MV Dolphin Queen Overview
MV Dolphin Queen is one of the most-popular liveaboard diving boats. It is run by an experienced, friendly, and professional team, based in the centre of Khao Lak. This is a no-nonsense Thailand liveaboard that has its qualities deep down, instead of some others that have more show than substance. Little details include the professionalism of the experienced team and free use of wetsuits & open-heel booty fins. Three or five days & nights on a boat, with all meals, air-conditioned accommodation, and up to four dives per day doesn’t need to be expensive. MV Dolphin Queen offers possibly the best-value Similan & Richelieu Rock diving trips.
There are three decks, two of which are where the guest cabins can be found. All cabins have air-conditioning and opening sea-view windows. There is a choice of double-bed, twin-bunk & quad-bunk cabins. Each bunk-bed guest has his or her own privacy curtains and electrical sockets. The cabins are very comfortable, and have large windows, which is a bonus compared to other boats in this price range. All cabins' air conditioners can be controlled by guests, and the total number of guests on board any trip is limited to just 18. Underwater, there are never more than four divers per Divemaster guide. On the boat, there are several areas to socialize with other passengers as well as places to chill-out alone or in couples. The dive platform is well laid out and large enough for all the divers. Non-divers, such as friends and partners who want to do some snorkelling, are also very welcome at a discounted price. Dolphin Queen has a motorised tender dinghy to transport passengers to and from the pristine beaches of The Similan & Surin Islands, and to retrieve divers who surface near the reef.
There are two itineraries available, 3D/3N & 5D/5N trips, both to Thailand's best dive sites. The three-day trips give you 10 dives at the best diving sites of the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock. The five-day trips are more relaxed and enable you to enjoy even more dive sites.
Please note that to properly enjoy diving at The Similan Islands' best dive sites and Surin's Richelieu Rock, divers on Dolphin Queen are required to be certified to 30m. Those who are not, can join the PADI Advanced Open Water course or Adventure Deep Dive. The course is unbeatable value and you get the use of a dive computer and all remaining dives with your instructor. The Adventure Deep dive is just 1,800 THB, which enables you to dive to 30m.
We follow up every guest that we put on all our boats, and those returning from Dolphin Queen always come back with very positive feedback. It really is one of our favourite boats.
MV Dolphin Queen Pictures
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MV Dolphin Queen Facilities, Layout & Specifications
| MV Dolphin Queen Layout | |
|
Main Deck
Upper Deck
Sun Deck
|
|
| 1. Diving platform. | 15. Self-service counter. |
| 2. Deck showers. | 16. Double bed guest cabin. |
| 3. Gearing-up area. | 17. Wheelhouse. |
| 4. Compressors. | 18. Sundeck. |
| 5. Main stairs to upper deck. | 19. Oxygen station. |
| 6. Toilet / Shower. | 20. Depth sounder and GPS. |
| 7. Galley. | 21. Life raft with survival equipment. |
| 8. Crew cabins. | 22. Nitrox blending station. |
| 23. Fire extinguisher. | |
| 10. Anchor. | 24. Sundeck shaded area. |
| 11. Dinghy. | 25. Satellite phone. |
| 12. Bench. | 26. Twin bed guest cabin. |
| 13. Dining area tables. | 27. Benches. |
| 14. Stairs from upper deck to sun deck. | |
| MV Dolphin Queen Specifications | |
| Length: | 24m. |
| Width: | 5.5m. |
| Hull: | Wood. |
| Engines: | 2x 6-Cylinder 315 HP Hino Engines. |
| Electricity: | 220 v AC 24/12 v DC. |
| Compressors: | 2x electric Bauer Mariner II (240 lt. per min) with air cooler & 40 Luxfer Tanks. |
| Water: | 12,000 litres. |
| Navigation: | Radar, GPS Satellite Navigation, Depth Sounder, & compass. |
| Safety: | CB Radio, satellite phone, life jackets, Sonar, First Aid, oxygen, life raft (with survival equipment). |
| Accommodation: | 4x double cabins with air conditioning, 1x twin-bed cabin with air conditioning, 3x 4-bunk with air conditioning. |
| Boat Staff: | 1 captain, 1 engineer, 1 cook, 1 assistant cook and 2 deck hands (attended First Aid +CPR Course). |
| Dive Staff: | 6 Divemasters or Instructors (multi lingual). |
MV Dolphin Queen Courses
There are several options for taking part in PADI diving courses aboard MV Dolphin Queen. By far the two most popular courses are Advanced Open Water and Nitrox Enriched Air, but there are several others available.
Advanced courses are very popular aboard liveaboard cruises and diving safaris. On Dolphin Queen, you get to complete all the trip's dives with your instructor and the use of a dive computer for the duration of the cruise. Obviously, the manuals and all certifications are included too. This course is not as focussed on theory as the Open Water course, and allows you to choose certain specialities and dive to depths of 30 metres. As part of the liveaboard cruise, it is exceptionally good value.
Nitrox diving (Enriched Air) is one of the most popular courses to take on a diving safari, mainly due to the opportunities to enjoy safer deep dives and not suffer from tiredness.
Other courses include Adventure Deep and Divemaster. Please contact us with any questions about completing a course on Dolphin Queen.
| Courses | |
|---|---|
| Courses | Prices |
|
PADI:
Nitrox
(4 Dives)
Including: Includes 4 free Nitrox tank fills, manual, certification, use of Nitrox computer
|
7,300
THB |
|
PADI:
Advanced Open Water
(14 Dives)
Including: Manual, certification card and use of computer for all of the trip
|
8,560
THB |
MV Dolphin Queen Itinerary
MV Dolphin Queen liveaboard guests should arrive for check in, final payment and equipment check at the PADI 5-star dive centre no later than 4pm on the day of departure, but they are welcome to come on any day before. Free pickup can be organised on request from many nearby hotels and guest houses. Departure from the dive centre in Khao Lak to Tab Lamu pier* is no later than 6pm. Dolphin Queen diving safaris in Thailand are for 3D & 3N (10 dives) or 5D & 5N (18 dives), leaving in the late afternoon on the first day and returning at about 2pm on the final day.
(*sometimes the boat sails from Khura Buri Pier)
The itineraries below are the most-common for each trip, but these can sometimes be changed for a number of reasons. Small changes are made due to weather & sea conditions, special marine life sightings, overcrowded dive sites, local-authorities' instructions, and the needs & requests of the paying guests. The safety & comfort of all guests is most important at all times.
MV Dolphin Queen Transfer Details
Shared transfers from the dive centre in central Khao Lak to the pier are free.
Transfers on departure and return from and back to most local hotels and resorts can be arranged free of charge.
For customers who would like a private taxi please see below for details.
(Click below for a rough guide to the rates you can expect to pay ‘per vehicle,’ not ‘per person’.)
MV Dolphin Queen Schedule & Prices
| Destinations | Duration | Quad-Bunk Cabin | Twin Cabin | Double Cabin | Upper Deck Double Cabin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock ( 10 dives) | 3D / 3N | Quad-Bunk Cabin 17,400 THB | Twin Cabin 18,700 THB | Double Cabin 19,500 THB | Upper Deck Double Cabin 20,700 THB |
| Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Surin Islands ( 18 dives) | 5D / 5N | Quad-Bunk Cabin 22,800 THB | Twin Cabin 24,100 THB | Double Cabin 25,500 THB | Upper Deck Double Cabin 26,500 THB |
7 Reasons to Book with us:
- Best-price guarantee, AND get FREE gifts.
- We don’t ask for any payment or your card details until you are ready to confirm your booking.
- For safety reasons, it’s impossible to complete a booking instantly online , as some other websites claim to offer. We always check first as each boat has a different criteria regarding diver details & experience .
- We offer each boat’s booking & payment policy (below). Some other websites have standardised terms, asking for full payment but many boats’ payment terms are a 20-30% deposit, and the balance paid on arrival.
- Our Thailand-based staff are experts about logistics, the dive sites & all the boats . Take a look at the reviews on our site & tripadvisor.
- Our team are always online to answer your questions. We always respond the same day , usually within a few minutes
- Customer service is everything!
For example, if a trip is cancelled, we will ensure you can choose between an alternative similar trip or a full & unconditional refund .
The booking process for MV Dolphin Queen is very simple & convenient. Firstly, ask us to reserve a space in your chosen cabin on your preferred dates. This is comittment free. When you are ready to confirm, we ask for 25% of the cruise price as a deposit. This payment is most-commonly made via PayPal, and there are no added fees. You don't even need a Paypal account, although PayPal do encourage you to open one. The PayPal invoice can be sent to any email address and payment can be made by anyone.
Nowadays, many people prefer to pay by direct bank transfer, and this gives the very best exchange rate and often no fees. We have bank accounts in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, NZD & THB.
The 75% balance, park fees, and any extras can be paid in cash or by card when you arrive. Card payments attract a small fee, and there are many ATMs and several banks in Khao Lak.
Cancellation policy:
Cancellation fees depend on the time of cancelling. Please contact us for details. The management of MV Dolphin Queen are both considerate & flexible whenever possible regarding customer cancellations.
7+ days before departure = possible refund of deposit, minus bank fees
0-7 days before departure = 20% of the cruise price forfeited
Most travel insurance policies can protect you from unforeseen cancellation penalties.
Call us: (+66 89 136 3121) Fax: (+66 24225259)
or fill out the form below
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