Description
Boat
Smiling seahorse measuring 25m long and 6.4m wide, Its Steel hull is much more suited to easily cut through waves than a wooden hull and its 2 superior engines allow the MV Smiling Seahorse to venture further into the unknown.
The top level of the boat is the ultimate lounge area. It has a shaded area with an outdoor living room and hammocks to relax, play cards, or take a nap in the shade during your surface interval. If you prefer to catch some rays the whole front of the boat is uncovered and has a variety of Thai style cushions and mats at your disposal to create the perfect sunbathing zone. This is also the perfect place to wistfully look up at the stars and enjoy the solitude and calm of the open sea.
Smiling seahorse has a multipurpose common area on the upper deck, where you will be served scrumptious meals, have access to snacks and refreshments 24 hours a day, meet for pre-dive briefings with your dive team, consult the Marine life library to identify the beautiful creatures you saw, or just sit back and relax surrounded by cushions.
There are 4 big tables to comfortably enjoy your meals, play games, or study your dive course materials as well as two bars with stools on either side of the boat. The dining area has plenty of counter space for snacks and the buffet as well as a full-sized fridge stocked with goodies and a compartmentalized eco-friendly trash/recycling disposal system. At the very back is an enormous couch area covered with cushions perfect for a cozy nap between dives.
Smiling seahorse also has an impeccable diving deck, the boat planned this area to maximize space and provide specialized areas for every diver’s needs. The diving deck features 2 shared bathrooms for the guests staying in standard cabins.
The photography room has a specific wash tank for your electronics, as well as numerous charging ports, shelving and counter space for maintenance and storage of your gear between dives. This area can also serve as a workshop to try and fix any problem on the fly. We have certified Mares service technicians on board and spare small parts and tools at your disposal.
Cabin
Smiling seahorse has 8 guest cabins, it can welcome up to 16 guests.
All cabins are air-conditioned and feature smart-bedding system.
2 Master Cabins
Located on the main deck, each cabin comes with one double bed, panoramic view window, ensuite private bathroom.
4 Deluxe Cabins
Located on the main deck, each cabin comes with one double bed or two single beds in bunk style, window, ensuite private bathroom.
2 Standard Cabins
Located on the upper deck, each cabin comes with one double bed or two single beds in bunk style, window, use shared bathrooms.
Diving
- Similan route: 5 Days / 4 Nights (14 - 15 Dives)
- Similan route: 6 Days / 5 Nights (18 - 19 Dives)
- Similan route: 7 Days / 6 Nights (22 - 23 Dives)
- Similan & South Andaman route : 8D/7N (25 Dives)
- Myanmar route: 6 Days / 5 Nights (17 Dives)
- Myanmar route: 7 Days / 6 Nights (21 Dives)
- Myanmar route: 8 Days / 7 Nights (25 Dives)
- Myanmar route: 9 Days / 8 Nights (29 Dives)
- No dives will be offered on the embarkation day.
- Dives will be provided on the disembarkation day.
- All diving will provide experienced guide to lead the dive.
Other Information
- Nitrox：Available with additional cost
- 15L Tanks：Available with additional cost
- REBREATHER Dive：Not available at the moment
- Technical Dive：Available with additional cost
- Dive Equipment Rental：Available with additional cost
- Dive insurance：Divers must have valid dive insurance
- Wi-Fi Internet ：Not available at the moment
- Laundry Service：Not available at the moment
- Massage Service：Not available at the moment
- Payment on board：By cash (THB/USD) ONLY
- Crew Number：12, include 4 dive guides
Itineraries
North Andaman 5d/4N | 14 to 15 Dives
Day 1: Embark on The Smiling Seahorse at 6pm in Tap Lamu and wake up on the dive site the next morning!
Day 2 to 4th: We will plan 4 dives per days around Surin and Similan National Parks.
Last day 3 dives and back in Tap Lamu around 6pm.
North Andaman 6d/5N | 18 to 19 Dives
Day 1: Embark on The Smiling Seahorse at 6pm in Tap Lamu and wake up on the dive site the next morning!
Day 2 to 5th: We will plan 4 dives per days around Surin and Similan National Parks.
Last day 2 dives on last day and back in Ranong around 8pm.
North Andaman 7d/6N | 22 or 23 Dives
Day 1: Embark on The Smiling Seahorse at 6pm in Tap Lamu and wake up on the dive site the next morning!
Day 2 to 6th: We will plan 4 dives per days around Surin and Similan Islands. Last day 3 dives and back to Ranong at 6pm (Last dive at 3pm).
North & South Andaman 8D/7N | 25 Dives
Day 1: Embark on The Smiling Seahorse at 6pm in Tap Lamu and wake up on the dive site the next morning!
Day 2 to 7th: We will plan 3 to 4 dives per days around Surin and Similan Islands.
8th day: 2 dives and back in Phuket Tian Sin Pier at 3pm.
Explore the Mergui islands 6D/5N | 17 dives
Day 1: Meeting at our dive center headquarters between 9:00am and 12:00pm. At 2:00 pm we will head to the immigration office to get the necessary exit stamps from Thailand and then make our way to board the magnificent MV Smiling Seahorse. Upon crossing the border into Myanmar, immigration officers will board in Kawthaung and do the necessary border crossing screening. Once the paperwork is completed, we will head out to sea! At sunset we will hold a ceremony to launch our voyage. Then it will be time for your first scrumptious meal before being rocked to sleep by the waves.
Day 2: KNOCK KNOCK, Dive briefing! Wake up to the friendly call of the ocean (and your eager dive guide) as we start the cruise with a day at South Twin Island. Sitting in the outskirts of the Mergui Archipelago, this dive site is quite scenic with consistent crystal visibility and a topography of huge granite boulders. We have even been lucky enough the start the voyage off in style with a guest appearance from a majestic manta ray. Macro lovers will also be treated to chances of ghost pipefish, seahorses and frogfish! We end the first day of diving with a night dive searching for pygmy squid, candy crabs, cowries and nudibranchs!
Day 3: We will explore 3 dive sites around Shark Cave. Things to see in this area include Ghost Pipefish, Harlequin Shrimps, Frogfish, Seahorse and gorgeous coral everywhere. And if you’re extra lucky you may even catch a glimpse of a Manta Ray, Eagle Ray, Whale Shark, Grey Reef Shark, Nurse Shark and big blotched Stingray. Between dives 2 and 3, we invite you to get some sand between your toes on your surface interval on the pristine beach of the nearby island. For night dive, we will give you the option to dive your favourite of the 3 sites you saw on Shark cave’s dives. Keep an eye out for a plethora of crustaceans and other macro life. We often see the undulating Spanish dancer nudibranch here.
Day 4: On this day we will reach our furthest point in the Mergui Archipelago at North Twin. It should be an exciting day as this dive site will offer the best visibility of the trip and the best chance to see large pelagic marine creatures like manta rays, eagle rays, whale sharks, grey reef sharks, nurse sharks and zebra sharks. Coral lovers will be in awe of the massive sea fans here as well.
Day 5: On this fifth day of the cruise we will visit the neighbourhood of Western Rocky. The first dive will be at the nearby Seafan Forest which is carpeted in massive colourful sea fans (surprise!) and lush purple soft corals. This magical site has graced us with up to 4 whale sharks at once, so depending on our luck we can choose to stay here or move to the center of the Western rocky region. The main island has a glorious swim through full of lobsters that passes from one side of the island to the other. The sandy bottom surrounding it gives rise to a collection of islets and secret pinnacles that are home to a multitude of macro critters as well as vibrant coral and several types of sharks including the rare Bowmouth guitarfish.
Day 6: The last dive goes into a volcano where a group of Black Tip Sharks likes to hang around. It is also a site rich in macro life where the question is not if you will see a seahorse, the question is how many? Up to 10 per dive if you have good eyes as well as rare species such as shaded Batfish, Comet Long Fins or Pineapple Fish.
More
| Destinations | South Andaman Sea, Similan Islands, Myanmar |
|---|---|
| Facilities | Nitrox support, Sidemount Friendly, Tech Friendly, Watersport equipment, Camera Station |
| Languages spoken | English, French, Spanish |
Schedules & routes
Prices & conditions
Included
- VAT and local taxes
- Full-board meal plan (including snacks)
- Complimentary beverages (water, tea, coffee)
- Soft drinks
- Diving activity (incl. tanks, weights, weight belts)
- Dive guide service
- Use of Kayaks or/and SUPs
- Land excursions and activities throughout the trip
- Boat accident insurance
- Cabin towels and complimentary toiletries
- Cabin cleaning service
Not included
- Domestic flights in destination country
- Transfers from airport and/or hotel to the yacht
- Marine park fees & Port fees
- Alcoholic beverage
- Dive equipment rentals
- Larger tank (15 L)
- Nitrox fills
- Dive insurance (mandatory requirement)
- Travel insurance (trip cancellation insurance)
- Crew gratuity
Useful information
South Andaman Sea
Best time for diving
Mid October - May is the optimum diving season on the Andaman coast (west coast). Thailand has a dry and a rainy season : it rains on the West coast during the Summer months (May- October) and on the East during the winter (October- May).
About temperatures
Air : throughout the year, temperatures range from 25°C to 34°C with April through May being the hottest month and January the coldest
Sea : between 27°C - 30°C year round, with May being the warmest and December being the coldest.
Wetsuit Recommendation
We recommend 3 mm wetsuit year round.
Diver requirement
Suitable for all levels. You can find out more informations about diving in South Andaman Sea here : South Andaman Sea
Embarkation / Disembarkation
The embarkation and disembarkation are in Phuket or Khao Lak, guest can fly in/out Phuket International Airport (HKT).
Transfer between Phuket Airport and Tap Lamu Pier (Khao Lak) is approximately 1 ½ - 2hr, depending on traffic.
Transfer between Phuket Airport and Chalong Pier is approximately 1 ½hrs, depending on traffic.
Visa Requirements
Many nationalities can visit Thailand without a visa under the Visa on Arrival rule or Visa Exemption scheme. These options allow visitors to stay for up to 30 or 45 days.
To find out more information, please visit the Thai Visa on Arrival, or Visa Exemption and Bilateral Agreement or contact your nearest embassy/consulate.
Vaccinations
No specific vaccinations are required unless you are coming from or passing through contaminated areas. Yellow fever certificates are required for those who are coming from the following 14 countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Angola, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan and Zaire.
Money Matters
The local currency is Thai Baht (THB). The majority of established hotels and restaurants accept major credit cards.
However, smaller, family-run places probably will not. There are money-changers and ATM machines located at the airport and at the ports.
Drones
Tourists can bring their drones into Thailand. However, they are not allowed to fly their drones here until they have registered their devices with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
Extending your holiday
We offer a range of hotels/resorts, land-based diving packages, and excursions that can be arranged before or after your liveaboard holiday. Just ask us if you need such service.
Similan Islands
Best time for diving
Mid-October - May is the optimum diving season on the Andaman coast (west coast). From early December until late April you can usually expect clear skies nearly every day. On average, you can expect 20 meters of visibility at The Similan Islands throughout the diving season.
Due to the likelihood of extreme weather during the monsoon months, the local authorities close the marine parks from May 16th until October 14th every year. Therefore the Similan diving season is from October 15th to May 15th.
About temperatures
Air: throughout the year, temperatures range from 25°C to 34°C with April through May being the hottest month and January the coldest
Sea: between 27°C - 29°C all year round, there are times when it drops to the mid or even low 20s, but in general these are rare or temporary occasions.
Wetsuit Recommendation
We recommend a 3 mm wetsuit year-round.
Diver requirement
Suitable for all levels. You can find out more information about diving in Similan Islands here : Similan Islands
Embarkation / Disembarkation
Most of the embarkation and disembarkation are in Khao Lak, or Phuket, guests can fly in/out of Phuket International Airport (HKT).
Transfer between Phuket Airport and Tap Lamu Pier (Khao Lak) is approximately 1 ½ - 2hr, depending on traffic.
Transfer between Phuket Airport and Chalong Pier is approximately 1 ½hrs, depending on traffic.
A few liveaboards set their embarkation and disembarkation in Ranong (UNN).
Visa Requirements
Many nationalities can visit Thailand without a visa under the Visa on Arrival rule or Visa Exemption scheme. These options allow visitors to stay for up to 30 or 45 days.
To find out more information, please visit the Thai Visa on Arrival, or Visa Exemption and Bilateral Agreement or contact your nearest embassy/consulate.
Vaccinations
No specific vaccinations are required unless you are coming from or passing through contaminated areas. Yellow fever certificates are required for those who are coming from the following 14 countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Angola, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan, and Zaire.
Money Matters
The local currency is the Thai Baht (THB). The majority of established hotels and restaurants accept major credit cards.
However, smaller, family-run places probably will not. There are money changers and ATMs located at the airport and the ports.
Drones
Tourists can bring their drones into Thailand. However, they are not allowed to fly their drones here until they have registered their devices with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).
Extending your holiday
We offer a range of hotels/resorts, land-based diving packages, and excursions that can be arranged before or after your liveaboard holiday. Just ask us if you need such service.
Myanmar
Best time for diving
December to April is the best time for diving in Myanmar, and the dive season runs from October until May. Operators will close during the monsoon months of June to September due to frequently poor weather and rough sea conditions.
About temperatures
Air: Myanmar has a tropical monsoon climate with 3 seasons : cool winter from November to February (18°C - 34°C), hot summer season in March and April (22°C - 36°C) and rainy season from May to October (24°C - 32°C).
Sea: average around 28°C, although sometimes you may experience thermoclines.
Wetsuit Recommendation
We recommend a 3 mm wetsuit year-round.
Diver requirement
There is no fixed requirement for diving in Myanmar. However, it's best to have AOW level with min. 50 logged dives. You can find out more information about diving in Myanmar here : Myanmar
Embarkation / Disembarkation
The embarkation and disembarkation can be in Phuket (HKT) or Ranong (UNN). Guests joining Myanmar itineraries are strongly advised NOT to arrive in Phuket on the day of embarkation. Transfer time from Phuket to the Ranong Town for Thailand and Myanmar Immigration clearance prior to embarkation is between 5 - 5 ½ hrs.
Visa Requirements
Liveaboard itineraries that include Myanmar embark and disembark from a port in Thailand, so you will need entry clearance for both countries.
However, upon re-entry to Thailand from Myanmar guests will only be issued with a 15 day permit to remain in Thailand. Therefore, please ensure your onward departure from Thailand is no longer than 15 days after disembarkation.
Guests who need to apply for a visa prior to travelling to Thailand, or who will be staying in Thailand for more than 15 days after their Myanmar trip must ensure that they obtain a MULTIPLE ENTRY visa from their nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Thai Consulate otherwise will not be allowed back in to Thailand.
Guests are not required to obtain a visa for Myanmar prior to boarding. All liveaboards will make the necessary arrangements on your behalf. Please bring 2 x photocopies of your passport ID page and 2 x passport sized photographs as these are needed for the Myanmar visa application. Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the duration of your stay in Thailand.
Vaccinations
No specific vaccinations are required unless you are coming from or passing through contaminated areas.
Money Matters
The local currency is the Myanmar Kyat (MMT). However, since Myanmar liveaboard trips start and end in Thailand, you will not need any MMT - which is very hard to get hold of. During your cruise, you may stop on local islands, but they will happily take USD.
Drones
Tourists can bring their drones into Myanmar. However, they are must register their devices at least 4 - 5 weeks before arrival. For more information, please refer to Drone Laws in Myanmar.
Extending your holiday
We offer a range of hotels/resorts, land-based diving packages, and excursions that can be arranged before or after your liveaboard holiday. Just ask us if you need such service.
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