Explorer Liveaboard, Thailand

Excellent food and drinks

“As a diver that has been in top diving places of the world, Richelieu rock is the only place with quality diving thanks to abundan…”

JR R, United States United States
Read 57 more reviews

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.


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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, 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.

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Boat features

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

Food & Drinks

  • Local Food
  • Vegetarian Options
  • Buffet style
  • Beer available
  • Vegan Options
  • Free Soft Drinks
  • Wine Available

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

  • DIN Adaptors
  • Nitrox available
  • Tech diving
  • Rinse Hoses
  • Dive deck
  • Tenders for diving
  • Sidemount Diving
  • Shaded Diving Area

The crew speaks English, German, Thai, and French.


Gear Rental

There is diving gear available on this boat. Please provide your rental needs on the booking form. See below for further details on inclusions and pricing. Show prices.


Drawings & Vessel Layouts

#deckplan floorplan

Boat Specifications

  • Year built 2001
  • Year renovated 2023
  • 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
  1. Vessel
    7.6
  2. Crew
    9.1
  3. Food
    9.6
  4. Diving
    9.2
  5. Value
    9.2
  • 7.2 Good
  • JR R
  • United States United States
Good trip and experience, however cabin comfort is totally lacking making the trip less enjoyable. My cabin was just a above the engines making it very difficult to sleep and rest, more so when sleepi

As a diver that has been in top diving places of the world, Richelieu rock is the only place with quality diving thanks to abundant marine live. However, the overall experience (with good weather) was positive and I do not regret having done the trip, but I will not repeat the trip due to the poor cabin and mat arrangements.

Recommended for
Relaxing atmosphere with the rest of the group, good value for money because the food, and rental equipment included, sleeping on a good bed after the trip.
  • 10 Exceptional
  • peggy M
  • Germany Germany
Awesome experience which needs to be repeated

Richelieu Rock which is one of the best divesites I ever dived in and for sure the nice evenings we had together on the boat.

Recommended for
Amazing friendly staff, great organization and food
  • 10 Exceptional
  • Michelle Z
  • Hong Kong 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!
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Omar A
  • Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
Great Experience

This was my first time to visit Thailand and my first time to do a Livaboard there (obviously 😄). Overall, it was a nice experience. Will I be repeating it again? Not sure since I was expecting better water visibility to be honest😇. The staff were nice, the food was excellent and the plan to visit national parks was fantastic.

Recommended for
1- Staff were amazing especially the diving guides Mark, Champ, John and Tracy. 2- Food👍🏻 everyday something new. You don’t get the same thing again. 3- The diving schedule and national park visits
  • 8.4 Very good
  • Kai S
  • Germany Germany
Great people, on the boat and in the water

Seeing Mantas was fantastic, unfortunately, weather and visibility was not great, but hey, who to blame for ???? Certainly worth coming again Thank you all!

Recommended for
Hospitality of staff, super yummy food, safety oriented planning, no nonsense
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • DEBAJYOTI C
  • India 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
  • 8.4 Very good
  • Minkyung K
  • South Korea South Korea
Well preserved corals, good dive guides (with great respect for marine lives)

Diving density a bit high. But every diving was good.

Recommended for
peaceful and relaxing diving. vivid corals. Thai food
  • 9.2 Superb
  • Truls P
  • Norway 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
  • 8.0 Very good
  • 聪 刘
  • China China
Comfortable cruise ship and cabin

The whole trip was comfortable

Recommended for
The diving guide is responsible, the cabin is comfortable and the food is delicious
  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Simona D
  • Slovenia Slovenia
Awesome

Meeting tiger shark was something special, night dive on Surin was one of the best I had, Richelieue rock is awesome, Moken people were nice to meet... really top experience

Recommended for
Dive sides were perfect, visits of the coast were super, Dive guides &crew very very good