Northern Andaman Sea

Day 1: Embarkation from Phuket

Board the liveaboard in the late afternoon at Tap Lamu Pier, in the North of the island of Phuket. The passengers will enjoy an authentic Thai menu dinner, followed by a dive safety briefing. Guests set up their dive gear for the following day. The captain will also set off fireworks as a traditional Thai mariner’s ritual for good luck and safety.Enjoy a welcome dinner and overnight sailing.

Day 2: Similan Islands

A night time passage from Tap Lamu to the Similan Islands which lie approximately 100 km North-West of Phuket. You will arrive at the Similan Islands early morning for your first dive (check dive) at Zodiac Island No. 4. Second dive of the day at Shark Fin Reef with generally excellent visibility and reef sharks, and the third at Chinese Wall dive site, where you may see masses of barracuda. A mid-afternoon dive at the Stonehenge dive site, and a night dive at Num Chai Bay.

The area was declared a National Park in 1982. The Similans comprise 9 islands, which run roughly North to South with numerous smaller rock outcroppings. With snow-white beaches, lush tropical jungle and spectacular dive sites in stunning turquoise waters, it's not surprising that the Similans are often ranked as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world!

Nearly all of the 9 islands are surrounded by huge underwater rock formations, eroded by the action of a relentless sea. These stone giants are home to an amazing variety of marine life, with depths often reaching 40 metres or more. Narrow swim-throughs, caverns and underwater canyons form a truly unique diving landscape. With names like 'Elephant Head', 'Boulder City', 'Sharkfin Reef' and 'East of Eden', you'll soon appreciate why the Similans deserve the reputation they have obtained.

Day 3: Similan National Park

Up at 06:00 for the first dive of the day at Elephant Head Rock, famous for its swim-throughs and channels. Visible from the surface, Elephant Head Rock is the largest pinnacle in the Similans. It is located 1.5 km South of Koh Similan. There are three large boulders which emerge above water. At this site, submerged boulders are piled up, forming sheer walls and swim-throughs which are covered with assorted colours of soft corals and sea fans. The site is surrounded by sand at a maximum depth of 35 to 40 m. You will see vibrant soft corals, large sea fans, and possibly sea turtles.

The second dive at West of Eden, followed by the third dive of the day at Deep Six which features a photo opportunity at a rock formation. After the third dive, you will cross to Island 8, where the guests can hike to the iconic Sail Rock viewpoint for stunning views over the North Andaman Sea. Close out the day with a sunset dive at Donald Duck Bay with its iconic rock formation, then back to the yacht for dinner.

Day 4: Similan Islands to Koh Bon and Koh Tachai

First dive of the day at Breakfast Bend (Three tree). The underwater scenery is stunning, featuring gentle currents and colorful reef fish, vibrant soft corals, large sea fans, sea whips, and marine life such as sea turtles, blue-spotted stingrays, and garden eels. The second dive at Christmas Point, one of the Northern-most dive sites in the Similan National Park, featuring massive granite boulders creating swim-throughs. Colourful soft corals and sea fans cover the crevices. A garden of hard coral, made up of rows of staghorn and pore coral, is located at a shallow depth of 10 m.

The yacht then moves on to Koh Bon for three dives, including a night dive.The clear waters offer visibility exceeding 30 metres, and you are likely to encounter octopuses, lobsters, and giant trevally. The yacht moves on to Koh Tachai later in the evening

Koh Bon and Koh Tachai are two uninhabited islands, situated between the Similans and Surin National Park, and to the North of the Similans. They offer a variety of excellent dive sites - including a breathtaking drop-off - with a wealth of hard and soft corals, and great opportunities to see passing manta rays and whale sharks.

Day 5: Koh Tachai and Surin Islands

Wake up at Koh Tachai and dive at Tachai Pinnacle, with a light drift dive along the coral reef before breakfast. Tachai Pinnacle or Twin Peaks, is a pair of submerged pinnacles located 500 m South of Koh Tachai. The Southern pinnacle is larger, at a depth of 12 m. from the top. It is a dome shape surrounded by large boulders. The sand bottom is at a depth of around 30 - 45 m. To the West you will find large boulders, some of which have formed swim throughs. In the East, you will find stacks of small rock, most of which are covered with hard corals and sea whips. Colourful soft corals and sea fans dominate the Northern area. The top of the pinnacle is a wide flat plain with bush and mountain coral. This huge pinnacle links to the small one with a sand patch at 24 m. The smaller pinnacle comprises a wide range of rock clusters and is home to large sea fans and corals, which are similar to those found in the Southern pinnacle.

The second dive is also at Tachai Pinnacle, known for its massive schools (tornados) of barracuda. Manta rays visit this area for feeding, and circle around the pinnacles. Some divers have encountered whale sharks as well. On the outer sand bed, divers can usually see leopard sharks, sometime three to four of them in the same dive. In addition, it is possible to find Jenkin’s rays, as well as whitetip sharks and blacktip reef sharks here as well. Swarms of chevron barracuda, bluefin trevally, batfish, snappers, and fusiliers are common here.

After the dives, sail on to the Surin Islands in the North, where local Moken villagers will welcom you to their small village. Guests can explore the area, and learn about the local way of life. An afternoon dive at Ao Phak Kat, a site rich in ancient hard corals and teeming with marine life, including large sea turtles.

Day 6: Richelieu Rock

Rise and shine at Richelieu Rock.

Richelieu Rock is one of the most famous dive sites of Thailand. It is an isolated pinnacle to the East of the Surin Islands. Forming a horseshoe figure, the pinnacle falls steeply to the surrounding sand bottom at a maximum depth of 35 m. The South side is a bay with a slope which gently falls to the deep, while the remainder comprises sheer walls, groups of rocks and numerous small caves which are home to various marine life. The majority of corals are colourful soft corals jostling for position against the wall, accompanied by huge sea fans, hard corals and sea anemones.

Due to the diversity of small and large creatures, Richelieu Rock is a paradise for underwater photographers. Ghost pipefish, frogfish, harlequin shrimp, seahorses, and Janss pipefish are some of the smaller marine life which can be spotted here. Also, divers have often encountered cuttlefish mating. In addition, plenty of anemone fish species, particularly tomato clownfish, are regularly sighted. Different types of moray eels such as giant moray, zebra moray, and white-eyed moray are common. Pelagic fish swarming around the small outcrops include chevron barracuda, rainbow runners, and giant groupers resting on the sand floor are a common sight. Lastly, this site is famous in Thailand for being a hotspot for encounters with both whale sharks which feed here between February and April, and manta rays.

Four dives are scheduled at Richelieu Rock during the day. Visibility can often be over 30 metres. You are likely to find large schools of fish around the rock, hunting fish everywhere. Many things will be happening around you at once, and it happens over and over, again and again, for the entire day.

After the final dive, you will cross back to Koh Tachai for the night.

Day 7: Koh Tachai

The final day begins with your last dive at Tachai Reef and Koh Bon West Ridge where you may encounter manta rays feeding at the cleaning station. After the dive, the yacht will navigate back to Tap Lamu Pier. In the evening, a farewell party will be hosted in the saloon, and Iron Divers will be presented with their certifications.

Day 8: Disembarkation

Disembark after breakfast, typically around 08:00 hr. Transfer to your hotel or the airport.