Phuket News and Latest Thailand Scuba Diving Updates

Here you can find the latest news on diving activities in Phuket and the Similan Islands. We will post links to news sites, weather conditions, news from the DOCT (Dive Operators Club of Thailand), and details of new trips, new boats and new destinations. If you have any questions about anything, please contact Sunrise Divers.

NEW! From now on we will be posting diving news, special offers, information on new boats and dive trips and much more on the Sunrise Divers Dive Blog - a quick and easy way to keep in touch with all that's hot!

Liveaboard Diving Special Offers

Summer Diving in Thailand and Indonesia

Park fees and Fuel Surcharges: The new Similan-Surin park entrance fees have risen to 400 baht per person (each area) starting from November 2006. But the diving fees remain the same at 200 baht per day. With the rising costs of fuel, some boats will have to charge a fuel surcharge. Any charges will be posted on the boat pages on this website. Happy diving everybody.

Liveaboards Introduction - New Liveaboards

Phuket Weather - Our New Dive Center! - Clean Up Day Reports

Back to Normal After the Tsunami - Phuket News

Thailand Scuba Diving - Liveaboards 2010

Our new website, www.phiphidiving.com was uploaded on Monday June 13th 2005. The site has travel information and details of many trips in the Phi Phi area. We are working with Phi Phi Scuba Diving Center on Phi Phi island to offer PADI dive courses and day trips in Phi Phi. Many trips for diving in Phi Phi depart from Phuket, so you can also sample Phi Phi while staying here in Phuket.

Phi Phi Update - We visited Phi Phi on June 14th 2005, taking the ferry from Phuket. We wanted to check on the current state of play. How does Phi Phi look? What is open? Should you visit? Try the links below.

Phi Phi After the Tsunami - Report and Photos

Family Trip to Phi Phi April 2006 (by Jamie)

We have added a Tropical Reef Guide and still need a lot more pictures of different marine life. If you have photos of marine life and we don't have the picture here on our guide and you allow us to use it free of charge, then please send it to us!

We always look closely at the liveaboards in Phuket and often book customers for boats that are not yet featured on our web site if other boats are full. If we get good feedback from the customers, other boats may be added. We are also very much aware of new boats being built.

The very latest addition to Phuket's impressive liveaboard stable is the MV Giamani. The boat was built to IMO standards and offers guests a comfortable cruise with trips from 3 - 9 days in Thailand and Burma. The price is very reasonable indeed. She can take 16 divers, but with flexibility in cabin design (some cabins can be booked as double or triple) you may find only 12 divers on the boat.

Welcome to MV Black Manta, the latest liveaboard for scuba diving at the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock in Thailand. MV Black Manta has a steel hull which is 32m long and 7m wide. She was designed for the utmost stability and comfort at sea. The maximum number of scuba divers is 20 but can accommodate more on full charters at the Similan Islands in Thailand.

The MV Pawara was a new addition to the liveaboard vessels in 2006 cruising the Andaman Sea. She is 35 meters long and 7 meters wide, takes a maximum of 20 divers in 10 cabins with aircon and en suite facilities in every cabin. A whopping 5 meals a day ensure that you don't go hungry between dives.

The MV Sai Mai has long been running successful trips in Thailand and Burma. She was built in 1993 of the finest Asian hardwoods. She was refurbished in 2006 and now has all cabins with en suite bathrooms, and a maximum of just 8 divers. Two cabins with double bed and two with bunk beds. At 21m in length, Sai Mai is a comfortable boat, offering a variety of shorter and longer cruises in Thailand and Burma.

More New Liveaboards in Thailand

We keep our ears to the ground for new boats. Some of the older ones have had their time. With the Thai government lifting import taxes on boats and boat building materials, expect some very nice boats to appear in the next few years. Sunrise Divers will continue to offer what we consider to be the best available.

Another good new boat that started quite recently is the MV Jazz. The boat takes 16 guests with trips in Similan and the Mergui Archipelago. The Jazz is developing in to one of the better mid range boats, and the Burma trips are a good deal. Trips are available of 4, 5 or 8 days.

We recognise that not all divers are so rich, and our aim is to help everyone find the right boat. Luxury boats such as the Ocean Rover are a bit pricey for most people, so to balance our site, we added the Dolphin Queen. This is a low budget "backpacker" boat, but friendly and well run. Nothing flash, prices for a 4 day trip start from just 17,800 Baht per person.

Now is the time to think about a liveaboard to the Similan Islands. Every year, more divers are realising the advantages of liveaboard diving, and the liveaboard market in Phuket is still increasing. Of the boats featured on our web site, most are less than 6 years old, and new boats appear every year. From October to May, there are regular departures from Phuket and Khao Lak on a wide variety of boats to suit all schedules and budgets. We have all schedules online and updated for the new season 2010 - 2011. The season is in full swing, so get your skates on!

Most trips run for 4 days / 4 nights and dive at the Similan Islands, plus dive sites further North - Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, the Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock. The increasing popularity of liveaboards combined with the fact that the Similan Islands are getting more exposure, means that booking in advance is a very good idea.

• Click Here for a Summary of Liveaboards in Thailand and Burma

As one of Phuket's top liveaboard agents, Sunrise Divers is here to help you choose the best liveaboard to suit your needs. Our web site has information on more than a dozen of the best boats in Phuket. We have chosen what we feel to be the best in terms of value for money in all price ranges. If you are thinking of a liveaboard, please browse through our site and please Contact Sunrise Divers if you have any questions. We promise to do our best to help you have a great experience scuba diving in Thailand.

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Similan Islands - Thailand Scuba Diving

• The Similan Islands National Park
• Similan Islands Dive Sites
• Thailand Liveaboards - Overview of Boats to Similan and Burma

Our old office in Karon Beach was getting too small, so we have now found a 3 storey office with 2 classrooms, equipment room, customer lounge and administration office. The new premises are at Karon Plaza, a quiet side street with many hotels and guesthouses in close proximity. You can see some photos on our About Sunrise Divers page.

• Map of our location (Karon Beach)
• Google Map of our location
• Hotels and Guesthouses near our new office

The months of June - October are the "wet" season in Phuket, with winds blowing across the Indian Ocean from the South West - the so-called South West Monsoon. In actual fact, Phuket doesn't usually get that much rain, and most of what does fall comes in typical tropical downpours. Right now we are at the start of the low season. Typical weather is sunny, but some days are wet, and some days will have thunderstorms or showers. Generally though you get much more sun than rain. It's time to visit Phuket!

• What's The Weather Like in Phuket Right Now?

Dive Accident Insurance for Sunrise Divers Customers

We are happy to announce that effective August 2003, all customers booking dive trips with Sunrise Divers are covered for diving or non diving emergencies by our new insurance policy with the New Hampshire Insurance Company. Hyperbaric treatment is included in the coverage, as well as evacuation from dive sites such as the Similan Islands. We hope we never have to use the insurance, so please dive safely!

We still recommend that all divers get their own insurance - it's not expensive and means you can dive with peace of mind. Remember that prevention is better than cure, so stay within computer/table limits, ascend slowly and stay healthy. We are here for fun diving! (Note - Our Insurance only valid for trips in Thailand)

• Recommended Travel and Diving Insurance