Andaman

Location: Thailand

Rating: 4.8/5 (387 reviews)

Andaman

About Andaman

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Thailand's Andaman Sea aboard the M/V Andaman, a vessel designed for comfort and exceptional diving adventures. Explore vibrant coral reefs and majestic marine life in an intimate setting.

The Andaman Sea, a jewel of Southeast Asia, beckons divers with its crystal-clear waters, dramatic limestone karsts, and a kaleidoscope of marine biodiversity. This region, encompassing the legendary Similan and Surin Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, and the world-renowned Richelieu Rock, is a diver's paradise, offering encounters with everything from tiny nudibranchs to majestic whale sharks and manta rays. The M/V Andaman provides the perfect platform to explore these pristine underwater landscapes, offering itineraries tailored to reveal the very best of Thailand's underwater treasures. Diving from the M/V Andaman is a seamless and exhilarating experience. The vessel is specifically designed for divers, featuring a spacious, shaded dive deck located at the stern on the lower deck, providing ample room for gear setup and preparation. Divers benefit from the convenience of a dedicated dive tender boat, ensuring easy access to even the most remote dive sites. With DIN adapters available and 12L aluminum tanks, the Andaman caters to various diving needs. The crew includes experienced dive guides who lead small groups, maximizing safety and personalized attention. Rinse tanks are provided for equipment, and a separate rinse tank is available for delicate underwater camera gear, highlighting the vessel's commitment to underwater photographers. Night dives are also a regular feature, offering a unique perspective on the nocturnal marine world. Life aboard the Andaman is characterized by comfort and a relaxed atmosphere. The vessel boasts spacious communal areas where guests can unwind and share their day's adventures. The mid-deck hosts a generous dining and lounge area, ideal for enjoying meals, attending dive briefings, or engaging in friendly games. For those seeking sun-kissed relaxation, the upper deck features an open-air sundeck complete with comfortable mattresses and beanbags, perfect for soaking up the tropical rays. Shaded canopy areas with tables and seating offer a cool retreat, ensuring everyone finds their preferred spot to relax and enjoy the stunning sea views. All cabins are air-conditioned, providing a cool sanctuary after a day of diving. Culinary delights are a highlight of the Andaman experience. Guests are treated to a full-board meal plan, featuring a delicious blend of regional Thai specialties and international cuisine. Meals are served buffet-style, allowing guests to savor a variety of dishes, with snacks available throughout the day to keep energy levels high between dives. Dining al fresco is a popular option, enhancing the tropical ambiance. The crew is attentive to dietary needs, offering vegetarian and vegan options upon request, ensuring every guest enjoys a satisfying culinary journey. Complimentary soft drinks, tea, coffee, and drinking water are always available, while beer and other alcoholic beverages can be purchased separately. Built in 1996 and thoughtfully renovated in 2024, the M/V Andaman is a robust 26-meter steel-hulled liveaboard. She comfortably accommodates up to 20 guests across 6 air-conditioned cabins, ensuring a personalized and uncrowded experience. Powered by two 6-cylinder 315HP Hino engines, she cruises smoothly at 10 knots, efficiently transporting divers to the best sites. With a beam of 5.5 meters, the vessel offers stable and spacious environments. Her substantial water capacity of 12,000 liters and a fuel tank capacity of 8,000 liters ensure extended journeys to remote locations. The Andaman offers flexible itineraries ranging from 3, 4, to 7 nights, with options to combine shorter trips into a comprehensive week-long adventure. Embarkation and disembarkation points vary depending on the itinerary, typically involving locations like Thap Lamu and Khuraburi. Guests are responsible for their own transfers to and from these ports, though hotel and airport transfers are available as optional extras. The best season for diving in the Andaman Sea generally runs from November to May, offering optimal conditions for exploring these world-class dive sites. This liveaboard is an excellent choice for divers of all experience levels who appreciate a comfortable, well-organized diving holiday with a friendly and professional crew. Its flexible itinerary options make it suitable for those looking for shorter getaways or extended explorations of Thailand's magnificent underwater world. The emphasis on good food, spacious relaxation areas, and a dedicated dive setup ensures a memorable and enjoyable trip for individuals, couples, and small groups alike.

Vessel Specifications

Cabins

Itineraries

Similan, Bon, Tachai, Surin & Richelieu (7N)

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

Embarkation: Thap Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

This 7-night itinerary offers an extensive exploration of the Similan and Surin national parks. It covers the key dive sites of Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon, and various locations within the Surin Islands and Similan Islands archipelagos. The longer duration allows for multiple dives at major sites.

Phi Phi Islands/ Shark Point/ Anemone Reef/ Racha Islands (4N)

Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights

This route explores the dive sites south and east of Phuket, including the Phi Phi Islands Marine National Park. The itinerary features dives at Shark Point and Anemone Reef, known for their vibrant soft corals. It also includes visits to the Racha Islands for clear-water diving.

South Andaman (Phuket Pier - Phuket Pier)

Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights

Embarkation: Phuket Pier

This diving cruise explores the top dive sites of Southern Thailand, offering a diverse array of marine life encounters. Guests will experience vibrant coral gardens, pelagic action, and a mix of macro and big fish, with opportunities for both day and night dives. The itinerary is designed for Advanced Open Water divers.

Surin, Richelieu, Tachai, Bon & Similan (11N)

Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights

This comprehensive 11-night journey covers the entirety of the Similan and Surin Islands national parks. The itinerary provides extensive time at major sites including Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, and Koh Bon. Multiple days are dedicated to exploring the dive sites of both the Similan Islands and Surin Islands, with a scheduled pier turnaround for logistics.

Surin, Richelieu, Tachai, Bon & Similan (7N)

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights

This 7-night itinerary offers an extensive exploration of the Surin and Similan national parks. It covers the key dive sites of Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon, and various locations within the Surin Islands and Similan Islands archipelagos. The longer duration allows for multiple dives at major sites.

Surin, Richelieu, Tachai, Bon & Similan (Thap Lamu Pier, Khao Lak, 5D4N)

Duration: 5D4N

Embarkation: Thap Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

This itinerary explores the best of the North Andaman Sea, from the world-famous Similan Islands to the legendary Richelieu Rock. Divers will experience stunning granite boulder seascapes, vibrant coral reefs, and the chance for big-animal encounters with manta rays and whale sharks at renowned sites like Koh Bon and Koh Tachai. The trip covers a wide range of underwater environments, promising a memorable diving adventure across Thailand's premier dive region.

Surin, Richelieu, Tachai, Bon & Similan (3N)

Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights

This itinerary travels through the Andaman Sea, visiting sites in the Surin and Similan Islands marine parks. Key locations include the submerged pinnacle of Richelieu Rock and the islands of Koh Tachai and Koh Bon. The route provides a condensed overview of the region's main dive attractions, starting from Khao Lak.

Surin, Richelieu, Tachai, Bon & Similan (4N)

Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights

This route explores the northern Andaman Sea, including the Surin Islands and Similan Islands national parks. It features dives at the renowned Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, and Koh Bon. The itinerary provides a comprehensive tour of the region's main dive locations from Khao Lak.

Surin, Tachai and Richelieu (3N)

Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights

This itinerary focuses on the northern Andaman's premier dive sites: the Surin Islands, Koh Tachai, and Richelieu Rock. The trip bypasses the Similan Islands to maximise time at these specific locations. Divers can expect to explore the pinnacles and reefs characteristic of this region.

Similan, Bon, Tachai, Surin & Richelieu (4N)

Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights

This itinerary covers the primary dive sites of the Similan and Surin national parks. The route includes diving at Richelieu Rock, the Surin Islands, Koh Tachai, and Koh Bon. It also incorporates sites within the Similan Islands archipelago for a comprehensive overview of the region.