On a Similan Islands Liveaboard, you can experience scuba diving in an entirely unique way. In this article, we will walk you through our experience on a Liveaboard dive trip in Thailand and suggest some of the best Similan Islands Liveaboards for every budget.
The Similan Islands are situated off Thailand’s Andaman Coast and are often regarded as one of the best places in the country to scuba dive. With (mostly) healthy corals, a diverse range of marine life, and calm, tepid waters, this is a great place for beginner divers as well as those who are more advanced.
Participating in a Similan Islands Liveaboard is the best way to explore the national marine park.
There are plenty of small, colorful corals and fish to see, but most divers in the Similan Islands cross their fingers that they’ll have the good fortune to spot an elusive whale shark. We didn’t get so lucky, but maybe you will! (We’re sending you our good luck karma now!)
In this article, we’re going to share our experience on a Liveaboard in the Similan Islands so you know exactly what to expect, plus we’re listing our top recommendations for Similan Islands Liveaboards for you to book your own epic diving experience.
Psst! Wondering what a Liveaboard is? Here is everything you need to know about Liveaboard diving trips.
Similan Islands Liveaboard Guide
Here’s what we cover in this guide. Click on any of the links below to jump down to that section, or keep scrolling to get all the juicy details.
- Why Similan Islands are a great Liveaboard destination
- Our Similan Islands Liveaboard experience
- Best Similan Islands Liveaboards
- Best time to do a Similan Islands Liveaboard
- Best Similan Islands Liveaboard dive sites
- How to get to the Similan Islands
- What to pack for a Liveaboard
Disclosure: Thank you to Wicked Diving for a partial sponsorship of our Similan Islands Liveaboard experience. As always, all our opinions are completely our own.
Why Similan Islands are a great Liveaboard destination
The archipelago of the Similan Islands is actually designated as a national park and is considered the best diving in all of Thailand.
The 9 islands are located about 30 miles off the coast in the Andaman Sea and are therefore only accessible by boat. The trip takes about 2 hours one way and therefore day trips are limited by timing.
Enter Similan Islands Liveaboard trips!
During these multi-day boat trips, you’ll spend your days cruising between dive sites, diving up to 4 times in one day. In between dives you’ll eat all your meals, relax and socialize with the other guests, and even sleep on board the ship, only to wake up and repeat it all the next day.
The greatest benefit of doing a Liveaboard trip in the Similan Islands is getting the opportunity to visit dive sites that you cannot see on a day trip. This means you get to see the reefs and marine life that are wildly untouched by tourism and frequent divers like the sites that are closer to shore.
Don’t take our word for it… See for yourself with this video from our Similan Islands Liveaboard experience.
Our Similan Islands Liveaboard experience
Our Similan Liveaboard was our first ever, and it truly felt like a dream coming to fruition for us.
The dives varied quite a bit — from reefs to shelf dives with strong currents to a night dive — we got to experience several types, which was pretty cool. Unlike booking day trip dives where the sites can get quite crowded with other companies, our boat was typically the only one at each site. We unfortunately didn’t see that whale shark, though. I guess we’ll have to keep booking Liveaboards until we do!
While we didn’t see a whale shark, we saw a ton of other marine life and anchored in some seriously stunning spots.
The two of us were paired with our own instructor, who was a gem! We have kept in touch with her since and even met up with her years later. (Bridget, you rock!)
There were certainly things that made it apparent that this was a budget-friendly Liveaboard — like the cozy — or some might say cramped — sleeping quarters, and the very basic bathrooms (equipped with marine toilets). It certainly wasn’t luxurious like the yachts you might see on TV. But overall, the quality compared to the price was a really good value, in our opinion.
We would highly recommend doing a Liveaboard in the Similan Islands if you have the chance. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you won’t regret. The good news is that there are lots of different Liveaboard options to choose from — from ones that are suitable for budget travelers to those that are higher end.
Simian was our first — but definitely not our last — Liveaboard. (The next Liveaboard we booked was in Komodo National Park.)
We think the Similan Islands are the perfect place for your first Liveaboard experience. The dives are epic enough for more experienced divers, but easy enough for beginners, and since there are 3-day options, it’s a nice way to get your toes wet (literally!) without a huge commitment.
Typical daily schedule
Similan Islands Liveaboard trips vary in length depending on the boat and the destination. There are options for excursions ranging from 3 days to 8-day trips .
We did the 3-day Similan Islands Liveaboard, and while each day was slightly different, here’s the gist:
Dive, Eat, Sleep, Repeat.
I wasn’t sure if I would get tired of diving, but honestly, I found myself excitedly awaiting the next dive each day.
And don’t worry: if you’re not feeling well, are tired, or just need a break from diving, there’s nobody forcing you to go. You can always sit out a dive if you want.
Here’s an example of what our second day aboard the M/V Mariner looked like:
- 7:30 a.m. Wake up call
- 7:45 a.m. Dive 1
- 9:15 a.m. Breakfast
- 11:00 a.m. Dive 2
- 12:30 p.m. Lunch
- 2:45 p.m. Dive 3
- 4:15 p.m. Afternoon tea
- 5:15 p.m. Info session on Shark Guardian
- 6:35 p.m. Dive 4 (night dive!)
- 8:20 p.m. Dinner
Dive gear
As a guest on a Similan Islands Liveaboard, you will receive rental gear, though you are more than welcome to bring your own equipment if you have it.
Generally included in your Liveaboard price is all equipment necessary for diving*:
- Wetsuit (shorty style because the water is so warm!)
- Air Tanks
- BCD & regulators
- Dive computer
- Mask
- Fins and Booties
- Weight Belt
*This may vary from boat to boat, depending on what you book. It’s a good idea to ask about diving gear before booking to make sure you understand all the necessary costs.
Insider Tip: We’d recommend purchasing your own mask, as this piece of equipment will be much more comfortable when it fits your face properly. If you purchase only one piece of scuba gear, this should be it. The rentals just can’t fit every face properly, so you may get some leaking. Depending on your personal preference and your face shape, you might even want to consider getting a full-face diving mask.
Safety while diving
Wicked Diving puts a big emphasis on safety, and you will be in good hands. The staff on board are super professional and have been trained to handle all types of situations.
Before each dive, the dive staff checks the currents and the conditions and communicates any things you may encounter on the dive briefing.
Our Similan Islands Liveaboard boat
When we first got on board and sat down for our first briefing, our trip leader said quite bluntly, “This isn’t the ‘poshest’ boat, but you’ll love it.”
And in all honesty, he’s right. If it’s luxury and comfort you’re looking for, well, you might wanna look into a yacht excursion and be ready to fork over a hefty bit of cash.
But if you have reasonable expectations and welcome an adventure, you will be totally comfortable aboard the M/V Mariner or a similar budget-friendly Similan Islands Liveaboard boat. And while it’s not luxurious per se, you certainly won’t be roughing it.
Let’s take a tour…
Bedrooms
The rooms on our boat were small and simple, but quite comfortable. They even had air conditioning (I was pleasantly surprised by this!).
There are two types of rooms — bunks and queen beds. If you are traveling solo, you might be paired up with a bunkmate. If you are traveling as a couple, you’ll either get bunks or a room with one queen bed.
Common areas on the boat
The second level has tables and chairs, and this is the area where most things take place. Here is where you’ll have dive briefings and eat all your meals. It’s also a nice, shaded area to hang out and play cards or read a book.
The top deck is partially shaded and has an area with bean bags and a hammock. There’s also a section in the sun with mats to lay out and take a nap. Just be sure you apply enough sunblock if you hang out here — it’s no fun putting on a wetsuit with a nasty sunburn!
Bathrooms
Soooo you might be wondering what the bathroom situation is like while living on a boat for a few days. Don’t worry — we’ll tell all!
There are 3 bathrooms on board, and aside from once or twice, we rarely had to wait to use them. They are Western-style toilets and are kept clean. One thing to note is just like most toilets in Thailand, you cannot dispose of paper or sanitary products in the toilets.
It is even more important on the boat than it is on land, as these are marine toilets and eventually everything that is flushed will end up in the water. There is a bin to dispose of anything you cannot flush.
Each bathroom also has a shower, and surprisingly, the hot water worked well and the pressure was strong. PH neutral shampoo, conditioner and body wash are provided, and you are asked to refrain from using your own products on board so you don’t compromise the marine life.
Meals
Guys, the food on Wicked Diving Liveaboard was incredible! It’s crazy because the two women who cook all the meals use just two burners.
They whip up breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks with multiple dishes — curries, wontons, and stir fries, to name a few! They are also accommodating to vegetarians, vegans and others with dietary restrictions.
And if you’re hungry between meals, there are plenty of snacks for you to enjoy: fresh fruit, cereal and granola, yogurt, peanut butter and jam. Plus, there are juices, instant coffee, tea and hot chocolate available all day long (and fresh coffee with breakfast!).
Eco-friendly practices
If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you know that supporting companies that are practicing responsible tourism is of utmost importance to us.
Below are some practices that our Similan Islands Liveaboard had in place to lower their environmental impact. We’d encourage you to look for Liveaboard trips with similar practices.
Water bottles
Each guest is given a water bottle that is theirs to use for the trip. They can use it to fill up with fresh water instead of going through hundreds of plastic water bottles per trip.
Recycle & compost
We were so happy to see recycling and food scraps were disposed of separately from the general trash.
PH Neutral shower products
Each bathroom has PH neutral shampoo, conditioner and body wash, and all guests are asked to use these products while onboard instead of their own. This ensures that the reef will not be damaged.
Rechargeable batteries
Even though they may cost more than normal batteries, rechargeable batteries help reduce waste. And Thailand does not have a program to recycle old batteries, so if you bring a battery to Thailand, please bring it home and properly recycle it when you are back home.
Strict no touching marine life policy
One of the things we appreciated most about Wicked Diving is their strict no touching policy. We’ve gone snorkeling with companies in the past where the guide will pick up ocean life like starfish, or touch the coral to show it to guests.
This has always made us uncomfortable, and we loved that the instructors at Wicked said we are all observers and we do not manipulate or disturb any marine life.
Shark Guardian
Wicked Diving partners with a UK Charity called Shark Guardian which helps monitor and provides education about sharks. For each dive, we would record if we saw a shark (which we did!) or not and that information will be sent to Shark Guardian to help track the population of the apex predator of the sea.
Metal pull rings
While on the boat, there is a place for you to put your soda can pull tabs. These are then sent to Chiang Mai where they are melted down to make prosthetics.
If you’re traveling in Thailand for a bit before your Similan Islands Liveaboard, consider saving up the tabs from any beer or soda you consume and adding them to the collection when you arrive to the boat.
Charity projects
2% of all Wicked’s revenue goes to a few local charity organizations in the area.
- Teaching local children how to swim: Not only do they give money, but they give their time to help teach swimming to children in the community.
- Trash clean up: Wicked partners with Trash Hero, an international organization helping clean up trash in beaches and oceans. We participated with a Trash Hero Clean Up and would highly recommend it to anyone traveling to the islands or even throughout Thailand.
Psst! Learn more about sustainable diving practices and how to become an environmentally friendly diver.
Liveaboard staff & crew
On our voyage, there were 5 instructors – one of whom was the trip leader.
The ratio of instructors to guests varies from Liveaboard to Liveaboard, but the group sizes are small (the most guests an instructor had on our trip was 4).
We had our own guide, Bridget, and she was super knowledgeable and a fantastic diver. She is deaf and was able to teach us some sign language, which was really fun. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better dive guide!
There are also Thai boat crew – 2 cooks, 3 “boat boys” who help to get the equipment ready and get guests in and out of the water; and the captain (of course!).
Other divers onboard
On our Similan Islands Liveaboard, there were a total of 14 guests from all over the world and of all ages. The youngest person on board was 20 years old and the oldest was a repeat customer who I would guess is in his early seventies.
There are people from all walks of life too. Two-week vacationers, backpackers, couples, solo travelers, students, professionals. We had bit of a mix of it all.
And much the same, everyone came with their own level of diving experience. One guest on our boat had gone diving for his first time just a week before to get his Open Water certification. Others had been avid divers for years and have experience diving all over the world.
Best Similan Islands Liveaboards
Whatever your preferences for your Similan Islands Liveaboard experience, we have recommendations for every budget level.
Andaman
- Length of voyage: 4, 5 and 8 days
- Ship size: Up to 20 guests
- Cost: starting at $108 USD / day
- Destinations: Similan Islands, Surin Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock
What better way to explore the Andaman Sea than aboard the Andaman?
On the budget end of Similan Islands Liveaboards, The Andaman is a top choice for a unique scuba experience. The friendly crew, expert diving guides, and delicious food stand out as highlights of this vessel.
Divers have a choice between private ensuite cabins or shared cabins with shared bathrooms for a range of budgets. All with air conditioning! When not diving, there is plenty of space to relax on the sundeck or seated areas under the shaded canopy.
Blue Dolphin
- Length of voyage: 5 days
- Ship size: Up to 16 guests
- Cost: starting at $145 USD / day
- Destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock
With 4 different types of air-conditioned cabins available at different price points, the MV Blue Dolphin provides its guests with enough privacy and space for ultimate comfortability.
The top deck provides wide spaces to soak up some sun while the common areas offer a lot of room for relaxation.
The diving staff onboard are highly-trained to offer the best and most relaxed diving experience for each individual.
The Junk
- Length of voyage: 3, 5 and 7 days
- Ship size: 6 guest cabins
- Cost: starting at $159 USD / day
- Destinations: the Andaman Sea or the unexplored waters of Myanmar (Burma)
Once part of a small merchant trade fleet, The Junk underwent a complete renovation to turn this authentic sailing vessel into a diving Liveaboard adventure.
The ship now features 6 air-conditioned cabins with ensuite bathrooms, an entertainment salon and sundeck with shaded area for lounging.
Diving from the Junk is done via dingy, to ensure you get to the best dive sites.
Since Wicked Diving is only offering group bookings now, this is the most similar Similan Islands Liveaboard experience we found to the one we did.
Marco Polo
- Length of voyage: 3 and 5 days
- Ship size: Up to 12 guests
- Cost: starting at $250 USD / day
- Destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock
If traveling in luxury is more your style, the 23-meter MV Marco Polo Liveaboard offers just that as you explore the Andaman Sea. The boat has six air-conditioned double cabins with ensuite bathrooms, all of which open to the outer deck.
With only three dive groups on board, the Marco Polo guarantees excellent service, stress-free setups, and fewer divers at dive sites.
After dives, guests can relax and dine on the spacious sundeck, which provides shaded areas. The indoor salon features a TV and music station for viewing underwater footage or listening to music.
Looking for a Liveaboard elsewhere in Thailand? We’ve put together a guide to Thailand Liveaboards, including our top Liveaboard recommendations for every budget.
Best time to do a Similan Islands Liveaboard
Because of Thailand’s weather patterns, the Similan Islands are only accessible during part of the year.
The national marine park is only open from the months of November through mid-May and diving is limited to these months. Outside of that time frame it is illegal to enter this national marine park.
The best time for diving is during the peak tourist season in Thailand from December through April. However, your chances of spotting mantas and whale sharks increase from February onward through April.
During the time that the Similan Islands are closed, it is a good time to visit Thailand’s Gulf islands, like Koh Tao or Koh Phangan.
Best Similan Islands Liveaboard dive sites
Diving in the Similan Islands varies from gradually sloping coral reefs to massive underwater rock formations, making unique ecosystems for coral and ocean life. Some dive sites have awesome swim-throughs and huge coral reefs.
There are so many fish to see while diving in the Similan Islands. We saw many clownfish, pufferfish, boxfish, and moray eels. We swam near large schools of barracuda and a white-tip reef shark cruised right past us.
In the past, our instructors had spotted manta rays and whale sharks around the Similans, but unfortunately, we did not see any.
You might think that the dives would start to blend together since they are seemingly one right after another, but each dive we did in the Similan Islands really stood out with different topography and ocean life.
Elephant Head
Regarded as the best dive site you’ll visit on your Similan Islands Liveaboard, Elephant Head is made up of large granite boulders, creating a playground of swim-throughs and gorges reaching 40 meters in depth.
The rocks that poke out at the top of the water are said to look like an elephant’s head… if you squint your eyes and use that big ol’ imagination of yours, that is.
Good to know: Currents can get strong here.
East of Eden
This site is undeniably beautiful, with a mix of hard and soft corals that are home to brightly colored fish. There’s also a good chance of seeing turtles at this site!
This is typically a slow drift dive, and it almost feels as if you’re viewing an aquarium from above, so it’s great for beginner divers.
Christmas Point
Another Similan Island Liveaboard favorite, this dive site is characterized by soft corals, arches and boulders. Christmas Point is a good place to spot nudibranchs, eels and even white tip sharks, if you venture to the deeper areas.
Boulder City and Shark Fin Reef
These sites are part of a ridge, and are good places to spot larger marine life like leopard sharks, parrotfish and napoleon wrasse. Divers also enjoy the beautiful fan corals that grow on this rocky ridge.
Richelieu Rock
This dive site is part of the Mu Koh Surin Marine Park and was famously discovered by scuba diving pioneer Jacques Cousteau, with the help of Thai fishermen.
The site is a horseshoe-shaped reef that is characterized by a diverse range of marine life, including manta rays, schools of barracuda, grouper, lionfish, and even the illustrious whale shark.
How to get to the Similan Islands
We already mentioned that the only way to reach this archipelago off the west coast of Thailand is by boat, but where do you start your trip?
Similan Islands Liveaboards all leave from Khao Lak.
The easiest way to get to Khao Lak is by taking a shuttle or bus from Phuket, which is just 60 kilometers (37 miles) south. Shuttles and buses are frequent from Phuket and can be arranged from hotels or at the airport.
Alternative: Krabi, on the mainland, also has a daily minibus to Khao Lak that’ll take about 2.5 hours.
What to pack for a Liveaboard diving trip
Figuring out what to pack for a scuba Liveaboard can be tricky… you want to be prepared, but you definitely don’t want to overpack when you’re going to be living in tight quarters. There are some definite musts that you don’t want to forget, and even more things that you should just leave on land.
We’ve taken all the guesswork out of packing for you and compiled a complete Liveaboard packing list so you don’t forget any essentials on shore. Oh, and it’s totally FREE!
Don’t forget about travel insurance!
World Nomads provides coverage for adventure activities like scuba diving that aren’t usually covered (read the fine print!) in typical travel insurance policies. We recommend getting their short-term trip coverage (on top of your regular travel insurance plan) if you plan on doing a Liveaboard diving trip.
Get an instant quote on World Nomads right now, it’s that simple! It’ll take less than 3 minutes.
Are you interested in Liveaboard diving and want help planning your trip?
We have some great resources for you!
Planning a Liveaboard Diving Trip
From the diving equipment to the bathroom situation, here’s everything you need to know about planning a Liveaboard diving trip. We’ll walk you through a typical daily schedule and clue you in on what to expect for the onboard experience. Plus we’ll include some expert tips and insider advice we wish we would have known before our first Liveaboard.
Be sure to look over our Thailand travel guide to get quick advice on everything from the local currency to key words and phrases you should know. Browse our extensive article library for tips and advice on traveling to destinations all over the country.
Before you go…
- Check out this list of the best scuba diving Liveaboards around the world.
- We gathered up all the best Thailand Liveaboards for every budget.
- Find out why our Komodo Liveaboard was the ultimate diving experience in Indonesia.
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We want to hear from you!
Are you interested in doing a Similan Islands Liveaboard and still have questions? Leave your comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you!
your article really makes me put Thailand in my top 3 destinations for this year! I have a friend who went diving there, she absolutely loved the Sail Rock (https://dive.site/explore/site/sail-rock-OZNE) and generally the whole island. I just got my PADI Open Water certification and I’m so eager to explore more of the wonders of this incredible planet <3
The Similan Islands is a great place to dive and we loved every minute of it there.
wow, this sounds really amazing! I will definitely remember them for my future trip to Thailand!
Great place to dive !
To this day, still the best place we have ever scuba dived!