MV Nautica, a steel mono-hull vessel, was custom built in 2004 to International Maritime Organisation (IMO) specifications. This assures you that the vessel lives up to standards of safety and security that not many liveaboard vessels in Thailand can boast. It is built with the intention of providing you with a safe, pleasurable and exhilarating cruising experience.

A comfortable and luxurious liveaboard boat, Nautica accommodates up to 12 guests. She has 1 double bed master cabin and another 4 twin double bed cabins, including a bunk bed cabin. All cabins have been designed to give you a sense of luxury, furnished with teak wood and equipped with individually controlled air condition, en suite bathrooms (except the bunk bed cabin on main deck) with hot shower and towels provided, large sea view windows to let in the morning sunlight, reading lights, wardrobes for your personal belongings and a mini bar.

She boasts a spacious open air lounge on the upper deck with comfortable cushions for relaxing in your post-dive times. In fact there is a general laid back atmosphere to this vessel accomplished with the help of a sociable and friendly crew which makes for an easy, fun and enjoyable live aboard experience. You can also listen to your favourite cds and watch movies or explore our extensive marine library.

Food on board the MV Nautica is served by buffet, providing you with the option of many different dishes and the opportunity to eat as much as you want. Food is carefully prepared with Thai, European and American dishes served across the day by our caring hostess and coffees and teas, including water and small snacks are free. If you have special dietary requirements please let us know.

Diving with MV Nautica will provide you with the opportunity to visit Koh Tarutao, one of the least visited dive sites by other boats and the on board instructors will be happy to teach you new skills and train you all the way to higher levels of PADI certification.

Itinerary

THAILAND – SIMILAN & SURIN ISLANDS
4 days & 4 nights or 6 days & 6 nights
Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon West Ridge, Koh Tachai

Sample Itinerary
Departure at 6 – 7 pm. Guests are picked up from within Phuket. Board MV Nautica at the pier and depart with destination Similan Islands,Thailand. Dinner is served on board followed by a briefing regarding the schedule of the following days.

THAILAND & MYANMAR
8 days & 8 nights
Similans, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon, Richelieu Rock, and the Mergui Archipelago, Rocky Island, Black Rock

Travel through the night to the spectacular Similan Islands in Thailand.

Day 1
Similans, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai dive sites

Day 2
Richelieu Rock, then cruise to Myanmar and Thailand border
Day 3
Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar – Burma)

Day 4
Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar – Burma)

Day 5
Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar – Burma)

Day 6
Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar – Burma), cruise to Myanmar and Thailand border

Day 7
Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon

Day 8
Arrival Day: visit Koh Tachai, departure from Tablamu after lunch, followed by minibus transfer back to your hotel in Phuket.

*N.B.: The MV Nautica route will widely depend on current weather conditions and the current political situation in Burma; decisions are taken by Captain and Cruise Director, always with consideration to the wishes of the guests.

MV Sai Mai was originally built in 1993. Way back then, this vessel was specialized in Burma Trips. By 2006, her loving owner had rebuilt and re-designed the MV Sai Mai transforming it into one of the most comfortable and spacious liveaboard vessels you can find in Thailand.

If what you long for is spectacular diving in some of the best dive sites in the world, while receiving special personal attention on board from our caring and experienced staff, then this is the boat for you. MV Sai Mai travels to all areas in and around Thailand including the Merghui Archipelago in Myanmar and a brand new diving cruise to Langkawi.

All cabins come complete with individually controlled air condition and en suite bathrooms and are cared for by 3 on board cabin staff. MV Sai Mai boasts a limit of 8 guests per dive cruise, thus allowing for more space on board per guest, so you can easily find your own relaxing space on board.

On this note you will find a shaded relaxation area on the upper deck, ideal for reading your book in between dives and chatting about the day’s Manta Ray and Whale Shark sightings with a fresh drink in your hand. This is also where meals are served.

MV Sai Mai is run under personal management, by Magnus the owner of the boat, making for a more flexible and personal atmosphere on board. Together with Waldi the Dive Master, they will guide you through the most satisfying diving expeditions of a maximum of 4 divers per group, showing you all that their years of experience in these waters has shown them.

The dive deck comes with a separate storage area for all your equipment, including your cameras and computers. With plenty of space you will never find this area overcrowded. NITROX is free on the MV Sai Mai and if you wish to advance your diving skills, a number of PADI courses are available on board taught by experienced instructors dedicated to your safety and, last but never least, to having ample quality fun!

Itinerary

MV Sai Mai journeys to the Similan & Surin Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock, the Phi Phi Islands and Hin Daeng, including the Merqui Archipelago in Myanmar before Burma. She also makes a special journey from Phuket to Langkawi.

The following are Sample Itineraries:

PHI PHI, HIN DAENG CRUISE
4 Days & 4 Nights

Tuesday
Departure at 3.00 pm from Phuket. Onward travel to the Phi Phi islands.

Wednesday
4 Dives at Phi Phi Islands & Koh Rock.

Thursday
4 Dives at Hin Daeng &  Hin Muang.

Friday
4 Dives at Koh Ha & Phi Phi Islands

Saturday
2 Dives at King Cruiser Wreck & Koh Doc Mai, followed by arrival in Chalong Phuket at 4.00 pm.

MYANMAR CRUISE
8 days & 9 Nights

Departure Day
6 pm pick up from your hotel. Overnight travel to the Similan Islands with dinner on board.

Day 1
Dive 1 at the Similans. Dive 2 at Koh Bon. Dive 3 at Koh Tachai or Richelieu Rock. Overnight travel to the Myanmar border.

Day 2
Once border formalities are completed, you travel towards our 1st Myanmar dive site. Diving is at High Rock, Stewart Island, or Rocky Island.

Day 3
Shark Cave dive site, one of the best sites in Myanmar, where we make 3 day-time dives and 1 night-time dive.

Day 4
3 day-time dives and 1 night-time dive in Black Rock.

Day 5
3 day-time dives and 1 night-time dive in North Twin – South Twin.

Day 6
3 day-time dives in Burma Banks at Heckford Bank and Silvertip Bank.

Day 7
2 dives at North and Western Rockies followed by a cruise to Kaw Thaung for border clearance. Overnight cruise to the Similan Islands.

Day 8
3 day-time dives and 1 night-time dive in the Similan Islands.

Night 9
Journey back to Phuket. You have your last breakfast around 8 am. Transfer back to the hotel.

PHUKET TO LANGKAWI CRUISE
8 days & 9 nights

Departure day:
2 pm pick up from your hotel, followed by overnight journey to the Phi Phi Islands with dinner on board.

Day 1
3 day-time dives and 1 night-time dive in Phi Phi Islands.

Day 2
3 day-time dives and 1 night-time dive in Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Ha, Koh Rok.

Day 3
3 day-time dives and 1 night-time dive in Tarutao National Park: Ko Lipe.

Day 4
3 day-time dives and 1 night-time dive in Tarutao National Park: Ko Rawee, Ko Adang.

Day 5
Sightseeing and shopping in Langkawi.

Day 6
3 day-time dives and 1 night-time dive in Tarutao National Park: Ko Lipe, Ko Rawee, Ko Adang.

Day 7
3 day-time dives and 1 night-time dive in Ko Ha, Hin Muang, Hin Daeng, Ko Rok.

Day 8
3 day-time dives and 1 night-time dive in Phi Phi Islands

Day 9
Return to Phuket. You have your last breakfast.around 8 am. Transfer back the hotel.

Newly refurbished in 2008, the MV Scuba Cat operates in the Similan waters and is the largest diving liveaboard catamaran in the country. Those divers suffering from sea sickness will find this vessel most comfortable and stable owing to its construction and location.

MV Scuba Cat Liveaboard is a unique diving platform in that it is moored in the calm waters of the Similan Islands and only travels from dive site to dive site within the National Marine Park. Our MV Scuba Sport speed boat transfers divers to the MV Scuba Cat almost daily, depending on the season. Once transfered onto the vessel you have a choice of staying as many days as you like, doing up to 5 dives a day. You also have the opportunity to rent an ocean kayak or we can take you to the beautiful surrounding beaches where you can sunbathe to your heart’s content or, if you are looking for a different kind of sport alongside diving, you can take part in our famous sunset volleyball matches on the beach. Life on board this vessel is easy going. There is also ample space to relax on top of its 80 square meter sun deck, where you can chat about all of your day’s adventures. The MV Scuba Cat live aboard is a fine place to make new diving friends exploring the spectacular underwater world of the Similans.

She boasts a low level dive platform with ample space, making equipment preparation and access to the water very easy for everyone on board. If you are a beginner diver, and unsure of your diving skills, this should be the ideal boat for you to start your liveaboard career, since you will be diving in the safety of the protected waters of the Similan National Marine Park, with plenty of shallower water dives sites around. MV Scuba Cat will take you to dive sites such as Honeymoon Bay, Boulder City, Hideaway Reef, Deep Six, Breakfast Bend and Elephant Head Rock among others.

MV Scuba Cat accommodates up to 20 divers in its twin share cabins. All cabins are spacious and have upper and lower berths, reading lights, fans, lockable boxes and a view of the ocean through your window, first thing in the morning when you wake up.

The crew on board are always friendly and willing to answer any questions, help you with anything you need and teach you about the underwater world, always with your safety and that of the environment in mind.

In the low season MV Scuba Cat liveaboard journeys to the protection of Racha Yai and Racha Noi islands, where transfers to the vessel take place daily. Racha Yai is the best place to learn scuba diving, since the underwater currents are mild. The dives sites in this area are rich with aquatic life and hard corals reefs. Racha Noi on the other hand, fit for more experienced divers due to the strong currents, offers dive sites full of soft corals, home to larger fish and manta rays.

Book with Island Cruises all year round, for a journey into the stunning underwater world of the Similans with the choice of as many diving days as you wish and the added bonus of maintaining your independence by not having to follow a particular Cruise schedule as with all other vessels.

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary – 5 days and 4 Nights
Day 1
We pick you up from your accommodation in Phuket at 6:30 to 7 am and transfer you to the MV Scuba Cat Liveaboard in the Similans. Upon arrival at 12:30 pm you have a filling buffet lunch, after which you are assigned a cabin and given a health and safety on board briefing. Your first dive takes place soon after, followed by a fresh fruit and cookies snack and another two dives, a total of 3 dives on your first day. Since on board the MV Scuba Cat you can make up to five dives a day, there is always ample time for you to spend some time on the beach while catching the later dive. We can take you to the beach or your can rent one of our ocean kayaks, exploring your more primitive explorer instincts, away from engines of any kind. Return back on board for dinner is at 6 pm.

Days 2, 3 & 4
We usually wake you up at 6:30 am. A light self service breakfast with toast, fruit cereal, juice and coffee is followed by your first dive of the day, at 7:30 am. There is nothing like diving early in the morning before the fishes go to school and the sun starts the hard work! Your first dive is then followed by a full western breakfast. The second dive is at 10:10 am, followed by lunch at 12 pm and another two dives at 2 pm and 4 pm. Dinner is served at 6 pm and you can dive in the night if you wish, at approximately 7:30 pm. Once again, you can always break your schedule a little by relaxing on the sun deck or taking a trip to the surrounding beaches for a few hours.

Departure Day
Your final day on board includes another 3 dives, again at 7:30 am, 10 am and 12 pm. having satiated your diving hunger and full with experience you will indeed be hungry for some food! Lunch is served at 1 pm and at 2:15 you will be transfered back to Patong Bay. The way back is a good time to complete your log book.

The MV Oktavia was originally built in 2003. The liveaboard vessel was then fully renovated in 2007 to provide even more comfort and space for scuba divers. The M/V Oktavia is 30m long and 6,5m wide. The size and weight of this great liveaboard boat makes it very steady in the sea even in rough waters. An extra large dive deck allows for much space to gear up and to comfortably enter the water. Oktavia is a quit boat with a wooden hull that effectively reduces the engine noise. Of course, safety is top priority and M/V Oktavia fulfills all international safety standards.

MV Oktavia offers two very large and comfortable master en-suite cabins and 13 “blue ocean cabins”, large cabins with ample space which are all equipped with air conditioning, fan, reading lights and large panorama windows. Usually there are only two guests per cabin, unless a family chooses one of the triple bed family cabins. This live aboard boat is very attractive for families with children and groups. M/V Oktavia is one of the biggest boats cruising the Similan and Surin Islands which means more leisure space and no cramped areas with a maximum of 20 diving or non diving guests on board it allows less than half of what the boat originally was built for. The staff of the M/V Oktavia welcomes babies and children of any age and will take good care for them while the parents can fully enjoy diving in the Similan Islands. The Swedish owners are always on the boat, ensuring that the ship is well maintained and guaranteeing a high service level

The huge sun deck of the Oktavia lets you enjoy stunning views over the Similan and Surin Islands and spectacular sunsets in the Andaman Sea. The “Party Deck” offers comfortable sitting space with lots of large and comfortable armchairs and sofas for reading books, sharing diving adventure stories and eating. Speaking of which; excellent food is served from breakfast to lunch and dinner. The crew of the M/V Oktavia guarantees small dive groups with max 4 divers per guide – and divers are split according to experience and comfort level. The max. dive time is 1 hour (everywhere else 50 minutes). Scheduled are 4 fantastic dives per day including the choice between sunset- or night dive (only 3 dives on day 5)

MV West Coast Explorer is a motorized dive vessel, boasting a fully carpeted upper deck and a 30 square meter sun deck. Lounge in the 12 square meter salon and enjoy your resting time from your diving, making full use of our music and video system or our diverse marine library. This live aboard vessel has top facilities run by knowledgeable and experienced staff. She can accommodate up to 16 divers in her fully air-conditioned twin shared cabins.

Have a taste of our delicious on board food of Thai and International main meals, including breakfast. We can confidently say that your only complaint may be that of putting on too much weight, during your liveaboard diving cruise. At MV Explorer, we try to keep your taste buds happy, as we know that good food will make your scuba liveaboard experience all the more enjoyable. To this end, tea, coffee, water, milkshakes and small appetizers such as fruit, sweets, cakes and biscuits are offered free of charge. We also cater for Halal, vegetarian and of course, any allergy related dietary requirements.

Also important in affording you the best liveaboard experience is the boat crew. Our crew is one of the best features of this vessel. Warm and friendly people, they will make sure that you are comfortable, tell you what to expect, ask you about your experience, listen to you, answer your questions and show you all the beautiful creatures around, while you’re diving, so that you don’t miss anything. Furthermore, they are all committed to making your liveaboard dive cruise fun! Anything you need, speak to Milton or Nick, your liveaboard cruise hosts, who will be happy to help any way they can. First and foremost, however, the crew will make sure that you are always safe.

Safety on board our liveaboard vessel, MV Explorer, is first on our list of priorities. The dive deck is equipped with non-slip rubber flooring and the vessel itself has closed circuit video systems covering various communal areas of the boat, including the dive platform and the engine room, thereby ensuring safe standards and practices by all on board. She also carries a complete first aid kit, fire extinguishers, life jackets and a DAN oxygen supply.

Itinerary

SIMILANS & RICHELIEU ROCK CRUISE
4 days & 4 nights
West Coast Explorer Live Aboard conducts a 4day/4night schedule during Phuket‘s high season, starting from the 1st of November till the 30th of April, every year. Below are the sites visited:

Richelieu Rock
Koh Bon
Koh Tachai
Surin National Park
Similan National Park

Departure day
Pick up from all areas in Phuket, followed by transfer to the West Coast Explorer to Thap Lamu. Begin your cruise to the Similan Islands. Dinner is served on board.

Day 1-3
4 dives per day – exact itinerary varies; Dive sites are decided en route based on currents, weather, customer choice, big fish sightings etc.

Day 4
2 dives followed by return to Thap Lamu. Transfer back to your hotel in Phuket.

Main deck:
1 – Dive deck
2 – Storage
3 – Heads
4 – Engines
5 – Twin-bed Cabins
7 – Crew

Upper Deck:
8 – Outdoor salon
9 – Double-bed Cabin
10 – Wheelhouse

The MV Black Manta is a 32 meter long, double engine motor yacht with a steel body. The is one of the most comfortable liveaboard diving boats in Thailand and Myanmar. The MV Black Manta accommodates up to 22 diving and non diving passengers. The MV Black Manta has 11 cabins with different sleeping arrangements including a master suite, deluxe doubles and twin share suites, and two standard twin share cabins. The boat is fully designed by scuba divers for scuba divers. This live aboard boat has an extra large dive deck and huge diving platform, allowing easy entries and exits. The MV Black Manta is your first choice live aboard diving boat

MV Black Manta has been designed to fit the needs of both the comfort, and the flexibility of recreational and technical diving alike. The large dive deck and professional organization on the boat will assure that you have plenty of space to assemble and disassemble your equipment easily. The dive deck is equipped with an enriched air blending station. A dedicated rinse tank and shelf for your underwater digital camera is provided. We carry a full compliment of equipment on board; our SCUBA cylinders are available in yoke and DIN fittings; including larger and smaller tanks and extra DIN adapters. We have 2 support RIBs, 1 of which is deployed constantly during your dives.Warm towels and fruits are always ready for you after every dive. Full briefings are conducted before every dive in Saloon or Dining Area. All Dives are conducted in small groups of equal or similar dive experience, certification level and dive objectives.

The upper deck is where our guests are dining and relaxing in between the exciting dives. The large outdoor dining area lets you enjoy the exotic panorama of tropical islands covered with palm trees. The large saloon offers a digital multi media center with sound system and wide-screen plasma TV for your entertainment and to watch the footage you just shot on the last dive. The spacey sundeck is as long as the whole the boat and incorporates loungers for you to relax. The MV Black Manta also offer an on-board massage service for your convenience. MV Black Manta serves three plentiful meals a day. A blend of Western and Thai dishes will be ready for you after every dive. Light breakfast and afternoon snacks and a delightful array of fresh tropical fruits accompanies every meal. Further snacks, tea and coffee, hot chocolate and drinking water are available during the whole day.

Itinerary

Pickup Times

• 16:00 PHUKET TOWN; guests to office (16:30 for ferries from Rassada Pier)
• 16:30 CHALONG; start from our office on the day of departure.
• 17:00 KATA, KARON
• 17:30 PATONG, KAMALA, SURIN
• 18:00 BANG TAO, MAI KHAO
• 18:30 NAI THON, NAI YANG and AIRPORT
• 20:00 KHAO LAK
• 20:30 Latest arrival on the boat
• 21:00 Dinner

Daily Schedule*

Days 1 -3

06:30 / 07:00 Wake up

07:30 / 08:00 Dive #1

09:00 / 09:30 Breakfast

11:00 / 11:30 Dive #2

12:30 / 13:00 Lunch

14:30 / 15:30 Dive #3

16:00 / 17:00 Snack

17:30 / 19:00 Dive #4

19:30 / 20:30 Dinner

Final Day: After 2 dives the MV Black Manta will arrive in Thap Lamu pier at approx. 14:00

*The schedules of the MV Black Manta are always approximate and may vary according to the weather and wind conditions. The schedule for any given trip is at the discretion of the Cruise Director.

Dive Sites :

• Anita’s Reef
• Shark Fin Reef
• East of Eden
• West of Eden
• Deep Six
• Elephant Head Rock & Pinnacle
• Waterfall Bay
• Turtle Bay
• Donald Duck Bay
• Three Trees
• Rocky Point Reef & Pinnacle;
• Christmas Point
• Koh Bon Ridge
• Reefs & Pinnacles
• Koh Tachai Reefs & Pinnacle
• Richelieu Rock
• Boonsung Wreck

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Upper Deck:
1 – Deluxe cabin
2 – Deluxe cabin
3 – Deluxe cabin
4 – Deluxe cabin
5 – Galley
6 – Dive deck
7 – Relaxation area at boat’s bow

Main Deck:
1 – Standard cabin
2 – Standard cabin
3 – Bathroom
4 – Wheelhouse
5 – Air conditioned salon
6 – Dining deck

a – Air conditioned customer cabins, 2m x 2m
b – Staff cabins
c – 2 x heads, 1 x extra restroom
d – 2 x extra fresh water showers
e – Forward sundeck
f – Galley
g – Stairs to the upper deck
h – Camera and video shelf
i – Diving platform, 2m x 6m
j – Stairs to lower sundeck
k – To the engine & compressors
l – Cold drinks bar
m – Captain’s cabin
n – Lounge, A/V equipment, sat phone
o – Dining area
p – Shaded, cushioned “chill-out” zone
q – Stairs to lower deck
r – Ladder to top deck
s – Inflatable dinghy