| What is a liveaboard diving cruise? |
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| Liveaboards provide scuba facilities and living accommodations for divers. The boat becomes your home and you eat, sleep and dive on it! Liveaboards stay at sea for the duration of the cruise and therefore can explore more remote sites. This type of diving opens up a whole world of top class scuba opportunities that would simply not be available on regular day trip boats. |
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| What diving license do I need? |
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| A PADI Open Water diving license is acceptable provided you have an intermediate level of diving experience. Similar licenses from any other internationally recognized scuba association are also acceptable. Although there are some deep and exposed dive sites, there are enough easy sites and enough Divemasters on board so that you will never need to dive beyond your limits.
To make the most of your scuba diving tour and to extend your dive training you may wish to take your PADI Advanced Open Water Diver license on board. Certification is normally discounted to about half price. See the "Facilities" |
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| How far in advance do I need to book? |
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| You don't want to run the risk of a liveaboard dive holiday departure being fully booked so, as there is only a limited number of beds available, you must try to book several months in advance. |
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| Can a non-diver go on a liveaboard? |
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| Non-divers and snorkellers are welcome on all Liveaboards. Do bear in mind though that the cruises are designed as diving tours, not snorkeling. Prices for non-divers are usually discounted 10%, sometimes more, but please ask for exact details. |
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| Must I share a cabin? |
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| Space is the ultimate premium on Liveaboards and single cabins are extremely rare and expensive. Unless we manage to book you a single cabin, you will be expected to share. It may be, if the boat is not full and there are an odd number of passengers, that you can have your own cabin, but this situation can not be guaranteed. The only way to guarantee a cabin for yourself is to pay for two beds! |
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| What should I bring with me? |
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| All your personal diving equipment (except tanks, weights and weight belts), a bathing suit, towel, toiletries, T-shirts, shorts, and sun cream. You may also want to bring something a little warmer for the evenings. Also please remember to bring your diver certification card. |
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| What diving equipment do I need to bring? |
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| Bring everything that you have except tanks and weights. For those who prefer to travel light, we can arrange for rental equipment including dive lights, wet suits (short suits only) & dive computers. |
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| Do you recommend a dive computer? |
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| Yes! Due to the multi-level type of diving on our cruises, diving without a computer (using Dive Tables) will restrict your opportunities to see certain special features and creatures. No sharing; divers must have their own computer. |
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| Do I need to wear a wetsuit? |
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| The average water temperature is 29C, (85F) but doing multiple dives each day may make you chillier than you anticipated. We recommend at least a thin shorty or skin but bring a thicker full wetsuit if you get cold easily. If you are not sure, bring both kinds. There is enough space on our dive-deck to hang up two wetsuits per diver. |
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| What not to bring. |
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| Our experience is that the less stuff you bring, the more comfortable your stay on board. Any excess luggage can be stored at the liveaboard operator’s office or at your hotel during the trip. |
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| What are the guidelines for flying after diving? |
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| There are numerous flights to Phuket each day from all major cities in the region. We strongly recommend that you arrive in Phuket at least one day before the boat's departure. This way you have time to rest and acclimatize. |
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| How do I get to the boat? |
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| With prior arrangements (let us know your flight/hotel details please!) we provide complimentary transfers to and from the boat. |
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| What happens on the day of departure? |
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| Please check individual boat schedules for the procedure on your departure day. |
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| What is the schedule? |
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| In general the boats travel up to the Similan Islands at night, with an evening meal served en-route. Please see individual boat schedules for daily itineraries. |
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| How many dives do we do a day? |
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| You chose a liveaboard for diving and that is what we are going to do, as often as we can. Generally, there are opportunities to do four dives per day, including a night dive. Each liveaboard operator has its own daily schedules, please feel free to contact us for more detailed information. On selected boats Nitrox is available for increased diver safety. |
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| Will I have a Divemaster with me? |
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| There are dive guides on all of the boats to show you around the reef, if you specifically don’t want a guide, then most operators are happy to let you dive in your own buddy team, usually after a dive guide has checked you out in the water. Each dive is preceded by a detailed briefing, including charts. |
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| Can I dive SOLO? |
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| No. Diving solo isn’t allowed on any of the boats. If you have questions about solo diving, please feel free to contact us on the matter. |
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| What are the cabins like? |
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| All of the boats featured have varying cabin styles. All cabins on all of the boats are air conditioned. Please see individual boat descriptions for more information on cabin types and styles. |
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| What is the food like on-board? |
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| Most boats serve three meals a day, buffet style, as well as snacks and fresh fruits. They always will try to please many different palates so most meals are a combination of Thai and western cuisine. |
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| What about drinks |
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| We carry a selection of soft drinks, fruit juices (which are included in the price), as well as beer and wine which is available for purchase. If you prefer hard liquor please bring your own. The refreshments corner is stocked with tea, instant coffee and cookies. Real coffee lovers will appreciate our espresso machine. |
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| Are there any non-diving activities? |
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| While diving is the priority, there are many other possibilities. When the location is suitable, there is swimming, snorkeling and beach combing. We also have a good selection of music, movies, books, and games. Please bring your own CDs or DVDs if you wish. |
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| Can I be contacted in a case of emergency? |
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| All of the boats are equipped with communication equipment. Emergency faxes and emails can be forwarded to the boat via the operator’s office. |
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| Do I need insurance? |
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| Whilst not compulsory, it is highly recommended that all divers have some form of divers insurance. Most holiday insurances include scuba diving, but please check with your insurance provider. |
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| What happens if I have an accident whilst on-board? |
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Whilst diving accidents are rare, they do happen. All of the boats have trained first aiders on board, and are fully stocked with medical supplies and oxygen. All of the boats have constant communication with the shore, and an evacuation to the main land can be arranged very quickly.
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| What is the electrical power on-board? |
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| At the camera charging stations both 220 & 110 Volts. Standard electrical current in other parts of the boat, including the cabins, is 220V. |
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| Is there somewhere to set up my cameras? |
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| Most boats have several worktables -both indoors and on deck- as well as safe places to place your cameras just before or after the dive. There are also fresh water large rinse tanks. |
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| How much spending money do I need? |
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| Bring enough cash to cover the Port & Park Fee ($150), crew tips, shopping, drinks and souvenirs. On board expenses are settled after the cruise. |
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| What happens on the final day of the trip? |
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| Please see individual boat schedules for the procedure on the final day of the trip. |
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| What is the policy for tipping the crew? |
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| We believe tips should be given voluntary and based upon the quality of the service provided. Once on board, you will notice how hard the crew works and how your safety and enjoyment relies heavily on their professionalism and attitude. Please note that tips can only be paid in cash. |
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