Best time of year
The Similan Liveaboard season is from November – May with peak diving conditions Feb-April. Water Temperatures average 29 °C and visibility can be up to 30+ meters. Phi Phi is an all year round diving destination and Phuket has a tropical climate with a dry high season from November to April with monsoon season usually May, September and October. The months of June-August can be similar to high season with some rain during evenings. Average temperatures are consistent year-round. Average highs range from 29 °C to 33 °C average lows range from 24 °C to 26 °C.
How to get there
The departure point for most Similan Liveaboards is Thap Lamu based North of Phuket. It takes one and a half hours from most popular areas of Phuket to Thap Lamu and Liveaboards provide transfers from Phuket to Thap Lamu. Khao Lak is only 10 minutes away from Thap Lamu so a popular location to stay. Phuket International Airport is the main arrival point and flights are available direct to Phuket Internationally or Via Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Chalong and Patong in Phuket are also departure points for Similan Liveaboards and for Phi Phi Liveaboards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Currency: The standard currency is Thai Baht. USD, GBP, Euro, AUD and most currencies are accepted and exchange booths and banks are common in tourist areas. ATM Machines accept all major credit cards and are located widely across all main tourist areas.
Power: The electricity in Thailand is 220 volts with both 2 and 3 pin pugs. Adaptors are commonly available at the airport on arrival or at local electronics store but please bring with you to be sure.
Visa & Passport: If you are planning a short holiday in Thailand you may not require a Thailand visa if you are citizen of one of the approximately 40 nations that qualify for a Thai visa waiver or Thai visa exemption (stamp on arrival). With evidence of onward/return travel, citizens of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the USA, and most European nations may enter Thailand for up to 30 days without a Thai visa. Other nations or those who wish for an extended stay should obtain a 30 or 60 day tourist visa from a Thailand Embassy outside of the Kingdom prior to arrival. Please do check with your local Thai Embassy prior to departure. Please make sure you have a minimum of 6 months passport validity.
Dive Insurance & Medical Care: It is compulsory on many of the Liveaboards in Thailand that divers have their own personal diving insurance. SSS Recompression Chamber Network and Bedalveda Diving Medical Facility are based in the top two international hospitals in Phuket. Please see our main directory pages for the relevant links.
Thailand Cuisine
All Liveaboards offer an eclectic mix of Western and Thai foods but you can bet the Thai cook on board most boats will provide a feast of fresh vegetables and fruits daily mixed in the various popular Thai ways with spicy chilli a plenty, cashew nuts, oyster sauce, hot basil, green & red curry, garlic & pepper, fried rice's and noodles to name a few. Preparation is light and healthy with strong flavors and accompaniments. Thai Iced Tea and Singha Beer are two popular drink choices.
Agent Liveaboard on Thailand
Diving in the Similan Islands is an experience most divers will cherish for a lifetime and highly recommended. Non-divers also get to have great experiences in both Similan & Phi Phi due to the pristine beaches and blue lagoons. Thailand is the perfect diving holiday destination for combined Resort and Liveaboard trips with plenty to see and do. The Thai people are calm and courteous with the crews on the boats tending to offer great advantages to divers comforts. Thailand features in the top 3 of our Top 10 Diving Destination of the World and we are sure it will stay there for years to come.
