MV Mermaid II - Similan and Hin Daeng Cruise Itinerary
Similan, Surin Islands and Hin Daeng
Total of 22 Dives - 6 Days / 7 Night
Monday - Pickup from Hotel and transfer to Mermaid Liveaboards in Patong between 5 & 6pm. Transfer to MV Mermaid II at 7pm. After a boat and safety briefing you can settle into your cabin then set up equipment. Prior to departure the crew set off firecrackers to scare away bad spirits andbring good luck for the cruise. Dinner is served and we sail the normally calm seas for 6 hours to the Similan Islands.
Tuesday - Wake up call at 7am in paradise! After a light breakfast, 1st dive at about 8am at the spectacular East of Eden on Island no. 7 followed by a full western breakfast. Dive #2 at Elephant Head Rock between islands #7 & 8 to enjoy coral encrusted swim throughs, sharks, giant trevally and mostly large fish action at this remarkable site. Macro enthusiasts should look out for specials like dragonets, whiskered pipefish, nudibrancs, peacock mantis shrimp and more! Then we cruise north to Koh Bon to see if the Mantas are dancing off West Ridge. The night dive will feature crustaceans, sea stars, morays, lion fish and more. Dinner is served then its time to relax with your new friends over a cold beer on the party deck.
Wednesday - Early morning the captain sails us quietly to Koh Tachai to dive the fabulous "Plateau" - leopard sharks sleep around 25 metres while over head masses of barracuda, big eye trevally and a wonderful school of resident batfish wait the keen diver - maybe even a chance for an angler fish hiding among the cabbage corals on the dome. Whale sharks frequent this dive site as do mantas!!! Next we cruise north for 2 hours to the world famous Richelieu Rock for a minimum of 2 dives - sea horse, frog fish, harlequin shrimp, ornate ghost pipefish and more will delight the macro enthusiast with loads of fish action for everyone - rivers of fusiliers, big schools of jacks, chevron barracuda, yellow stripped snapper swim in the blue around "the Rock" with giant grouper standing sentinel at the many coral heads just off the Rock - dripping with yellow, purple and pink soft corals. A sunset dive at Richelieu Rock is a treat if conditions allow otherwise its off to Koh Tachai for a good night dive where we shelter in a quiet bay for the night.
Thursday - Early morning, another chance for the pelagic action of Koh Tachai and then its back to Koh Bon for more shark and manta action off the West Ridge or a deep dive on the Pinnacle for advanced divers! Relax over lunch as we cruise back to the Similans for an island adventure to enjoy the white sand beaches and awesome granite boulder formations. Then Dive #3 in the warm blue waters of Anita's Reef Island #5 - wow - are your camera's fully charged? Night diving at Honeymoon Bay or the Hideaway will give you the chance to see loads of big and small crabs, lobster, shells and more - maybe a twin spot lion fish, a Spanish dancer?
Friday - Today 2 morning dives around the southern Similan Islands - Boulder City and and Shark Reef often feature on the itinerary developed each trip to suit all divers on board. These sites are washed by light to moderate currents bringing swarms of bat fish attracting pelagic and reef fishes galore. Loads of gorgonian fans dot the sea floor providing homes for creatures big and small and plenty of photo opportunities. Look around the many huge granite boulders for leopard sharks, napoleon wrasse, oriental sweet lips, jaw fish and more.
Your Similans/Richelieu adventure comes to an end as we cruise back to Phuket arriving around 4pm. Relax over a yummy lunch while the crew wash your equipment - all part of the service on board MV Mermaid II - and ready the boat for arrival. On shore you are met by Mermaid shore crew who assist your every need transferring you to your hotel or next destination.
Here we say good bye till next time to those leaving the boat. Those continuing on their Andaman Safari adventure have a chance to stretch their legs on shore, do a little shopping, have a massage or simply stay on board and relax for a couple of hours while we restock. All aboard by 19:00 hours!
Guests are transferred to Mermaid Liveaboards in Patong for 18:00 to check in and transfer to MV Mermaid for 19:00 - more fireworks and we get underway for Hin Daeng/Muang in the south cruising about 6 hours over night.
Saturday - Good morning call for 7am and a light breakfast. Dive 1, 2 and 3 give you plenty of opportunity to enjoy the wonders of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Famous for stunning purple soft corals and one of the best places for the chance to spot whale sharks. Mantas spend hours on the cleaning stations here as do divers!
Couple this with a "fish soup" of rainbow runners, yellow tail and chevron barracuda, fusiliers and millions of reef fish and you have one awesome dive location! We head north to Koh Haa - a cluster of 5 scenic islands for a wonderful night dive alive with colour, decorator crabs, shrimps, spiny lobster, red whip corals plus more.
Sunday - Special treats today! Dive 1 at Koh Haa I for sea horse, great chimneys and swimthroughs. Dive 2 - "Twin Cathedrals" of Koh Haa - a safe but awesome open cavern dive with limestone stalactites. Outside this spot is nudibranc city - you can't fail to spot rare and interesting macro delights here. Then it's off to dive Bida Nok and Bida Nai at Phi Phi for 2 dives featuring leopard sharks, bamboo sharks, ornate ghost pipe fish, turtles …. After diving, there is the chance to go on shore at Phi Phi to shop for souvenirs, have a few beers at one of the many trendy bars or simply enjoy a romantic stroll along the moonlit beach. All aboard by 11pm to cruise back to Phuket.
Monday - A hearty breakfast for all while the boat crew transfer your luggage ashore. Then we bid farewell to our guests transferring ashore by 9am. Those staying on to continue their Andaman Safari to the Similans have the day to relax on the beach, enjoy a massage, go for an elephant trek, or relax by our pool at Phawadee Resort and Spa till boarding time at 19:00 hours.
NOTE: Your Andaman Safari can start on either Mondays or Fridays for 6 days /
7 nights seeing much of the splendor of the Andaman Seas
MV Mermaid II - Andaman Safari - Trip Information
Number of Dives/Site selection: We plan a minimum of 22 dives for the Andaman Safari subject to weather and security issues – 14 dives in the Similans Islands/Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock areas and 8 around Hin Daeng/Hin Muang/Koh Haa and the Phi Phi Islands. Dive site selection detailed in the published itinerary is subject to change by the Captain or Cruise Director without prior notice. There are numerous fantastic sites and our objective is to take you to the best of the best !
What diver certification level is needed for diving in the Similans and Hin Daeng?: Everyone is welcome on board, no matter what level your certification. Dive groups and site selection will be chosen to meet your safety, comfort and diving ability – and is subject to the discretion of the Cruise Director.
Dive Guides and Diver Safety: The experienced dive crew would be delighted to assist you. Divers are welcome to dive with their buddy on sites deemed suitable by the Cruise Director. We strongly recommend all divers use a dive computer. Nitrox fills and courses are available on board to enhance your diving safety. Please allow 24 hours between last dive and flying. Guests are requested to show diving certification cards on checking in and are strongly recommended to have valid dive insurance (Padi, Dan or equivalent).
Departure and Arrival Times: Guests are required to arrive in Phuket no later than 6pm which allows us to make our planned 7pm departure from Patong, Phuket. Final cruise departure time is subject to guest arrival times. Please liaise with Sunrise Divers if your flight times cannot fit this schedule and we will do our best to accommodate.
Transfers: Transfers from/to the airport or hotels anywhere on Phuket Island are free of charge. Guests arriving in Phuket on departure day will be transferred to Royal Phawadee Village where a courtesy room is available. Relax by the pool or on the beach, have a massage, enjoy lunch in one of the delicious restaurants or go sightseeing till cruise check in time at 6pm.
Pick up times :
5:00pm - Chalong, Rawai, Nai Harn, Phuket Town, Bang Tao, Nai Yang,
5:30pm - Kata, Karon, Kamala, Surin, Kathu
6:00pm - Patong
