MV Manta Queen 8 Overview
Manta Queen 8 is the newest addition to the Manta Queen diving liveaboard fleet. There are three types of cabin to choose from, most have a private bathroom and all are air-conditioned. The best-value cabins have 2 bunk beds, but still offer storage space & privacy. These are ideal for divers on a budget. For more privacy but still at an affordable price, Manta Queen 8 has twin & double cabins that have private en-suite bathrooms.
There are several communal areas where guests can relax in groups, pairs or alone. These include the sundeck and the large dining area. There is plenty of space even when the boat is full. The delicious food is plentiful, and soft drinks/sodas are for free. If you want to drink beer, the team allow you to bring your own on board.
Each trip departs in the evening and the diving starts early the following morning. In past seasons, MQ8 sailed to the Southern Andaman, but from 2024 it's back to Similans & Richelieu. Please note that a few other websites might not be updated about the length of the trips or the itineraries. The boat sails from Khao Lak for 5D/5N to dive at Similans, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock
The trips are unbeatable value for divers who want to enjoy the maximum dives & luxury for the minimum money spent. 10 of the 12 cabins have en suite bathrooms & windows, and the boat has an air-conditioned lounge/saloon. The dining areas and dive platform are spacious & well designed, meaning that everyone feels safe & comfortable at all times. There is also free Wi-Fi, when in range.
The newest & most-luxurious addition to the Manta Queen liveaboard fleet, MQ8 is often fully booked. This is mainly due to the great value. In addition to good-value PADI courses, Nitrox, and delicious food, the whole vibe on board is relaxing & fun. Trips depart from Khao Lak in the evening after you have been picked up from your hotel or Phuket airport.
MV Manta Queen 8 Pictures
MV Manta Queen 8 Facilities, Layout & Specifications
| MV Manta Queen 8 Layout |
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| MV Manta Queen 8 Specifications | |
| Type: | Wooden monohull. |
| Length: | 27 Metres. |
| Width: | 7.0 Metres. |
| Engines: | 2 x Cummins 315 hp 10 cylinder. |
| Generators: | 2 x 50 KW, 1 x 20 KW. |
| Crusining speed: | 9 - 10 Knots. |
| Instrumentation: | PS Sat. Navigation, Sonar, Compass. |
| Safety: | VHF/FM Mobile Marine, Emergency 02, Liferaft, Lifejakets. |
MV Manta Queen 8 Courses
A wide range of PADI diving courses is available on MQ8. These include Nitrox, Advanced & some speciality courses.
In most cases, the course is completed all on the boat during the cruise. But if you can book in advance you can do eLearning.
Although it's normally ok to decide on your PADI diving course when you arrive, it's better to book it in advance. All we ask for is a small deposit to confirm the course.
MV Manta Queen 8 Itinerary
Starting from October 2024, MQ8 will sail from Khao Lak.
Manta Queen 8 runs 5D/5N trips to Similans, Koh Bon Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.
Do not be fooled by other (out-of-date) websites which show different trips. Also, any websites that show 6D/5N are including a few hours in the evning of your first day as a whole day.
Click below for detailed itinerary.
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 Manta Queen 8 Transfer Details
Manta Queen 8 guests are collected free of charge from hotels around the around Phuket and Khao Lak.
The transfers are at set times in the early afternoon of departure day.
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 Manta Queen 8 Schedule & Prices
| Destinations | Duration | Twin | Twin En Suite | Double En Suite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck ( 19 dives) | 5D / 5N | Twin 32,000 THB | Twin En Suite 34,000 THB | Double En Suite 34,000 THB |
| MV Manta Queen 8 Special Offers Coming Up | ||||
20% Early-Bird Discount We have a lot of specials available for this boat. Please see the boat schedule for more details | ||||
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Do you have a large group and want to charter the whole boat?
click below to find out more |
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 Manta Queen is very simple & convenient. Firstly, ask us to reserve a space in the cabin of your on the date/trip that you would like to join. We are happy to do this for free, and without any commitment from you. When you are ready to confirm your booking, we ask for 30% of the cruise price as a deposit. This payment is most-commonly made via PayPal, (Transfer)Wise or direct bank transfer in a wide choice of currencies, without fees. You don't need a Paypal account, although PayPal normally encourage you to open one. The PayPal invoice can be sent to any email address and payment can be made by anyone.
Nowadays, most of our guests choose to pay through adirect domestic bank transfer, which gives the very best exchange rate and no fees. This is possible because we have bank accounts in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, NZD & THB.
The 70% balance and national park fees are due 60 days before your trip's departure date. Transfers and any equipment rental and/or courses can be paid when you arrive.
Cancellation policy:
Cancellation fees depend on the time and reason for cancelling. Please contact us for details. The management of MV Manta Queen are both considerate & flexible whenever possible regarding customer cancellations.
The official cancellation policy is as follows:
30+ days before departure = refund of money paid, minus any bank fees incurred doing so.
15-30 days before departure = refund of 50% trip balance or postpone to a future trip (subject to availability) but in some cases we are able to refund this to you. If the national park ticket has not been purchased yet, we can also refund the fee.
1-14 days before departure = loss of all monies but in some cases cancellations made late can be adjusted to help you.
Most travel insurance policies can protect you from unforeseen cancellation penalties.
Call us: (+66 89 136 3121)
or fill out the form below
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