The Similan Islands are located in the Andaman Sea on the West Coast of Southern Thailand, in Lam Kaen, Thai Mueang District, Phang-nga to be exact. The Similan archipelago consists of eleven islands located in the Mu Koh Similan National Park, which covers over 140 square kilometers. The Islands are the perfect travel destination for visitors who like to dive and explorer remote and unspoilt places. The marine life around the Islands is unmatched in Thailand and the region.
We will be running this wonderful Thailand holiday on a two part plan with the first 5 days and nights onboard the Manta Queen 8 Liveaboard. With a capacity for 24 divers, the Manta Queen 8 offers luxury accommodation with great facilities and excellent food. We will get to see the very best of the sites with a minimum of 19 dives scheduled. Returning to shore, we then plan a further 4 days based at Patong Beach in the 4 star Baan Laimai Beach Resort. There will be options for further day boat diving from Patong including the chance to take a full day boat trip to dive the famous Koh Phi Phi.
The Manta Queen 8 offers a choice of cabins with either twin or double beds, almost all the cabins are air conditioned ensuite and there are cost savings on the twin cabins with air conditioning only.
The boat is a 28 meters long and 7 meters wide wooden hull, manned with 5 dive staff and 6 boat crew.
There is plenty of space to enjoy the time in between dives in the saloon with HD-TV, the open dining area or on the large sundeck. All meals on board are served buffet style freshly cooked from the on board chef. Snacks and fruits are served in between dives. The dinghy gives you the opportunity to spend some time on the beautiful beaches.
All meals onboard the Manta Queen are included in the package with teas and coffee along with Free Nitrox. Soft drinks cost about €1.20 and cans of beer about €2.20.
An abundant marine life roams the subterranean landscape of these islands. It is common to see leopard sharks, guitar rays, whitetip sharks, blue-spotted stingrays, clown triggerfish, rabbitfish, scorpionfish, snappers, emperor fish, giant trevally and angelfish. Turtles and giant bump head parrotfish make their appearances and the sharp-eyed diver may find tiny ghost pipefish, mantis shrimps, porcelain crabs or cleaner shrimp. To dive amongst the boulder formations and see their impressive size underwater is truly wondrous.
There are around 20 dive sites in the Similan Islands. Combined with the Surin Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock, you have well over 25 top scuba sites to choose from. Some of the most well known are Christmas Point, East Of Eden, Boulder City / Shark Fin Reef, Anita’s Reef and Elephant Head Rock all of which we hope to cover before moving on to the famous Richelieu Rock towards the end of the cruise.
On Day Six of our Thailand holiday, we return to land and transfer to Patong Beach on the SW of Phucket. Patong is the most famous beach resort on Phuket. With its wide variety of activities and nightlife, the city is an excellent place to party and play. By night, the town has a bustling nightlife that includes literally hundreds of restaurants, nightclubs and beer bars. The nightlife is centred around Soi Bangla (Bangla Road), but there are quiet parts of town.
Set in a vibrant entertainment district across from Patong Beach and the Andaman Sea, the Baan laimai Beach Resort and spa is an informal hotel just 7 km from Tiger Kingdom Phuket and 20 km from Wat Chalong temple. It's a great place to really relax, chill out or take in the local tours. For more diving opportunities, we have reserved a Day Boat to dive Koh Phi Phi which is also world famous.
The Phi Phi Islands offer a great diving destination in southern Thailand. The scenery from the surface is already stunning – colossal limestone monoliths rising straight from the sea and soaring to heights of more than 100 meters. Underwater, these towers shape a rugged, stunning environment for scuba divers. Other dive profiles include vertical walls that plunge from the surface to over 25 meters. On these walls, growing in every nook and cranny, are found a profusion of soft corals, large orange-coloured fans, black corals, and long stringy sea whips.
The Phi Phi Islands offer a great diving destination in southern Thailand. The scenery from the surface is already stunning – colossal limestone monoliths rising straight from the sea and soaring to heights of more than 100 meters. Underwater, these towers shape a rugged, stunning environment for scuba divers. Other dive profiles include vertical walls that plunge from the surface to over 25 meters. On these walls, growing in every nook and cranny, are found a profusion of soft corals, large orange-coloured fans, black corals, and long stringy sea whips.
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Nov-3 |
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Dept Dub 07.35 Arr Phuket 7.05am Nov-4 Qatar Airlines |
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Nov-4 |
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Dept Phuket 8.30am Coach to Khoa Lak |
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Nov-4 |
Board the Manta Queen 8 Liveaboard | |
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5 nights and 5 days cruise to the Similan Islands and beyond |
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19 boat dives package |
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Nov-9 |
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Depart Manta Queen and transfer to Baan Laimai Resort - Patong Beach |
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Nov-10 |
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Chill out day in Patong |
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Nov-11 |
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Optional boat trip to do two dives off Phi Phi Island |
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Nov-12 |
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Chill out day in Patong with optinal tours to the surrounding area |
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Nov-13 |
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Transfer to Phuket International Airport |
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Nov-14 |
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Arrive at Dublin Airport 6.20am |
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Accommodation and Dive packages
The price includes 5 nights accommodation on a shared cabin basis with air conditioning and ensuite onboard the Manta Queen 8 with 19 Boat Dives over 5 days including tanks, weights and dive torch. Free Nitrox. Price also includes 4 nights accommodation in a twin or double room at the Baan Laimai Patong Beach Resort.
€1,237.00 - purchased from Oceandivers LESS EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT OF €141.00 IF YOU BOOK WITH DEPOSIT BEFORE JULY - we reserve the right to adjust prices based on current THB to € exchange rates
Flights, Transfers and Currency
The price for flights are NOT included but can be purchased online with Qatar Airlines and are accurate at time of publication - these may fluctuate due to currency and cost increases.
€722.00 - purchased direct online
Not included within the package price
Local transfers and Marine Park fees will need to be paid in local currency. Both soft drinks and beers/wine etc need to be purchased locally. All meals are included onboard Manta Queen 8 but only Breakfast is included at Baan Laimai.
Optional Extras
The price for one day (2 dives) in Phi Phi is
€110.00 - purchased from Oceandivers
Gear rental is available locally - Prices TBC
Want to extend the holiday period?
If you would like to increase the number of days for the trip and tour other parts of Thailand, just let us know and it's easy to build in an extension.
To reserve your place just give us a call - 01 28101083 or drop us an email info@oceandivers.ie and we can get you on the list