Smiling Seahorse, Thailand
9.1 Superb - Nitrox available
- En-Suite bathrooms
- Family Cabins
“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 …”
Highlights
Newly built for 2018, the Smiling Seahorse liveaboard offers fantastic dive trips to Thailand and Myanmar. The 3-night 'Best of Thailand' trip showcases some of the best dive areas in the Andaman Sea, including the Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Tahcai & Koh Bon. The Myanmar dive trips are a fantastic way to explore this newly opened dive area and to get up close with manta rays, eagle rays, mobula rays, leopard sharks and cool macro critters such as frogfish, seahorses, and pipefish. The spacious dive deck at the back of the boat allows ample room for kitting up and gear storage and a dedicated photography room.
The Smiling Seahorse is 25m long and accommodates 16 divers over 4 decks. On the upper deck are 2 standard cabins with one double or two single beds and shared bathrooms. The 4 deluxe and 2 master cabins on the main deck have en-suite bathrooms, and all cabins feature air-conditioning. There is also an open-air dining room, a huge sun deck, and a camera station for photographers.
The experienced and professional crew of the Smiling Seahorse liveaboard offers a warm welcome. Book online today to reserve your space.
Choose your departure date
Included: VAT, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Beach BBQ, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Kayaks, Cabin Towels, Deck Towels.
Required Extras: National Park Fees (30-300 USD per trip).
Optional Extras: Gratuities (1,000 THB per day), Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Nitrox, Nitrox Course, Private Dive Guide (3,500 THB per day), Rental Gear (600 THB per day), Scuba Diving Courses, Land Excursions, Snorkel Gear.
Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.
* Extra fees are shown per person.
Pay by bank transfer or online with
Drawings & Vessel Layouts
Cabin Types
Smiling Seahorse Reviews
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- 9.1 Superb
- Vessel 8.8
- Crew 8.8
- Food 9.8
- Diving 9.4
- Value 8.9
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- 10 Exceptional
- lisa C
-
Canada
Utterly terrific!
The meals were amazing as were the dive guides and the rest of the crew. Safety for divers was made a priority, and we felt well cared for on the Smiling Seahorse. A truly amazing dive operation epitomizing professionalism at its finest. Thank you so much for making one of our bucket list dive trips better than we could have ever imagined.
- Recommended for
- The crew, the food, and of course, the diving!
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- 10 Exceptional
- Wendy H
-
United Kingdom
Fabulous trip with great team
Seeing a manta ray. Relaxed atmosphere. Good group pairings.
- Recommended for
- Organised. Clean boat. Crew
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- 9.6 Exceptional
- Michel E
-
Switzerland
Great family diving
Dives at Richelieu Rock, aperitif and barbecue by Frank and his team,obtaining Nitrox patents as well as the Advance Open Water supervised by Frank and Simon. Thank you for their competence and good humor.
- Recommended for
- Exceptional sites, excellent atmosphere on board, very competent staff
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- 10 Exceptional
- Tim P
-
United States
Thrilled to have dived the Andaman sea with the friendly professionals of the Smiling Seahorse!
Such diversity of dive sites and creatures, pointed out so as not to be missed by James, the informative talks each day by Gavin, and the joy of new fellow divers on board, and the hard working crew amazed.
- Recommended for
- The diving, the food, the people made this a great trip.
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- 9.2 Superb
- Markus D
-
Germany
Unique dive sites - good boat crew - great food
Good and clean boat. Great food on board. Unique dive sites walls / sandbanks / coral gardens / caves. Team was always very helpfull and attentive - great food as well.
- Recommended for
- Unique dive sites. Very attentive team. rental equipment in very good condition.
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- 9.2 Superb
- Michael K
-
Israel
Great boat for diving enthusiasts
Fantastic dives.
- Recommended for
- Diving. Diving. Diving.
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- 9.6 Exceptional
- Robert V
- United States
Amazing experience.
We booked the photography expedition in the Similan National Park with the Smiling Seahorse. The boat is a 3 deck dive boat with functional cabins, a mess hall, and a perfect setup room for underwater photography and general rec diving. The boat owner and leader Frank is also a photographer. He is a super friendly and fun person to be around. He was very engaged in the day-to-day activities, and his excitement about the diving and photo opportunities was contagious. He also went out of his way to give us tips about underwater photography, which were greatly appreciated. He is an amazing photographer and his presentations were engaging and informative. Our guide, James, was equally top notch, and easily one of the best dive guides we’ve had in our diving history. He was safety conscious, highly skilled, and we learned so much from him about the reef sites we were visiting, including the sea life, and tips for safe diving in general. The supporting crew was equally amazing, ensuring tank fills and gear were setup, and the meals were good. Everything was well planned out so it never felt too crowded onboard despite full capacity. What you don’t easily see is all the work the crew is doing behind the scenes to make the liveaboard the most enjoyable experience. The dive sites themselves were fantastic, with healthy reefs, corals and fish, and the dive operation is very conscious of protecting the reef. The blackwater dive was incredible and unique , and each dive site provided great variety. This was one of the best diving trips I’ve done, hands down, and the crew and boat deserve the highest praise. We will be back soon!
- Recommended for
- Friendly and accommodating crew, great dive sites, great photography room
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- 10 Exceptional
- Rafael Cesar M
-
Brazil
Highly recommended
The experience with the Smiling Seahorse was amazing. The crew was super friendly and positive, and the schedules and processes were extremely organized. The cabin was comfortable, the food was great, and the dives were as good as they can get. I couldn't ask for a better experience. I will definitely book another expedition with the Smiling Seahorse team.
- Recommended for
- Crew friendliness, organization, dive sites
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- 10 Exceptional
- John M
- United States
Amazing Time on the Smiling Seahorse!
This was our first liveaboard experience and we were blown away by the Smiling Seahorse and the Similan Islands/Richilieu Rock itinerary. The dive guides were very professional (safety first) and helpful. We loved it and highly recommend boat owner and dive photographer Frank and his team for your next diving excursion in Thailand or Burma.
- Recommended for
- The diving was spectacular. The dive guides, crew and captain were great. The food was tasty and plentiful.
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- 8.8 Fabulous
- Robert F
- Germany
"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.
