Manta Queen 7 Liveaboard Overview

Torben Lonne
By
Torben Lonne
ByTorben 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...
Follow:
- Editor and Co-founder at DIVEIN.com
Manta Queen 7 liveaboard boat anchored off Thailand's coast, seen from the bow
One of several sister ships in the Manta Queen fleet, built to carry divers between Thailand's best reef sites for days at a time rather than day-tripping back to shore.
Manta Queen 7 liveaboard dive boat cruising on calm turquoise water off Thailand
Manta Queen 7 is built for multi-day dive trips, with enough deck space to gear up for back-to-back dives without tripping over your buddy.
Four berth shared cabin aboard the Manta Queen 7 with bunk beds and a porthole window at the far end
Sharing a cabin like this is the easiest way to bring the cost of a liveaboard down without sacrificing dive time.
Cuttlefish flaring its arms over the reef while a smaller cuttlefish looks on nearby
Cuttlefish can shift color and texture in a heartbeat, a hunting trick that makes them one of the more mesmerizing macro finds on a Thailand liveaboard.
Metal ladder leading to the sundeck of a liveaboard boat, with white bench seating and other dive boats visible offshore
Deck space like this matters more than people expect on a liveaboard: room to towel off, sort gear and watch the horizon between dives.
Ornate ghost pipefish resting beside a black coral branch, its spiky patterned body blending into the coral
Guides earn their tip finding creatures like this: ghost pipefish match their camouflage to whatever they are hovering against and are easy to swim right past.
Leopard shark cruising over a sandy seabed during a night dive, its spotted body lit against the dark water
Leopard sharks turn up more often after dark, when the sand flats around Thailand's liveaboard sites become their hunting ground.
Peacock mantis shrimp facing the camera with its blue eyestalks and green raptorial claws raised
Mantis shrimp pack one of the fastest strikes in the ocean, strong enough to crack open shells, worth watching from a respectful distance.
Emperor shrimp riding a pink and white nudibranch beside a yellow sponge on the reef
Emperor shrimp hitch rides on nudibranchs and sea cucumbers for both transport and cover, a classic macro pairing photographers look for on these reefs.
Saloon lounge aboard the Manta Queen 7 with blue bench seating, a wall mounted TV and a bookshelf
A common area like this is where the between-dive downtime happens: swapping stories, charging cameras, picking through the boat's dive site guides.
Granite boulders and turquoise water at the Similan Islands in Thailand
This kind of topside scenery is why the Similan Islands anchor most Thailand liveaboard routes, the Manta Queen 7 included.
Empty blue sundeck at the bow of the Manta Queen 7 liveaboard, islands in the distance
The open sundeck up top gives guests a place to relax between dives with a view over the anchorage.
Bow deck of the Manta Queen 7 liveaboard with radar mast and life raft canisters
Safety gear like this rarely makes the highlight reel, but it is exactly what you want mounted and ready before a multi-day trip offshore.
Twin bunk cabin aboard the Manta Queen 7 with blue linens and a towel swan decoration
Cabins on the Manta Queen 7 are built for diving days, not lounging indoors, small but everything you need after a day of dives.
Bunk beds in a twin cabin on the Manta Queen 7 with a folded towel swan on the lower berth
Every cabin gets the same turnover-day touch on the Manta Queen 7, a folded towel animal waiting on the bed for arrival.
A whale shark trailed by remoras and jacks in open blue water
Whale shark encounters like this are the reason many divers choose a Thailand liveaboard route over diving from shore.
Wheelhouse and covered bow seating of the Manta Queen 7 liveaboard at sea
The wheelhouse crew steers the Manta Queen 7 between dive sites while guests get cushioned bow seating right below the windows.

Where to book

PADI Travel Secure online booking Liveaboard.com No booking fees

The Manta Queen 7 liveaboard offers ten cabins and plenty of relaxation space to enjoy over five days and four nights of diving at the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock & the fantastic wreck dive 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.

Disclosure: We are reader supported, and may earn affiliate commissions when you buy through us.

Things we like:

  • Some people said that the captain and director were flexible in allowing the passengers to choose their diving sites.
  • Many people were happy with the friendly nature of the crew while conducting them in a professional manner.

Things we don't like:

  • Some people noted that the mattresses did not fit their bed and it caused an uneven level when sleeping.
  • People were taken back because the boat was only filled with half of the amount it was set to have.
Manta Queen 7

Where to book

Manta Queen 7 liveaboard boat anchored off Thailand's coast, seen from the bow
PADI Travel Secure, seamless online booking Book Liveaboard.com No credit card or booking fees Book

Diving on the Manta Queen 7 liveaboard in Thailand

The MV Manta Queen 7, a 27meter/88 feet long liveaboard is a member of the Manta Queen Fleet and takes guests to the best dive sites in Thailand, which include the Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon as well as Koh Tachai. The MV Manta Queen 7 is slightly longer than her sister ships in the Manta Queen fleet and is equipped to accommodate 24 guests. With 5-days and 5-night dive cruises with a total of 19 dives, this liveaboard is a diver’s dream. The boat provides free Wi-Fi to the guest when in range, which is usually at the beginning and end of each cruise. Their value per dive is impressive making it a go-to boat for divers on a shoestring budget.

After undergoing major renovations in the summer of 2018, the MV Manta Queen 7 now caters for its 24 diving guests in comfortable twin bed bunk cabins or 4 shared air-conditioned cabins. With many toilets and showers, guests don’t have to wait a long time to clean up after diving sessions.

There is enough space in the Manta Queen 7 for divers to relax between dives in the open dining area, the saloon with an HD-TV, or on the huge sun deck. The dinghy on Manta Queen 7 gives you the opportunity to spend some time on the beautiful beaches.

With divers’ safety a priority as in all the Manta Queen fleet, the Manta Queen 7’s crew of dive guides and PADI instructors ensure that you have a safe and fun-filled adventure.

Meals served on the MQ7 are in buffet style, offering a variety of both local and international cuisine. Divers are served snacks and fruits between dives. Both vegetarians and vegans are well catered for by the onboard chef.

Nitrox is available along with some PADI courses. Also, included in the Manta Queen 7 package is a free rental dive computer for the duration of the trip, dive fees for Similan &Surin Islands, towels, meals, snacks, fruits, drinking water, tea and coffee, and experienced dive instructors Nitrox fills are available, as are several PADI courses, that range from Open Water to specialty courses. For the best value and quality diving in Thailand, there is very little to compete with Manta Queen 7’s trips from Khao Lak to The Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock & The Surin Islands National Marine Park.

The best time to go for a cruise on the MV Manta Queen 7 is between October and May although these are subject to changes in weather conditions.

Guests are picked from Kha Lak or Phuket and are carried to the dive center for check-in and equipment fitting after which dive guides/instructors brief them. The boat leaves at night and diving sessions begin the next morning.

Things we like:

  • Some people said that the captain and director were flexible in allowing the passengers to choose their diving sites.
  • Many people were happy with the friendly nature of the crew while conducting them in a professional manner.

Things we don't like:

  • Some people noted that the mattresses did not fit their bed and it caused an uneven level when sleeping.
  • People were taken back because the boat was only filled with half of the amount it was set to have.
Key facts
Year built: 2015
Max divers: 22
Rental equip: Yes ($)
Camera station: Yes
Internet: Yes (free)
Min logged dives: No minimum
Nitrox: Yes (free)
Aircon: Yes
Trip length: < 5 Nights
Price range: Mid-range
Manta Queen 7

Where to book

Manta Queen 7 liveaboard boat anchored off Thailand's coast, seen from the bow
PADI Travel Secure, seamless online booking Book Liveaboard.com No credit card or booking fees Book
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Take a momnent Take a moment to look at this.
It's genuinely free…
 Look at this
Shearwater Newsletter Form (widget sidebar) (#26)

Join our newsletter to win:

Free Scuba Gear!

We’ve partnered with Shearwater Research and are giving away a brand new Shearwater Peregrine TX with a Swift GPS Transmitter.

To enter the competition – Join the DIVEIN and Shearwater newsletters:

You can always unsubscribe for free

Most read this week:

About this image

Related to: