BEST OF THAILAND LIVEABOARD EXPEDITION
Andaman Sea | November 28 to December 06, 2027
This is where Monkeys of the Sea officially began.
The Best of Thailand liveaboard was our very first expedition and it was such an extraordinary experience that immediately became part of the annual calendar. Eight nights aboard the Thailand Master, a traditional Indonesian Phinisi sailing yacht, covering the most celebrated diving destinations of the Thai Andaman Sea in one voyage.
The Andaman Sea is one of the most welcoming diving environments in the world. The reefs are in remarkable condition, the marine life is extraordinary, and the format of a liveaboard means you are learning and diving every single day. It is one of the fastest ways to grow as a diver that exists and it is genuinely accessible for beginners. At the same time it never stops delivering for experiences divers. Sloping reefs, dramatic walls, drift dives, pelagic encounters. There is always more to explore and always something unexpected.
The boat is gorgeous. The food is exceptional. The crew are outstanding. And Thailand as a destination is simply hard to beat.
This expeditions brings together a small curated group of queer people and queer allies under The Monkeys of the Sea philosophy. Genuine community, real ocean adventure, and the kind of shared experience that truly stays with you forever.
WHO IS THIS FOR
This expedition is for certified divers who want to experience one of the world’s great diving destinations with a small curated group of like minded people.
You do not need to be an experienced diver. The minimum requirement is an Open Water certification (or equivalent) with at least 10 logged dives. The Andaman Sea is one of the most accessible and rewarding liveaboard environments in the world for newer divers. Diving up to four times a day in exceptional conditions means you grow as a diver extraordinarily fast. Most people come off a liveaboard feeling like completely different divers from when they boarded.
At the sime time experienced divers will not be disappointed. The sites on this itinerary range from gentle sloping reefs, dramatic walls, and open water pelagic encounters. And for those who love macro photography and the smaller side of reef life, the Andaman Sea delivers some of the most extraordinary micro fauna in the world. Harlequin shrimps, ghost pipefish, tiger tail seahorses, and nudibranchs in an extraordinary range of colours and species.
What this expedition is not for is anyone looking for a party boat or generic dive holiday. This is a curated community of ocean lovers who want to experience a one in a lifetime adventure and who want to share it with others who feels the same way.
EXPEDITION SUMMARY
WHERE WE DIVE
SURIN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Five islands in close proximity to each other with some of the greatest hard coral diversity in Thailand. The reefs here are remarkably healthy and the marine life is extraordinary. Sea turtles, reef sharks, stingrays, moray eels and an abundance of redfish in every direction. a beautiful and unhurried destination that sets the tone perfectly for the week ahead.
RICHELIEU ROCK
The most famous dive site in Thailand and one of the most celebrated in all of
Southeast Asia. A horseshoe shaped limestone pinnacle barely visible from the surface, covered in extraordinary soft and hard corals teeming with life. Whale shark sightings here are more consistent than almost anywhere in the region. Even without one it is one of the most visually stunning dives you will ever do.
SIMILAN ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK
Eleven islands covering an area of over 140 square kilometres. The western side features dramatic granite boulders creating canyons, tunnels, swim throughs and archways that are unlike anything else in Thailand. The eastern side offers sheltered fringing reefs with gentle slopes ideal for newer divers. Both sides are extraordinary and both feel completely different from one another.
KOH BON & KOH TACHAI
Both islands sit within the Similan Islands National Park and both are known for pelagic action of the best kind. Koh Bon is one of the most consistent sites in Thailand for manta ray encounters, with cleaning stations that attract them regularly. Koh Tachai is known for sharks, strong currents, and the kind of open ocean diving that experienced divers live for. Together they represent the wilder, more pelagic side of the Similan experience.
HIN DAENG & HIN MUANG
Two isolated pinnacles and among the most thrilling dive sites in the entire region. Best known for dramatic walls covered in soft corals, manta ray and whale shark encounters, almost perpetual good visibility, and fish life of extraordinary scaler. The dramatic topography makes for genuinely memorable diving.
KOH DOK MAI
The final dive site of the expedition and the perfect send-off. Koh Dok Mai translates as Flower Island and it earns the name. A small limestone island near Chalong Bay featuring an outstanding wall falling down to 25 metres, covered in soft corals and sea fans teeming with macro life in every crack and crevice. Tiger tail seahorses, ghost pipefish, blacktop reef sharks roaming the shallows. A beautiful and way to close this incredible expedition.
THE BOAT
Thailand Master, also known as the Phinisi, is a traditional 34 metre Indonesian sailing yacht and one of the most liveaboard vessels operating in the Andaman Sea. She was built to carry 18 guests across seven en-suite air conditioned cabins and she does it with genuine style.
The dive deck is spacious and is well equipped with plenty of storage for all your gear. The outdoor dining area at the stern is covered and shaded so you can eat with a full view of the ocean around you. There is a comfortable indoor salon for briefings and downtime and a sundeck that becomes the social heart of the boat during surface intervals.
Everyday the onboard chefs prepare a generous spread of Western and Thai cuisine using fresh locally sourced ingredients. The food in this boat is outstanding and is one of the things that guests mention most when they come back.
The boat and dive crew are experienced, warm, and completely dedicated to making your week as extraordinary as possible.
WiFi is available on board throughout most of the trip. There may be a couple of dead spots while cruising between destinations but connectivity is generally reliable.
CABIN OPTIONS
QUAD CABIN | USD $3,500/pax
Two quad cabins accommodating up to four guests in single beds. A comfortable and social option, ideal for solo travellers or groups of friends.
TWIN CABIN | USD $4,500/pax
Five twin and double cabins each accommodating two guests. The bow cabin has a fixed double bed with an additional single. The midship cabins have single beds that can be converted into a double. A more private option ideal for couples or travelling companions.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
MARINE PARK AND PORT FEES
A mandatory surcharge of $125 USD per diver is payable on board at the end of the trip. This covers all Marine PArk and Port fees for the full eight night Best of Thailand itinerary.
EQUIPMENT RENTAL
A full set per eight nights is $210 USD and it includes BCD, regulators, wetsuit, mask, fins and snorkel. Individual items are also available to rents separately. Equipment must be pre-booked to ensure availability and correct sizing on board.
NITROX
Available onboard for $245 USD for the full eight night trip. A valid Nitrox certification is required to dive with Nitrox. If you are not yet certified, the PADI EANx Nitrox course can be completed onboard at an additional cost but must pre-booked in advance.
DIVE AND TRAVEL INSURANCE
All divers must hold valid dive and travel insurance covering scuba diving activities, depths beyond 18 metres, emergency evacuation, recompression treatment and hospital costs. This is a non-negotiable requirement for all participants.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum PADI Open Water certification (or equivalent) with at least 10 logged dives. Some sites on this itinerary involve depth and current that may be more suited to experienced divers. All participation decisions are made in consultation with the dive crew on the day.
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS
Alcoholic drinks are available for purchase on board (you can bring your own too) and many guests enjoy a well earned beer or glass of wine after the last dive of the day. Please be aware that diving under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited. Any guest who has consumed alcohol will not be permitted to dive for the remainder of the day.