
Widely celebrated as Thailand's most spectacular dive destination, the Similan Islands form a breathtaking archipelago of 9 granite islands. Each is cloaked in dense, emerald tropical jungle and fringed by beaches of powder-white sand, all set within a seascape of sparkling, crystal-clear azure waters. Beneath the surface, a dramatic underwater landscape unfolds, featuring gardens of both hard and soft corals that pulse with colour and life. This scenery is punctuated by colossal granite boulders, sculpted by time into dramatic rock formations that create thrilling swim-throughs, hidden caves, and canyons. Nutrient-rich currents sweep over these rich reefs, supporting an incredible density of unusual and interesting marine life and making exhilarating drift dives a common and unforgettable experience. With a schedule of up to 4 dives each day, you will gain an intimate and comprehensive knowledge of the marvels concealed within this world-renowned marine park.
Beyond the main islands lies the legendary Richelieu Rock, a pinnacle that just breaks the surface at low tide. This unique site is arguably your best chance in Thailand for a majestic encounter with the gentle giant, the whale shark. It also serves as a seasonal cleaning station for graceful eagle and manta rays, making them common visitors. Given its unparalleled magnetism, your guides will likely schedule multiple dives at this unforgettable location. The strong currents attract massive, shimmering schools of trevallies, rainbow runners and barracuda, creating a breathtaking spectacle, while a closer look at the intricate crevices reveals a hidden world of cryptic creatures like the expertly camouflaged dancing shrimp, porcelain crabs, and elusive seahorses.
Day 5
The underwater adventure continues with 2 final dives at the renowned sites of Koh Bon and/or the intriguing Bunsoong Wreck, located near Khao Lak. After completing these dives, the Pawara will return to Tab Lamu pier. Upon disembarkation from the liveaboard, a comfortable minibus transfer will be provided to take you back to 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].
Aboard the MV Pawara, all your meals are served buffet-style in the comfortable indoor dining area on the main deck of the liveaboard, which also serves as a social lounge.
You will quickly settle into the daily routine, which starts with a light pre-breakfast snack before your first dive, followed by a full American-style breakfast after you surface.
Lunch is served after the second morning dive, and different snacks are provided each day after the third dive to energise you for the optional night dive, which is scheduled before the evening meal.
The Pawara chefs prepare an exciting mix of Western and local Thai cuisine for lunch and dinner, with plenty of fresh seafood and vegetables. A typical dinner buffet offers a choice of 4 main dishes to cater to all tastes.
For breakfast, you can expect a continental and American spread.
Complimentary snacks available throughout the day include fresh fruits and refreshing fruit yogurt shakes.
For your comfort, fresh coffee, a selection of teas, soft drinks, and purified drinking water are available free of charge 24 hours a day.
Local beers are also available for purchase.
The dining service begins with dinner on your first night.
Please note that the staff can cater to vegetarian and other dietary requirements with prior notice.
"
A fantastic team who looked after us all from beginning to end of our trip. Food was excellent with very varied menus. Help was always available to kit up and gain access into and out of rib. Girls who served up meals were so helpful and cheerful. We only had less than half of normal divers on board so we had great space.
From the outset the Dive The World team advised me which liveaboard would be best instead of local dives. Not knowing Phuket, this was great advice. I found the staff extremely friendly and were available to chat at any time if I had any issues. Would definitely recommend their services to friends." -
Catherine McMahon, Ireland, 11 April 2025 ....
"
Very friendly and helpful staff, going out of their way to make sure everybody is having a good time. Also great diving facilities and excellent vegetarian meals on Pawara.
Dive The World has friendly, helpful staff, and quick replies to inquiries." -
Rutger Middelburg , Nederlands, 5 November 2023 ....
"
No port holes in berth, and berth smelled bad, sink drained right onto floor. All dive guides and most of crew all smoked, so it was difficult to enjoy the sun deck. Transportation to boat never showed up and no ability to communicate with boat. We were told when first getting on the boat that they didn't have staff to take my newly certified 13 year old on many dives and that they didn't have staff to take me and my other son snorkeling. The boat bilged the black water into the bay at Koh Bon just before we were getting in the water. This trip was a horrible experience." -
Kristine Ash Coughlin , USA, 1 December 2022 ...
"
The food was amazing on board. The boat boys who assisted us in and out of the water, and filled our tanks were great. Really appreciated them very much. The crew, captain, engineers, everyone were really nice and helpful. I have issue with my back, so I really appreciated their attention taking care of me getting in and out of the boat. Charlie suggested I put on my BCD on the dinghy, which was a great idea. I really appreciated the free Nitrox so much. Having said that, it would be good if they had more than 1 nitrox analyser as the one and only one we had on board wasn't working very well and that slowed down the whole process of analysing our tanks before each dive.
The boat felt very crowded though. My cabin was 'raining' from the A-C the first 2 days. My cabin also didn't have curtains when I first arrived. There were a couple of dive guides who were coughing badly at the start of the trip. They looked and sounded like they might have Covid. I actually tested positive for Covid only when I got home, and the only possibility is that I had caught it on Pawara. The dive guides also charged along like Speedy Gonzalez all the time. At certain sites, I didn't even have the chance to stop and take a good picture as my dive guide kept charging along and would tell me off when I wanted to stop and take a picture.
" -
Debra Teng, Singapore, 21 November 2022 ...
"
Lovely crew with delicious food. Ship was clean and rental diving equipment was in good condition. Breathing, Instruction and Tourguide was performed professionally. Very delicious food, the crew was always ready to help." -
Chris Rechsteiner, Switzerland, 7 November 2022 ...
"
All personnel were very helpful and could anticipate our needs before we knew what we needed/wanted. They were always friendly and smiling. The food was great! Lots of choices and variety. Never went hungry.
" -
David Knisely , USA, 10 March 2022 ....
"
Great dive guides, comfortable boat, decent food. " -
Megan A Volk, USA, 8 May 2020 ....
"
The liveaboard was in very good/clean condition. The staff was top notch, from the dive crew, cooking crew and cabin crew, all were great and very helpful. Food was excellent. The dive program was very good and exceeded expectations." -
Martin Roessing, USA, 24 March 2015 ....
"
Excellent boat, cabin, dive deck, briefings, dives, equipment. Food outstanding good.
Perfect service on the dive deck. Great tour management." -
Volker Stahlschmidt, Germany, 9 March 2015 ...
"
Fantastic service. Marco was a great dive instructor and guide. The free nitrox refills were a nice bonus. Food was very good onboard, and Thai crew was very helpful and accommodating ." -
Joanna Tong, USA, 30 November 2014 ...
"
Great crew, divemasters, and staff. Marco runs a great boat. Very professional, but also fun loving crew and dive masters. Very experienced guides with nice personalities. Overall the boat is very nice (in good shape) and the food was good and bountiful. Standard cabin was ok, but you're not there to spend time in the cabin anyway." -
Jonathan Stolz, Laos, 11 April 2014 ...
"
The staff were fantastic - extremely helpful. Good quality equipment - well maintained." -
Elizabeth Treasure, Australia, 30 January 2014 ...
"
Well run operation, hired regulators were in good condition, knowledgeable and professional dive guides, lovely spacious boat, no complaints at all." -
Heather Hutchings, Hong Kong, 13 February 2013 ...
"
The trip was very well organized and all pick ups / drop offs were on time etc. The staff (both dive instructors and Thai boat staff) were excellent. They were very service oriented and at all times tried to tailor the liveaboard and diving experiences to what we wanted. The 2 major drawbacks were: 1) that the food was not too exciting and appeared to be made from not entirely fresh ingredients, 2) the cabins were a bit cramped, quite humid, and the only option to freshen the air was a very large AC that inevitably blew right on our faces throughout the night. If it was possible to e.g. open the windows that would have helped, and perhaps the staff ensured the room was 'aired out' between trips to make it less humid." -
Alexander Thrane, Norway, 26 March 2012 ...
"
The liveaboard and team on the Pawara exceeded our expectations. They were all very friendly and always willing to help. The dive instructors were very knowledgeable about the area and all the dive sites. The food onboard was amazing and the boat was always clean." -
Jenna Martin, Australia, 15 February 2012 ...
"
The ENTIRE boat crew on Pawara - the food, the guides, the Captain, the video-ographer ... the entire trip was first class. We truly enjoyed their energy, service and friendship!" -
Eric Erikson, Canada, 14 February 2011...
"
Loved it. Great food, clean, friendly staff, good dive briefings -- my only problem was when the driver was late - I was worried he left me at the airport. One thing that I wish would have been stressed was safety to the coral while people were taking pictures. One of the women from Singapore on my trip (Delphi) was continually standing on the coral or kneeling on the anenomes to take pictures. I think they should have taken her gloves and camera away and she would have had a quick lesson in bouyancy." -
Lori Goodsell, USA, 31 December 2010 ...
"
We returned yesterday from the trip with the pawara and had an absolutely fantastic time. The diving was spectacular, the weather cooperated fully and our experience on the boat was first-rate. Please explain: boat was excellent, had ample room to strech out in, crew was flawless, dive masters were great!" -
Seth Schaberg, USA, 3 May 2010 ...
"
Divemasters were professional and helpful, they knew the sites well, and was particularly good in dodging currents, so our dives were really very leisurely and enjoyable. The deck was really spacious although the rooms were not, ... and the toilets do not flush very well, but generally the decks were clean and well maintained." -
Sylvia Tan, Malaysia, 3 May 2010 ...
"
Absolutely faultless. The facilities, boat crew, dive staff, equipment etc totally exceeded my expectations. All the staff involved were experienced, professional, friendly and knowledgeable. The boat was immaculate and luxurious (very smart for a dive boat!), and the food was excellent. The best dive holiday/boat I've been on by a long way. So good that we nearly stayed on for a couple of extra days!!!!! ... The Pawara is an absolutely fantastic dive boat. Both the staff and the facilities were exceptional, both exceeding expectations. 100% recommendation to anyone wanting a liveaboard in Phuket!" -
Vicky Barlow, UK, 8 March 2007 ...
"
Equipment good, plenty of choice in sizes; boat was as described and comfortable; food was excellent; staff were very helpful." -
Peter Lawrence, United Kingdom, 15 February 2007 ...
"
New boat is beautiful and very comfortable and the staff very attentive." -
Heili Allee, USA, 23 November 2006 ...
