Jeffr2 Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 I've not been diving here in many years, but now seems like a great time to go. Especially as I'll be in Phuket soon for an extended stay. Any body know of boats that are operating now? I'm interested in the Similans or the Burma Banks. Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzzzz Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 ask here on phuket fb https://www.facebook.com/groups/170780299759831 I have seen some boats advertising trips there in the past few weeks 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huuwi Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 burma banks is no no. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffr2 Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 1 hour ago, huuwi said: burma banks is no no. It's always been tough getting there. Open, closed, open, closed. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 11 hours ago, Jeffr2 said: I've not been diving here in many years, but now seems like a great time to go. Especially as I'll be in Phuket soon for an extended stay. Any body know of boats that are operating now? I'm interested in the Similans or the Burma Banks. Thanks in advance! Daytrips are really good at the moment, similans has limited options only. For the latter, boats tend to have not enough people to get confirmed or be fully booked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffr2 Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 5 hours ago, stevenl said: Daytrips are really good at the moment, similans has limited options only. For the latter, boats tend to have not enough people to get confirmed or be fully booked. I have found a few going out. I'm waiting to hear back from Sea Dragon. Got a reply from Similan Diving Safaris. Said they are working with another operator for trips. March 15th has a confirmed trip. 4d/4n. We'll see! Read about another that is going south, towards the Andamans and Lipe. 8 days and 60k baht. A bit too much for me. Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedrogaz Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Avoid at all cost 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChakaKhan Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Can ask this fella..seems nice...working to get shrimp for the big Chinese return....tell him u know Bubba.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffr2 Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Pedrogaz said: Avoid at all cost I've gone out with Sea Dragon before. Great operation. But that was 6 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n8sail Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 (edited) I did one back in November 2020 at Similans onboard The Phinisi. It was fantastic. I've done 2 livaboards there several years ago when it was crowded. In November, at Richelieu Rock there were only 2 other boats, and they left within an hour, so we had the entire site to ourselves. I can recommend this company highly, the boat and crew were great. With COVID the price was reduced I think 30% then... should be similar now. Great time to go diving, and right now you have very good odds of Mantas and Whale Sharks! The Junk | Liveaboard diving in Thailand Edited February 19, 2021 by n8sail Misspelled Phinisi 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlclark97 Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 (edited) On 2/18/2021 at 12:46 PM, Jeffr2 said: I've not been diving here in many years, but now seems like a great time to go. Especially as I'll be in Phuket soon for an extended stay. Any body know of boats that are operating now? I'm interested in the Similans or the Burma Banks. Thanks in advance! From Indonesia, www.panunee.com, www.veloceanliveaboard.com. Both same owners, last is new, fast, more or less luxury built y and for divers. Office in Manee building Bangkok. Chitlom BTS, get off level 2 and walk into building. Edited February 19, 2021 by dlclark97 add comment 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nera123 Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 Most liveaboard for the Similans start from Khaolak, Khaolak scuba adventures run a few liveboard from 3 - 4 or 5 days. Look on there site www.khaolakscubaadventures.com for contact them under FB. For Burma banks there is no chance right now as the border are close... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 9 hours ago, dlclark97 said: From Indonesia, www.panunee.com, www.veloceanliveaboard.com. Both same owners, last is new, fast, more or less luxury built y and for divers. Office in Manee building Bangkok. Chitlom BTS, get off level 2 and walk into building. Doesn't operate in Thailand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffr2 Posted February 20, 2021 Author Share Posted February 20, 2021 7 hours ago, stevenl said: Doesn't operate in Thailand. Yeah, but that's an area I'd love to dive someday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tapster Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Three days ago, on 19th February, we returned from 5 days in the Similans, on the Dolphin Queen, with https://www.similan-diving-safaris.com/ There was a surprisingly large number of liveaboards around; four at Richlieu Rock, and it was very crowded on one particular dive. However, there were no speedboats/dayboats at any of the dive sites we visited on the trip, and a max of two liveaboards anywhere except at RR. There certainly are liveaboards operating. We saw The Smiling Seahorse, Dive Race, Summer Liveaboard and at least two others I can't remember. I can't recommend any of these but the Dolphin Queen was friendly, with knowledgeable guides, average food and average accommodation; not a problem for five days. Good luck and I hope you get to dive. ???? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffr2 Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Tapster said: Three days ago, on 19th February, we returned from 5 days in the Similans, on the Dolphin Queen, with https://www.similan-diving-safaris.com/ There was a surprisingly large number of liveaboards around; four at Richlieu Rock, and it was very crowded on one particular dive. However, there were no speedboats/dayboats at any of the dive sites we visited on the trip, and a max of two liveaboards anywhere except at RR. There certainly are liveaboards operating. We saw The Smiling Seahorse, Dive Race, Summer Liveaboard and at least two others I can't remember. I can't recommend any of these but the Dolphin Queen was friendly, with knowledgeable guides, average food and average accommodation; not a problem for five days. Good luck and I hope you get to dive. ???? How was the diving? Thanks for the info!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tapster Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 @Jeffr2 No big things: hammerheads shagging whalesharks, being video'd by mantas. I was hoping for all that stuff but it may have been the wrong time of the year, or too many liveaboards, or just the roll of the dice. The dive sites were a lot better than those in any other area of Thailand (imo), so definitely worth the trip. As you know, you might be lucky and see all the big stuff at this time of the year. We last went in Feb 2016 and we saw everything! ???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketcher Posted February 26, 2021 Share Posted February 26, 2021 Check out West Coast Divers. Just got back from a 14 dive liveaboard to Similans with them. 2nd time with them in the last few months. Good boats, equipment, guides and service. Excellent diving and very quiet st the moment too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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