Notes

Similans, Richelieu Rock

Monday: Guests transfer to Patong between 17:00-18:00 checking in plus dinner at Royal Phawadee Village. Transfer to MV Mermaid II by 19:30 for boat and safety briefing, settle into your cabin then set up equipment. Prior to getting underway, the crew set off firecrackers to bring good luck

Tuesday: Wake up call at 7am in paradise! After a continental breakfast, 1st dive around 8am at the spectacular East of Eden on Island no. 7 followed by a full western breakfast. Dive #2 at Elephant Head Rock between islands #7 & 8 to enjoy coral encrusted swim throughs, sharks, giant trevally and mostly large fish action at this remarkable site. Macro enthusiasts should look out for specials like dragonets, whiskered pipefish, nudibrancs, peacock mantis shrimp and more ! Then cruise north to Koh Bon to see if the Mantas are dancing off West Ridge.The night dive will feature crustaceans, sea stars, morays, lion fish plus more. Dinner is served then its time to relax with our new friends over a cold beer on the party deck.

Wednesday: Early morning the captain sails us quietly to Koh Tachai to dive the fabulous "Plateau" - leopard sharks sleep around 25 metres while over head masses of barracuda, big eye trevally and a wonderful school of resident batfish wait the keen diver - maybe even a chance for an angler fish hiding among the cabbage corals on the dome. Whale sharks frequent this dive site as are mantas !!! Next cruise north for 2 hours to the world famous Richelieu Rock for a minimum of 2 dives - sea horse, frog fish, harlequin shrimp, ornate ghost pipefish plus more will delight the macro enthusiast with loads of fish action for everyone - rivers of fusiliers, big schools of jacks, chevron barracuda, yellow stripped snapper swim in the blue around "the Rock" with giant garoupa standing sentinel at the many coral heads just off the Rock - dripping with yellow, purple and pink soft corals. A sunset dive at Richelieu Rock is a treat if conditions allow otherwise its off to Koh Tachai for a good night dive where Mermaid II will shelter in a quiet bay for the night.

Thursday: Early morning, another chance for the pelagic action of Koh Tachai and then its back to Koh Bon for more shark and manta action off the West Ridge or a deep dive on the Pinnacle for advanced divers ! Relax over lunch as you cruise back to the Similans for an island adventure to enjoy the white sand beaches and awesome granite boulder formations. Then Dive #3 in the warm blue waters of Anita's Reef Island #5 - wow - are your camera's fully charged ? Night diving at Honeymoon Bay or the Hideaway will give you the chance to see loads of big and small crabs, lobster, shells and more - maybe a twin spot lion fish, a Spanish dancer ?

Friday: Today 2 morning dives around the southern Similan Islands - Boulder City and and Shark Reef often feature on the itinerary developed each trip to suit all divers on board. These sites are washed by light to moderate currents bringing swarms of bait fish attracting pelagic and reef fishes galore. Loads of gorgonian fans dot the sea floor providing homes for creatures big and small and small and plenty of photo opportunities. Look around the many huge granite boulders for leopard sharks, napoleon wrasse, oriental sweet lips, jaw fish and more.

Your Similans/Richelieu adventure comes to an end as you cruise back to Patong Phuket arriving around 16:00 hours - all part of the service on board MV Mermaid II - relax over a yummy lunch while the crew wash your equipment and ready the boat for arrival. On shore you are met by Mermaid shore crew who assist your every need transferring you to your hotel or next destination.

TOTAL DIVES 14

Here the crew will say say good bye till next time to those leaving the boat. Those continuing for the following 3 day Hin Daeng/Hin Muang cruise have a chance to stretch their legs on shore, do a little shopping, have a massage or simply stay on board and relax for a couple of hours while the crew restocks.

Hin Daeng, Hin Muang

Friday: Pick-up from your hotel and transfer to Mermaid Liveaboards in Patong for 18:00 to check in and board MV Mermaid II at around 19:00 - get underway for Hin Daeng/Muang in the south cruising about 6 hours over night.

Saturday: Good morning call for 7am and a continental breakfast. Dive 1, 2 and 3 give you plenty of opportunity to enjoy the wonders of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Famous for stunning purple soft corals and one of the best places for the chance to spot whale sharks. Mantas spend hours on the cleaning stations here as do divers! Couple this with a "fish soup" of rainbow runners, yellow tail and chevron barracuda, fusiliers and millions of reef fish and you have one awesome dive location! Head north to Koh Haa - a cluster of 5 scenic islands for a wonderful night dive
alive with colour, decorator crabs, shrimps, spiny lobster, red whip corals plus more.

Sunday: Special treats today. Dive 1 at Koh Haa I for sea horses, great chimneys and swimthroughs. Dive 2 - "Twin Cathedrals" of Koh Haa - a safe but awesome open cavern dive with limestone stalactites . Outside this spot is nudibranch city - you can't fail to spot rare and interesting macro delights here. Then it's off to dive Bida Nok and Bida Nai at Phi Phi for 2 dives featuring leopard sharks, bamboo sharks, ornate ghost pipe fish, turtles …. After diving, there is the chance to go on shore at Phi Phi to shop for souvenirs, have a few beers at one of the many trendy bars or simply enjoy a romantic stroll along the moonlit beach. All aboard by 11pm to cruise back to Patong Phuket.

Monday: A hearty breakfast for all while the boat crew transfer your luggage ashore. Then bid
farewell to your crew before transferring ashore by 9:00 hours.

TOTAL DIVES: 8

NOTE: To get the best of the diving in Thailand's Andaman Sea waters, why not combine a Similans trip with a Hin Daeng trip - TOTAL DIVES FOR ANDAMAN SAFARI: 22