November-April

UD Rating - 3 Star

Mantas & Whale Sharks

All Levels

Thailand

MV Marco Polo

A week of adventures around Similan, Surin and Richelieu Rock.

If you're going diving in Thailand, the sites visited on this trip are just the ticket. The sites around the Similan Islands are mind blowing with huge gorgonian fans. You can also spot Whalesharks at Richelieu Rock.

The MV Marco Polo is a 23 metre boat offering a variety of itineraries departing from Phuket between November and April, giving you the opportunity to explore the amazing dive sites of the Similan Islands. She welcomes a maximum of 12 guests on each charter allowing for a more personal service from the friendly crew and dive masters leading you through the trip.

The MV Marco Polo has been fully renovated and comfortably accommodates guests in 6 air conditioned cabins with bunk beds and an ensuite bathroom. The food onboard is a variety of traditional European and local Thai cuisine cooked freshly everyday suiting the needs of most customers. Dietary requirements can be catered for when advance notice is given.

The dining area is furnished with tables and chairs providing ample space for divers and is located next to the salon which is the perfect place to view pictures and videos or listen to music at the end of the day. The sundeck has shaded and un-shaded areas where you can gather with everyone to discuss your diving experiences. The spacious dive deck is covered allowing you to store and prepare your diving equipment. All dives are done from the mother boat and the 2 ladders guarantee easy access into and out of the water.

Bunk Style Cabin

There are six roomy bunk cabins, with plenty of space for your personal belongings. All rooms open to the outer deck to give you the full benefit of the cool sea breeze when the sun beats down.

All cabins have their own bathroom with toilet, sink, LED mirror, rain shower and hand shower. They all have individual A/C units with a remote control so you can adjust the temperature to your own comfort level. Each bed has a reading light and 220 V outlets with a constant electric supply.

  • Air Conditioning
  • Reading Light
  • 220 V outlets
  • Storage

Route Options

MV Marco Polo, leaves Tap Lamu for this diving safari to the best dive sites on the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.

The Cruise Director will schedule up to 4 dives per day; 3-day dives and either a sunset or a night dive. The diving day has a typical schedule as follows:

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1.
Full Breakfast, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2.
Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 3.
Snack, relaxation, followed by briefing & Dive 4.
Dinner (if Night Dive, it will be after dinner).

PLEASE NOTE: this is a sample itinerary of each diving day. This can change due to a number of factors, including weather conditions.

MV Marco Polo leaves Tap Lamu for a diving safari to the best dive sites on the Northern Islands of the Andaman Sea

Day 1:
08:00 - Depart from Thap Lamu.
11:00 Check dive at Koh Bon.
14:00 2nd dive at Koh Tachai Plateau.
17:00 3rd dive at Koh Tachai.
19:30 Night dive.

Day 2:
08:00 1st dive at Richelieu Rock.
11:00 2nd dive at Richelieu Rock.
15:00 3rd dive at Richelieu Rock.
19:30 Night dive.

Day 3:
08:00 1st dive at Koh Bon Pinnacle.
11:00 2nd dive at Koh Bon West Ridge.
14:00 3rd dive at Boonsung Wreck.
Approx 15:00 departure with arrival at Thap Lamu at approximately 17:00.

PLEASE NOTE: this is a sample itinerary of each diving day. This can change due to a number of factors, including weather conditions.

Vessel Details

Guest Numbers 12
Length & Width 23 metres long and a 6 metres beam
Speed 8 to 10 knots
Engines Twin diesel engines
Generators 3 x 220/12v
Number of Cabins 6 air conditioned cabins
Communication & Navigation Systems Radar, depth sounder with alarm, satellite weather service, GPS, chart plotter, Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
Salon & Dining Area Good sized salon with tables and chairs
Entertainment Snorkelling, marine life identification presentations, games and TV/Music
Emergency Equipment 8 D.A.N. oxygen system and Medic First Aid Kit available aboard
Air Compressors 2 x air compressors
Equipment Rental Equipment rental available aboard
Dive Deck A shaded dive deck with personal gear lockers and 2 ladders for easy access into and out of the water
Equipment Rental All equipment rental prices listed above are per person per day and is payable aboard before your departure
BCD THB250 per day
Regulator THB250 per day
Dive Computer THB300 per day
Wetsuit THB200 per day
Mask, Fins & Snorkel THB150 per day
Torch THB300 per day
15L Tank THB150 per day
Full Set THB750 per day
Full Set Premium THB1300 per day

Available Experiences

ITINERARIES AVAILABLE IN THIS DESTINATION

Marcelina

Friday, 06 December 2013

Fabulous Fiji by Marcelina Jesus on Sport Diver Magazine

Lured by the promise of world-class reefs and adrenaline-fueled shark encounters Marcelina Jesus ventures to the wild islands of Fiji.

Fabulous Fiji by Marcelina Jesus on Sport Diver Magazine

What Our Customers Have To Say

Reviews from our Clients, Journalists, Photo Pro's and our own Experts

Our reviews and blogs are an additional guide to evaluate of the holiday is exactley what you are looking for or not. Some love an Eco-Resort, some love air-con and a flat screen TV, we aim to ensure you get what you are looking for, at great value for money.

Richelieu Rock

Khao Lak, Thailand

Richelieu Rock is one of the best places in the world to dive with whale sharks and is easily the best site in Thailand diving for this amazing activity. Here divers will encounter the largest fish in the ocean which are rare almost everywhere in the world. With nothing else for miles around, the whale sharks are attracted to the rock to feed on the rich plank tonic blooms that occur here.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Novice Diver - 20 + Dives
  • Max Depth: 40m

Koh Tachai

Khao Lak, Thailand

Koh Tachai is located in Tachai Island and lies about halfway between the Surin and Similan Islands and is rated as one of the best sites for Thailand scuba liveaboards as it's normally visited on the way to Richelieu Rock from the Similans. There are several dive sites around the island but the most famous is Koh Tachai Plateau which lies southeast of the island, about one kilometre offshore. The plateau is a submerged crowned reef of hard sheet corals, and scattered boulders. These boulders provide great swim-throughs and cut-through opportunities.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 35m

Koh Bon

Khao Lak, Thailand

This dive site is one of the best places in Thailand to see manta rays, especially from April to May.
Koh Bon Island lies an hour or so north of the Similan Islands. It has a 33 metre wall on its south side, facing a small cove, with a stepped edge pointing west and down to over 40m.

Here divers will have the opportunity to see leopard sharks, white tip sharks; soft corals the colours of turquoise, yellow and green dominate. If you listen carefully you'll hear the warning clicks of hundreds of nervous damselfish, and the coral crunching of hungry titan triggerfish.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Novice Diver - 20 + Dives
  • Max Depth: 40m

Beacon Beach - Similans

Khao Lak, Thailand

Here divers will have a new option to choose for the PADI Advanced Open Water Course - wreck diving in Thailand! The boat breached on the hard coral, and gradually sank backwards so that the bow lies in 16metres of water, and the stern 30metres.

Atlantis X was a 27metre twin-engine mono hull cruiser, offering a wide range meals and beverages. Unfortunately, all the beers have now been removed from the wreckage. Although the wreck has had little time for coral growth, you'll still have the pleasure of seeing batfish, lionfish, hundreds of juvenile fishes, and a black-blotched stingray.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 30m

Coral Gardens - Similans

Khao Lak, Thailand

The Coral Gardens offer divers a gentle sloping of hard coral plateau in a sheltered bay ideal for the first dive at the Similans or for inexperienced divers. Abundant hard corals include staghorn, plate and brain varieties teeming with smaller reef fish such as anthias, fusiliers, damsels and gobys.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

Boonsung Wreck

Khao Lak, Thailand

The Boonsung Wreck is often described as ‘Fish Soup’. The density of marine life here is often better than most dive sites in the Similan Islands. An old tin mining vessel, surrounded by sand for miles in every direction, provides the perfect protection for thousands of juvenile fish. The schools of fish are huge and the variety of Macro life is one of the best in Thailand. This is a real divers dive site and part of a fascinating history of Tin mining in the Phuket and Khao Lak area.

The Boonsung Wreck is located about 5km West of Bangsak beach, to the North of Khao Lak. Visibility is typically not as good as the Similan islands. However, the huge variety of marine life makes it well worth seeing. It is a regular final stop on many Similan Liveaboards, although it is technically not part of the Similan islands. The Boonsung wreck also makes for an excellent and speedy day trip by longtail. The Boonsung Wreck is the best value dive around Khao Lak.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 19m

Bon - Koh Bon West Ridge, Koh Talu

Khao Lak, Thailand

The wall, part of the Similan National Park, is decorated with various colorful soft corals and hard corals. From the ridge to the northeastern side are reefs that stretch along island. The reef slopes from a depth of 10m down to a sandy bottom at 25 - 30m. The majority of corals here are hard corals, including staghorn coral and brain coral that are interspersed with a few big coral heads. To the northwest of the island, there is a submerged pinnacle. The pinnacle is at a depth of 18 - 45m and is covered by an abundance of yellow soft corals and large sea fans. This site is a cleaning station for manta rays, so there is a high chance of finding at least one during a dive, particularly at the western ridge and northeastern outer reef. Koh Bon also has many kinds of sharks, such as leopard sharks and whitetip and blacktip reef sharks. Sometimes grey reef sharks swim by, and nurse sharks can be seen lying under coral heads. Schools of yellowtail barracuda, fusiliers, trevally, sweetlips and black and white snappers are all common in the area, as well as octopuses, sea snakes, and nudibranchs.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 45m
Dates Duration Route Room Type Price
4 Apr 2025
6 Apr 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
6 Apr 2025
10 Apr 2025
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
11 Apr 2025
13 Apr 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
13 Apr 2025
17 Apr 2025
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
25 Apr 2025
27 Apr 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
2 May 2025
4 May 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
4 May 2025
8 May 2025
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
9 May 2025
11 May 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
11 May 2025
15 May 2025
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
31 Oct 2025
2 Nov 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
2 Nov 2025
6 Nov 2025
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
7 Nov 2025
9 Nov 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
9 Nov 2025
13 Nov 2025
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
14 Nov 2025
16 Nov 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
16 Nov 2025
20 Nov 2025
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
21 Nov 2025
23 Nov 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
28 Nov 2025
30 Nov 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
30 Nov 2025
4 Dec 2025
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
12 Dec 2025
14 Dec 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
14 Dec 2025
18 Dec 2025
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
19 Dec 2025
21 Dec 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
26 Dec 2025
28 Dec 2025
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
28 Dec 2025
1 Jan 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
2 Jan 2026
4 Jan 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
4 Jan 2026
8 Jan 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
9 Jan 2026
11 Jan 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
11 Jan 2026
15 Jan 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
16 Jan 2026
18 Jan 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
18 Jan 2026
22 Jan 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
23 Jan 2026
25 Jan 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
25 Jan 2026
29 Jan 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
30 Jan 2026
1 Feb 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
1 Feb 2026
5 Feb 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
6 Feb 2026
8 Feb 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
8 Feb 2026
12 Feb 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
13 Feb 2026
15 Feb 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
15 Feb 2026
19 Feb 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
20 Feb 2026
22 Feb 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
22 Feb 2026
26 Feb 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
27 Feb 2026
1 Mar 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
1 Mar 2026
5 Mar 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
6 Mar 2026
8 Mar 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
8 Mar 2026
12 Mar 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
13 Mar 2026
15 Mar 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
15 Mar 2026
19 Mar 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
20 Mar 2026
22 Mar 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
22 Mar 2026
26 Mar 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
27 Mar 2026
29 Mar 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
29 Mar 2026
2 Apr 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
3 Apr 2026
5 Apr 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
5 Apr 2026
10 Apr 2026
5 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
10 Apr 2026
12 Apr 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
12 Apr 2026
16 Apr 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
17 Apr 2026
19 Apr 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
19 Apr 2026
23 Apr 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
24 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
26 Apr 2026
30 Apr 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
1 May 2026
3 May 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
3 May 2026
7 May 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278
8 May 2026
10 May 2026
2 Nights Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £889
10 May 2026
14 May 2026
4 Nights Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock Bunk Style Cabin £1278