Phuket Liveaboards - scuba diving cruises to Similan, Surin, South Islands and Burma on Thailand's finest liveaboards and sailing yachts. The most spectacular dive sites of the Andaman Sea are reached by a wide variety of liveaboards from Phuket. The information on our site covers some of the best boats in terms of service, comfort and value for money. Click on the links above for liveaboard details, schedules and prices.
Phuket - General Tourist Information
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand. At 540 km sq, it's about the same size as Singapore. Just an hour by jet from Bangkok or Singapore, and with daily connections to most major Asian cities, Phuket is ideally situated for short diving breaks or a relaxing vacation. Time is GMT +7 hours, 1 hour behind Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.
The weather is tropical, but Phuket does not suffer from big tropical storms. From November to May, the winds blow lightly from the North East, giving Phuket it's best weather. Liveaboards are plentiful, and are often full from December to March. During the "low" season, weather is wetter and the wind blows from the South West. While there are some rainy, windy days, you can also have perfect cloudless weather. Diving continues all year, but there are only a few liveaboard departures at this time. We continue to run day trips and PADI diving courses.
Latest Phuket Weather
Phuket Liveaboards - Destinations
Liveaboards operate year round from Phuket to the Similan and Surin Islands, Burma (Myanmar) and the South of Thailand (Phi Phi, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang). The Similan Islands National Park is considered one of the top 10 destinations in the world due to the incredible variety of marine life, healthy reefs and dramatic rocky landscapes. The Surin Islands, including Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock, are visited by most liveaboards in combination with the Similan Islands. These sites offer your best chance of encounters with Manta Rays and the giant Whale Shark. The months from February to April are best for Whale Shark sightings. The South Islands are in the schedule for a couple of the best Phuket liveaboards. Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are among the best dive sites in Thailand, and the "big fish" are also regular visitors here.
Liveaboards to the Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar (Burma) are less common, and have only been operating from Phuket for a few years. At present, the border is open and we are able to offer liveaboard cruises to one of the more remote parts of South East Asia. The Mergui dive sites are excellent for sharks and other big fish. The Burma Banks is one of the more famous sites in Asia, well known for it's pelagic visitors.
For More Information or Liveaboard Reservations - Contact Sunrise Divers
What is Liveaboard Diving?
Many divers are unfamiliar with the idea of liveaboards, and make only local day trips, preferring to return to the hotel in the evening. A liveaboard enables you to dive more remote and often better dive sites, and spend your evenings close to nature, out on the ocean gazing at stars far from the madding crowd. Cabins on board are comfortable and air-conditioned, food is tasty and plentiful, and you get to know a group of divers all sharing the same experience. The liveaboard life is summed up by "Dive, Eat and Sleep", which is not far from the truth. There are chances to visit some of the islands and while not diving, we can highly recommend getting back in the water for some of the best snorkeling you'll ever do. We often see turtles, small sharks and other marine life in the shallow waters that you may have missed while diving.
Most Phuket liveaboards carry a mixture of divers with a range of experience and backgrounds. While a liveaboard to Burma is recommended only for those with a bit more experience, Similan and Surin are ideal for all divers. If you are a PADI Open Water Diver, it may be possible to get your Advanced certification on board - ask us for details. A typical 4 day tour will give you a maximum of 14 dives, including 2 or 3 night dives. This may seem like a lot of diving, but your surface intervals are long and you will find a liveaboard cruise rewarding and relaxing. All dives are made with a dive master or instructor, unless you prefer to dive as a group or buddy team. Some dive sites are not easy to navigate, so it is usually better to take advantage of your guides knowledge and experience. Dive groups are kept small - with 4 divers per dive master, so you won't feel crowded under water.
For more information about Phuket Liveaboards
visit our Thailand Diving web site
For diving information in German
please visit our Tauchen Thailand web site
Sunrise Divers also offers a wide variety of day trips to local Phuket dive sites, Phi Phi Islands and the Similan Islands. Short stay liveaboards (1-2 nights) are also available, along with our popular Phi Phi overnight tour (not a liveaboard - you stay in a hotel). We teach PADI dive courses for all levels of diver from novices up to Divemaster, with courses in English, Deutsch, Svenska and more. Liveaboards are just one of many options for making a great diving trip in Phuket. We look forward to seeing you here soon.
