MV Smiling Seahorse Is the Photographers Choice For The Similan Islands
The MV Smiling Seahorse caters exceptionally well for photographers. The owners are professional underwater photographers so they know exactly what’s required. Very few if any Similan Island liveaboards have a dedicated camera room. No need to leave your expensive equipment in a camera bucket, just rinse and use the convenient shelves to do what all photographers love to do – fiddle with their gear. Plenty of power points make charging batteries super easy.
The Cabins
Mv Smiling Seahorse has eight cabins – two standard, four deluxe and two master. Another great feature is the bed configuration, both standard and deluxe can be converted from twin to double bed. En-suite bathrooms in master and deluxe cabins but the standard share two communal rest rooms. All the cabins are air-conditioned for a peaceful nights sleep.
The Boat
With 4 decks for only 16 guests, you can guarantee space. The communal areas are very well thought out, the upper deck is where you’ll eat your delicious meals and simply relax between dives. The sundeck is a great place to be, partially shaded if you want to avoid the sun and just hang in a hammock and enjoy the cool breeze.
Special Trips
The Smiling Seahorse offers special trips throughout the season, all are great opportunities for photographers. As far as we know, they’re the only boat to offer blackwater diving trips. A unique chance to try this fascinating style of diving that truly produces the weird and wonderful.
There’s a Smiling Seahorse photographers workshop with award winning photographer Alex Tyrrel and a manta expedition with the Thailand Manta Project. Both will be fascinating trips with lots to be learned and fantastic diving.
More Information
4 Day/3 Night Itinerary
Day 1: Departure day: 14.00 – 16.30 meeting time at dive centre, depart around 17:30 to board the
boat.
How to reach Ranong:
3 daily flights from Don Muang Airport to Ranong
NokAir : 06:10->07:35
AirAsia: 11:45 -> 13:00
NokAir : 14:55 -> 16:30 (latest flight you can take on the day of departure)
We can arrange an airport pick up (250thb). You can also come by night buses for around 700thb
(21h-5am).
Day 2: 4 dives at the Surin Islands.
Day 3: 2 dives at Koh Bon (ridge and pinnacle) and 2 dives at Koh Tachai.
Day 4: 2 dives at Richelieu Rock
We will be back in Ranong around 7pm on time for you to jump on the night bus heading back to
Bangkok on time to go to work on Monday morning. Or spend a lazy night in a hotel in Ranong
before flying back the next day.
Your last dive will be around 11am so you can safely fly back to Bangkok on Air Asia flight taking off
at 1h40pm.
Flights back to Bangkok 3 choices:
NokAir: 17:30- 19:00 or 08:05 -09:30
AirAsia: 13h40- 14h55 (first flight you can take safely)
(don’t forget your 24h no flight time after the last dive…)
Buses: you can also go back to Bangkok by bus in one of the VIP buses with fully reclining seats for
about 700thb arriving in Bangkok around 5am.
5 Day/4 Night Itinerary
Day 1: Departure day: 12.00 – 14.00 meeting time at dive centre, depart around 15:00 to board the
boat.
Day 2: 4 dives at Surin Islands
Day 3: 2 dives at Koh Bon (ridge and pinnacle) and 2 dives in the Similan Islands.
Day 4: 2 dives Similan Islands and 2 dives at Koh Tachai
Day 5: 3 dives at Richelieu Rock
We will arrive on Koh Phayam around 06:00 pm and Ranong 08.00 pm
6 Day/5 Night Itinerary
Blackwater
2 day dives and two blackwater diver per day at various locations around the Surin and Similan Island National Parks
Standard
Day 1: Leave Tap Lamu pier around 18:00
Day 2 – 5: 4 dives per day around the best dive sites in the Surin and Similan Islands
Day 6: 3 dives, return to Tap Lamu at 18:00
7 Day/6 Night Itinerary
Smiling Seahorse Photographers Clinic
Departure Day: Leave Tap Lamu pier around 6 pm
Day 1: 3 dives at Koh Bon + blackwater dive
Day 2: 3 dives at Richelieu rock + Sunset dive
Day 3: 3 dives at Richelieu rock + 1 night dive
Day 4: 3 dives at Richelieu rock + 1 blackwater dive
Day 5: 3 dives at Koh Tachai + 1 blackwater dive
Day 6: 2 dives in the SImilan Islands, return to Tap Lamu in evening
Standard
Day 1: Leave Tap Lamu pier around 18:00
Day 2 – 6: 4 dives per day around the best dive sites in the Surin and Similan Islands
Day 7: 3 dives, return to Tap Lamu at 18:00
8 Day/7 Night Itinerary
Day 1: Leave Tap Lamu pier around 18:00
Day 2 – 5: 4 dives per day around the best dive sites in the Surin and Similan Islands
Day 6 – 7: 4 dives per day around the great dive sites such as Hin Daeng/Hin Muang and koh Haa in the
South Andaman
Day 8: 2 dives around Phuket before returning to Phuket in the evening
9 Day/8 Night Itinerary
Day 1: Leave Tap Chalong pier around 18:00
Day 2 – 8: 4 dives per day around the best dive sites at the Surin Islands, Similan Islands, Ko Lipe, Koh
Haa, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang
Day 9: 2 dives per day around the Similan Islands. Return to Khao Lak at 18:00
Included
Full accommodation and board (Breakfast, Lunch, afternoon bites, Dinner)
All soft drinks, drinking water, fresh coffee & tea
Fresh fruits, yogurt & snacks all-day
12 L scuba tank, Weights & Weight Belt
PADI Professional Dive Guide (for up to 4 divers)
Towels, reef-friendly amenities
Sea kayak and hammock
Excluded
National park fees for Thailand THB 600 for entry into each park + THB 200 per day
Diving Equipment rental (600 THB/ day)
PERSONAL INSURANCE
Alcoholic drinks and cigarettes
Computer rental (300 THB/day)
15L Cylinder rental (250 THB/day)
PADI Continuing Education Courses
Refill with Nitrox (250 THB/tank or package )
Taxi to Ranong, plane ticket, hotels
Price Per Person
| 4 Day/3 Night | 5 Day/4 Night | 6 Day/5 Night | 7 Day/6 Night | 8 Day/7 Night | 9 Day/8 Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master THB 31,500 Deluxe THB 27,000 Standard THB 22,500 | Master THB 38,500 Deluxe THB 36,000 Standard THB 31,000 | Master THB 50,500 Deluxe THB 47,000 Standard THB 42,000 | Master THB 58,000 Deluxe THB 54,000 Standard THB 49,000 | Master THB 68,000 Deluxe THB 65,000 Standard THB 63,000 |
*Not Including National Park Fees or equipment
MV Smiling Seahorse Schedule 2023-2024
October
| Trip No. | Depart | Return | Destination | Dives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS01 | 22nd Oct 23 | 26th Oct 23 | North Andaman | 14 |
November
| Trip No. | Depart | Return | Destination | Dives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS02 | 05th Nov 23 | 09th Nov 23 | Photo Expedition | 14 |
| SS03 | 11th Nov 23 | 18th Nov 23 | North & South Andaman | 25 |
| SS04 | 20th Nov 23 | 27th Nov 23 | North & South Andaman | 25 |
December
| Trip No. | Depart | Return | Destination | Dives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS05 | 19th Dec 23 | 26th Dec 23 | North & South Andaman | 25 |
| SS06 | 28th Dec 23 | 04th Jan 24 | North & South Andaman | 25 |
January
| Trip No. | Depart | Return | Destination | Dives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS07 | 06th Jan 24 | 12th Jan 24 | North Andaman | 22 |
| SS08/td> | 14th Jan 24 | 21st Jan 24 | North & South Andaman | 25 |
| SS09 | 23rd Jan 24 | 29th Jan 24 | North Blackwater | 22 |
| SS10 | 31st Jan 24 | 07th Feb 24 | North Blackwater | 22 |
February
| Trip No. | Depart | Return | Destination | Dives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS11 | 09th Feb 24 | 16th Feb 24 | North & South Andaman | 25 |
| SS12 | 18th Feb 24 | 26th Feb 24 | Marine Bio Expedition | 29 |
| SS13 | 28th Feb 24 | 03rd Mar 24 | North Andaman | 14 |
March
| Trip No. | Depart | Return | Destination | Dives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS14 | 14th Mar 24 | 17th Mar 24 | North Andaman | 10 |
| SS15 | 19th Mar 24 | 27th Mar 24 | North & South Andaman | 29 |
| SS16 | 29th Mar 24 | 05th Apr 24 | North & South Andaman | 25 |
April
| Trip No. | Depart | Return | Destination | Dives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SS17 | 07th Apr 24 | 11th Apr 24 | North Andaman | 14 |
| SS18 | 13th Apr 24 | 18th Apr 24 | North Andaman | 18 |
