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Thailand Liveaboard Diving -
FAQs
What is a liveaboard cruise?
Liveaboard charters provide you
with complete diving facilities and
living accommodations. You eat, sleep and dive on the boat!
They stay at sea for the duration of a cruise and so can explore more
remote dive sites. This type of diving opens up a whole world of top
class opportunities that would simply not be available on a regular day
trip boat. Destinations include the Similan Islands, and Surin Islands,
Hin Daeng - Hin Muang as well as the Mergui Archipelago (Burma).
How many dives will I make per day?
Generally you can make four dives a day. A typical day
starts at 07:00 hrs with the first dive; the last being either a sunset
or night dive. You have about three hours between dives at your leisure.
When is the best time to come?
The Similan liveaboards cruise season runs from
October to May. The weather and Andaman Sea are at their calmest during
the months of February to early May, and this is when visibility is at
its best. This time of year is also manta ray and whale shark season.
What diving license do I need?
An open water diving license is acceptable for
Thailand liveaboard safaris. Although there are some deep and exposed
sites, there are enough easy sites and enough Divemasters on board so
that you will never need to dive beyond your limits.
To make the most of your Phuket adventure and to
extend your scuba training you may wish to take your PADI Advanced Open
Water Diver license on board. Certification is normally discounted to
about half price. Select the "Facilities and Food" information tab of
each boat for course prices on board.
How far in advance do I need to book?
Although it is possible to book some safaris only a
few weeks before departure, if you want to ensure your place on one of
our most popular Similan liveaboard charter cruises between December and
April you must try to book six months in advance.
Are there any strong currents?
Some of the dive sites visited can have strong
currents. This depends on the site, time of month and time of day. Your
guide will advise you in your pre-dive briefings. Generally, there is
never an occasion when you need to swim against a strong current.
I don't have my diving license with me, can I still
dive?
If you have a PADI certification, we can check your
details direct with PADI. Please provide your name as it appears on your
card and your date of birth. If you contact the diving centre where you
were certified, they can help you obtain a new card before you travel.
Can I dive on my own?
Phuket liveaboards are recreational diving cruise
charters, and as such follow recreational scuba guidelines. This means
you'll be expected to dive with a buddy to a maximum depth of 40 metres
and observe safe diving limits. If you prefer to dive without a guide,
then this is not a problem provided you have all the equipment necessary
to conduct dives unassisted i.e. dive computer or timing device, safety
balloon, compass and dive knife.
Do I need a wetsuit?
Although the Andaman Sea is very warm at 27 to 30°C,
you will get chilled making four dives every day on your cruise. We
recommend at least a 3mm wetsuit shorty, or more if you are susceptible
to heat loss. A wetsuit also provides protection from jellyfish and poor
buoyancy control (easily rectified by taking your PADI Peak Performance
Buoyancy course).
Can I recharge my strobes and batteries?
Usually this is not a problem on board liveaboards in
Phuket. Please review the "specs" information tab for details of the
power sources provided on each cruise.
What type of tanks and valves are on the boats?
Nearly all Thailand charters carry 12 litre aluminium
tanks with yoke or A-clamp international valves as standard. If you have
a DIN regulator, you should bring an adaptor, or you can rent (US$ 2.50
per day) or buy one here. 10 or 15 litre tanks are also available for
rent in advance for US$ 2.50 per day. Enriched air nitrox is available
on some boats. See the "Facilities and Food" information tab of each
boat for more details.
Can I rent an underwater camera?
We have digital cameras (US$ 30 per day) and Sea & Sea
MX 10 cameras with strobe (US$ 25 per day) available for rent on your
Similan liveaboard cruise. Please request these in advance to ensure
availability.
What kind of food is served?
Please review the "Facilities and Food" information
tab for details of food served on each of the cruises. Generally, the
standard of cuisine is excellent throughout the Similan dive industry.
Can I request vegetarian food?
Not a problem but please do tell us your requirements
at the time you make your booking, so that we can meet your request.
Can I bring alcohol onboard?
You can bring what you like on board Similan diving
liveaboards. If you have a favourite tipple or taste, feel free to bring
it along. Just be very aware that you cannot drink and dive..
Where can you pick me up from?
We can arrange transfers to your liveaboard from your
Phuket hotel, from our dive centre or from the airport if you arrive
just before your boat departure. Please advise us of your preferred
transfer point before you arrive.
Where can I find Dive Community?
Our dive centre and office
is located in Kata Beach Phuket on a quiet
side street called Soi Kok Tanode. We suggest
you look at the map of where we
are below
• Map
of Dive Community on Kata Beach
What should I bring on board?
All your personal diving equipment (except tanks,
weights and weight belts), a bathing suit, towel, toiletries, t-shirts,
shorts, and sun cream. You may also want to bring something a little
warmer for the evenings.
Where can I leave my excess baggage when I go on a
cruise?
If your hotel can not help you store your baggage,
then we are more than willing to help. You can store your bags and
valuables at our Phuket centre for the duration of your cruise. Just
don't leave any open boxes of chocolates lying around!
Will I get sea sick?
All the charter boats use mooring points to over-night
at the islands visited on the cruise. These mooring points are located
in the island's bays, sheltered away from any open sea swells.
If you are particularly susceptible to motion
sickness, then you should consider joining a Similan Islands trip in
February to April, when the seas are very calm.
Is dive insurance for customers included in the
cruise price?
Some operators provide insurance. For details please
review the "Safety and Specs" information tab for each boat. Phuket now
has two (expensive) recompression chambers. We recommend you have your
own personal dive insurance for your own peace
of mind.
Is Malaria a problem?
The Thailand liveaboards destinations are free of
Malaria.
Can a non-diver go on a liveaboard?
Non-divers and snorkellers are always welcome on
board. Most of the dive sites visited offer good snorkelling too,
particularly liveaboards to Similan Islands. Do bear in mind though that
the liveaboard cruises are designed for
diving, not snorkelling. Prices for non-divers are usually discounted
10%, sometimes more, but please ask for exact details.
If your partner wants to come with you
why not encourage them to learn to dive while on the liveaboard ? There
couldn't be a bet place to learn to dive !
Do I have to share a cabin?
Space on boats is the ultimate premium and single
cabins are extremely rare and expensive. Unless we manage to book you a
single cabin, you will be expected to share. It may be, if the boat is
not full and there are an odd number of passengers, that you can have
your own cabin, but this situation can not be guaranteed. The only way
to guarantee a cabin for yourself is to pay for two beds! Please review
the main information tab of each Phuket charter for more details on the
types of cabin available.
Can I explore the beaches at the islands?
You have three hours surface interval between dives,
so as long as you are not travelling between sites, you are free to do
want you want on board Similan liveaboards. Please do advise the tour
leader before and each time you disembark from the boat.
What about tipping?
Tipping in Thailand is entirely a matter of choice. If
your liveaboard charter met or exceeded your expectations, you may wish
to leave a tip of up to 10% of your cruise price
or $10 per day
Will I see Mantas and Sharks?
We certainly hope so! Leopard sharks and white-tip
reef sharks are the most common and seen on all Similans trips. Nurse
sharks and silver-tip sharks can be seen quite commonly on Burma
liveaboards. Whale sharks sightings are becoming more
common every season
Manta rays sightings have been very common recently,
and you will always see blue-spotted sting rays
and marble rays.
 
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