By: Torben Lonne
The 25 meters/82 feet Manta Queen 6 liveaboard provides enough diving and snorkeling opportunities to satisfy any diver doing a 5 days/ 4 nights liveaboard trip to Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and the Boonsung Wreck.
Our Overall Review
Things we like:
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Many people loved the service of the Manta Queen as you were picked up before your hotel or airport and taken to the liveaboard. -
Some people stated that they were taken to many diving sites and the diving master was crucial in informing the divers of the richness of the sites.
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Many divers said that this is a adventure that they will certainly do again.
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The food on board was delicious and the chef original Thai dishes.
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In the evening everyone would get together and to play board games to pass the time.
Things we don't like:
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Many people claimed that the cabins are cramped and not suitable for a lot of luggage. -
Some people were taken back at the vigorous movement of the boat once it was in motion.
Diving on the Manta Queen 6 liveaboard in Thailand
The Manta Queen 6 is a medium-sized boat with a sundeck that’s not overly spacious. This liveaboard is an excellent choice for guests who enjoy diving safaris. Guests who travel alone or those who travel in pairs will enjoy the boat’ s many qualities. With excellent service and a safety record, the MV Manta Queen 6 caters for up to 14 people which is relatively small compared to other boats that sail to the Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock.
Boat features
With seven twin-bed cabins, the MV Manta Queen 6 offers fully air-conditioned and en-suite European bathrooms. However, prospective guests should be aware that two cabins share a bathroom. The bathrooms have two doors, one for each cabin with direct access. It is worth noting that liveaboard also has other bathrooms.
The 4-day and 4-night cruises offered by this luxury liveaboard allow guests to visit the best dive sites in the area which include the Richelieu Rock as well as some wreck dives. Unlike other boats, the MV Manta Queen 6 offers 15 dives compared to the usual 14. This includes three-day dives, a night or sunset dive for the first three dive days, which is followed by three-day dives on the way back to Khao Lak.
The dive crew of the Manta Queen 6 will show divers the beauty of the underwater world at the Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon & Koh Tachai, where divers can hope to find everything from seahorses and nudibranchs to whale sharks and manta rays.
Trips in the MV Manta Queen 6 are enjoyable, and divers can also choose to complete a PADI diving course during the cruises. The boat also offers the opportunity to socialize in groups as well as enjoying personal time from others depending on your mood. Thai and Western cuisine is served several times daily, with cheap beer available to buy after the final dive.
Like all of the Manta Queen fleet, Manta Queen 6 offers incredibly good-value cruises. In addition, the prices include all meals, tea & coffee, fruit & snacks, drinking water and even pick up and drop off from local hotels & resorts. However, irrespective of the price, diving aboard Manta Queen 6 is still a relatively risk-free and enjoyable experience. The staff is competent, well trained, with your satisfaction their priority. All equipment is in excellent working condition with nothing left to chance.
Itinerary
On the departure day, you are to follow instructions by the guide in order to check you in successfully and stress-free after which you are all carried to the pier and briefed on the boat about its features and what to expect after which you are allocated and shown your cabins. Dive equipment is then arranged after which you are given a light dinner.
On the first day of the trip, you are woken up at 07:00 by the guides after. You are briefed on safety and dive schedules after which you go for the first dive on the Similan islands. There’s a total of four dives on the first day within between meals and relaxation times. The same procedure follows on all the other days in different dive sites, including Koh Bon, West Ridge, Tachai Pinnacle, Surin islands, Boonsung wreck.” and Richelieu Rock.
On the fourth and last day, you are briefed on your departure time by 11:15 and go for the final dive before you are transferred to the check-out lounge by 5:30 pm from where you are driven back to your hotel.
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