Gentle Giant Liveaboard, Thailand

Name: The Best of the Andaman (Thap Lamu - Asia Marina)
Start: 2027-01-15
End: 2027-01-21
Location: Thailand

8.6 Fabulous

Nitrox available
Free Internet
En-Suite bathrooms
Family Cabins
Aircon Cabins
Warm Water Showers

from $ 171 / day Check dates

“The diving was great, the food was delicious, and it was nice meeting other people from different backgrounds!”
Timothy J, Canada

Highlights

World-famous dive sites like the Similan Islands
Limited availability, only 12 times yearly
A mix of international and Thai cuisine

The M/V Gentle Giant offers unique dive trips in the Andaman Sea. Covering both the north and south Andaman Sea, divers will cover the world-famous Similan islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, and Richelieu Rock, located in the north, and the southern area of Hin Daeng Hin Muang, Koh Haa, King Cruiser, Shark Point and Phi Phi. This special 6-night dive trip is only offered 12 times yearly between November and April. It is a fantastic opportunity for divers to explore the Andaman Sea, completing 22 dives over 7 days.

Topside, MV Gentle Giant caters to up to 20 guests in 10 cabins. Each cabin is en-suite with AC, sea views, and a safety deposit box. There are 1 master cabin, 1 deluxe cabin, and 8 twin standard cabins. Social areas include the fully air-conditioned indoor salon with a 55-inch TV and entertainment area, outdoor covered dining area, or large roof-top sundeck. Meals are a mix of international and Thai cuisine and are prepared fresh.

The experienced and passionate crew of the MV Gentle Giant are waiting to share the beauty of the Andaman sea. Places fill up fast, so book online today to reserve your space.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

Select

08 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 860

FULL

14 Nov

7 Days / 6 Nights

$ 1,305

Select Cabin available

23 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 860

Select Cabin available

28 Nov

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 860

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03 Dec

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 860

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08 Dec

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 860

Select Cabin available

14 Dec

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 860

Select Cabin only 5 spaces left

19 Dec

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 860

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24 Dec

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 860

Select Cabin only 5 spaces left

30 Dec

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 860

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04 Jan

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 860

Select Cabin available

09 Jan

5 Days / 4 Nights

$ 860

FULL

Included: VAT, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Soft Drinks at Meal Times, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, WiFi internet.

Required Extras: Fuel Surcharge (฿0-3,200 / trip), National Park Fees (฿2,300-3,500 / trip).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Alcoholic Beverages, Alcoholic Drinks at Dinner, Nitrox (฿2,800-5,500 / trip), Nitrox Course (฿7,000 / trip), Private Dive Guide (฿2,500 / day), Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses (฿2,000-10,000 / trip).

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

Best Price Guaranteed

Boat features

Free Internet
En-Suite bathrooms
Family Cabins
Aircon Cabins
Warm Water Showers
Air Conditioned saloon
Sun Deck
Seaview Cabins
Non-Smoking Rooms
Custom built for diving
Charging stations
Audio & video entertainment
Available for Charter
Local & International Crew
Separate Rinse for u/w Camera
Outside Showers

Food & Drinks

Vegetarian Options
Free Soft Drinks
Beer available
Full-board Option
Snacks All Day
Buffet style
Western Food
Local Food

If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We advise limiting these requests to religious beliefs or food allergies.

Diving

Nitrox available
Shaded Diving Area
DIN Adaptors
Dive deck

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English, Thai, and Chinese.

Gear Rental

Equipment is available for rent on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. If the rental gear is not included in the price, you will need to pay for it on board the boat. Show prices

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Length: 27 meters

Engines: 2 x Hino

Max guests: 20

Number of cabins: 10

Number of bathrooms: 10

Water capacity: 14000 liters

Fuel capacity: 9000 liters

Boat navigation and safety

Radar
Depth Sounder
GPS
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
Oxygen
First Aid Kits

Gentle Giant Reviews

8.6 Fabulous

Vessel

7.5
Crew

8.7
Food

9.4
Diving

8.9
Value

8.7

9.2 Superb
Chien-wen S
Taiwan

Make a wish to go again.
I had an excellent experience on Gentle Giant.
Recommended for
very good service. friendly crews. nice vegan food.
11 Apr, 2026

9.2 Superb
Juan M
Canada

Good diving and good service
Friendly cre, good guides, plenty of food.
Recommended for
Dive guides. Crew service. Good Value.
28 Feb, 2025

10 Exceptional
Christopher Q
United Kingdom

Best week ever!
This was my first liveaboard experience and I can honestly now say that I am a convert. It is THE best way to dive - 4 dives in one day?! Yes please! Everything about the week was wonderful, from the dives and seeing things from turtles to sharks, and swimming through incredible caves, to the attentiveness of the dive support team and the briefings with our guides, to the wonderful food. So glad I was able to make it over to Thailand to enjoy this incredible experience.
Recommended for
Superb customer service - everyone was so friendly and wanting to make the trip special.. The food was excellent! Yum yum yum!. The diving was great. Wonderful experience from start to finish..
27 Apr, 2026

8.4 Very good
Rod V
Canada

Small Boat but Great Staff
Had a lot of good dives. There were lots of fish. I was hoping to see some larger marine life. Leader was excellent and informative.
Recommended for
Dives, Dive Leaders, scenery
01 Mar, 2023

10 Exceptional
Eric K
France

Excellent experience
I highly recommend this experience, even for someone traveling alone. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The dives are breathtaking. I was even able to switch to Advanced Open Water on the 2nd day, which was not planned. Safety is a must. Well done!
Recommended for
The staff. The dives. Food.
04 Feb, 2025

Translated from French

10 Exceptional
Russell A
United Kingdom

Five stars are not enough! This was an exceptional trip with a brilliant crew, what a wonderful week.
We were upgraded from Gentle Giant to the Raga; this was an unexpected bonus as the boat was excellent. Well appointed, comfortable cabins etc. The food was restaurant quality, every day the meals and snacks were different, from coconut smoothies to ice cream cones! The crew couldn’t have been more helpful, from the boat drivers to the kitchen staff & guides, they were all friendly , attentive and eager to help. Nothing seemed to faze them and nothing was too much trouble. This is undoubtedly the best liveaboard I have been on - well done Smile Dolphin, we will definitely be using you again.
Recommended for
The staff - friendly, kind & attentive. The boat - excellent facilities. The diving - obviously!.
08 Mar, 2025

8.8 Fabulous
Juan B
Argentina

Tremendous experience, to highlight the group and the excellent work of the crew
The new friends after days of living together and the net dives and purple rocks and "the hand of John", although they were all very good and left us unforgettable memories, such as the explosion of life in the wreck of the King Cruisier
Recommended for
The crew, the cordiality and predisposition of the management and the instructors permanently concerned about the well-being of all
14 Dec, 2019

Translated from Spanish

7.6 Good
Franz V
Germany

Varied beautiful diving
With great dives in the north and south in the Andaman Sea, this trip offered varied dives from beautiful coral reefs to always beautiful schools of fish and highlights such as leopard sharks and seahorses. Despite some poor visibility, the dives were relaxed and quite beautiful.
Recommended for
lots of schools of fish. Leopard shark. partly beautiful corals.
11 Jan, 2025

Translated from German

9.2 Superb
Marlene W
Austria

Simple but beautiful boat
We spent a really nice time on the Gentle Giant. The boat is simple but equipped with everything you need. Each cabin has hot water showers, air conditioning and windows. The crew is very nice and there are 4 at least 4 meals a day. Snacks are available around the clock. We enjoyed the time very much and can recommend the liveaboard to everyone.
Recommended for
Selection of diving spots. Dive guides. Essen.
23 Mar, 2026

Translated from German

8.0 Very good
Peter S
Switzerland

Super trip
Helpful staff, great dive sights
Recommended for
Whale shark, lovebirds and always delicious food
16 Jul, 2019

Translated from German

62 reviews

8.6 Fabulous
62 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

9.6 Exceptional
Zheng Z
United States

Much better than I expected
This is the cheapest but the best liveaboard I’ve ever had. The crew members are friendly and professional, having the right attitude to serve the customers. They love what they are doing which I can tell from their smiles. My guide TK is smart and well paced. She’s quite familiar the underwater environment and even knows when the Trevallies start hunting. I think she had shown us the best of that part of ocean. Food was of good quality and really suits my taste. The room is a little bit small but clean. We saw GTs, barracuda tornado, snappers, crocodile fish and a variety of marine lives. The corals at the Tachai reef are gorgeous! The trip is excellent!
Recommended for
My guide TK. Excellent crew member services. Beautiful boulders and marine life underneath.
22 Jul, 2026

9.2 Superb
Marc B
Switzerland

Moray Eel vs.Triggerfish
I booked a tour with Gentle Giant and MV Raga to the Similan Islands. Both tours were fantastic. Great staff and lots of sea life to see. The dive sites are varied and, for me, among the most beautiful ever. Special thanks to the guides, Sasha, Spice, and Freshy. Thanks to them, I got to see lots of cool things that I would otherwise have missed. The whole staff does a great job, and on every tour, the friendly owner stops by to ask if everyone is satisfied.
Recommended for
Dive Sites. Dive Guide Freshy. Staff on Boat.
22 Nov, 2025

10 Exceptional
Alicia F
United States

Best liveaboard experience!
We did 10 dives in 3 days to the surrounding islands of Phuket, and it was excellent! We saw 3 shipwrecks, lots of coral, sharks, eels, rays, other animals and millions of fish.. very satisfying! The accommodations were nice and the food was beyond excellent. All the guides were very nice and the boat boys were amazing in helping us get ready, and on/off the boat for every dive. An incredible deal for the price!
Recommended for
Friendly Service, Great Sites, Great Food
04 Jul, 2018

9.6 Exceptional
Juliana B
Brazil

Great crew!
I super recommend this trip, mainly because the crew is amazing and will do everything to make you happy! I loved it
Recommended for
Amazing staff. Great food. Great crew.
17 Mar, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Toshihiko K
Japan

Much more values than I Expected
It was very relaxing to see scenery from the top of the deck. Delicious food was served 4 to 5 times a day, and freshly cooked with a sense of Thai.Crews were very helpful when putting on and taking off the equipment.Guests and crew landed on the Phi Phi Island and watched a fire show after diving at night, which was unexpected. Two whales showed up to the boat.
Recommended for
A large school of fish, zebra shark at Hin Bida, several kinds of exotic fish unseen before.
11 Feb, 2024

Translated from Japanese

10 Exceptional
Timothy J
Canada

My first liveaboard experience and expectations were surpassed!
The diving was great, the food was delicious, and it was nice meeting other people from different backgrounds!
Recommended for
Dives; food; comfort!
28 Mar, 2024

9.6 Exceptional
Pieter D
Belgium

Much recommended
Great value for money. Recommended trip if you want to explore Andaman sea diving.
Recommended for
Great guidance on the boat. Great guidance in the water. Great food.
04 Apr, 2025

8.8 Fabulous
Lauren E
United Kingdom

Fabulous people, incredible diving and just a wonderful week!
My partner and I had an incredible week onboard the Gentle Giant. Firstly, everything was very well organised so we were kept well informed of the daily plans. All the crew were excellent - the guides, the chef, stewardess, the boat guys and captain. Everyone was helpful, friendly and really made our stay fun, enjoyable and just really easy. The itinerary was well balanced and we felt that we really made the most of our time on the trip. Our guide, Gai, was very knowledgable and knew the sites well, he made sure we were kept away from larger groups underwater and pointed things out that we wanted to see. Overall, an excellent time - would recommend!
Recommended for
It's too hard to think of just three! I would say; the itinerary, the people and the ease of the whole week.
17 Feb, 2024

8.8 Fabulous
Filippa K
Sweden

Great experience at Gentle Giant
Had a wonderful time at Gentle Giant. The dive sites were great and the trip was well planned and structured. Super nice food throughout the trip & friendly staff!
Recommended for
Dive sites, food & friendly staff
13 Feb, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Benoit V
Belgium

An amazing first liveaboard experience
We had such a great time on the Gentle Giant! Pipe, TK, Mint, Min and the rest of the crew made this journey unforgettable 🤩 The diving spots were some of the best ones I've ever seen 🐟 The gear and general safety were good 👍 The food was delicious and abundant. I didn't want to leave this dream ship! 🥲
Recommended for
The crew. The dive spots. 5 meals a day.
06 Mar, 2026

10 Exceptional
Joanna W
Canada

Great experience! Would 100% do again
My husband and I were on the Gentle Giant during Christmas week. We were a bit apprehensive at first as it was our first liveaboard experience and there were not many reviews for this boat in particular, but we were worried for nothing. We really enjoyed our five days onboard and this was the favorite part of our 2 week vacation in Phuket/Krabi. The diving was super, we did 3-4 dives a day. Dive are 50 min and they feed you lots of delicious authentic Thai food before and after each dive. We saw all sorts of pufferfish, porcupine fish, batfish, huge group of thousands of yellow snappers, tuna, groupers, giant trevally, a huge swarm of barracuda (must have been at least a few hundred, which was the highlight of the trip), lots of giant morays, other morays, sea stars, sea cucumbers, nudibranches, a freaky walking featherstar, and tons more. Our only regret is we did not see mantas or whale sharks even with multiple dives at Richilieu, Koh Bon, and Hin Deang/Hin Muang. Boat crew was super helpful in getting your gear ready, switching tanks, helping you on and off the boat, it was truly full service diving. We will be back and dive again with Gai and his team!
Recommended for
Diving, food, and crew friendliness
18 Jan, 2019

8.8 Fabulous
Hiren P
India

Best of Thailand
A very nice trip offering the best of Thailand. The boat crew, Gai, Anne and Lee supported by the 2 lovely always smiling ladies who cooked and served us. And of course the boat staff who helped us gear up. Did the South Thailand dive sites which was a first for me.
Recommended for
Food and hygine. Dive guides: Anne and Lee. On board company.
13 Mar, 2025

9.2 Superb
Helena E
Sweden

Enjoyed the Gentle Giant liveaboard a lot
Manta ray at similian islands The abundance of life under water at Richeliue Rock
Recommended for
genuine and friendly staff that created a great athmosphere onboard, covered a lot of different dive sites both north and south, delicious food
14 Jan, 2020

8.8 Fabulous
Mike B
Germany

Great diving in northwestern Thailand.
Highlights were the 3 days of diving in the north, from Surin 1 - Richelieu Rock.Delicious Thai food, and nice staff on the ship.
Recommended for
Diving at Richelieu Rock and the Surins. Good food.
29 Mar, 2024

9.2 Superb
Charles L
United States

first liveaboard exceeded expectations
as a new diver on my first liveaboard I must say that for the price, the Gentle Giant has set a high bar for quality of service and hospitality.
Recommended for
quality of staff. coherent schedule and communication. meal variety.
24 Dec, 2024

10 Exceptional
燕婷黄
China

My first time liveaboard trip , excellent!
People
Recommended for
Food people clean
13 Feb, 2023

9.2 Superb
Paul S
United States

A fantastic dive tour of the Andaman Sea islands and dive sites.
I selected Gentle Giant because of its itinerary. Most boats either dive the northern or the southern Andaman Sea. In the same trip, Gentle Giant visits all the most important and beautiful dive sites on the Indian Ocean coast of Thailand, both in the north and south. From the Richelieu Rocks teeming with life, through the fifty-plus meter visibility of the Similian Islands, to the sharks of Koh Phi Phi, our guides, fluent in both English and Mandarin, put us on all the best spots! The diving was amazing! The staff and crew were super friendly and helpful, and the food was fresh, savory, and abundant, with Thai, Chinese and Western selections. I look forward to diving again with Gentle Giant in the future.
Recommended for
The extensive itinerary, the diving and dive guides, and the crew services and friendliness.
28 Mar, 2023

8.0 Very good
Luzi B
Germany

Great crew and beautiful route
The two of us had booked a private guide (because otherwise it is sometimes too busy for us). Anne was great! She adapted super well to our interests and helped me, for example, to find the cutest nudibranchs. Thank you very much for that!I like Thai food and that was really delicious. For example, the boat crew helps with boarding and disembarking in rough seas and the captain steers the ship with great routine to collect us in the water. That was really exemplary.The ship is already getting a bit old. We had a large cabin upstairs. The air conditioning worked perfectly. If something didn't work, it was fixed immediately. The bed is relatively hard... that's a matter of taste. The North-South Tour is a recommended combination of different highlights. The visibility underwater was often not so good, the weather did not always play along. Underwater, there were regularly very cold strong currents. My 3.5 mm semi-dry was not too warm ... and I'm not a frostbite.Summary: very good value for money. Recommendable.
Recommended for
Helpfulness of the crew, great guides, good food
30 Nov, 2023

6.8 Review score
Jared S
Canada

Good marine life
Spicy food
Recommended for
Good fish action
13 Feb, 2023

9.2 Superb
Pierre B
France

Great stay with ideal conditions
Diving on the Richelieu
Recommended for
The boat staff very attentive to our comfort, the dive sites, the food
18 Jan, 2019