Smiling Seahorse, Thailand

Highly recommended, exclusive services , friendly crew member, well organised diving.

In a summary, the trip was adventurous and amazing! We are pampered throughout the week and am amazed by the : Services Special mention on the services of the crews, they will try to fulfil the requests of customer with their best. They take note on each customer special needs and preferences very well. Owner Franck also provide very detailed briefing on every important matters and is always there to reach out. Diving The diving are well organised which you wont feel packed or waiting too long for you turn at the dive deck. We are divided into smaller dive groups at the ratio to dive guide at 4:1 and each group will take a rotation of sequence, which is fair and further enhances the overall diving experience. Dive guides are also very attentive and take safety precautions as priority. Furthermore, the boat and cabins are at the above average standard as this is not the luxury boat which also justify the price to be paid for.

Recommended for

well organised diving. friendly and helpful crew. variety of activites other than diving.

23 Dec, 2025

An amazing trip to uncharted waters, with a top notch boat and crew: high quality experience!

We enjoyed our trip with the Smiling Seahorse a lot. Our hope was to escape crowded dive sites in Thailand by embarking on a trip to the Mergui Archipeligo. This worked out great: we have seen no other divers throughout the entire trip. The diving was excellent, at healthy reefs with abundant marine life. The Smiling seahorse is a well maintained vessel that has been run by the same crew for many years. The whole team works together like a Swiss clock, delivering a care free experience of high quality and maximum fun. Attention to details is massive (e.g. reef friendly soap, a water branded bottle to replace glass as much as possible, Isotoner sachets, etc.). The group was quickly split up into groups of 4 divers & 1 dive guide. The groups take turns gearing up, so the dive deck is always calm and remains spacious. Each crew member knows what to do and delivers. The dive guides are very experienced, good company and a pleasure to dive with. Special thanks to James! By choosing to go to Myanmar, a country in troubled times, the organization adds an exiting edge to the trip, somewhat exclusive and special. Their contact with the Myanmar authorities is solid and the process went pretty smooth. One special feature on our trip was the Blackwater diving. What a great experience and eye opener! We came home truly enriched in our understanding of the ocean and stimulated in our ambitions to keep on exploring. Thanks Franck and crew!

Recommended for

Very professional organization. Focus on excellent diving experience. Pushing for new experiences: Blackwater diving in Myanmar's waters.

16 Dec, 2025

Truly superb live aboard experience!

This was our first liveaboard diving trip so we have nothing to compare this with, however, I can honestly say that our expectations were more than exceeded in every respect. The Smiling Seahorse operation is superbly run and managed by its owner Franck, an extremely personable individual and diving enthusiast, who goes to great lengths to ensure that no detail of your stay onboard is overlooked. After being swiftly administered on arrival, Franck then delivered a welcome address to all passengers to explain how the boat functions, where everything was and then introduced all of his staff, from the captain and diving instructors to the chefs and general assistants. This was a great touch and showed how invested he is in his crew and for us to meet each and every one of the staff onboard. We were assigned our diving instructor (Mici) and dived with another couple of similar experience for the duration of the trip. Mici went to great lengths to put us at ease and explained every step of each dive we undertook but made absolutely clear that safety was her primary concern throughout. We undertook our PADI AOW qualification whilst diving and this was seamlessly integrated in to our diving programme. Some of the dives were quite challenging due to varying currents and invariably plans had to be changed underwater to reflect the conditions but at all times she had the whole group’s welfare and safety in mind. On all of the dives, the pace at which we covered the terrain was excellent and she was always attentive and keen to point out the abundant wildlife. The diving itself was varied, with Richelieu Rock providing the most spectacular array of sea life, from huge shoals of Trevally and Barracuda to amazing fan corals to name but a few. Visibility wasn’t always great and at times the currents were strong but we viewed this as positive learning and we always managed to see some incredible sights. The food onboard was simply outstanding! We are vegetarians and the chefs went to great lengths to ensure that we had an appropriate choice for each meal - the food was largely Thai inspired and was truly delicious. On one evening they even prepared a BBQ on the sun deck and this was preceded by some delicious rum cocktails, which went down very well! At various intervals Franck would make announcements to ensure all were informed or (as a keen underwater photographer) brief us on other aspects of diving (black water diving), which was offered as an additional activity. Despite the broad international makeup of the guests onboard, all were made to feel part of the ‘family’ and we made some great acquaintances during our trip. Overall, Franck’s outstanding leadership of the Smiling Seahorse and attention to detail is what made this trip so successful and enjoyable for all concerned. We would thoroughly recommend to anyone considering a live aboard and will undoubtedly be back again.

Recommended for

Boat leadership; diving instructors; food

16 Apr, 2024

Fabulous trip with great team

Seeing a manta ray. Relaxed atmosphere. Good group pairings.

Recommended for

Organised. Clean boat. Crew

10 Apr, 2023

Best way to go diving in the Mergui Archipelago and the Burma Banks , hands down.

The trip was logistically setup in a very clever way. Each and every day there were highlights and surprises to be discovered. I experienced my first two Blackdives after almost 3 decades of recreational diving and it was mind-blowing. Frank and his team work very hard let the clients enjoy the cruise, and, last but not least , the security was considered paramount every time.

Recommended for

Diving guides, Blackdives and laid back atmosphere

21 Dec, 2023

"Great Diving, Great Crew – A No-Frills Liveaboard That Delivers"

The dive safari with The Smiling Seahorse was a fantastic experience, offering great value for money without unnecessary frills. If you're looking for a well-organized, professional, and welcoming liveaboard in the Andaman Sea, this is a great choice. The dive team—James, Velika, Lady, and Simon—are exceptional. Not only do they know the dive sites inside out, but they also have a deep passion for the craft, ensuring each dive is both safe and memorable. The crew on board is equally impressive, keeping everything running smoothly, maintaining the gear, and assisting with effortless water entries and exits. The boat itself provides everything you need for a successful dive safari. There’s a dedicated camera station with compressed air and ample power outlets for charging equipment. Between dives, you’ll find plenty of space to relax in the shade—or stay dry if the weather turns. While the accommodations and amenities are simple and practical rather than luxurious, they are more than sufficient for a comfortable trip. Overall, The Smiling Seahorse delivers an excellent diving experience at a fair price, making it a solid choice for divers who prioritize top-notch guiding and seamless logistics over high-end amenities. If you're after incredible diving in the Andaman Sea without breaking the bank, this is a great option.

Recommended for

The dive guides. The crew. The organisation on board.

17 Mar, 2025