Mid-Range Similan Liveaboard Diving Boats

What Extras Does Some Extra Money Spent Get Me?

1. Fewer & better guests on board
2. Fewer guests per cabin
3. Better Divemaster guides
4. Better food
5. Air-conditioned lounge/saloon
6. Free transfers

1: Sharing a boat with a lot of people for (on average) 4D4N requires social skills, flexibility and tolerance. If there are lots of these other guests, then there will be less space for each on the sofas, sunbeds and around the dining tables. While backpackers and those on a tight budget can be a lot of fun, it’s usually true that social groups tend to find the company of likeminded others easier to accept. Our mid-range boats usually have a wonderful blend of guests from around the world, and of all age groups. Solo divers are very welcome, as are groups and families.

2: Most of our budget boats have shared cabins that have 3, 4 or even 6 single beds. These can be a lot of sociable fun, but a double bed or twin bunks is more convenient for most. Solo divers on our mid-range boats are not normally shared with the opposite sex. Couples and friends can enjoy double and twin cabins, normally with private en suite bathrooms.

3: What makes one Divemaster guide better than others is good experience of leading divers safely, understanding the needs of those divers, and being familiar with every dive site to visit. Our mid-range Similan diving liveaboard boats only employ Divemaster guides who can show that they have all three of the above qualities. Being young and enthusiastic may be fun, but a Divemaster guide is more than just a guide underwater. He or she needs to monitor the sea conditions, the air consumption of every guest, and to understand what each member of the group wants and needs throughout the cruise. Knowledge of the dive sites and marine life is obviously necessary, but the other two qualities can only come from years of experience.

4: All of our Similan liveaboard boats offer inclusive meals three times each day, with a blend of Asian and Western cuisine. While the budget boats feed you well, the more-expensive boats will have better meals, made up of a wider choice, better quality & snacks, fruits & juice. Beer is usually available on all the boats at reasonable prices.

5: Coming on a diving cruise normally sees each guest soaking up the sun and enjoying the sea breeze, but sometimes an air-conditioned lounge is necessary to relax to watch a video (maybe a dive briefing), or to just get away from others, and the elements. Our mid-range Similan diving boats usually have large lounges with comfortable sofas, books, games and often a computer for guests to use.

6: Transferring from a hotel in Phuket or the airport is not normally included in the price of the budget liveaboard boats, but it is common on the mid-range Similan liveaboards. These transfers are shared with other guests on the same trip, and therefore at set times, but them being free makes a lot of difference considering the price of taxis in this area.

Is It Worth Spending The Extra?

Almost all of our guests who join a Similan diving liveaboard cruise in the mid-range price/luxury level come back extremely happy and give us good feedback. Their reports include professional but fun diving staff, attentive crew, comfortable cabins, and wonderful food. Although most of our budget boat guests also return very happy, a higher percentage come back extremely happy from mid-range diving boat trips. For a little extra money spent, there are more and better things included to make your scuba diving cruise in Thailand one to remember forever.