MV Manta Queen 2 Overview
MV Manta Queen 2 offers a unique option for divers who want to get in the water to experience the best diving Thailand has to offer. The three-day, three-night cruises avoid the large number of boats which sometimes compete over the best Similan Islands dive sites. Instead, MQ2 sails north to the slightly more challenging diving destinations of Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, and the world-famous Richelieu Rock. On the way back, she stops off at one or two wreck sites to finish off the cruise.
These 'northern dive sites' are regarded as a little bit more challenging than those around The Similan Islands, but the rewards are well worth it. The diving conditions and marine life at MQ2's diving destinations are the best in Thailand. Currents can sometimes be an issue at Koh Tachai, but each dive at all locations is planned to be as safe and enjoyable as possible, and they always consider each diver's level, experience, & needs.
Manta Queen 2 is a professionally-run boat that offers air-conditioning, excellent food and lots of comfort and safety features. There are three types of cabin available, including 4-bunk shared, twins and doubles. During most seasons, Manta Queen 2 liveaboard trips are among our best sellers.
Every trip goes as smooth as silk, with the fun but professional team of western diving staff and local crew taking good care of everyone on board. You don’t need to be a professional or highly-experienced diver to enjoy the more-challenging dive sites, but Advanced divers and those with more than 20 logged dives will be able to spend longer underwater than inexperienced divers. However, everyone is very welcome and able to visit these best diving sites in Thailand.
All meals, tea, coffee, drinking water, sodas and snacks are all for free on board, as are pick ups from Khao Lak & Phuket, and dropping guests off at the end of the cruise.
Some other websites show that MQ2 has free Wi-Fi, which it does, but please note that for most of the cruise the boat will be out of range anyway. Also, other websites may advertise MQ2's trips as 4D/3N, but they are not. They are 3D/3N, departing in the evening and returning in the afternoon. Therefore, any website that shows 4D/3N and a 'per day price' is likely to mislead you because the total trip price should be divided by three, not by four.
MV Manta Queen 2 Pictures
MV Manta Queen 2 Facilities, Layout & Specifications
| MV Manta Queen 2 Layout | |
 |
|
| 1: | Double-bed cabin |
| 2: | Twin-bed cabin |
| 3: | Four-bed shared cabin |
| MV Manta Queen 2 Specifications | |
| Length. | 25m. |
| Width. | 5m. |
| Hull. | Wood. |
| Engines. | 2x Hino 350 HP. |
| Generators. | 1x 40 KW 1x 50 KW. |
| Cruising Speed. | 8-9 knots. |
| Navigation. | GPS Sat. Navigation, Sonar, Compass. |
| Boat Crew. | 1 Captain, 1 Engineer, 4 Deckhands, 2 Cooks. |
| Dive Crew. | 1 Tour leader, 1 blender, 3 multilingual Divemaster / Instructors. |
| Safety. | VHF Radio, Emergency Oxygen Unit, Life-raft, Life-jackets/rings, First Aid Kit, Satelite Phones. |
MV Manta Queen 2 Courses
There is a selection of PADI & SSI diving courses available on Manta Queen 2, including Enriched Air Nitrox (EANx). While some can be booked on board and without notice, it is always good to let us know in advance. Taking part in a PADI or SSI diving course while aboard a liveaboard diving cruise is a very popular choice.
| Courses | |
|---|---|
| Courses | Prices |
|
Adventure Deep (30m.)
Including: Certification
|
1,500
THB |
|
Specialty courses
Including: Manual & Certification
|
8,000
THB |
|
Advanced Open Water
Including: Manual & Certification
|
9,000
THB |
|
Nitrox
Including: Manual, Certification, Computer & fills
|
9,500
THB |
MV Manta Queen 2 Itinerary
After being picked up, guests are normally taken to the PADI dive center in Khao Lak for final payment, checking documents and fitting the equipment.
A light dinner (evening meal) is served on board, after everyone has been shown to ther cabins and given a boat and safety briefing. Manta Queen 2 sails through the night, arriving at Koh Bon in the early hours.
MQ2 does not normally offer night dives because at the end of the two full diving days MQ2 is at Koh Tachai and/or Richelieu Rock. These dive sites are better suited for full-length dives in daylight, and not suitable for night diving. Also, there are no opportunities to go on land or visit a beach because Koh Bon has no beach or flat land, Koh Tachai's beach is closed to the public, and Richelieu Rock is a submerged pinnacle.
Click below for more-detailed information about MQ2's itinerary.
The itineraries below are the most-common for each trip, but these can sometimes be changed for a number of reasons. Small changes are made due to weather & sea conditions, special marine life sightings, overcrowded dive sites, local-authorities' instructions, and the needs & requests of the paying guests. The safety & comfort of all guests is most important at all times.
MV Manta Queen 2 Transfer Details
Manta Queen 2 guests can get free scheduled pickups from hotels and resorts in Khao Lak & Phuket to the dive centre and then on to the boat at Tab Lamu Pier.
After check in at the dive centre in central Khao Lak, guests are driven to the pier, 20 minutes away.
For customers who would like a private taxi please see below for details.
(Click below for a rough guide to the rates you can expect to pay ‘per vehicle,’ not ‘per person’.)
MV Manta Queen 2 Schedule & Prices
| Destinations | Duration | 4 bed shared | Twin | Double |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck ( 11 dives) | 3D / 3N | 4 bed shared 20,000 THB | Twin 22,000 THB | Double 22,000 THB |
|
Do you have a large group and want to charter the whole boat?
click below to find out more |
7 Reasons to Book with us:
- Best-price guarantee, AND get FREE gifts.
- We don’t ask for any payment or your card details until you are ready to confirm your booking.
- For safety reasons, it’s impossible to complete a booking instantly online , as some other websites claim to offer. We always check first as each boat has a different criteria regarding diver details & experience .
- We offer each boat’s booking & payment policy (below). Some other websites have standardised terms, asking for full payment but many boats’ payment terms are a 20-30% deposit, and the balance paid on arrival.
- Our Thailand-based staff are experts about logistics, the dive sites & all the boats . Take a look at the reviews on our site & tripadvisor.
- Our team are always online to answer your questions. We always respond the same day , usually within a few minutes
- Customer service is everything!
For example, if a trip is cancelled, we will ensure you can choose between an alternative similar trip or a full & unconditional refund .
The booking process for MV Manta Queen is very simple & convenient. Firstly, ask us to reserve a space in the cabin of your on the date/trip that you would like to join. We are happy to do this for free, and without any commitment from you. When you are ready to confirm your booking, we ask for 30% of the cruise price as a deposit. This payment is most-commonly made via PayPal, (Transfer)Wise or direct bank transfer in a choice of currencies, without fees. You don't need a Paypal account, although PayPal normally encourage you to open one. The PayPal invoice can be sent to any email address and payment can be made by anyone.
The 70% balance and national park fees are due 60 days before your trip's departure date. Transfers and any equipment rental and/or courses can be paid when you arrive in Khao Lak. There is an ATM at the dive centre and several banks in Khao Lak.
Cancellation policy:
Cancellation fees depend on the time and reason for cancelling. Please contact us for details. The management of MV Manta Queen are both considerate & flexible whenever possible regarding customer cancellations.
The official cancellation policy is as follows:
30+ days before departure = refund of money paid, minus any bank fees incurred doing so.
15-30 days before departure = refund of 50% trip balance or postpone to a future trip (subject to availability) but in some cases we are able to refund this to you. If the national park ticket has not been purchased yet, we can also refund the fee.
1-14 days before departure = loss of all monies but in some cases cancellations made late can be adjusted to help you.
Most travel insurance policies can protect you from unforeseen cancellation penalties.
Call us: (+66 89 136 3121)
or fill out the form below
Genuine MV Manta Queen 2 Reviews
