Merdeka 3, Thailand

9.0 Superb

En-Suite bathrooms
Family Cabins
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Massage

Check dates

“The captain and whole crew were so friendly, they went beyond in ensuring my comfort and the food that was cooked up was so good!!…”
janice L, Hong Kong

Highlights

Full board, beer, wine, and massage
Complimentary use of kayaks and boat facilities
Crystal clear waters for snorkeling

The Merdeka 3 'Spaboat' offers fantastic cruises in Thailand for both divers and non-divers alike. Itineraries are 4 nights long and explore Phi Phi, Koh Ha, Hin Daeng & Hin Muang in the Krabi province. The tour aims to offer the ultimate 'relax and chill' trip. Around 2 dives per day will be offered, leaving plenty of time to relax and explore the beautiful surrounding islands. Dive cruises with Merdeka 3 include full board, beer, wine, massage, and complimentary use of kayaks and other boat facilities.

Activities include snorkeling in the crystal clear waters, exploring the beautiful bats, kayaking, sunset drinks, massages, and enjoying delicious, freshly-prepared Thai cuisine. Dives generally occur in the morning when the sites are quieter, leaving time for relaxation in the afternoon. However, there is the opportunity to add extra dives for no additional cost if the location and conditions allow.

The Merdeka 3 is a traditional Indonesian phinisi built out of ironwood. She caters to just 15 guests in a choice of 6 en-suite cabins - ranging from double, twin, triple, or quad. Each cabin features a hot & cold water shower, individually controlled AC, and fans. Social areas include a large shaded sundeck with mats and a covered outdoor lounge and dining area. The perfect place to relax with a complimentary sunset drink whilst enjoying the sea air.

Join the Merdeka 3 Spaboat for a fantastic Thailand dive and relaxation cruise. Book online today to reserve your space.

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2028

Included: VAT, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Fishing, Kayaks, Land Excursions, Beach Towels, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, Deck Towels, Massage.

Required Extras: National Park Fees (1,600 THB per trip).

Optional Extras: Gratuities, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Extra Dives, Private Dive Guide (1,500 THB per item), Rental Gear, Scuba Diving Courses (66-325 EUR).

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.

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Boat features

En-Suite bathrooms
Family Cabins
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Massage
Sun Deck
Kayaks On-Board
Seaview Cabins
Non-Smoking Rooms
Charging stations
Audio & video entertainment
Observation Deck
Fishing
Available for Charter
Local & International Crew
Separate Rinse for u/w Camera
Outside Showers
Leisure Deck
Daily housekeeping
Bar

Food & Drinks

Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Free Soft Drinks
Beer available
Wine Available
Full-board Option
Half-board Option
Snacks All Day
Buffet style
Western Food
Local Food
Set Menu Dinner

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

Shaded Diving Area
DIN Adaptors
Rinse Hoses
Dive deck
Tenders for diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English, German, and French.

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: 30m

Number of cabins: 7

Number of bathrooms: 6

Boat navigation and safety

Depth Sounder
Radio VHF/DSC/SSB
Emergency Rafts
Life Vests
Fire Alarm & Fire Extinguishers
First Aid Kits
Satellite & mobile phones
Bilge pump alarm
Search light

Merdeka 3 Reviews

9.0 Superb

Vessel

8.5
Crew

9.0
Food

9.5
Diving

9.2
Value

8.8

10 Exceptional
Zachary D
United States

Excellent and fun!
Lots of great diving, fire show, massages.
Recommended for
Awesome diving, balance of diving and fun, great people on the boat
14 Oct, 2022

10 Exceptional
Anne C
France

Exceptional
Everything was perfect, the beautiful dives organized by Alec, the excellent meals and massages on board. The size of this boat allows for real conviviality.
Recommended for
The dives, the comfort, the table
09 Dec, 2023

Translated from French

9.2 Superb
Andrea R
Switzerland

Relaxed and impressive safari
Very relaxed diving combined with short shore excursions.
Recommended for
Leopard shark, massage on board, only five divers
02 May, 2023

Translated from German

9.6 Exceptional
Jacqueline J
Canada

Great Experience!
The combination of perfect dives, flexible crew and beautiful moorage was divine. It was an excellent trip and such good company. Eric was really helpful and relaxed about my nervousness after a long time out of the depths, and I learned so much.
Recommended for
The dives were amazing! The food was fantastic and it was great to be able to get massages.
26 Feb, 2020

10 Exceptional
Roland L
Austria

A great way to experience the South Andaman Sea underwater world
Pickup and transfer after the trip went smoothly, the crew was helpful and professional, the food was delicious (there was even Prik Nam Pla on request) and the dive sites were stunning, especially the Koh Haa national park.
Recommended for
spacious boat; friendly crew; great underwater scenery
28 Feb, 2024

9.6 Exceptional
Enrique H
Spain

Highly recommended for divers and non divers
Highly recommended lieveaboard to enjoy the Phuket area. The experience and friendliness of the crew makes the difference. We will repeat!!
Recommended for
Crew, food, massages and diving
03 Sep, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Michèle D
Switzerland

Great cruise
We had a great time, the crew did everything they could for us to have a good time
Recommended for
Boat. Food. Crew.
20 Mar, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Reinhard K
Germany

A great experience
The Merdeka 3 is a bit more rustic than other dive ships, but has more charm. Everything is a little more leisurely, with several shore leaves. So you don't rush from dive site to dive spot. The trip with the Merdeka 3 clearly exceeded my expectations.
Recommended for
The crew. The food. Massages.
16 Dec, 2024

Translated from German

10 Exceptional
Jeffery D
United States

The most relaxing and adventurous dive trip we’ve had.
Diving the Phi Phi islands was the highlight of the trip, but the crew is what made it so memorable. We even had a wonderful night ashore hiking to watch the sunset over Koh Phi Phi Don and then watched a beachside fire dancing show that was incredible.
Recommended for
The view from the cabin was amazing, the diving was great, and the daily massage were the perfect ending to the day.
05 Aug, 2022

9.2 Superb
tim L
Taiwan

amazing boat diving
we enjoyed this trip soooo much，friendly crew，comfortable massages，cook fed us delicious fresh-cooked food every 2 hours diving instructor～erik viking led us to the good sites with good timing，we saw no divers in the water，but so many fish，sting rays，sharks，eels，hooray！
Recommended for
only me and my husband，excellent diving instructor，tons of fish
15 Oct, 2019

42 reviews

9.0 Superb
42 Verified Reviews

Sort reviews by:

9.2 Superb
Jason G
United States

Such a great experience!
We enjoyed the trip and meeting the team. John was extremely organized. We were treated with utmost respect and care. The dives were excellent and plentiful. The food was great. My son enjoyed meeting the Dive Master! ;)
Recommended for
1. The crew! 2. The organization under John. 3. The diving guide.
18 Dec, 2023

9.2 Superb
Rick H
United Kingdom

Excellent Experience
Great team looking after us, food was amazing, great massages, knowledgable and friendly dive/snorkel instructor.
Recommended for
Crew, Snorkelling and Food
06 May, 2019

9.2 Superb
Nicholas K
United States

Amazing experience in beautiful location!
We had an incredible trip! It was beautiful and excellent diving. I was impressed with the rental dive gear, and our divemaster Erik was fantastic! The only disappointing part was that the AC didn't work (for any of the rooms) so it was very hot and hard to sleep. We heard they were planning to replace the ACs the next week, so hopefully it's better for future passengers. The rest of the boat and its amenities were top notch. We would absolutely book again and overall really loved our experience.
Recommended for
Our divemaster Erik was fabulous! The scenery and vibes were also top-notch!
02 Dec, 2019

10 Exceptional
Ben L
United Kingdom

Merdeka 3 was a fantastic boat, with an incredible crew and varied diving
My father and I went in September, so not peak season. We ended up as the only passengers aboard Merdeka 3. What a privilege. Kik was our Divemaster and primary representative aboard. She was perfect at her role. She never stopped trying to give us the best diving. Captain Addy was very helpful in imdulging me in my desire to spend my time above water fishing. I'd brought lots of gear, and he'd move the boat to suitable spots. Food was delicious. We had a luxurious spread multiple times per day. We had to cancel the afternoon snack meal, there was just too much food! The boat is comfortable and well equipped. Beds were huge. The shower was great, always having hot water. Since we were the only passengers, we were offered to alter the schedule to go down to Racha Noi. We gladly did this, and even saw a manta ray down there. It was beautifully quiet. Out of 13 dives across Racha Noi and Phi Phi, we only bumped into other divers underwater one time. It was almost a shock to see others! The crew of Merdeka knew exactly where and when to go, allowing for busy times, currents, tides, etc. We learned to get up early for a first dive, have a relaxed dive in the day, then do a sunset dive in the evening to see what fish were about in lower light levels
Recommended for
Kik, our Divemaster, who led us on 13 dives in 5 days. Captain Addy and his fishing assistance. The fact that we had the boat to ourselves.
10 Oct, 2025

8.4 Very good
xiaoying W
China

spa boat offers a very special and beautiful experience
highlight of the trip is the great dives under water , being able to see the guitar shark and leopard shark, and cuttle fish and all that. also the new year eve watching fireworks from the boat deck with fellow travelers is very special.
Recommended for
the beautiful scenery, great dives, and people we met on the boat
14 Jan, 2020

8.0 Very good
Frank K
Germany

I can recommend Dive n' Chill Cruise with Merderka
good organization, good crew, food was ok,
Recommended for
Diving, Landscape, Ship
09 Jun, 2021

8.8 Fabulous
Michael G
Australia

Merdeka 3 - don’t miss out
The Merdeka 3 provided a wonderful relaxed experience, crew, food, and comfortable cabins. I would definitely stay again.
Recommended for
Dive guide - high quality, great people skills, and experienced. Excellent food and boat comfort. Very friendly boat crew.
14 Mar, 2025

10 Exceptional
Robyn C
Canada

Great relaxing trip
Good diving (not similan quality, but solidly good). We did 11 dives during the 4-night trip, including one night dive. All the staff were good and eager to help with anything you need. Food was great, with tons of vegetables, curries, fish, chicken, etc. Eggs, toast and pancakes for breakfast. There was ample time to relax, take out a kayak, swim, visit a tiny island beach, or just read/nap on the giant deck. Rooms had a giant, good-quality bed, air con, fan, and private shower/toilet. I just wish the rooms had more hooks/bars for drying clothes. Massages were always available and the women did a really good, thorough job of them. Various alcohol and sodas were available all day/evening (though you of course can’t drink before diving). Coffee was terrible instant stuff. Overall a lovely, relaxing trip with nice diving. Highly recommend.
Recommended for
Great staff, good diving, chill time
13 Feb, 2020

10 Exceptional
Hui Ling H
Singapore

Chill, Helpful & Friendly Crew
The team set the itinerary in accordance with weather conditions to make sure we have the best possible time on the trip. It was a relaxing trip with a good amount of diving for those who wanted to.
Recommended for
Great bunch of crew, delicious food, relaxed pace
07 Aug, 2022

8.4 Very good
Andrew W
United States

Relaxed 5 days!
Spectacular shark dive in shallow water and a great wreck dive in a National Park with more schooling fish than I have ever seen! This boat, as advertised, is definitely not for die-hard scuba divers or underwater photographers. There is no camera room. I had to teach them where to put the camera rinse tank. There is no proper dive platform at the stern. Still, it was easy to do 2 or 3 dives/day without rush or hassle. All the tanks are stored in the front of the boat and you have to walk down a narrow (only one person can pass) aisle to the mid-section of the boat and jump off. Must climb up the ladder to get back in. We didn't use the dinghy for diving at all! They did help with my gear, though. Very accommodating but awkward set up. Food was OK. Always a grilled fish,stir fry, and something else. Cook and server very helpful and responsive to suggestions. Alcohol freely available but very limited selection. Free massage! I had one during the 5 days. Weather is dicey. One really rough day and everything went flying! When it rains you must close your doors to your cabin or get soaked. The cushions in the stern were wet the entire cruise, which made sitting down for dinner or relaxing uncomfortable. Seems like it rained a little every day. Some fun shore stops and a chance to get off the boat. This is a single hull, 75 foot wooden vessel, not a 150 steel vessel like you might get with a more serious dive operation. We had one brief storm with a fair amount of seasickness all the way around. Think Gilligan's Island! This is a fun adventure for 5 days with a great, affable crew and simple but sufficient amenities (one set of towels for the week, for example). Captain really knew what he was doing and took great care with the boat. Had fun and had a half dozen dives, 2 of which were great! Of course, you are subject to whomever else signs up on the boat and it's pretty close quarters if you are an introvert. Would definitely NOT go if you or your mate are "high maintenance". Think "camping," not the Ritz!
Recommended for
Great value, informal, definitely a "chill" cruise
09 Jul, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Gerald B
United States

Amazing and Relaxing
It was just my fiance and myself as guests on the boat. Upon boarding the boat we were welcomed to a large common area with lots of room to relax in between and after diving and island/beach activities. The cabins were spacious with beds large enough to comfortably sleep two adults. The bathrooms were clean and the showers had plenty of cold and hot water. All the meals were prepared fresh and in abundance! There was so much food every meal, and all of it was delicious! Captain Addy was extremely familiar with the islands and was able to take us to many dive sites where we were the first divers there, allowing us to see undisturbed locations. Most days we would do two dives and relax the rest of the afternoon and evening. There was no "dive, dive, dive" mentality. Our dive master John was extremely knowledgeable of each dive site and even gave me tips to increase by bottom time considerably. The crew was very helpful in assisting us in and out of the water as well. The on-board massage found tension in me that I didn't even know I had! Our trips to some of the islands were incredible and had something for everyone. Between the beautiful scenery, delicious food, spacious accommodations, and highly-trained staff, I can honestly say this was the most incredible and relaxing liveaboard that we had been on.
Recommended for
The dive locations, the food, tnr overall relaxing atmosphere of the trip
27 May, 2019

9.6 Exceptional
janice L
Hong Kong

Went beyond my expectations
The name has it all, dive n chill. It was the perfect balance of diving, relaxation and exploration. The captain and whole crew were so friendly, they went beyond in ensuring my comfort and the food that was cooked up was so good!! Traditional Thai food and a splash of western (think chicken nuggets and fluffy pancakes) Highly recommend.
Recommended for
Crew, Itinerary and Food
14 Oct, 2022

8.4 Very good
jennifer L
United States

Best week ever.
The diving was the best I have ever done.
Recommended for
Dive guide Erik dive guide Lars the food
07 Dec, 2019

8.4 Very good
Brian G
Australia

Worth doing
Great trip, excellent Divemaster altho vis not very good. Relaxing few days.
Recommended for
Staff. Food. Scenery.
01 Jul, 2024

10 Exceptional
john P
United States

Excellent trip
the people
Recommended for
customer service
05 Aug, 2022

8.4 Very good
Martin Z
Germany

We really enjoyed the diving, the beautiful rocky islands, the food and the massage on the Merdeka3.
After we were very enthusiastic about a week of liveaboard with the Similans (Richelieu Rock is just great), we were also very enthusiastic about the tour with the Merdreka3 (Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Haa,...). One day we had whale shark, leopard shark and at the SafetyStop cuttlefish in copula... We were lucky that the Merdeka3 was only half booked, so there was enough space for the equipment. The dive guides Kik and Som took great care of them, all in all the crew dominated by girls did a great job and created a very pleasant atmosphere. It is almost fascinating how the captain steers the large ship precisely over the diving spots. Since the ladders back into the ship are quite high, this could cause problems for some people. We really enjoyed the diving, the beautiful rocky islands, the food and the massage on the Merdeka3.
Recommended for
Atmosphere on board,whale shark🤩, food and massage were great
18 Nov, 2023

5.2 Review score
Thomas W
France

Great overall liveabord, space for improvement
The sites are great, with lots of dive diversity including cave dives, drift dives, pinacles, and a wreck dive. The diving team, including instructors and dive hands do everything for you to make the most out of the sites. Highlights were leopard sharks, porcelain crabs, turtles, glass shrimps amongst the diversity of fish: plenty of Moorish idols, clown fish and pelagics. There were mainly soft corals with lots of beautiful anemones, and some beautiful fans and brain corals. Engines running h24 and motor fumes coming down to the lower deck cabins. Maybe solar panels coupled with a battery park would allow powering off the motors at night?
Recommended for
The dive sites, the crew friendliness, the
23 Jan, 2023

8.4 Very good
Karl S
Switzerland

The 2 of us were the only guests and it was a wonderful liveaboard
Delightful boat with a good crew. 12 perfect dives, special: Hin Daeng, Hin Muang and King Cruiser Wreck. We were the only 2 guests on the boat, which can accommodate up to max 14 people. Once in a lifetime experience! Thank you very much!
Recommended for
Beautiful big wooden boat. Good crew, super captain. Perfect dives!
04 Feb, 2022

8.0 Very good
Marco S
Germany

Relax Liveaboard
The safari is a nice tour to take great photos and relax. The dives were very relaxed but still beautiful underwater pictures. Also very nice are the tourist hotspots, where they only docked when the masses of tourists had left.
Recommended for
A relaxed dive. Mega beautiful area. Massage directly after the dive.
09 Jan, 2026

8.8 Fabulous
Katie D
United States

Great trip!
This trip was the “dive and chill” trip, which is a nice mix of diving and going to beaches. I did feel a bit shorted on the dives since we only did 6, but it was the rainy season so that happens. The crew was very kind and I had a great time! John (dive instructor) was awesome! Would definitely recommend!
Recommended for
The crew, the food, the islands were all fabulous
22 Jul, 2019