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Getting there is fairly easy: Go online, find a good website, make
sure you can trust the people behind the website, then book it –
“It” being a live on board (liveaboard) dive trip or a
resort with diving offered as well. Most divers do it this way and
are perfectly happy. However, not all divers come from the same
egg, and many look for something more luxurious.
Which Egg Do You Come From?
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| Whale Shark |
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While there are quite a few luxurious resorts in Thailand, the
diving, unfortunately, lies farther offshore than is comfortable
for most people, so diving from resorts has not come of age as it
has in other places in Asia like Indonesia or the Maldives. Most
upscale resorts in Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta offer diving
as part of guest’s activity list, but none of them offer it
as the main activity.
So, while some people may be more than happy with incredible comfort
at the hotel and on a boat, they may not be as happy with the diving
conditions. While smaller, faster, more comfortable boats may be
on offer in the future, right now they are very limited in Thailand,
so the only way to dive in style is by joining a liveaboard dive
boat.
Just a few short years ago, divers in Thailand had little choice
in boats. There were fewer boats around and there was little demand
for niceties–most divers had to be content with a bed and an
air compressor to fill their tanks. Many people referred to these
boats as “camponboards” and even today, they are immensely
popular. If you want more, you have to look a bit harder.
Define Luxury
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| Inside a luxurious
diving vessel |
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What makes a dive boat luxurious? Many of the same things that
make hotels and resorts luxurious. One, you’ll want to have
plenty of water so one doesn’t have to take navy showers (water
on, get wet; water off, soap up; water on, rinse off; dry off, get
out.) Watermakers “make” water from the sea, so you can
let it run all day long. You’ll want to have fuel-efficient
engines; not necessarily fast, but with excellent range so you can
reach remote islands and reefs. Great meals are part of any luxury
voyage, so refrigeration and perishable storage for up to two weeks
is a must. And, the cook or chef should be able to prepare whatever
kind of meal you request.
It’s All About The Crew
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| Diving Yacht |
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And, just like any five-star resort, you’ll expect and demand
good staff. Many of the luxury liveaboard vessels around the world
will have a one-to-one staff to guest ratio. Staff will include
captain, engineers, and crew to keep the boat operating comfortably
and safely. But we’ll also want hostesses to serve drinks and
food, and masseuses to while away the time between dives. Luckily
here in Thailand this type of staff is relatively easy to find since
the culture is so service oriented. Finally, you’ll want a
divemaster or two who know the local waters well, and also have
fantastic knowledge of the local marine life. This gives you a luxury
experience underwater as well as above water on the vessel.
The biggest difference between onshore stays and offshore stays
is safety at sea. No one wants to go to sea if they are not safe
and many local boats lack the safety equipment that really should
be on board (and redundant). Though safety equipment is not fun
and sexy, it’s an important part of a luxurious holiday, as
you want to make sure you get there and back.
Three Reasons It’s Getting Easier
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| 5 stars cabin |
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The luxury market is slowly becoming a significant business here
in Thailand for several reasons.
One, the Thai authorities reduced or eliminated the duty on yacht
imports. This has made it possible for individuals and companies
to bring in vessels from abroad where there are more choices. This
is a recent change, however, and liveaboard boats of 100ft (30m)
or more are expensive, so we haven’t seen a huge number of
imported boats become liveaboard diving vessels–yet. My guess
is that it wont be long before we see some very nice dive boats
here, and the luxury market for diving will be firmly established.
Two, boat builders have become more skilled, just as luxury property
builders have. It is now possible to build a vessel in Thailand
that is safe and comfortable.
Three, local crews are more qualified, and boat owners have to
rely less and less on foreigners to operate a luxury dive operation.
I Have a Dream
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| A desterted beach
on a remote island |
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It’s my dream to see a range of boat sizes, so any size group
will be able to charter a boat, ready for diving, which will be
equipped to stay at sea for long periods of time, up to two weeks
or longer. Right now, one has to have between 12 and 16 people to
charter a truly luxurious dive boat. I would love to see boats taking
smaller numbers, say four to six as it’s easier for a family
or a group of friends to organize something like this. Once boats
such as this come into the picture, trips to far away places like
the Andaman Islands or the northern Islands in the Mergui Archipelago
in Burma, or to the southern-most islands in Thailand, Mu Koh Tarutao
National Park will be easy to put together.
Tips for Booking Luxury Vessels:
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| Coral Reef |
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1) Be sure you actually see pictures of the boat operating at sea
and inside to be sure it is in fact a luxury boat. Some boats oversell
their products.
2) Be sure the boat has a watermaker and adequate refrigeration
to be at sea for the number of days you prefer.
3) Be sure the boat has sufficient staff and more importantly,
qualified staff. Don’t be afraid to ask to see the divemaster’s
resume, and the captain’s as well.
4) Be sure the chef is able and qualified to prepare the type of
meals you really want. If there are “Gala Dinners” advertised,
common in Thailand, be sure that it is in fact a proper dinner and
not just another buffet.
5) Be sure the drinks you want to have are on board, and be sure
to check the cost of these before you commit.
6) Be sure to ask about lifesaving and communication equipment
on board so you travel safely.
Source: ©Siam Dive n' Sail & John B.
Williams
68/14 Patak Road, Mu 2, Karon, 83100 Phuket, Thailand
Tel: 66-76/330-967 Fax: 66-76/330-990
http://siamdivers.com
E-mail: dive@siamdivers.com
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