Manta Queen 6 Liveaboard Overview

Torben Lonne
By
Torben Lonne
Editor and Co-founder at DIVEIN.com
Torben traveled to South East Asia for scuba diving and never really stopped his search for new adventures. His affinity for gear that works and his...
- Editor and Co-founder at DIVEIN.com
the liveaboard Manta Queen 6 anchored near rocky outcrops, a Thai flag flying from the bow
Anchoring this close to the rocks takes a crew that knows these reefs well, not something every boat attempts.
Manta Queen 6 liveaboard anchored in calm water, its name painted across the bow
This trawler style hull is common on Thailand's liveaboard fleet, built more for stability than speed.
Manta Queen 6 liveaboard with its tender dinghy alongside and tanks racked on the dive deck
The tender ferries divers out to the sites while the mothership stays anchored, standard liveaboard choreography.
Two cuttlefish displaying rippling courtship colours together on a coral reef
Cuttlefish flash these shifting colour patterns during courtship, one of the reef sightings worth the trip.
Blue decked common area aboard the Manta Queen 6 with bench seating and stairs to the lower deck
Bench seating wraps the open deck just above the cabins, useful space for kitting up without crowding the dive platform.
Outdoor dining table and benches aboard the Manta Queen 6 overlooking distant islands
Meals are eaten in the open under canopy cover, with whatever island the boat is anchored off serving as the view.
leopard shark resting on the seabed near a reef on a Thailand liveaboard dive site
Leopard sharks spend daylight hours motionless on sand or coral before hunting at night, a common sighting on Manta Queen 6's Thailand dives.
empty wood paneled dining saloon aboard the Manta Queen 6 with a polished table and blue bench seating
The saloon on Manta Queen 6 doubles as dining room and lounge, with wraparound bench seating for dive briefings and downtime.
aerial view of a forested Similan Islands coastline with turquoise water and a white sand beach
The Similan Islands are a marquee stop on Manta Queen 6's route, known for granite boulders, clear water and postcard beaches.
wood paneled twin bunk cabin aboard Manta Queen 6 with beds made up and towels folded into shapes
Cabins on Manta Queen 6 keep the classic Thai wooden dive boat look, with twin bunks and a folded towel treat waiting after diving.
wood paneled saloon aboard Manta Queen 6 at night with fresh fruit and a board game on the table
Between dives the saloon turns into Manta Queen 6's social hub, stocked with fresh fruit and games for evening downtime.
whale shark trailed by small striped fish swimming through open water on a Thailand liveaboard dive
Whale sharks passing through open water are one of the big draws for divers heading out on Manta Queen 6 in Thailand's Andaman Sea.
group of whitetip reef sharks resting together under a rocky overhang on a reef
Whitetip reef sharks often pack together under ledges by day, a classic sighting on Manta Queen 6 dive sites in Thailand.
wood paneled bunk cabin aboard Manta Queen 6 with a made up bed and curtained window
Every cabin on Manta Queen 6 keeps its teak paneling and portholes, giving the boat an old school Thai liveaboard feel.
wood paneled bunk cabin aboard Manta Queen 6 decorated with fresh orchids and a life jacket by the beds
Fresh orchids and turned down towels are the small touches crew add to cabins aboard Manta Queen 6.
upward view inside a Manta Queen 6 cabin showing wood paneling, a skylight hatch and a made up bunk
Some cabins on Manta Queen 6 have an overhead hatch for natural light and airflow between dives.

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.

About this overview

To help you decide whether this liveaboard fits your dive style, budget, and comfort needs, we’ve researched the boat, itinerary, onboard experience, diving setup, and overall value.
We review liveaboards based on the details that matter most during a multi-day dive trip, including cabins, food, crew support, dive operations, safety, route quality, and how the boat compares with similar options in the destination.

Things we like:

  • 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.
  • Many divers said that this is a adventure that they will certainly do again.
  • The food on board was delicious and the chef original Thai dishes.
  • In the evening everyone would get together and to play board games to pass the time.

Things we don't like:

  • 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.

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.

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.

Things we like:

  • 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.
  • Many divers said that this is a adventure that they will certainly do again.
  • The food on board was delicious and the chef original Thai dishes.
  • In the evening everyone would get together and to play board games to pass the time.

Things we don't like:

  • 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.
Key facts
Max divers: 14
Rental equip: Yes ($)
Camera station: No
Internet: No
Min logged dives: No minimum
Nitrox: No
Aircon: Yes
Trip length: < 5 Nights
Price range: Mid-range
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