Explorer Liveaboard, Thailand

Name: Surin, Tachai and Richelieu (Khuraburi - Khuraburi)
Start: 2026-11-07
End: 2026-11-10
Location: Thailand

8.9 Fabulous

Nitrox available
Free Internet
En-Suite bathrooms
Family Cabins
Aircon Cabins
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers

from $ 149 / day Check dates

“The boat crew and dive guides on the entire trip were amazing and friendly. ”
Shan P, New Zealand

Highlights

A/C and sea view windows on all cabins
Trips can be extended to 8 or 13 days

The 25m MV Explorer is a great option to explore the underwater beauty of the Similan Islands, Thailand. Dive with manta rays at Koh Bon, whale sharks at Richelieu Rock, and beautiful reefs at the Surin Islands. Walk on pristine beaches and trek into the jungle as the M/V Explorer takes you on 3-day and 5-day trips to the Similan Islands of the Andaman Sea. The experienced dive guides are more than happy to take requests to find special critters such as seahorses, pipefish, and nudibranchs.

Topside, the MV Explorer dive liveaboard has 8 cabins catering to 16 guests. There are 6 ensuite cabins on the lower deck: 2 are double cabins, and 4 can be configured as double or twins, depending on guest requirements. There are 2 double cabins on the middle deck. All cabins aboard the Explorer are air-conditioned, have sea view windows, and feature personal reading lights, 220v plug sockets, and ample storage space. Hungry divers will be taken care of as freshly prepared food is served throughout the day, meals vary between local Thai cuisine and international dishes, and vegetarians can be catered to on request. For relaxation, guests can choose the lounge & dining or the sun deck, which is also a great place to take in the stunning views and keep an eye out for playful dolphins.

The M/V Explorer is a great way to explore the Similan Islands and up to the Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock. Book online today to reserve your space.

Choose your departure date

Date

Itinerary

Price

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17 Oct

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 992

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17 Oct

9 Days / 8 Nights

$ 1,353

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17 Oct

14 Days / 13 Nights

$ 2,105

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22 Oct

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 752

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22 Oct

9 Days / 8 Nights

$ 1,353

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25 Oct

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 992

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02 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 992

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02 Nov

9 Days / 8 Nights

$ 1,353

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

02 Nov

14 Days / 13 Nights

$ 2,105

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

07 Nov

4 Days / 3 Nights

$ 752

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

07 Nov

9 Days / 8 Nights

$ 1,353

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

10 Nov

6 Days / 5 Nights

$ 992

Select Cabin only 2 spaces left

Included: VAT, Port Fees, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Night Dives, Rental Gear, Land Excursions, Snorkel Gear, Snorkeling Guide, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, WiFi internet.

Required Extras: National Park Fees (1,800-6,600 THB).

Optional Extras: Dive Insurance (350 THB per day), Gratuities, Airport Transfer (1,400-2,800 THB per trip), Alcoholic Beverages, Nitrox (1,200-5,100 THB per trip), Nitrox Course (3,500 THB per item), Private Dive Guide (2,000 THB per day), Scuba Diving Courses (1,800-10,500 THB).

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
Non-Diver (Snorkeler) Friendly
Warm Water Showers
Sun Deck
Camera Station
Seaview Cabins
Non-Smoking Rooms
Custom built for diving
Charging stations
Observation Deck
Available for Charter
Local & International Crew
Separate Rinse for u/w Camera
Outside Showers
Leisure Deck
Bar

Food & Drinks

Vegan Options
Vegetarian Options
Free Soft Drinks
Beer available
Wine Available
Buffet style
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
Tech diving
Rinse Hoses
Dive deck
Tenders for diving
Sidemount Diving

Languages Spoken

The crew speaks English, German, Thai, 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

Drawings & Vessel Layouts

Cabin Types

Boat Specifications

Year built: 2001

Year renovated: 2024

Length: 25 meters

Beam: 7 meters

Top speed: 10 knots

Cruising speed: 8 knots

Engines: 1

Max guests: 16

Number of cabins: 8

Number of bathrooms: 9

Tenders: 1

Water capacity: 10000 liters

Fuel capacity: 5000 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
Fishfinder
Satellite & mobile phones
Bilge pump alarm
Crew trained in first aid
Emergency flares

Explorer Reviews

8.9 Fabulous

Vessel

7.5
Crew

9.1
Food

9.6
Diving

9.1
Value

9.1

6.8 Review score
Florence L
France

Good value for money, nice dives but not very varied
Oxford Rock breathtaking for the abundance of wildlife, hunting scenes, diversity of species.Uncomfortable and outdated boat but compensated by a dynamic and well-organized team, helpful crew and top cooks Some sites with beautiful corals
Recommended for
Relaxed atmosphere. Diving on Richelieu Rock. The organization of the dives.
19 May, 2026

Translated from French

9.2 Superb
albertus P
Netherlands

Nice trip, beautiful dives and great value for money!
We look back on 11 wonderful days on the Seadragon Explorer, with her friendly crew and delicious food! It is not the most luxurious boat but the price is accordingly, but everything you need is there, the air conditioning worked fine and the shower was warm. The diving was generally very nice and the choice of where to dive was looked at daily. Can confidently recommend this trip :)
Recommended for
Crew. atmosphere on the boat. Richelieu Rock.
06 Mar, 2026

Translated from Dutch

10 Exceptional
Shan P
New Zealand

Eat, sleep, dive and repeat...
The boat crew and dive guides on the entire trip were amazing and friendly. The food was really delicious and plentiful. The diving was well organised and you are taken to all the best dive sites within the national park. I especially liked how the dive groups are organised and extra care and attention is given to each diver before and after the dive. I would highly recommend this liveaboard and I look forward to coming back soon.
Recommended for
The boat crew. The food. Good diving.
01 Jan, 2025

9.6 Exceptional
Rachel A
Switzerland

Amazing experience
We had a great experience, the staff was amazing and the places we visited were beautiful. It was relaxed on the boat. Some dive sites were a bit crowded, others were more chilled.
Recommended for
Dive sites. Food. Natural loving dive guides.
26 Jan, 2026

9.2 Superb
Michaela S
Germany

Great diving trip
Wonderful. Very highly recommended. I did it twice. Richelieu rock is amazing
Recommended for
Great dive spots. Very friendly crew and guides. Excellent food and drinks.
20 Mar, 2026

9.6 Exceptional
DEBAJYOTI C
India

Incredible 5 nights 6 days liveaboard experience!
Incredible liveaboard diving experience with Sea Dragon Khao Lak (on MV Explorer)! Our dive masters were true professionals, ensuring safety while guiding us to breathtaking underwater wonders Especially to name dive master Ton, fantastic handholding. The boat crew went above and beyond. Their attentiveness and warmth made it feel like a home on the sea, The food? Simply exquisite! A delicious and diverse culinary journey that added another layer of enjoyment to our trip. Highly recommend !
Recommended for
Food, dive guides, crew
08 Dec, 2023

9.6 Exceptional
Nico W
Germany

A great experience and worth every penny.
The landscapes of the islands were awesome and of course not to forget the dives were terrific, diving with whale sharks and manatas was just great.
Recommended for
Great atmosphere on the boat, well planned dives and very competent and experienced guides.
29 Jan, 2020

Translated from German

8.8 Fabulous
Michael B
Switzerland

Narrow cabin, otherwise top: crew, dive sites, intensity – it was a lot of fun.
Cramped cabin and sleep on the mattress on the floor. Otherwise, everything was excellent. Friendly, courteous crew, experienced guides, versatile dive sites and dives. Surin and Similan, Tachai and Richelieu Rock. Shore excursions in beautiful, remote places. We had 3 days and 5 days, with a stopover in port, diving every day. Many days with 4 dives. Thank you very much, it was fun.
Recommended for
Real night dives, not just sitting under the boat. And versatile dives at a wide variety of dive sites. Diving operation, well organized, very helpful, very friendly crew, not only in diving operations. Great food, varied and different at every meal (2 x a day + breakfast), tasty, always to full..
01 Feb, 2026

Translated from German

9.6 Exceptional
Monja S
Germany

Great liveaboard
Diving at Richilieu Rock, we had several dives at this site and it was breathtaking every time.
Recommended for
It was all super well organized, food was delicious. Crew and guides were very friendly and helpful. Dive guidance was really good.
11 Apr, 2024

Translated from German

8.4 Very good
franco I
Switzerland

Very nice dives and great team
Very professional staff who allowed us to discover beautiful dive sites.The kitchen team served us a very good meal.Cruise to recommend Bravo and thank you
Recommended for
meal. staff. dive sites.
05 May, 2026

Translated from French

96 reviews

8.9 Fabulous
96 Verified Reviews

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10 Exceptional
Natalie R
New Zealand

An incredible 5 days 5 night liveaboard
Would highly recommend this liveaboard! For what you pay, you get so much. The boat isnt the flashest boat in the sea but it works, and is comfortable and has everything you need. Both the thai staff and the diving staff were incredibly friendly and helpful and efficient. You would finish a dive and boat boys would be there to help you out of your gear, full up tanks, and then would have an amazing feed after every dive. On our boat we had about 3-4 divers per guide which was awesome. I went as a single traveler which I was highly nervous about, but everyone on board was so friendly and never had time to get bored. Great 5 days!
Recommended for
Diving was great - ratios of divers to guides was incredible, friendly and accommodating staff, really efficient
04 Apr, 2017

8.0 Very good
Marcel Fernando S
Germany

Everything was really good. I can really recommend that tour, boat and crew.
We had beautiful sights on the trip, even whales (seeing them from board, not while diving). The crew was extremly friendly and everything was very good organized. It was a lot of fun and there was nothing to complain about anything. There was also several tijme the chance to see and visit different beaches. I definatly recommend diving with the Similan Explorer.
Recommended for
Crew; Food; Dives
18 Nov, 2016

9.2 Superb
Truls P
Norway

We loved it, and want to do it again!
Our highlights was to be able to upgrade our diving skills to advanced certificate in such a great way: with awesome dives, knowledgeable instructors, whilst visiting great dive sites. We saw a leopard shark, fantastic reefs and corals and tons of beautiful fish, as well as enjoying fun times onboard. We have never tried liveaboard before, and now we definitely want to do it again!
Recommended for
The friendly, professional instructors, the food and the diving
14 Jan, 2020

9.2 Superb
Allison G
United Kingdom

Red Sea Dragon and The Explorer were awesome ♥️
Loved this trip from the moment we met everyone at the dive centre to getting onboard, everyone was so friendly and felt like one big family. Food was really good. So many meals ! Great having free soft drinks and plenty of water available. The guides were really good and made the briefings fun aswell as informative. The deck crew were really helpful and one big team. One downside, the beds were so hard. We do have a firm bed but they were really firm. Consideration might be given to a few bed toppers (chargeable if required) to hire.
Recommended for
Diving was really good. Crew were fantastic. Friendliness of everyone on board and made to feel welcome.
01 May, 2026

7.6 Good
Amish S
India

Amazing diving, brilliant boat crew and diving staff, cramped cabins.
Saw some of the things on my bucket list. Rich Carey- the photographer was amazing. Was amazing hanging out and chatting with the crew on board. They Ware really passionate about diving and very easy to chat with. Amazingly helpful and wonderful people.
Recommended for
Amazing staff, amazing diving, chilled atmosphere on the boat
08 Nov, 2017

10 Exceptional
Bastien M
France

Amazing diving vacation with a great team!
We booked a 6 days / 5 nights trip from Surin island to Similan Islands. We had 18 dives in a beautiful and preserved submarine environment. We had the chance to stop by a wonderful beach and a gipsy community. On board, the team was amazing, the diving instructors and the boat crew were professional, competent and funny. The thaï food was delicious and the boat was comfortable.
Recommended for
dives in paradise, food, team
03 Jan, 2018

10 Exceptional
Marcelino Gustavo R
Argentina

Spectacular. Forced to dream of the next
My first liveaboard. Spectacular. It exceeded expectations. A trip with friends (4) that we were all pleasantly surprised
Recommended for
Comfort. Cleaning. Professionalism.
18 Nov, 2024

Translated from Spanish

10 Exceptional
VERONIQUE D
New Caledonia

ONLY HAPPINESS
There were only very good moments.. And then there was an exceptional day at Richelieu Rock.. Share your day dives with a whale shark in a magical setting.. of the happiness that we have all consumed without moderation.
Recommended for
The friendliness and efficiency of the crew, the quality and choice of meals, the good knowledge of the sites by the dive guides
26 Apr, 2024

8.8 Fabulous
Sean B
United Kingdom

A great week diving beautiful islands
I enjoyed a 8 night trip aboard the Explorer, the diving was fantastic, the Similan islands are beautiful, white soft sandy beaches, the crew and dive guides were really friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, the food on board was lovely, i love Thai food, my only moan was the mattress on the bed was really hard.
Recommended for
Superb diving. The helpful crew. Shade on top deck.
12 May, 2026

10 Exceptional
Michelle Z
Hong Kong

Can’t expect more from this trip
Special thanks to John, the boat supervisor and my dive guide of the first 5 day trip. His thorough intro to the boat, crew members, safety measures and the trip made it easy for me to get along with trip quickly. He also coached me with my diving skills. Not mention that he brought us to the leopard shark, guitar shark, mating cuttlefish, etc. Get ready early, think more underwater and move slowly on the boat - the three things in my mind throughout the trip~ Highlight of the trip: PI Yaa and PI Wee’s amazing cook! I could feel my wetsuit getting tighter and tighter 😂 PI Oi, PI Yaa, PI Wee, Khao, Bat, Nat, John, Tracy, Jong, Pang, Karlos and Sea Dragon Dive Centre - THANK YOU ALL!
Recommended for
Boat in pretty good conditions - cozy cabin, nice bedding, clean; professional team - crew staff were always around with smiles and helping us, supervisors and dive guides did fantastic jobs; food is amazing!
08 Feb, 2024

9.6 Exceptional
Steven W
United States

Great experience for first liveaboard.
This was my first liveaboard experience, but well worth it. Felt comfortable even though I feel like I'm still a newer diver. Jess, the dive crew supervisor and my group dive guide, worked hard keeping us seeing fascinating things. The food was great and the crew helped with everything. Great experience, I'll be back.
Recommended for
Diving and guides. Food. Friendliness.
14 Dec, 2025

10 Exceptional
beibei L
China

It's beautiful and memorable, and I look forward to seeing you next time
Everyone in the dive shop has a very good attitude, because of some special reasons and wrote an email with Stephen for more than a month, he is still very patient, thank you to every staff member of Sea Dragon~ In view of the few Chinese reviews in the past reviews, I will share a little bit with the wild buddy of Chinese who is hesitant in the follow-up. The boat is mainly in English, DM and other buddy mainly communicate in English, please determine your English level before choosing a liveaboard, otherwise there may be a relatively large communication barrier. The DMs are very enthusiastic and very technical, PPANG took a lot of beautiful photos for me, and every time they would happily ask me how I was doing and how I was sleeping. Love her so much!! pang，love u！ The other two young lady DM, Enia and Jess are also super cute, Jess is really beautiful, Maruci although he rarely communicates, but it can be seen that he is very responsible, and every night he shares communication techniques with his group members. The four members of the DM group are all amazing! We also saw sharks many times. The ship is new, and the room looks small, but it's actually enough to fit even a 28-inch box. The food eaten is mainly European and American food and Thai food, Thai food is very, very delicious! The young lady who works in the kitchen is very nice, she will secretly feed me every time I get on the boat, and the room will be tidied up between dives, and she will also help fold clothes. The other buddy on the boat are also very good, although everyone speaks different languages and comes from different countries, but every night there will be technology sharing, photo sharing, small talk, the atmosphere is very good, and on the day it ended, everyone was still hugging in the dive shop, pang also sent me to the car, pang love u again!! thx all the sea dragon DM and team！！
Recommended for
The staff are very friendly. The DM is very professional and friendly. The hull facilities are very new.
02 Mar, 2026

Translated from Chinese

7.6 Good
Robert S
Israel

Enjoyable diving among the Similan islands
Good selection of dive sites, well managed itinerary, caring crew.
Recommended for
Energetic crew, diverse crew, well managed within boat limitations
03 Jan, 2017

10 Exceptional
Mathias V
Belgium

Great dive guides, amazing chef, and nice dive sites
The experience with the explorer was great. The dive guides ( Champ and Ori) were one of the best if not the best dive guides I have ever met. There care for the coral was impressive, as well as there knowledge about the animals ( after each dive we sat together and went over the animals we saw). Ori also acted quickly if there were problems on the boat or within a dive group. Overall, a 9/10 would do this trip again (5 days + 3 days), two different trips back to back.
Recommended for
The experienced dive guides. The food was amazing. Great value for money!.
12 Feb, 2025

10 Exceptional
Sharon P
United States

Fabulous Trip - Fun & Safe Adventure
I actually like scuba diving. I do not necessarily love it. I was able to choose which dives I went on and stay on the boat and read when I didn't want to go on a dive. The locations we went to were gorgeous. The guides were knowledgable, fun and caring. The food was great! I shared a cabin with my friend and I enjoyed the luxury of just having the two of us in a room. The rooms are quite small so make sure to pack minimally. The dive shop will lock up your extra gear safely for you while you are away. I would do this trip again in a heart beat.
Recommended for
the fun crew, the dive sites, the food
04 Dec, 2018

8.0 Very good
Shukin C
Switzerland

Just have a new experience in Liveaboard
( 1 ) Richelieu was wonderful! Unforgettable! ( 2 ) I paid extra nitro package 2’800 Bht by check in, but the dive guide asked for more money at the end in the diving shop, although the Accountant said that it was balancing, I think the It might be another highlight....
Recommended for
I joined end of April trip, the best was Richelieu, the other were so so la la .
10 May, 2018

8.8 Fabulous
Cat H
Singapore

Very memorable!
It was memorable, especially the second night when the weather turned rough; highly shows the capability of the captain, who manoeuvred and kept us all safe. Everything was very organised and there is always somewhere to laze around. The diving was good. The briefing were always clear and Luca (our leader) sometimes tells us before the dive what he will try to show us (if he can find). Marine life might not have been as good as a decade ago, but still easily top many places. Am I a potential return customer? Yes.
Recommended for
friendly and helpful local crews, powerful captain (!) and no internet ;)
22 Mar, 2018

8.8 Fabulous
Christopher T
United States

AMAZING! Richelieu Rock was outstanding.
Seeing Manta Rays at Koh Ban.
Recommended for
The Crew, The Food, and The comraderie.
11 Apr, 2017

8.0 Very good
Christian S
Sweden

Fantastic well organized experience with alot of activity and rest.
Everything was very well organized, including equipment, food and living. I only hsd to focus on enjoying every dive and relax between them. Richelieu rock was the highligt with much to see.
Recommended for
Staff. Dive sites. Comfort.
23 Mar, 2026

7.6 Good
Ken C
Canada

72 is just a number don’t be scared Just do it with Sea Dragon
Diving for the first time in my life at the ripe old age of 72 yrs. I feel so blessed that Stephen, Kit, Ning and Ton were so kind to me. They took special care of me and encouraged me with positive reinforcement as I transitioned from Zero skills and knowledge to Certified Open Water Scuba Diver. I highly recommend Sea Dragon Dive Center to any Seniors who have always dreamed of Diving. The MV Explorer and the crew were excellent, the food was superb, the cabins were fabulous. The professionalism of the Diving Team was the icing on the cake. The highlight for me was watching the turtle gracefully searching around the boulder for food. Plus mastering my breath to maneuver my body through spaces between the Rocks. I am still pinching myself, was it a dream or is it really true?
Recommended for
Diving and dive guides. Value for money. Food & drinks onboard.
24 Dec, 2024