mermaids similan islands live aboard dive trip 2010

Exciting times ahead in diving some of the most famous dive sites in South East Asia. Each year Mermaids Diver Career Development Center has 'Friends Trips' where we have around 20 divers that are dive interns studying with us, returning interns/divers, staff or just good friends getting together to let our hair down for pleasure. No dive teaching, leading dives, or any work of any kind ... just fantastic fun in store. We now have the dates of the next trip in November and we have 20 places maximum to fill. (I am going so that makes 19 total!)

The trip covers not only the famed Similan Islands but also Koh Bon a lure for Manta rays, Koh Tachai and the incredible Richelieu Rock. Richelieu Rock is an outcrop miles from any islands that is a home to many superb species of marine life often not seen in many other local dive sites.

The 4 day / 4 night live aboard trip departing from Tap Lamu (Khao Lak) offers 14 dives (4,4,4,2) on a comfortable vessel with a wealth of experience in the staff and Captain.

The trip includes all diving, accommodation and food for the divers for 4 nights and 4 days.

Diving is hassle free – once you strap your first tank on to your BCD your work is done. After each dive the crew refill your tank and hence no unwieldy tank changes – simply strap back into your equipment and you are ready to dive the next dive.

The meals are usually a Thai/Western breakfast - mixed lunch and then often very fresh fish in the evening. All snacks on the boat are up for any grabs 24/7. There's cookies, toast, jam, marmite, tea coffee, coke, lemonade etc. All of this can be taken any time by any one. It's plentifully stocked and the staff on the boat keep good clean order. Beer is also on offer on the boat for once the days’ diving is complete.

The cost of the Friends trip is discounted from the rack rate charged by the owners of the boats by 25%++. See the costs below:

Room Type	Diver with own Equipment	Equipment hire
Double Bed	18,000 baht - (usual cost 24,000 baht)	500 baht / day
Quad Room (Bunks)	15,000 baht - (usual cost 22,000 baht)	500 baht / day

The costs include full transfers to and from the boat to the airport in Phuket or your hotel. The cost does not include flights to Phuket (approx 3000 baht return) and National Park fees (1,600 Baht per diver).

Itinerary:

• 25th November: Depart from Taplamu jetty between 19:00 – 19.30 *1
• 26th November: 4 dives
• 27th November: 4 dives
• 28th November: 4 dives
• 29th November: 2 dives and return to Taplamu Pier approximately 15:00 *2

*1 - Assistance to the boat at Taplamu Pier from where ever on Phuket we are. Generally the divers arrive on an AirAsia or other flight around 16:00 - 17:00. We’re collected from the airport (and other destinations) with 2 - 3 minibuses for the divers and the equipment. On the way to Taplamu we usually stop at TESCO or a mini market to get personal favourites of beers and snacks etc. (beer and snacks are fully provided on the boat but we all have personal favourites).

*2 – The 29th November we’ll take our last dive around 10:00am. Due to this there is the ‘no flying after diving’ rule to be observed. From Taplamu pier we’re transported to any location in Phuket that we wish. Generally the divers take a hotel for the night and then we’re transferred by the boat company back to the airport the following day to head back to Bangkok (30th). Any divers wishing to stay on in Phuket for a few days are more than welcome but must make their own way back to the airport.

Maybe you are attending an internship around the November time or maybe you are just a great friend of Mermaids. If you wish to join us on the Mermaids Live Aboard then simply contact us.