Liveaboard Redefined: DiveRACE Class X Update

Lionel Lim

|10 May, 2026|Last Updated 10 May, 2026

Blog / Trips / She’s Real, She’s Coming — Meet MV DiveRACE Class X

We know you’ve been watching. Waiting. Wondering. And honestly? We don’t blame you.

For those of you who’ve followed DiveRACE over the years, who’ve dived with us through the Similans, drifted the walls at Hin Deang, or spotted whale sharks at Richelieu Rock – you already know that we don’t do things halfway. So when we first unveiled the concept for MV DiveRACE Class X, we made a promise. We were going to build something genuinely special. It would redefine what a liveaboard experience in Thailand could be.

That promise is still very much intact. And today, we want to give you an honest update on where things stand.

The Build: What’s Happening Right Now

MV DiveRACE Class X is under construction. She is real, she is taking shape, and she is coming.

We won’t sugarcoat it — the build has taken longer than we originally planned. That’s largely down to delays on the builder’s side. It’s been frustrating. We’ve pushed, we’ve followed up, and we’ve had to exercise a patience that doesn’t come naturally when you’re as excited about a project as we are. But the vessel is progressing, completion is in sight. And we are not cutting corners — not on the hull, not on the fit-out, and certainly not on the finishing touches that will make Class X the boat we’ve always envisioned.

For those who haven’t yet seen what we’re building, here’s the short version:

MV DiveRACE Class X is a custom-built, 35-metre steel liveaboard designed from the keel up by divers, for divers.

She spans 35 metres by 9 metres across four deck levels. She carries a maximum of 20 guests and a dedicated crew of 18 (12 boat crew, 6 dive crew). Importantly, she has been engineered with one singular obsession: giving you the best possible time both above and below the waterline.

What Makes Class X Different

We’ve been operating liveaboards since 2009. Over those years, we’ve listened to thousands of guests — what they loved, what they wished were different, what kept them coming back and what occasionally let them down. In fact, Class X is the sum of all of that accumulated feedback. It has been built into a single vessel.

On stability: The solid SS400 steel hull was chosen specifically because choppy Andaman seas shouldn’t cost you a dive day. Seasickness is not the memory you want to take home. Class X is designed to hold her own.

On space: With a maximum of 20 guests across a 35m x 9m platform and four deck levels, you will never feel crowded. Additionally, there is room to spread out, room to gear up in peace, and room to simply sit and watch the ocean.

On cabins: Every cabin — from the flagship 15 sqm Upper Deck Premium Suite with its king bed, ensuite shower and bathtub, down to the private Lower Deck Single Cabin — comes with its own private bathroom. Hotel-grade 10-inch mattresses. Five-star linen. A safe deposit box. The kind of rest you actually need when you’re diving four times a day.

On diving operations: Class X carries two custom-built dive tenders powered by 50HP outboard motors, engineered specifically for efficient diver deployment and pick-up. She also runs a full Nitrox membrane system and an onboard water maker. In addition, the dive deck workflow has been designed with real operational experience — no bottlenecks, no chaos, just smooth entries and clean exits.

On sustainability: Class X will run dual 120KW generators supplemented by renewable solar energy. We’re building toward a cleaner footprint without compromising the power and reliability a vessel of this size demands.

On dining: If you’ve eaten aboard one of our previous boats, you already know food is a serious matter at DiveRACE. Class X has a fully air-conditioned indoor dining area where guests will sit down to individually plated meals from our galley team. Moreover, the sun deck above offers 360-degree views of the Andaman Sea — the perfect spot for a coffee at sunrise before the first dive briefing.

On safety: Four life rafts. A full fire alarm and detection system. Night crew on duty around the clock. We’ve been operating since 2009 and our past experience makes us stronger. Mistakes are never to be repeated.

Why We Cancelled This Dive Season

Here’s the part we want to explain properly, because we owe you that.

We made the decision to cancel the upcoming dive season. We know that’s disappointing for those who were planning to book or were already looking forward to getting back on the water with us. It wasn’t a decision we took lightly.

The reason is straightforward: with Class X nearing completion, we have a narrow but critical window to get the vessel ready properly — to commission her systems, train the crew on the new platform, refine every operational procedure, and run her through her paces before she carries her first guests. Rushing that process to squeeze in a season would be exactly the wrong call. It would mean delivering an experience that isn’t worthy of what Class X is supposed to be.

So instead of doing that, we’re putting all of our energy into making sure that when you finally step aboard MV DiveRACE Class X, she is ready. The crew is sharp. Every system works the way it should. And the experience from day one is exactly what we’ve been promising.

The next season will be worth the wait. We’re staking our reputation on it.

A Word to Our Loyal Guests

To everyone who has dived with us over the years — thank you. Your patience, your understanding, and your continued trust genuinely mean everything to us. DiveRACE has always been built on the relationship between our team and our guests. That doesn’t change just because we’re going through a demanding build phase.

We’ll be sharing more updates as the completion milestones arrive. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see the real-time progress — photos from the build, sneak peeks of the finished spaces, and the moment we finally take her out on her first run.

For now, know this: MV DiveRACE Class X is coming. And she’s going to be everything we said she would be.

Want to be among the first to book for the next season? Get in touch with us or join our mailing list and we’ll make sure you’re first in line when bookings open.

In the meantime, explore the full vessel details at diverace.com/vessels/mv-diverace-class-x.