Dolphin Queen
Backpacker Similan liveaboard

MV Dolphin Queen
MV Dolphin Queen is our top pick for a budget Similan liveaboard. It offers excellent cruises to the best dive sites Thailand.
Dolphin Queen is an excellent lower budget choice for divers staying in Khao Lak, and just a deposit is required to confirm your place.
Dolphin Queen is wooden mono-hulled vessel that is professionally run by a friendly staff and crew.
Cabins are small and do not have en-suite bathrooms but they are clean and do have air conditioning and charging sockets for your electronics. All except two cabins are on the main deck. The two double cabins on the upper deck are slightly larger.
There is plenty of space in the communal areas of the boat. The food always gets good reviews too.
“The trip was great! All of the instructors and crew members were amazing. Gab and Mayumi and Fernando were so helpful and the whole boat staff (Sun Tom and Duang) were so friendly and accommodating. Definitely planning on doing another liveaboard in the future. ”
Maggie, Dec 16 Full review on trip advisor
Read more Dolphin Queen reviews below
Photos
Features
- Max 16 Divers
- Length 22 metres, beam 5.5 metres.
- Small groups. 4 divers per 1 divemaster guide.
- Experienced and multi-lingual dive staff.
- 4 x double bed cabins (two on the main deck and two on the upper deck).
- 3 x twin bed cabin on the main deck.
- 1 x 4 berth cabin on the main deck.
- All cabins have air conditioning and sea views. All cabins have plug sockets with 220v electricity.
- Cabins share three bathrooms.
- Bedding and towel (one per guest) are provided.
- Bio-degradable soap and shampoo.
- Nitrox available. 15 litre tanks available.
- Torches/flashlight are provided for the night dives.
- Vegetarian and vegan diets catered for on request. Please let us know at time of booking.
Prices
Dolphin Queen price
3 days 3 nights (10 dives) at the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock
- Double bed cabin (upper deck): 22,700 baht per diver
- Double bed cabin (main deck): 21,500 baht per diver
- Twin share cabin (main deck): 20,700 baht per diver
- 4 berth cabin (main deck): 19,400 baht per diver
5 days 5 nights (18 dives) at the Similan Islands, Surin Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock
- Double bed cabin (upper deck): 28,500 baht per diver
- Double bed cabin (main deck): 27,500 baht per diver
- Twin share cabin (main deck): 26,100 baht per diver
- 4 berth cabin (main deck): 24,800 baht per diver
15% discount for non diving partners
Liveaboard price includes: Dive guide (ratio 4:1 divers to guide), tanks, basic equipment (mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, weights & belt), dive light for night dives, all meals, snacks, fruit, tea and coffee, towel.
Liveaboard price excludes: Marine park fees, Nitrox, BCD rental (300 baht per day). Regulator rental (300 baht per day), dive computer rental (250 baht per day), alcohol and soft drinks, transfers to the Khao Lak dive centre.
Park fees for divers:
3 days 1,600 baht foreigner/800 baht Thai national
5 days 2,000 baht foreigner/1,200 baht Thai national
Park fees for non divers: 3 days & 5 days 1,000 baht foreigner/200 baht Thai national
Nitrox per tank: 220 baht
Nitrox package: 3 days 1,700 baht, 5 days 3,060 baht
Note: To join Dolphin Queen you should be deep or advanced diver certified with dives logged in the last year. If you haven’t dived for over a year then pool refreshers are available before joining the cruise (1,700 baht). PADI Advanced course can be completed on the liveaboard for 8,560 baht per diver. Or just the PADI Adventure Deep dive is 1,800 baht. Open Water certified divers who do not want to do the deep dive/advanced course can dive with a private guide (1,200 baht per day) and will be limited 18m depth.
Schedule
Dolphin Queen schedule
May to Oct season closed
Dates | Description | Start / Finish |
---|---|---|
1-4 Nov 2023 | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
5-10 Nov 2023 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
11-14 Nov 2023 | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
15-20 Nov 2023 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
21-26 Nov 2023 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
27-30 Nov 2023 | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
1-6 Dec 2023 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
7-12 Dec 2023 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
13-16 Dec 2023 | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
17-22 Dec 2023 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
23-28 Dec 2023 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
29 Dec-1 Jan 2023 | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
3-8 Jan 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
9-14 Jan 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
15-18 Jan 2024 | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
19-24 Jan 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
25-30 Jan 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
31 Jan-5 Feb 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
6-9 Feb 2024 (Chinese New Year trip) | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
10-13 Feb 2024 | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
14-19 Feb 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
20-25 Feb 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
26-29 Feb 2024 | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
1-6 Mar 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
7-12 Mar 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
13-18 Mar 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
19-22 Mar 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
24-27 Mar 2024 | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
23-26 Mar 2024 | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
27 Mar-1 Apr 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
2-7 Apr 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
8-13 Apr 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
15-20 Apr 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
21-24 Apr 2024 | 3d 3n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
25-30 Apr 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
1-6 May 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
7-10 May 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
10-15 May 2024 | 5d 5n Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock | Khao Lak / Khao Lak |
Itinerary
Dolphin Queen itinerary
Duration: 5 Days / 5 Nights (18 dives) at the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock
Departure Day:
Meet at Khao Lak at the dive centre no later than 6.00 pm for registration and to try on rental dive equipment. The dive centre opens at 10.00 am. Departure from the dive centre will be at around 7.30 pm, transfer by minibus to the boat. Board Dolphin Queen, meet the crew and get a boat safety briefing. Cruise to the Similan Islands ready to start diving the following morning.
Dive days 1 & 2:
4 dives per day at the Similan Islands.
Dive days 3 & 4:
4 dives per day at Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock and the Surin Islands (plus possibly a visit to the Moken village at Surin).
Dive day 5:
2 dives in the morning. Arrive back in Khao Lak at about 4.00-6.30 pm.
*itinerary is subject to change
Duration: 3 Days / 3 Nights (11 dives) at the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock
Departure Day:
Meet at Khao Lak at the dive centre no later than 6.00 pm for registration and to try on rental dive equipment. The dive centre opens at 10.00 am. Departure from the dive centre will be at around 7.30 pm, transfer by minibus to the boat. Board Dolphin Queen, meet the crew and get a boat safety briefing. Cruise to the Similan Islands ready to start diving the following morning.
Dive day 1:
4 dives at the Similan Islands 8 & 9.
Dive day 2:
4 dives per day at Koh Bon, Koh Tachai.
Dive day 3:
2 dives in the morning at Richelieu Rock. Arrive back in Khao Lak at about 4.00-6.30 pm.
*itinerary is subject to change
A typical diving day:
0600 hrs: Wake up call. Light breakfast (tea, coffee, toast, fresh fruits)
0700 hrs: Dive 1
After the first dive a full breakfast is served. Choice of eggs, pancakes, French toast, German bread, sausages, ham, lots of fruits, cereals (cornflakes, muesli, oats).
After breakfast you can relax on board or go with the dinghy to the beach (on Similan Islands days only).
1100 hrs: Dive 2
Lunch is served at 1300 hrs. Lunch is served buffet style. Rice, noodles and delicious Thai curries.
After lunch there is another opportunity to visit the beach. Or you can snorkel from the boat which will be moored close to the islands.
1500 hrs: Dive 3
Snacks are served after the third dive and there is more time for swimming or an island excursion before dinner at 1800 hrs. The sun sets at around 1830 hrs.
1900 hrs: Dive 4. Night dive.
Book / Enquiry
- Tell us the dates you are interested in. We’ll check available options and provide you with a clear breakdown of prices.
- When you are ready to go ahead and book we’ll reserve your place(s) and email you the secure online payment instructions.
- 25% deposit to confirm your booking. Payment online by credit card or paypal (no booking fee or credit card fee), or by bank transfer.
- Balance payable on arrival on the day of departure date.
Dolphin Queen reviews
“…Dive Leader’s briefing was thorough and comprehensive before each dive. The boat, room and bed are clean and comfortable.” Jia, April 2015 Full review on trip advisor
My friends and I went on Dolphin Queen and had a great trip. Dive guides are experienced and the Thai staff on the boat are extremely nice and friendly! Food is very good, loved the boat itself too, it felt very homey. Xxycn, Oct 2015. More on trip advisor.
1. Dive Platform
2. Deck showers
3. Gearing up area
4. Compressors
5. Stairs
6. Toilet/Shower
7. Galley
8. Crew cabins
9. Four share cabins
10. Anchor
11. Dinghy
12. Bench
13. Dining area
14. Stairs
15. Food counter
16. Double cabin
17. Wheelhouse
18. Sundeck
19. Oxygen station
20. Depth / GPS
21. Life raft
22. Nitrox station
23. Fire Extinguisher
24. Sundeck
25. Sat phone
26. Twin bunk cabin