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Thailand Live Aboards

| Ocean Rover |

Thailand offers the best diving by live aboard dive vessel. Divers seeking clearer water can travel 70 miles west to the Similans, a group of 9 uninhabited islands preserved in their natural beauty as a national park.

Ocean Rover

Since the mid-seventies, when liveaboard diving was "invented", dive boats have evolved considerably. Nowadays divers want more than just a dry place to sleep, some deck space to gear up and three meals a day. They have very specific wishes regarding on board accommodation, safety, ease of diving operations, photo facilities and crew. If you prefer to Live-aboard rather than just Exist-aboard or Bunk-aboard then join our flagship "Ocean Rover" for an unforgettable cruise.

Our homeport Phuket is the gateway to some of the worlds most varied and amazing diving. Let them show you the treasures of the Andaman Sea. They are the pioneers of liveaboard diving in this part of the world and were the first to dive many locations that are now world-famous divesites. Through their efforts places like the Similan Islands and the Burma Banks have become household words in diver circles.

Ocean Rover’s crew is very experienced and receives constant praise from her guests. The dive crew has logged thousands of dives in these waters but have retained their enthusiasm and sense of wonderment. They excel in finding small and rare marine life specimens that are hidden to the untrained eye and are happy to show you how to photograph these creatures without destroying the coral. Add to this the Thai boat crews’ ever-smiling helpfulness and the mouthwatering on-board cuisine and you have all the ingredients for a great trip.

Access to Phuket is very easy with multiple flights daily from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. Cruises depart in the evening so you can actually fly in and board the vessel on the same day. However, we recommend that you arrive a few days before your cruise and stay at one of Phuket’s many excellent hotels. This will give you time to get acclimatized, do some shopping, or check out your camera during a day dive. You’ll be much more relaxed by the time your cruise departs. We will be happy to assist you in finding a hotel that suits your taste and budget.

Similans National Park, Richelieu Rock, Bangsak Wreck,
Mergui Archipelago, Black Rock, Western Rocky, 3 Islets and more.

During each of these cruises we will dive in Thai and Burmese waters. To save daylight hours, we do as much of our long distance travelling as possible at night.

We depart from the Chalong Bay Tourist Pier, Phuket at 20:00hrs and visit the Similan Islands first. Heading north from there we then dive Ko Tachai, possibly Ko Bon, the Surin Islands area and Richelieu Rock before heading for the Myanmar border. We clear immigration in Kawthaung (Victoria Point) that evening, where an official representative from the Tourism Ministry will join us.

The next four to five days are spent exploring the Mergui Archipelago (Western Rocky, Three Islets, Fanforest Pinnacle, North Twin, High Rock, possibly Black Rock, etc.) and the Burma Banks. Eventually we make our way back to Kawthaung, where we check out of Myanmar in the evening, then head back into Thai waters.

The next day starts with several dives at Richelieu Rock, followed by Ko Tachai, possibly Ko Bon, the Bangsak Wreck, and finally the Similans. We spend the last day diving in the Similans (last dive surfaces approx. 15:00hrs) before returning to Chalong Bay, Phuket late that evening. Passengers sleep on-board and disembark the next morning at approx. 07:00hrs.

Similans National Park, Richelieu Rock, Bangsak Wreck,
Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Emerald Cave, Ko Ha Yai and more.

During these southern cruises we will dive in Thai waters only. To save daylight hours, we do as much of our long distance travelling as possible at night.

We depart from the Chalong Bay Tourist Pier, Phuket at 20:00hrs and visit the Similan Islands first. Heading north from there we then dive Ko Tachai, possibly Ko Bon, the Surin Islands area and Richelieu Rock.

We then do a long overnight crossing back down to the southern areas. The next day starts with several dives at Hin Daeng, followed by Hin Muang. We sleep overnight at Ko Rok Nok, where night diving is possible as well.

We spend the last day diving around Ko Ha Yai and the Emerald Cave (last dive surfaces approx. 15:00hrs) before returning to Chalong Bay, Phuket late that evening. Passengers sleep on-board and disembark the next morning at approx. 07:00hrs.

Important note: The itineraries above are only a description of an average cruise. In reality, no two cruises are ever the same. The Cruise Director and Captain decide on the best course of action based on the prevailing wind and sea conditions. Special marine life sightings also influence the daily schedule.

Number of Dives: 8 day itinerary 30-34, 9 day itinerary 34-38, 10 day itinerary 38-42.