- Special offersMermaid2's
 Similan islands liveaboard trips also includes the Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock areas north of the Similan islands.
The Thailand high season
on the
west coast runs from November to May with
our typical Similans
liveaboard taking 4 days and 4 nights and including 14 dives. We leave every Monday evening cruising over night to arrive in the stunning Similan islands for your first dive of the day. Travelling north over the next few days we dive Richelieu rock, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai before heading south once again and returning to Phuket at the end of each trip. We also offer the opportunity to combine your Similans liveaboard trip with a Hin Daeng / Phi Phi liveaboard on Mermaid II or a Burma liveaboard to the Mergui Archipelago area on Mermaid I to make your trip a full Thailand safari and / or including diving in Burma. |
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M/V Mermaid 2 is a 32 metre, double engine steel motor yacht, one of the most comfortable diver boats
around, she easily accommodates 16 guests in 8 deluxe cabins and 2 guests in a budget cabin below deck. All deluxe ca  bins are on the main deck with large panoramic sea view windows. Each cabin has a double bed and single bed (max pax 2 per cabin), air conditioning, ensuite bathrooms. The budget cabin is below deck with twin bunks, air conditioning and a large shared bathroom with 1 other cabin. The large and comfotable saloon is more reminiscent of a family room at home than the saloon on a boat - it has 4 comfy chairs and 2 large sofas and has all the latest electronics - dvd, flat screen tv and stereo. There is also tea and fresh ground coffee making facilities and fridge to keep the beer, wine and soft drinks cold, we hope you will feel right at home.
Our 8 double a/c cabins offer all the comforts you need. Deluxe cabins offer a large panoramic window. All cabins offer private en-suites with hot water showers and sink, camera-charging outlet, storage space, wardrobe and life jackets.There is a wide stern dive platform with two exit ladders and fresh water showers. The di  ve deck is huge with plenty of room to gear up, individual boxes for your dive gear, camera table and loads of rinse tanks.
The dining room is located on the main deck where delicious buffet style Thai and western meals are served. The saloon is large and spacious with lounge suites and big windows, bar fridge, tea and coffee facilities, Tv/Dvd, music center, library and a full selection of marine life books. There are two outside decks, the shade covered party deck has recently added a brand new custom made extra large lounging suite. The sundeck, located in front of the wheelhouse has a full sun, cushioned lounging area that is not only great for catching some rays but also for watching the sun set with a beer. EANX NITROX is available on every Indonesia and Thailand liveaboard. |
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Fifty-two miles north-west of Phuket lies Koh Similan Marine National Pa  rk. This is an archipelago of nine granite islands offering some of the best diving in south East Asia. Similan islands liveaboard diving provides a huge variety of topography and boast the richest variety and abundance of reef fish in Thailand.
During southern Thailand's hot season in February, March and April, the rising sea temperature causes a boom in plankton levels. This in turn attracts whale sharks and manta rays to be drawn to the Similan islands to feed. The eastern Similans dive sites feature lush coral gardens with sea anemones and a host of colourful reef fish. Seas are calm and dives are at moderate depths, suitable for all levels of divers and also for snorkellers. Western dive sites feature enormous granite boulders, descending down to 40 meters with swim throughs, caves and tunnels, making the diving more challenging. Currents provide nutrients for a colourful variety of soft corals and seafans. Above sea level, the islands are covered in lush rainforest, and there is an abundance of bird life. |
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Boulder City (Island Three - Koh Payan) Koh Miang # 4 Honeymoon Bay
Elephant Head, Hin Pousar These amazing pinnacles are covered with colourful soft coral trees, large gorgonian sea fans and barrel sponges running down the walls. With 5 species of clown fish in the magnificent anemones and their shrimp and porcelain crab hosts its difficult to keep your eyes of the pinnacles but a look out in to the blue can be rewarding with manta rays gliding around and the occasional whale shark. But don’t forget to keep a check on your air supply as its time to head back to the surface and leave these beautiful creatures behind. Koh Tachai Island - The Dome Richelieu Rock |
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I hope to provide as many answers as possible with my Faq and travel advice section for each liveaboard destination but if you find you still have questions, please do not hesitate to email me directly. I am an open water diver. Can I join the Thailand trips? Yes, this is for all levels, even non-divers are welcome. Is there discount for non-divers? Where do the boats depart from? Patong beach in Phuket. What time do the boats sail to Similans? 8pm or when the final guests have arrived. Is Hotel or Airport pickup provided? Pick up time from your hotel in Phuket or the airport is from 5-6.00pm onward, only on the sailing day. After the trip, we will send you back to your hotel in Phuket or the aiport whichever you prefer. What happens if I arrive in Phuket Airport on the morning of sailing day? You could make your own way to our office, leave your baggage there, and return at 6pm for the meet up or avail yourself of, free of charge, the day use of the Royal Phawadee hotel next to the office and the meeting point for the evening meal and boat check in. Where is your office in Phuket Thailand? Mermaid liveaboards, Royal Phawadee Village, 3 Sawatdirak Road, Patong Beach, Kathu, Phuket 83150 Thailand Who do I contact in Phuket when I arrive? Office +66 96481331 - Manager +66872748348 What is provided during the trip? Towel, bed linen, 5 meals a day, dive guide (4-5 diver to 1 dive guide), hot beverages, snacks, daily cabin services, tanks, weight belt, fruit after diving, basic toiletries. Do you provide Nitrox fills? Yes, each refill is 6 euros - 10% on the whole trip Can I request a larger (15 litre) tank? Yes, it is free of charge. Do you have any tanks with a DIN valve? Yes, we have both DIN or normal valve adaptors. Are there any extra fees to pay onboard? Marine park fee is 1800 baht for a 4 days trip. Can I fly on the final day of trip? You can, provided you skip the final 2 dives on the last day. How long is the boat ride from Patong beach to the Similan Islands? 6 hours. What time does the boat return to pier on the final diving day? 4.00pm. How far is the airport from the pier? 45 mins on a normal day. Is there a massage service? Yes, 300 baht per hour. Is Insurance included? No, we recommend DAN Is there phone reception throughout the trip? Only around Similans, Island 4, 5 and 7 at the moment. Is there power onboard for battery charging? Yes, most of the cabins have 220V 3-pin and we have 2-pin adapters. Is there a camera rinse tank? Yes 3 large ones Where is the nearest Recompression Chamber? In Patong Beach, Phuket. Is there Oxygen onboard? Yes, plenty for Nitrox and for any emergency. What are the dive sites covered in a normal 4 day itinerary? East of Eden, West of Eden, Elephant Head Rock, Rocky Point, Christmas Tree Point, Koh Bon, Pinnacles, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock. Do you run trips to Burma, Mergui Archipalago? Yes, but only if it is a full boat charter. Do you run trips to Andaman Islands? Yes, we but only on Mermaid1 not Mermaid2. Do you run trips to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang? Yes every weekend - Mermaid2 Hin Daeng Flying to Thailand and Phuket International flights There are two airports in Bangkok, with all international flights arriving to the new international airport of Suvarnabhumi (airport code BKK). Most major airlines fly direct to at least Bangkok, and often to Phuket. Thai Airways International (THAI) is the national airline and is regarded as one of the best airlines in the world, with another great carrier being Singapore Airlines who have multiple flights to Bangkok and Phuket daily. Phuket also has an international airport, with at least five flights a day (this varies from high-season to low-season) arriving from Bangkok year-round. Phuket also welcomes planes from Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and even Europe to its airport. Internal FlightsIf you have a connecting flight to Phuket then it can leave form Suvarnabhumi or from the old international airport of Don Muang (airport code DMK, which is now purely domestic). Please check your tickets, transfer times, and lay-over times between flights as passage between the two airports can be time consuming. Thailand has a number of discount and budget domestic airlines which can be good as long as you don't want to change your travel plans. You can save 50% or more using these carriers if you book early but keep in mind that they usually limit your luggage weight to 15kg or 33lbs. For many divers this is simply not enough and by the time you pay the over weight fees, you may not end up saving any money. To check flights with the main carriers into and out of Phuket check the following links: Thai Airways - Bangkok Air - Air AsiaNote: It is strongly advised that you arrive in Phuket at least one day prior to boat departure in order to avoid potential problems and to allow you time to acclimatise before heading out on the trip. Also remember the '24 hours after diving' rule when booking your return flights. Visa Requirements All travellers to Thailand must have a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of entry into the Kingdom. Although nationals of most countries in Southeast Asia, Europe, America, and Oceania are granted visa on arrival for up to 30 days, some are only granted 15 days, and others must have visa before arrival. See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for an up to date list of what is required. If in doubt please contact the Thai embassy in your country for more information, see here for a list of Thai Embassies around the world. IMPORTANT FOR BURMA CUSTOMERS: If you require a visa to enter Thailand, please make sure you obtain a multiple entry visa as you will need for your initial entry to Thailand as well as your re-entry to Thailand on returning from Burma. See Burma Travel Advice for more details on Burma visas and entry procedures. Accommodation upon Arrival in Phuket It is highly recommended that you arrive at least one day prior to your cruise to recover from your jet lag and / or to avoid any possible delays or complications.. Electricity Supply In Thailand 220Volt/50Hz is standard with sockets mixed between 2 and/or 3 pin flat and/or round pins. To avoid confusion or disappointment we suggest guests bring at least one travel adapter. You can check the socket system visually at this World Wide Electricity Guide. Currency The currency of Thailand is the Thai Baht (Thb). Visa and Mastercard are commonly accepted in most stores (though American Express is less so) and cash machines are widely available in tourist areas. Currency exchange is also widely available, though we suggest using banks (where you will get a fair exchange rate and often pay no commission) rather than hotels or others who generally provide poorer rates. You will sometimes find that US Dollars, Euros, and the GB Pound are accepted in larger hotels. For current exchange rates click here. Eating out and Thai Food No matter what your gastronomical tastes there is something for everyone in Phuket with world wide fast food outlets, street carts, fine international restaurants, and wonderful traditional Royal Thai Cuisine all available. With all the major resorts and Phuket City offering a wide choice you can eat somewhere new every night! There is a wide variety of Thai food, and contrary to popular belief it is not all very hot. There are many curries available and they can be spicy, though a simple request for "not too spicy" will make it more than bearable to the western palate. Also beware of 'Thai Spicy Salad' as this is not salad in the traditional western sense and can be hot enough to make your brain leak through your ears (though papaya salad is delicious once you are accustomed to the heat!). Northern curries tend to be milder, with 'Massaman' being a particular favourite. Sea food is very popular in Phuket, for obvious reasons, and is very reasonably priced in western terms. Most sea food is generally fresh and cooked beautifully, though take the sensible precaution and beware of shell fish if you have lots of travelling to do the day after. Climate Thailand's tropical climate is influenced by the southwest and northeast monsoons. There are three basic seasons: Dry (November through Feb), Hot (March through May) and Rainy (June through October). Day trip diving is possible all year round, though the liveaboard season is restricted to the 'dry' and 'hot' seasons; often referred to as high season. Below is an example of a typical high season's weather in the Phuket area.
Please note, the above table is not a forecast! For up to date weather in Phuket see Yahoo weather. Air and Water Temperatures Air temperature: 23°C - 35°C (73°F - 95°F), always warm and can be very hot and humid, nights sometimes a little cooler. Water temperature in the Andaman Sea averages around 27°C to 30°C (80°F - 86°F), very pleasant although sometimes thermo clines occur. A 3mm short wetsuit is normally enough, though with 4 dives per day you may want to think about a full length suit particularly if you are succeptable to the cold. Please contact the office a week or so prior to the trip for current water temperatures if you are concerned. Clothing and Dress Codes In all tourist resorts shorts and t-shirts are acceptable attire. This is also appropriate at night, though 'smart casual' is preferred in the better eating establishments. Jackets and ties are not required anywhere. Ladies are expected to dress appropriately when visiting temples, for example, cover your shoulders and wear dresses or trousers below the knee at the very least. Aside from this, light natural fibers are advised as they are comfortable and allow the air to circulate, man made fibres can cause you to sweat in this humid climate and can cause heat rash or worse. Health Health services are excellent in Thailand with modern, well equipped hospitals in all major towns. Although Thailand is officially a malarial area, most of the country (including Phuket) is Malaria free, though Dengue Fever is not unknown. We recommend you check the status of your vaccinations and seek your doctor's advice on inoculations and medication. Normal sensible precautions with food should keep you out of trouble, and be sure to drink lots of bottled drinking water to prevent dehydration (especially if your best laid plans have still left you with a bout of diarrhoea). DO NOT drink tap water in Thailand! Also, be sure to wash regularly and wear light, loose clothing made from natural fibres as heat rash and fungal infections for visitors are not unusual in this humidity. Religious Matters Nearly all Thais are Buddhist (somewhere approaching 90%) with a small percentage (some 5%) being Muslim, though the south has a higher proportion of Muslims. The remainder of the country is made up of various religions with Christianity, Hinduism, and Confucianism making up most of the 5 or 6% left. There is a great tolerance between religions symbolised by the fact that the King is the Protector of All Faiths Simple Etiquette King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the head of the constitutional monarchy in Thailand and is, along with the whole royal family, held in the highest esteem. The family has the love and respect of the entire nation and showing disrespect can get you into trouble. Joking about the Royal Family is simply not done!! Do not point your feet at people, especially monks or representations of Buddha, as this seen as highly disrespectful, as is touching adults on the top of their heads. If you are in a situation that leads you to be in contact with the police for ANY reason, you must remain calm and respectful at all times. Raising your voice, displaying anger, making demands will get you nowhere, in fact will probably make matters worse no matter whether the problem is your fault or not. Good humour and patience will get you a long way in any situation. Time Zone Local time is GMT+7 hours throughout the year. Thailand has no daylight savings time and sunrise and sunset are pretty regular year round with sunrise between 6:00am and 6:45am and sunset between 6:00pm and 6:45pm. Postal Services The Thai postal service is mostly reliable, especially if posting abroad, though speed does not seem to be a priority. Post offices in Thailand are open from 9:00am until 3:30pm. Important items can be sent by Express Mail Service (EMS) from most post offices which is both faster and more reliable (with a proportionally higher cost). Both DHL and UPS have offices on Phuket if you want to be sure of their international standards. Telephone and Internet Services International dialling is available from almost all major hotels (and many smaller ones), as well as many offices offering travel and/or internet services. To make an international call, dial 001 plus Country Code plus Area Code plus Phone Number. Services tend to be very reliable. Internet is also widely available with everyone from hotels to coffee shops offering computers with internet service and WIFI. The speed of internet is still not up to western standards but internet calls via Skype are mostly clear and consistent. Shopping and Bargaining There is a massive amount of shopping available in Phuket. Regular purchases such as clothing, perfumes, shoes, sunglasses, souvenirs, computer gaming hardware and software are all available. Beware when buying (especially anything designer or software) that you are buying the real thing when paying 'real' prices. Tailors are also very very popular in Phuket, and rightly so. Within 24-48 hours you can have a bespoke dress, shirt, coat, or three piece suit made in the material of your choice at an incredibly low price! There are also, genuine, traditional Thai wares available outside of the resorts, especially in Phuket City. These include wood carvings, teak ware, porcelain, paintings, and Buddha imagery. Thai silk products are very popular too with outlets such as the legendary Jim Thompson now available on Phuket. If you want something traditionally 'Phuket', look out for pearls, tin, and pewter ware, all of which are widely available outside the resorts. Jewellery is also very popular on Phuket with gold, diamonds, and coloured gems particularly prevalant. Be aware when buying since authentic gems should come with a certificate that states the value of the object and a statement of its value, if this is not present and you are not in the business yourself be very careful. Contrary to popular belief most establishments will not engage in bargaining, or 'haggling', for goods, and prices are set. This is especially true in such places as pharmacies, bars, supermarkets, department stores, public transport, and restaurants. Elsewhere, in places like jewellery stores and with street vendors, bargaining is almost part of the game. Simple rules include keeping the bargaining friendly and remembering exactly how much you are haggling over (is 30 Baht really so important to you?). Getting angry or drawing the haggling on for too long over small amounts will be met with irritation. The best way to see if you are getting value for money is to be prepared to walk away. If you are not followed then the vendor really isn't willing to drop his price any further...have a think and go back later to buy. Crime and the Police Known as the land of smiles Thailand is a very safe place to travel around, as demonstrated by the high volume of young backpackers flocking here every year. The police keep a very high profile, with dedicated Tourist Police in all tourist areas designated to looking after the rights of foreign visitors. As in almost all countries, pick-pocketing happens in crowded areas such as bus and rail stations, tourist spots, and busy gatherings (festivals and bars) so watching your valuables in these areas would be wise. It is not unknown for things to go missing form hotel rooms, but by the same token it is very unusual. By enlarge, Thai staff are very polite and honest. By taking sensible precautions you should have no problems while in Thailand. It is also worth noting here that drugs are very much to be avoided in Thailand. The government has a very vocal and well known harsh system for dealing with people it considers to be involved in this business (including their infamous 'shoot now ask later' system from several years ago), and penalties are very strong. If you are involved in any kind of incident then the police must be informed (ideally tourist police if they can be contacted). As stated in 'Simple Etiquette', when dealing with the police remain calm and polite in order to get the best help and co-operation. |
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Boulder City lies some 200 meter south of Koh Payan. The dive site is completely submerged with tw
o mooring buoys to mark the location, one at the north end and one at the south. Descending down the north line takes you to 20 meters and the south line to 30 meters. This is a dive in the 20 to 30 meter mark making it not a long dive but the underwater scenery here is spectacular with large granite boulders some bigger than a house, with swim-throughs and the chance of swimming with large pelagics. Eagle and 
Deep six lies 
on the northern tip of island 7 and has a buoy line running down to 18 meters there as the name implies you can descend down to over 60 meters. Here the dramatic underwater boulders have formed some excellent swim throughs, tunnels and canyons that make this an exciting dive. But down in the soft coral garden the largest gorgonian sea fans in the Similans survive untouched. With the occasional manta ray gliding passed in the blue will make for an enjoyable dive.
ost famous dive site in the Similan Islands, it lies in betwee
n island 7 (Koh Payu) and island 8 (Koh Similan).
Koh Bangu #9 North Point
island and the dive site is located around 150 meters north west of the island and has no bouy line so location is by GPS. When the capta
in signals its time to jump into the blue and descend down to the pinnacles. The top is around 18 meters and continues to run down to over 50 meters to the sand bottom were the docile leopard shark sleeps while white tip reef sharks patrol the reef in search of a meal.
Koh Tachai lies 22 nautical miles south of Surin, the dive site is located around 200 meters south of the island and is marked with a bouy line which descends down to 16 meters to reach the
top of the plateau. From here you decide which way to go ? North or South. North takes you over the plateau to the beautiful coral garden at around 22meters to 26meters with some of the best soft corals and sea fans in the area, which will keep underwater photographers busy. South takes you down over the large boulders to between 36meters and 40meters to reach the sandy bottom looking for the docile leopard shark and large stingrays. Up above schooling great barracudas with tunas and trevallys darting down to catch the baitfish hanging around the reef. With a multitude of small creatures to look at try not to forget a look into the blue to see the manta rays gliding past and the occasional 
Richelieu lies 7.5 nauti
cal miles east of the Surin islands national marine park. Here this large rock pinnacle just breaks the surface at low tide and descends down to around 33 meters to the sandy bottom. The northern side has an excellent wall with lots of cracks and holes for you to look inside. The wall is covered with coral and zig zag oysters where you can find over ten species of moray eels like the commonly spotted white eyed, giant, yellow edged, and bartail morays or the shy dragon, leopard, honeycomb and zebra morays.
all so home to many species of shrimps from the cleaners, anemone, saron, squat and the colorful harlequin shrimps. The west side contains mostly soft corals and sea fans with ghost pipefish and tigertail sea horses hiding in between the branches. But its here where we all so encounter large schools of silver jacks and bluefin trevallys with chevron and great barracudas too.