Sawasdee Fasai 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
aerial view of two liveaboard boats anchored in turquoise water beside a forested island in Thailand
This is the payoff of choosing a liveaboard over a day boat: anchorages this clear, with reef visible right through the water from above.
Sun deck on the Sawasdee Fasai with blue cushioned loungers and white lounge chairs under a canopy
Rows of shaded loungers give divers somewhere to stretch out between dives without ducking below deck.
Blue cushioned loungers on the Sawasdee Fasai's shaded upper deck overlooking the coast
The same lounging deck from another angle, with the coastline close enough to make surface intervals feel like part of the trip.
Sunset over the lounging deck on the Sawasdee Fasai with an island silhouette on the horizon
Evenings on the Sawasdee Fasai's deck come with views like this, a good reason to linger after the last dive of the day.
Two lounge chairs on the Sawasdee Fasai's deck facing the sunset with rigging overhead
Front-row lounge seating for sunset, tucked under the rigging at the bow of the Sawasdee Fasai.
Covered dining deck on the Sawasdee Fasai set with fresh fruit, glasses and coastal views
Meals are served on an open-air deck with a view rather than a closed-in dining room, fruit and drinks laid out family style.
Galley drinks station on the Sawasdee Fasai with a stocked fridge and water dispenser
A self-serve fridge and water station in the galley means drinks are on hand between dives without waiting on crew.
Wood paneled lounge on the Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard with sofas and a coffee table
The saloon doubles as the social hub between dives, with cushioned bench seating, a stocked bookshelf and a TV for dive briefings.
Twin bunk beds in a budget cabin on the Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard with folded towel decorations on each bed
Budget cabins keep it simple with stacked bunks and shared shelving, a fair trade for divers who spend most of their time underwater anyway.
Bunk beds in a deluxe cabin on the Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard with a curtained window and life jackets nearby
Deluxe cabins add a curtained porthole and a vanity shelf, with life jackets stowed within easy reach for the morning dive briefing.
Bunk beds and life jackets in a deluxe cabin aboard the Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard
The same rich teak paneling and built in shelving carry through the deluxe cabins, giving them a warmer feel than the plainer budget rooms.
Twin beds in a master cabin on the Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard with an en suite door and wall carvings
The master cabin's twin bed layout and private en suite make it a solid choice for two divers travelling together.
Double bed with a swan shaped towel display in a master cabin on the Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard
Housekeeping's swan shaped towel display is a small welcome touch that shows up throughout the boat's nicer cabins.
Double bed in a standard cabin on the Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard with a wardrobe and en suite door
Standard cabins pair built in wardrobe storage with a compact en suite, enough for a comfortable night between dive days.
Twin single beds in a standard cabin on the Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard with a wardrobe and in room safe
The twin layout suits friends or solo divers sharing a cabin, and the in room safe means valuables do not have to sit in a dive bag all week.
En suite bathroom for the master cabin on the Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard with a toilet, sink and shower curtain
Even the smaller en suites get their own sink and shower curtain, so nobody on this boat has to queue for a communal head.
En suite bathroom for the deluxe cabin on the Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard with a sink, shower and towel rail
The deluxe en suite adds a handheld shower head and towel rail, small conveniences that matter on a multi day liveaboard trip.
Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard anchored off a Thai island at sunset with the sun low on the horizon
A calm anchorage and a low sun are the reward for staying out on the water overnight instead of commuting from a shore based resort.

Want to cruise the Andaman Sea in comfort and style? The 37m Sawasdee Fasai liveaboard is your dream come true. This boat is large, but only carries twenty-four divers so you will be able to stretch out and relax between dives. Sawasdee Fasai offers five day, four night dive safaris that will take you diving of Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai and Koh Bon.

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 divers stated that everything was well organised there was only 3-5 persons per dive master.
  • Several divers noted that they saw giant mantes, hammerhead sharks, manta shrimps, barracudas, turtles and whale sharks.
  • Many people commended the crew on being professional and always going the extra mile for when they were needed and not needed.
  • The food was excellent and the master chef was world class.

Things we don't like:

  • A couple of people noted that the gas fumes from the engine room entered their cabin.
  • Some people said they would have liked more time to explore on their own with a partner.

Diving on the Sawasdee Fasai in Thailand

MV Sawadee Fasai is an large luxurious ship with a steel hull made for diving safaris. It measures 37 meters long and 7.8 meters wide and has a cruising speed of 8 to 12 knots per hour with a maximum speed of 16 knots. The yacht is specially designed to sail in any sea conditions to keep anyone aboard safe, cozy and secured. It is perfect for a getaway trip with friends and family to the Similan Islands.

MV Sawasdee Fasai can receive a total of 30 guests for the expedition. This ship has a total of 15 cabins that can house guests comfortably. Master cabins with queen-sized beds and deluxe cabins with bunk beds are located at the main deck while the standard cabins with queen-sized beds or twin beds and the budget cabins with twin beds are all located at the lower deck. Each room has air conditioning, private bathrooms with hot and cold water, complimentary drinks, water, beach towels, hair dryer, individual safe box, as well as life jackets. The budget cabin has shared bathroom facilities. Every room ensures to give every guest comfort and an exciting journey.

Guests can socialize at the air-conditioned lounge saloon, fully furnished with sofas, chairs and an audio and video entertainment. There is a large leisure room with a huge sundeck and an outside lounge area. The well-trained crew is there for every passenger’s expectations and needs.

The dining area is located at the indoor lounge, where delicious food with a rich mixture of western and local Thai cuisine is served. Complimentary fresh coffee, tea, and drinking water together with fresh fruits and homemade cookies are also available. There will be five meals a day, a small breakfast before the dive and an American breakfast after the first dive. There will be lunch for the second dive, snack after the third dive and lastly dinner after the night dive that includes vegetarian options. The onboard chef won’t let divers go hungry in between dives.

Sawasdee Fasai’s has a large dive platform. Two showers and two bathrooms are located next to the dive station. Divers usually get into the water from the large dive deck, and if getting to the main boat’s buoy rope is inconvenient, divers are picked up by the tender dinghy. There is ample storage for the guests’ diving equipment, and rental dive equipment is available to anyone who wants to join the exploration. The crew members know how to make sure that every passenger gets what they exactly expect from this luxury cruise ship. Particular courses are available upon request; please make sure to talk to our booking agents to know more details.

There will be approximately 13 to 14 dives during the safari. The Similan Islands are by far the most marvelous group of dive sites that Thailand has to offer. Koh Tachi has the best views of the Pinnacles, hard and soft corals, whale sharks, manta rays and other pelagic; it has moderate to strong current. There are bountiful places to visit in this excursion.

Things we like:

  • Many divers stated that everything was well organised there was only 3-5 persons per dive master.
  • Several divers noted that they saw giant mantes, hammerhead sharks, manta shrimps, barracudas, turtles and whale sharks.
  • Many people commended the crew on being professional and always going the extra mile for when they were needed and not needed.
  • The food was excellent and the master chef was world class.

Things we don't like:

  • A couple of people noted that the gas fumes from the engine room entered their cabin.
  • Some people said they would have liked more time to explore on their own with a partner.
Key facts
Year built: 2016
Max divers: 30
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
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