Similan Islands Liveaboards started becoming popular in the 1990s with tours heading to the main Similan Island chain, plus Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock further to the north. As Phuket was more developed, most boats departed from Phuket, but as Khao Lak became more popular, many liveaboards their departure port to Thap Lamu, which is a large sheltered port just south of Khao Lak which is also a fishing port and navy base. Almost all the boats we offer depart from Thap Lamu, but some boats still start from Phuket. If you stay in Khao Lak you are much closer to the departure point, but most of the boats will pick up divers in Phuket also. The trip from the south of Phuket to Khao Lak is about 2 hours by minibus. The boats below all depart from Khao Lak. A few (Bavaria, Dolphin Queen, Explorer) don’t include guest pick up in Phuket. All others do include hotel transfer from/to Phuket or Khao Lak. Please do contact us if you need more information. We can advise you where it’s best to stay based on what trip you choose. We hope to see you here!
The diving season for the Similan Islands is from October 15th to May 15th. During this time you can expect most of the time calm seas with winds from northeast. Now you can dive at the dive sites of Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and the famous Richelieu Rock. The water temperature is about 29 Degrees Celsius or 84 Fahrenheit year round. The visibility at the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and the Surin Islands is about 15 – 30 meter or 48 – 98 feet.Should you are looking for day trips, overnight or longer liveaboard tours, you can find here the right boat for you.
The pick up time from your hotel in Khao Lak or Phuket is for most liveaboards in the afternoon. Pick up from the airport in Phuket is also possible. For shorter liveaboard tours, like the 2 day / 1 night tour or the 3 day / 2 night tour is the pick up time in the morning.
For liveaboard trips with afternoon departures is dinner served on board before the boat is leaving to the Similan Islands. For the early departures you a get a light breakfast at Thap Lamu pier before taking off by speedboat to the liveaboard at the Similan Islands. Most Similan liveaboards departure these days from Thap Lamu, close to Khao Lak. Some liveaboards are leaving from Phuket, offering diving at Hin Daeng, Hin Munag and the Phi Phi Islands before cruising to the Similan Islands. During our green season from June to September we offer shorter trips to the Phi Phi Islands and Racha Islands. After your liveaboard trip you will be returned to your hotel in the afternoon.
If you already know your travel dates, we suggest you make a LIVEABOARD SEARCH
For more info about Similan Islands liveaboards departing from Khao Lak, please send an enquiry, or email to [email protected], or call our mobile number + 66 8 4626 4646. Let us know your travel dates, give us an idea of your budget / what style of liveaboard you prefer and we will look for the Khao Lak liveaboards to suit you! You can pay for liveaboards online by credit card with zero added card fees and if you find a trip you want, but you are not quite ready to pay, we can hold a no-obligation reservation for you with no deposit for a while. Contact us today and see you here in Thailand!
The Mandarin Queen Liveaboard - MV Jovanna is a newly built liveaboard, launched in OCT 2023. This is a state of the art Similan Liveaboard with the highest standards and comfort. She is running trips through the high season to the Similan island [...] Prices starting from 8375 / day
Cruises to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock plus Hin Daneg, Hin Muang, Racha Islands and Phi Phi as well as Koh Lipe with the liveaboard "Deep Andaman Queen". This stylish and comfortable liveaboard started operating in [...] Prices starting from 8400 / day
MV Dive RACE Class E is a Thailand steel liveaboard which was launched in April 2015. The boat is running 4 and 5 night trips to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. Plus some 6 night cruises as well as 4 night South Andam [...] Prices starting from 10500 / day
Bavaria is a very nice liveaboard launched in late 2016, based in Khao Lak. This liveaboard is offering a mixed schedule of 3 or 6 night trips to the Similan and Surin Islands. Plus some 4 night trips to South Andaman with diving at Koh Ha, Hin D [...] Prices starting from 6400 / day
Sawasdee Fasai was launched in 2016 running trips through the high season to the Similan islands and Richelieu Rock. This is a very large (37 meter long) liveaboard with plenty of space for relaxation. There is a big aircon indoor saloon area on [...] Prices starting from 6457 / day
Enjoy the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock aboard the liveaboard Pawara. She is a one of a kind, custom built diving vessel that combines the modern amenities of today's living and Thai craftsmanship. Pawara is extremely spacious. With her 35 m [...] Prices starting from 6007 / day
Experience a totally unique Similan Islands liveaboard diving cruise onboard a Chinese sailing Junk. The Junk "SY June Hong Chian Lee" is one of the best known Phuket liveaboards, and carries a maximum of 18 customers to the Similan and Surin Isl [...] Prices starting from 250 / day
A great Thailand and Burma Liveaboard since 2018. The Phinisi (also called Cheng I Sao) is an Indonesia Phinisi style sailing boat, built in 2007. The Phinisi has been operating in Indonesia, the Maldives and Thailand, and now has a full schedule [...] Prices starting from 295 / day
The Dolphin Queen Khao Lak based liveaboard will suit those wanting a lower price Similan Islands trip. If you're backpacking or on a tight budget, this could be the one for you. Despite being a low price, Dolphin Queen is professionally run with [...] Prices starting from 4400 / day
South Siam 4 runs twice weekly 3 day / 2 night diving trips including Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin islands and also diving at Richelieu Rock. You can also make a longer trip by starting on the right day (ask us for details - see p [...] Prices starting from 6950 / day
South Siam 3 runs twice weekly 3 day / 2 night trips to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin islands and Richelieu Rock. Divers can make a longer trip by starting on the right day (ask us for details - see more information and prices [...] Prices starting from 6950 / day
We hope to see you here in Thailand soon! We suggest that you make a Liveaboard Trip Search to make it easier to find liveaboard departures from Khao Lak to suit your travel dates. If you'd like more help, please contact Sunrise Divers and tell us what you need. Sunrise Divers has been based in Phuket for 20 years. We know Thailand liveaboards better than anyone.
We also have local day trip diving tours from Phuket to many dive sites around Phuket and Phi Phi and we offer PADI courses at our Karon beach PADI 5 star dive shop. Contact us today!!
Sunrise Divers is not just a website. We are right here to help you with a SSI Training Center dive shop, helpful and experienced staff, quality rental equipment and plenty of local knowledge. We hope to meet you in person!
Sunrise Divers has been operating in Phuket, Thailand since 1999 logging thousands of dives all over the region. We know the area, we know the dive sites, we know the boats. Let us help you find the right trip!
We advertise all trips at the official rates agreed with the boat operators. If you are offered the same trip on the same liveaboard at a lower price, tell us! We promise to get you the best trip at the best possible price!
With our many years of experience, booking with Sunrise Divers is quick and easy. Got a question? We'll answer! Need to talk? Call us! Online credit card payment with no fees is possible for most trips. We know the boats and the area better than anyone. See you here!
The Thailand diving high season is from October to May. Many Thailand liveaboard schedules are online for the season 2023 - 2024. Our Phuket dive center is also open during low season for day trips and Diving Courses. Start planning your dive trip now! Liveaboard Diving in Thailand is as popular as ever - early booking is highly recommended, especially for the more popular boats, though you can sometimes find last minute trips. There are also several boats with trips into the remote Mergui Archipelago in Burma (Myanmar).
Indonesia (Komodo and Raja Ampat) liveaboard schedules are also online right through 2023. Komodo is the best place to dive during the summer May - October. Raja Ampat is the best Indonesia option from November - April. If you are looking for a liveaboard in Thailand, Burma or Indonesia, we hope to hear from you soon!
The famous Similan Islands National Park and Richelieu Rock (part of the Surin Islands National Park) are the most popular destinations for Thailand liveaboards with some trips also covering Hin Daeng and the Phi Phi Islands.
Liveaboards
Liveaboards visit 2 main areas among the many islands of Indonesia - Komodo, famous for it's dragons and Raja Ampat which is called the 'Cradle of Biodiversity'. Diving is spectacular, marine life anything from pygmy seahorses to manta rays!
Liveaboards
The Mergui Archipelago is largely uninhabited, with hundreds of islands stretching 400km up the West coast of Myanmar. You might not even see another dive boat during your trip - dive Myanmar now before it really opens up to mass tourism!
Liveaboards