Oktavia 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
Oktavia liveaboard boat cruising with divers on deck and dive tanks stowed at the bow
Underway between dive sites, the Oktavia carries her own tanks and gear right on deck, no need to shuttle between a dinghy and the boat.
The Oktavia liveaboard anchored beside a rocky island with a dive tender alongside
Oktavia anchors close to Thailand's rocky islands, giving divers a short tender ride to some of the trip's best sites.
Aerial view of the Oktavia liveaboard boat anchored in turquoise water
This bird's-eye view shows Oktavia sitting low and stable in calm water, a trait liveaboard divers notice on longer crossings.
The master cabin aboard the Oktavia with a double bed and tribal masks on the wall
The master cabin on Oktavia pairs a proper double bed with a leather recliner, a step up from the standard bunks elsewhere on board.
Guests relax in the covered communal lounge aboard the Oktavia with snacks laid out
Bananas and cold water wait between dives in Oktavia's shaded lounge, the social hub where guests swap stories from the last dive.
Guests relaxing on the Oktavia liveaboard's aft deck at sunset with the flybridge ladder in view
The aft deck's open layout makes it the natural gathering spot before an evening briefing or dinner service.
Crew helping a snorkeler back into the Oktavia's dinghy while children look on from the boat
The support dinghy shuttles snorkelers and divers between the mother ship and the reef, no long surface swims required.
Scuba divers in full gear crowded onto the Oktavia's tender dinghy before a dive drop
The tender ferries divers straight to the entry point, cutting surface swim time so more of the dive goes toward exploring the reef.
Guests sharing a festive holiday meal at the long dining table on the Oktavia's deck
Christmas hats and a shared feast turn the dining table into the social heart of the boat each evening.
Dive guide briefing guests on the day's dive site using a laminated map at the boat's bar
Every dive starts with a briefing at the bar, so guests know the site's layout, depth and current before they gear up.
A guest leaping off the Oktavia's dive deck into clear water beside a rack of scuba tanks
Tanks racked and ready, the dive deck puts gear steps from the water so entries and exits between dives stay quick.
A double cabin aboard the Oktavia with blue bedding, rolled towels and a heart-print blanket
Cabins keep it simple: firm bunks and bright linens are all that's needed after a full day of diving.
Front view of the M-V Oktavia liveaboard showing its blue and yellow hull and bow anchor rigging
The blue and yellow livery makes the Oktavia easy to spot among the dive boats anchored off Thailand's islands.
A diver blowing bubble rings during a safety stop while two buddies watch nearby
Playful moments like this are part of the appeal, guides ham it up for the camera between serious dive work.
Side view of the Oktavia liveaboard anchored at sea with a diver surfacing in the foreground
Seeing the boat from the water gives a sense of scale, plenty of covered deck space for gear, meals and lounging.
Stern view of the Oktavia liveaboard showing its sun deck, dive platform and a nearby island
The open sun deck up top and the covered dive platform below cover both ends of a day, sunbathing topside and gearing up below.
Cushioned lounge seating around a table on the Oktavia's covered sun deck
The shaded sun deck lounge is where guests unwind between dives, out of direct sun but still catching the sea breeze.
Twin bunk cabin aboard the Oktavia liveaboard with blue bedding and a curtained window
Stacked bunks make efficient use of a narrow cabin, and the curtain across the top berth is a nice privacy touch not every liveaboard bothers with.

The MV Oktavia, a beautiful 30-meter wooden boat built in 2003 and refurbished in 2007 offers guests (both divers and non-divers as well as children) fantastic liveaboard tours to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. Swedish owned and operated, the MV Oktavia can accommodate 33 guests but was limited to around 20 guests to enable divers to have enough space and feel comfortable. Cruise with MV Oktavia and discover why Similan Islands Scuba Diving is regarded as the best and most exclusive in Thailand.

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 said that they saw a whale shark on Richelieu island and that it was a memorable event.
  • Some divers said they saw oceanic manta and frenzy fishes at the Richelieu Rock sunset.
  • All the dives were well planned and the schedule ran like clockwork.
  • Some divers said the briefings were informative and left everyone feeling safe and secure in the hands of the diving master.

Things we don't like:

  • Some people said the cabins were small and not much room for luggage was allocated.
  • Divers said that when the anchor was released it made a heck of a noise that disturb them.
  • A problem...

Diving on the Oktavia liveaboard in Thailand

The MV Oktavia guarantees adventure cruising with a complete experience with diving, snorkeling, excursions on the islands, treasure hunts, jungle walks, beach football, and marine life presentations. The boat is a perfect fit for anyone interested in experiencing an amazing liveaboard trip.

The upper deck of this unique liveaboard which is commonly referred to as the “party deck” is equipped with an Audio-Video entertainment system, library, a bar, and board games. The party deck also serves as a dining room during meals. The boat also has a large sundeck which offers plenty of space for guests in between dives. With part of the sundeck shaded, guests with sensitive skin can enjoy the fresh air while taking in the sea’s view.

The MV Oktavia has 13 standard cabins located on the lower deck and two master cabins on the upper deck. The cabins on the lower deck share four bathrooms. The standard cabins have central AC, a fan, either a double or 2 single bunk-beds plus cupboards for storage. Master cabins have a TV & entertainment system, seating area, writing desk, storage, and double beds.

The best Similan diving liveaboard trips can be difficult to choose due to trip lengths and schedules. However, MV Oktavia has a novel solution. Most of the cruises are five days and five nights in length, but there is an option to only go out for two or three days. This is done merely by speedboat transfer to or from the ship which stays out at sea for the full five. One option is to sail out on MV Oktavia at the beginning of the dive cruise and return on a speedboat after two days and nights at the Similan Islands. The alternative is to take the speedboat out for the second half of the cruise, which visits Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and Boonsung Wreck on a 3D/2N 10-dives itinerary. Those who are lucky enough to enjoy the complete 5D/5N cruise visit all the locations and get to dive 19 times. At the beginning and end of the season, Oktavia offers 4D/4N 15 dives trips, which are comparable to most other liveaboard trips offered on our other boats.

With 14 crew members to attend the needs of guests, this liveaboard is a diver’s dream. The meals in the boat are served buffet style and are a mix of international and local cuisine. Snacks are available all day with hot beverages also provided.

With guest’s safety a priority, the Oktavia liveaboard carries safety equipment for safe passage. The safety equipment includes oxygen, a DAN tank, first aid kits, SOLAS life jackets, and two SOLAS life rafts. The boat has communication that includes CB radios, VHF radios, a GPS radar, echo sounder, and mobile telephones. The boat also offers Nitrox and has both indoor and outdoor comfortable saloon common areas.

The best time to go on a cruise aboard the MV Oktavia is between November and April, and unlike other boats, the Oktavia departs on the said date regardless of the number of guests that have booked.

The boat offers 2D2N, 4D4N & 5D5N trips. The destinations for 3D2N trips have no beaches open to the public. The 5-days 5-nights cruise to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck includes 19 dives. The 4-days 4-nights to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck includes 15 dives. The 3-days 3-nights trip to Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck includes 11 dives while the 2-days 2-nights cruise to Similan Islands (2 Days) includes seven dives

Most MV Oktavia liveaboard trips depart in the afternoon from Khao Lak, while the shorter trips start with an early morning speedboat transfer to reach MV Oktavia when is already moored in the Similans. A transfer service from all hotels in Khao Lak is provided for 2- and 5-night trips. the last dive of the cruise will be at around 2:30 pm.

Things we like:

  • Many people said that they saw a whale shark on Richelieu island and that it was a memorable event.
  • Some divers said they saw oceanic manta and frenzy fishes at the Richelieu Rock sunset.
  • All the dives were well planned and the schedule ran like clockwork.
  • Some divers said the briefings were informative and left everyone feeling safe and secure in the hands of the diving master.

Things we don't like:

  • Some people said the cabins were small and not much room for luggage was allocated.
  • Divers said that when the anchor was released it made a heck of a noise that disturb them.
  • A problem…
Key facts
Year built: 2007
Max divers: 20
Rental equip: Yes ($)
Camera station: Yes
Internet: No
Min logged dives: No minimum
Nitrox: No
Aircon: Yes
Trip length: < 5 Nights
Price range: Mid-range
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