SSI Advanced Adventurer Course – Richelieu Rock / Similan Islands
Similan Islands SSI Advanced Adventurer Open Water Diver Course on board the South Siam 3 or South Siam 4 liveaboard. Diving trips with 3 days and 2 nights including Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and the Richelieu Rock. You can also make a longer trip by starting on the right day (ask us for details – see prices below). The boats are low budget options and offer a rare opportunity for a short 3 day trip including the famous Richelieu Rock. Overnight trips are possible starting most days to the Similan Islands and Koh Bon. Overnight trips do not include Richelieu Rock. You can start and end trips almost any day during the season (late October – early May), but for the 3 day trips including dives at Richelieu and Surin islands you must start on Saturday or Tuesday (South Siam 4) or Wednesdays or Sundays (South Siam 3). The South Siam 4 and South Siam 3 boats are built to almost the same design, sleeping 28 guests maximum. The boats can be crowded as there may also be day trippers on board.
Similan Islands Advanced Open Water Diver
Advanced Adventurer Course – Similan Islands & Koh Bon:
2 days / 1 night (7 dives)
The South Siam 3-4 are low budget liveaboards. The vessels can accommodate maximum 28 guests sleeping in twin or double air-conditioned cabins, with 6 shared bathrooms. On the upper deck you find a large shaded outdoor seating area where large meals are served to hungry divers, plus an indoor air-conditioned lounge equipped with TV and DVD. On the very top deck of the South Siam is a large sundeck.
Dive trips with 3 days and 2 nights including the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and the Richelieu Rock. This include a great variety of diving in a short period. You can do also just do an overnight trip with 7 dives. Please note that there are day trip costumers on board for 2 dives at Similan and Koh Bon.
Note that this boat unlike most other liveaboards, does not provide towels, please bring a towel with you.
Dive trips with the South Siam 4 or South Siam 3 departure very early – pick up time in Phuket is between 6 – 6:30am and Khao Lak between 7:30 – 7:45am. Guests are transferred by minibus to the port of Thap Lamu, around 2 hours drive from our home at Karon Beach. Breakfast is available at the port on departure day before boarding the speedboat. Usually just some toast and coffee, you may want to bring something with you to eat on the minibus ride. At the port you transfer to the speedboat for a 90 minute dash to the Similan Islands to join the dive boat. On your final day you will make 3 dives in Similan, and expect to be back in Phuket by 6 – 7pm. Transfers from / to Khao Lak hotels are also possible and indeed recommended to avoid the 2 hours each-way transfer from/to Phuket.
NOTE that at busy times the boat is likely to be crowded and note that day trippers can join some days too. You have 28 guests sleeping on the boat, plus new divers arriving and on changeover days there can sometimes be 50+ divers. The boat is well run, but some people may find it a little too busy. If you want a quiet boat with less divers, this is not the one for you.
Overnight trips can start on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday. 3 day / 2 night trips can start Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday. 4 day / 3 nights you can start any day except Thursday.
Diving Equipment
Course prices include rental equipment (BCD/regulator/fins/mask/wetsuit), dive computer and dive insurance (max. 500,000 Baht). We have a large equipment room at our dive center with 30 sets of Aqualung BCDs and regulators and a large selection of long and short wetsuits, open heel and full foot fins.
If you need to rent equipment we suggest you meet at our dive center at least 1 day before departure day, so you can try all equipment before departure. We can’t arrange on departure day because these trips have early morning pick up starting 6am, so all equipment is prepared the day before. If not possible to meet at our shop, no problem, we will pack extra equipment in different sizes.
Torches for night dives, no charge. 15 liter tanks available 300 Baht per day.
Drinks
Drinking water, coffee, tea and sodas are included. Beers are 50 Baht.
Please complete the form below to send an availability or booking enquiry to Sunrise Divers. You are also welcome to send a direct email to [email protected] or call our mobile hotline +66846264646. We are based in Phuket, Thailand. We will reply as soon as possible with full trip information and details on how to make a booking. Payments can be made by credit card (no card fees) or bank transfer. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
We have included below a typical itinerary for a 3 day/2 night trip. You can also do 2 day/1 night, 4 day/3 night or even longer stays on the South Siam boats.
Itinerary 3 days/2 nights – Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock
