Manta Queen 2

Manta Queen 2 is a 25-metre wooden vessel built in 2003 and refitted in 2016. She belongs to the Manta Queen fleet run by Khao Lak Scuba Adventures and sails from Thap Lamu Pier near Khao Lak. This is the most affordable way to reach the best dive sites in the Andaman Sea: the trip runs 4 days and 3 nights and packs in 10 dives.

The route is the same all season — Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. Richelieu, a limestone pinnacle in open water, is regarded as Thailand’s best chance of meeting a whale shark, while manta rays turn up reliably at Koh Bon. In between there are the granite boulders, arches and swim-throughs of Koh Tachai, schooling barracuda, Napoleon wrasse, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs and ribbon eels. Dives run in groups of 4–5 divers per guide, and a night dive is included.

There are nine cabins for 20 guests: five twins, three doubles and one four-berth cabin with bunk beds. All are air-conditioned, but the bathrooms are shared — the vessel has three showers and toilets, and no cabin has its own. It is an honest budget format: the money goes into the diving rather than the fittings.

Common areas are the open-air dining space and saloon on the main deck plus the sun and observation decks with mats and soft benches. The kitchen turns out freshly cooked Thai and international food buffet-style, with fruit and snacks between dives. Wi-Fi on board is free, though the signal can disappear around the outer islands. The crew numbers 11: 5 dive guides and 6 boat crew.

A few things to know in advance. Nitrox costs extra — 2,500 THB per trip. The Similan and Surin marine park fee is paid separately and comes to 2,300 THB for a foreign diver. Dive insurance covering treatment and evacuation is mandatory and is checked at check-in, and a dive computer is compulsory too. You need certification to 30 metres: Open Water divers are welcome on board but must complete an Advanced or Deep course during the trip.