Gentle Giantダイブクルーズ, タイ

It's about the diving!

I look to reviews to help me make satisfactory choices and avoid disappointment (and thus bad reviews). My review will, therefore, reflect my honest impressions. My only previous liveaboard experience was to the Galapagos on a trip that cost me approximately $3500 per person for the week with a significant special discount. This liveaboard trip cost approximately one third that amount. I knew to expect less upscale accommodations and was not disappointed that the room was more basic. I gave the cabin and boat comfort three stars as compared to a more expensive and upscale choice, but I was not at all unhappy with either. The bunk room I shared with a roommate had its own bathroom with shower and filled all needs. While the bed wasn't terribly comfortable I was knocked out from diving and slept soundly (as did my roommate even though, I am told, I do snore!). The food was very good, but again, I am rating compared to a more upscale choice that would include more options. The staff, crew and dive guides are beyond compare - all were excellent - friendly, professional, knowledgeable. The crew and guides cleaned all equipment and suits for divers after each dive and were always available to help in any way. The dive guides had excellent knowledge of dive sites, marine life and diving. The diving was very good. I was fortunate to see a couple of mantas, but the whale sharks are hiding from me! Beautiful hard and soft corals, rocks and caverns, lots of fish. The views from the boat are also stunning. I am a middle aged-senior citizen American woman who was travelling alone and was on this trip with a large dive group (about 20 divers) from China, most of whom were significantly younger than me. I do not speak Chinese and only a few of the other divers spoke English. For me this was a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and share experiences from our different cultural backgrounds. I thoroughly enjoyed the other divers and feel that we really enjoyed each other. If a diver will be travelling alone consider your comfort level with being in a similar situation. Great value - wonderful trip! Thanks, Smile Dolphin!

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Diving, Dive Guides, Crew including food staff - And Great Value

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!

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Friendly Service, Great Sites, Great Food

Tolles Tauchen im Nordwesten Thailands.

Highlights waren die 3 Tage Tauchen im Norden, von Surin 1- Richelieu Rock. Leckeres Thaifood, und nettes Personal auf dem Schiff.

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Tauchen am Richelieu Rock und den Surins. Gutes Essen.

A very enjoyable trip

A variety of dive sites, only 2 were repeated. Challenging dives well managed

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Food quality and variety, decent sized cabins, safety

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!

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Dives; food; comfort!

Great Experience!

It was my 1st liveboard and I had a great time. The boat and cabins are rather basic and the dive deck isn't spacious. It felt a bit cramped when everyone was gearing up, even though they always let one group get ready first. It would be good if they would have something soft to lay on the sun deck, so it would be nicer to relax there and catch some sun. The dive leader was a very nice guy and did good briefings. Overall the vibe on the boat was nice. The staff did a great job taking care of us and the food was enjoyable throughout the trip. We all were a bit sad that we only did 1 dive at Richelieu Rock, as it is the best dive site. But they told us the weather was getting bad (other liveaboards didn't go away though). The diving was nice overall, however we were unlucky and didn't see any large palagics. The visibility unfortunately was pretty bad on most dives. Also, I have never experienced such large thermoclines before. On many dives the water dropped from 29 to 23 degrees and I was a bit cold in my 3mm. The thermoclines also created pretty strong currents, that came out of nowhere and went in all kinds of directions. I got used to them, but at first it was a bit scary and sketchy, especially the up- and down currents. Definately not good conditions for beginners. I sure had some adventurous dives in those currents and improved my diving in such conditions. Overall it was a great experience and this liveaboard is a great trip to see the dive sites in the south and north in just one week.

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diving so much in so little time :)