Thailand Master Liveaboard Overview

Sylvia JenkinsDIVEIN contributor Rebecca Strauss taking a selfie near a city canal
By
Sylvia Jenkins
Content Specialist at DIVEIN.com
Coming from London, UK, Sylvia has always loved traveling. During a family trip to Thailand in her early teens, it was of course a no-brainer to...
Rebecca Strauss
DIVEIN contributor Rebecca Strauss taking a selfie near a city canal
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Rebecca has been an avid traveler and scuba diver for many years. She began her editorial career by updating travel guides, which took her all over...
The Thailand Master liveaboard, a red-sailed traditional-style boat, anchored near a jungle coast
The Thailand Master is a classic junk-style dive boat.
The wooden Phinisi-style Thailand Master anchored with a diver visible below the surface
The Thailand Master, previously Phinisi, is a dark teak dive boat.
Two tenders towing lines head toward a jungle island near the Thailand Master
Diving is done predominantly from two tenders.
Outdoor dining table with fruit bowls set on the Thailand Master's rear deck
Meals are served alfresco and buffet-style.
A giant manta ray glides overhead with remoras attached to its underside
Pelagics, such as majestic mantas are common sightings.
A scuba diver approaches a green sea turtle resting on a coral reef
Turtles, both green and hawksbill, live around western Thailand and Myanmar.
Aerial view of a reef-fringed jungle island with boats moored offshore in Thailand
Aerial view of Koh Torinla of the Surin Islands.
A gorgonian sea fan with small fish sheltering among reef corals
With calm currents, photographers have time to capture the perfect shot.
A school of baitfish swirls above a coral bommie underwater
Divers will be spoiled with dense fish life.
Rows of scuba tanks lined up on the Thailand Master's dive deck
The dive deck of the Thailand Master.
Bunk-style quad cabin aboard the Thailand Master with red towel decorations on the beds
There are two quad rooms, accommodating four guests in each.
Wood-paneled saloon aboard the Thailand Master with bench seating and fans
The indoor salon has AC and a self-serve coffee and tea station.
Covered lounge and dining seating on the Thailand Master's upper deck
The main dining space is a communal outdoor area.

Manta-filled pinnacles, technicolor soft-coral walls and the chance to see a whale shark at sunrise—that’s a typical morning aboard the Thailand Master.

Operating four main itineraries in Thailand’s Andaman Sea and Myanmar’s remote Mergui Archipelago, this classic phinisi sails to sites that day boats can’t reach, offering up to four dives a day and night dives on most itineraries. Diving in Thailand and Myanmar is typically calm, and with main itineraries ranging from 5-10 days, it’s particularly inviting to first-timers or novice divers.

At 111-feet-long (34 m) the Indonesian-built Phinisi was refitted by Master Liveaboards. The vessel hosts just 18 guests in seven ensuite cabins, looked after by four dive guides and a welcoming crew. Rich teak interiors, shaded alfresco dining and a huge dive deck give the boat a boutique-hotel feel, with a constantly changing 360-degree ocean view.

Keep reading as we dive into our review of Thailand Master.

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.

Recommended in: Liveaboards

Things we like:

  • 18 guests to 4 guides
  • Flexible itineraries (4-, 6-, 7- & 10-night) across Thailand and Myanmar
  • Authentic wooden junk sailboat with relaxed vibe

Things we don't like:

  • No WiFi onboard
  • Nitrox not included

Diving on the Thailand Master

A whale shark swims past divers trailing bubbles near Thailand's Similan Islands
A school of yellow snapper swims over a coral reef
Rows of BCDs and dive gear hanging ready on the Thailand Master's deck
Small boats loaded with gear near a jungle-covered island off Thailand
A porcelain crab peers out from among the tentacles of a sea anemone
A leopard shark rests on the sandy seabed off Thailand

The Thailand Master travels continuously between Southern Thailand, the Similan & Surin Islands, and the Mergui Archipelago of Myanmar. Guests can expect three to four dives a day, with easy reef drifts in the south, colorful bommies and the King Cruiser wreck in the Similans, and black coral-smothered walls in Mergui.

Pelagics steal the show—manta rays are common, whale sharks show up from March through May, while leopard and blacktip reef sharks patrol year-round. Macro lovers can hunt for harlequin shrimp, ghost pipefish, and frogfish in sheltered bays and sandy bottoms.

Diving conditions in Thailand and Myanmar are generally clear, calm, and warm with mild currents, making it an ideal destination for divers of all experience levels. Some itineraries require only an Open Water certification and, thanks to the easy conditions, many guests choose to complete their Advanced Open Water certification during the trip.

If you’re not already certified, you can also take a nitrox course on any of the itineraries. Diving is done from two RIBs and groups are capped at six divers per guide for relaxed briefings and longer bottom times.

Highlights:

  • Similan granite pinnacles in the Similans, soft-coral gardens in the Surins & whale shark hotspot Richelieu Rock
  • Remote sites in the Mergui Archipelago with black coral forests and schooling trevally
  • Warm tropical dives and easy conditions
  • Gear and nitrox can be rented for a surcharge

Onboard the Thailand Master

Bunk-style quad cabin aboard the Thailand Master with red towel decorations on the beds
Wood-paneled saloon aboard the Thailand Master with bench seating and fans
Sundeck with red bean bags and a guitar aboard the Thailand Master
Wood-paneled double cabin aboard the Thailand Master with a bed dressed in red towel decor

Thailand Master is a 112-foot (34 m) Indonesian-built phinisi schooner, constructed from dark ironwood and teak. The main dining area is outside with shaded communal tables and meals served buffet-style.

Out on the deck, there are beanbags and sun loungers for a midday nap or admiring the stars. There is a small air-conditioned salon where guests can help themselves to a self-serve coffee and tea station, and lots of plugs for the photographers. The fridge holds soft drinks, beer and wine, which guests take themselves, and pay for at the end of the trip. Below the deck, seven ensuite cabins are arranged to suit every budget and group size. Three cabins can be utilized as twin share or double; two fixed twin cabins feature two single beds; and two cabins feature four single beds (two twins and a bunk).

All rooms feature individual air-conditioning, hot-water showers, fresh towels and storage options.

Highlights:

  • Beautiful dark teak junk boat, with welcoming communal areas.
  • All rooms feature individual air-conditioning & hot-water showers.
  • Free kayaks and island excursions on non-diving afternoons

Dining onboard the Thailand Master

Outdoor dining table with fruit bowls set on the Thailand Master's rear deck
Covered dining tables and lounge seating on the Thailand Master's upper deck

Three generous meals are served buffet-style, mixing fresh Thai curries, international favorites and nightly desserts. Afternoon cakes, fruit and pre-dive snacks keep energy high. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets can be effortlessly catered to.

Cold beer, soft drinks and wine are available to guests for a surcharge, although bringing your own is permitted with moderation.

Highlights:

  • Locally sourced Thai produce and seafood
  • Shaded open-air dining with ocean views

Key facts
Year built: 2007
Max divers: 14
Rental equip: Yes ($)
Camera station: Yes
Internet: No
Min logged dives: No minimum
Nitrox: Yes ($)
Aircon: Yes
Trip length: 5-7 Nights
Price range: Mid-range

Get an email when there's a new comment
Notify of
guest
0 Comments