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Smiling Seahorse
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Smiling Seahorse, Thailand

4.5Very good6 verified reviews
from
USD
224
per day

Smiling Seahorse offers a range of diving trips of varying durations in Thailand, a destination renowned for its whale shark sightings and untouched coral reefs. Photographers will appreciate the special camera facilities, including charging points and separate rinsing tanks. Deluxe cabins and standard cabins can accommodate either double occupancy or twin share. The boat features excellent relaxation zones on the top deck with shaded areas and hammocks, as well as an outdoor salon with a large sofa.

Boat Interior

The liveaboard can accommodate up to 16 guests in 6 well-equipped cabins. Both standard and deluxe cabins can be set up with either double beds for couples or twin share arrangements. Deluxe staterooms have en-suite bathrooms, while standard rooms share a bathroom. The master cabins feature private bathrooms and offer panoramic views.

The boat is designed for perfect relaxation, with an outdoor salon featuring a large sofa for lounging between dives. The top deck relaxation zone with hammocks provides a serene environment for guests to unwind and enjoy the stunning scenery.

Safety

Safety is a top priority. The boat is equipped with all necessary safety equipment, including GPS, radar, VHF radio, satellite phone, first aid kit, emergency rafts, and life vests, ensuring a secure diving adventure.

Diving

The ratio of dive guides to divers is 4:1, providing personalized attention and a safe diving experience. The dive deck offers plenty of storage space, a brand new dinghy, and fin-friendly ladders. Nitrox is available on board for certified divers.

Itinerary Features

Smiling Seahorse offers unique diving routes in Thailand, covering the best dive sites in the region. Divers can explore the stunning coral reefs and abundant marine life of Thailand's waters. Whale sharks can sometimes be seen, along with seahorses, blacktip reef sharks, and groups of nurse sharks.

When to Go

Thailand has a tropical climate, making it a year-round diving destination. The dry season from November to April offers the best conditions, with calm seas and clear visibility. The rainy season from May to October can bring rougher seas, but diving is still possible.

Smiling Seahorse provides an exceptional diving experience in the unspoiled waters of Myanmar, combining comfort, safety, and unforgettable underwater adventures. Whether you’re an avid diver or a photography enthusiast, this liveaboard ensures a memorable journey

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Cabins

Standard Cabin
Upper Deck
Standard Cabin
3 Guests
Master Cabin
Main Deck
Master Cabin
2 Guests
Deluxe Cabin
Main Deck
Deluxe Cabin
2 Guests
Boat plan
Boat deck plan

Boat Specification

Number of cabins
6
Dive guides to divers ratio
4:1
Groups or charters
Yes
Gear rental
Surcharge
Wi-Fi
No
Nitrox
Surcharge
Fleet/Managing company
The Smiling Seahorse
Length and width
25 m / 6 m
Capacity
16
Tenders
x 1 dingy
Material
Wood
Languages crew speak
English, French, Spanish
Engines
x 2
Generator
x 2 50W
Tech diving friendly
No
Handicapped Friendly
No
Compressors
2 x Bauer

Dive Facilities

  • Warm Water Showers
  • Compressors
  • Rinse Hosts
  • Tenders for Diving
  • Dive Deck
  • DIN Adaptors

Boat navigation & safety

Full safety

Food & Drinks

  • Western Food
  • Local Food
  • Dietary Restrictions
  • Buffet Style
  • Alcoholic Beverages and Spirits
  • Hot & Cold Soft Drinks
  • Snacks All Day

Onboard Facilities

  • Onboard Kayaks
  • Audio & Video Entertainment
  • Air Conditioned Saloon
  • Sun Deck
  • Sun Loungers
  • Open Air Saloon
  • Indoor Saloon

Photographer Facilities

  • Camera & Photography Station
  • Separate Rinsing Tanks for U/W Camera
  • Camera Table
  • Special Storage for U/W Camera
  • Charging Stations

Smiling Seahorse Reviews

4.5
Excellent
6 verified reviews
Cabins & Facilities
Food & drinks
Guiding & Safety
Service & Infrastructure
4.8
Similian & Surin Islands Feb 2025
Awesome trip. The guides were fantastic and we had a great time. Saw a lot of cool creatures.
Service & Infrastructure
Guiding & Safety
Food & drinks
Cabins & Facilities
2025-03-07by K. Anthony
5.0
Dive Holiday
Diving brilliant. A very well ran and organised diving trip. The whole team, diver leaders and crew, were always most helpful and supportive. Many thanks.
Service & Infrastructure
Guiding & Safety
Food & drinks
Cabins & Facilities
2025-02-27by C. Russell
2.3
Disappointing dives on a liveaboard headed by inexperienced operator
A friend who had previously been on this trip recommended this liveaboard, so I had good feelings about it. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the most underwhelming liveaboard I've been on. The dives were especially disappointing and the rest of the trip - atmosphere, food options, service, and facilities - didn't make up for the quality. Dive Quality: The "Burmese entry and diving fees" of 230 USD per person do not contribute to the maintenance or protection of dive sites. Most of our dive sites in Mergui were littered with discarded fishing nets and sometimes surrounded by fishing boats. On one of the dives, my buddy and I found 3 living fish caught in a ghost net. We managed to free the fish, then spent the rest of our dive attempting to remove as much of the net as we could. Aside from that, the visibility was subpar and the marine life was not that impressive to justify revisiting the same dive sites. Burma Banks had great visibility and bigger marine life (nurse sharks, marble rays) to enjoy, but the dives were short (45 mins) due to the reef being flat in the deep (25-30m). Service: This operator is still inexperienced and has much to improve in all aspects of its business. Communication before and during the trip was rushed and often felt unprofessional. On the day of departure, guests were informed to pay 1000THB each to change the itinerary to Burma Banks instead of Black Rock. The owner, Frank, was adamant about everyone using Nitrox, and my friend was pressured into taking the Nitrox course last minute. There were other instances during the trip where Frank's handling of situations and communicating felt inappropriate. Frank seemed to care about his photography above all else and even encouraged some divers with cameras to do the same. One diver in our group caused some problems because he was harassing sharks with his strobes; this diver ignored our dive guide's instructions, then later justified his inappropriate actions by saying this was allowed when he took a private lesson with Frank. So our dive group took this matter into our own hands - we showed this diver on a later dive, how to approach sharks with more caution as to not disturb it, allowing the whole group to enjoy the encounter. A reputable diving operator would encourage all divers to respect the marine life and environment. The Smiling Seahorse does not. Something else I found uncomfortable was the atmosphere on the cruise. There was lots of encouragement from staff (and other guests) to drink alcohol, with daily apéritif and free drinks offered in some instances. I noticed many divers were skipping dives quite often, some due to ear problems and some due to poor quality of dives. I think people go on liveaboards for many reasons, and if partying and occasionally diving is what you're after, then maybe this is for you. Unfortunately, this is the only operator servicing in Burma at the moment, so my options were limited. After my experience in Burma, I don't see any reason to recommend these dive sites or this liveaboard.
Service & Infrastructure
Guiding & Safety
Food & drinks
Cabins & Facilities
2024-05-16by G. Marika

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