What I Wish Divers Knew Before Their First Similan Islands Liveaboard

There’s something about a Similan Islands liveaboard that’s difficult to explain until you’ve experienced one. Maybe it’s waking up to the sound of the ocean, having absolutely no idea what day it is, or the fact that your biggest decision is whether to have another coffee before the next dive.

Whatever it is, liveaboard life has a way of making everything else feel very far away.

But if you’re preparing for your first liveaboard diving trip, you probably have a few questions. What should you pack? How does the daily routine work? Will you actually have time to relax between dives?

Having spent plenty of time living aboard dive boats, I’ve picked up a few things along the way. Some are practical, others are things you only really appreciate once you’re out at sea.

So, before you join us on board MV DiveRACE Class X, here’s what I wish every diver knew before their first Similan Islands adventure.

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1. You Really Don’t Need That Much Luggage (I Still Haven’t Learned This)

Every single time I pack for a liveaboard, I convince myself I’ll need more clothes than I actually do. And every single time, half of them come home untouched.

The reality? You’ll probably spend most of your trip in swimwear, comfortable clothes, or something you’ve already worn three times. Nobody cares, and that’s one of the best things about being on a boat.

A few swimsuits, lightweight clothes, a warmer layer for breezy evenings, and your usual toiletries are generally enough. I’d also recommend a dry bag, sun protection, and any personal medication you might need.

Leave the unnecessary extras at home. You’ll appreciate having less to unpack, and even more when it’s time to pack everything up again.

2. You’ll Be Surprised How Quickly You Get Into the Routine

Eat, sleep, dive, repeat. It’s a cliché for a reason.

Your first morning might feel a little unfamiliar. There’s the dive briefing, getting your equipment ready, figuring out where everything goes, and remembering which pair of fins is yours.

Give it a day, and suddenly it all makes sense.

One of the things I love about liveaboard diving is how effortless the routine becomes. Your equipment has its place, you know when to be ready, and the day flows naturally from one dive to the next.

Aboard MV DiveRACE Class X, our custom-built dive tenders take you from the main vessel to the dive sites. Once you’re back, you can leave the diving behind for a while and enjoy the comforts of the boat.

My advice? Don’t overthink the first day. Ask questions, get comfortable, and enjoy settling into your new floating home.

3. The Surface Intervals Are Half the Fun

When people imagine a Similan Islands liveaboard, they usually picture what’s happening underwater. And while the diving is obviously a huge part of the experience, some of my favourite moments happen between dives.

There’s something pretty wonderful about coming back from a dive, grabbing a coffee, and finding a quiet spot overlooking the Andaman Sea.

Maybe you’ll spend the afternoon looking through photos, chatting about what everyone spotted underwater, or having a nap that somehow turns into the best sleep you’ve had in weeks.

And yes, rest is important. Multiple dives each day can be tiring, so staying hydrated, eating properly, and getting enough sleep will help you make the most of every dive.

On DiveRACE Class X, you’ll find spacious areas to relax, comfortable cabins, and plenty of places to simply enjoy being at sea.

Don’t feel like you need to fill every minute. Sometimes doing absolutely nothing is the best part.

4. You’ll Start Looking Forward to Mealtimes Almost as Much as the Dives

I’m not exaggerating when I say that food can become one of the highlights of a liveaboard.

There’s something about diving that makes you permanently hungry. You finish breakfast, go diving, come back ready for lunch, and somehow you’re already thinking about dinner.

But aboard MV DiveRACE Class X, dining is about more than just refuelling between dives.

With freshly prepared meals, à la carte dining, and attentive hospitality, we’ve put just as much thought into the experience above the surface as the one below it.

I think this is something first-time liveaboard guests often underestimate. Having a beautiful space to return to, great food waiting for you, and a team taking care of the details makes the entire experience feel like a proper holiday.

It’s one of the things that makes DiveRACE a little different. You’re here for the diving, but you’re also here to enjoy everything that comes with it.

5. Not Every Dive Will Be Calm, Clear, and Full of Action

I know. We’ve all seen those incredible underwater videos and imagined ourselves having exactly the same experience.

And while the Similan Islands are home to some spectacular diving, the ocean doesn’t work to anyone’s schedule.

Conditions vary between dive sites, and currents can sometimes be stronger than expected. Visibility changes, marine life moves around, and occasionally the dive you were most excited about isn’t the one that surprises you.

That’s part of what makes diving here so interesting.

From the enormous granite boulders and swim-throughs of Elephant Head Rock to the marine-rich waters around Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock, every site has its own personality.

My advice is to arrive with an open mind. Listen to your dive guides, respect the conditions, and don’t spend the entire dive searching for one particular animal.

Sometimes the best encounters are the ones you weren’t looking for.

6. The Small Stuff Can Be Just as Exciting as the Big Stuff

Of course, everyone hopes for the big encounters. Manta rays, whale sharks, and other impressive marine life are part of what makes the wider Similan and Surin Islands region so exciting.

But some of my favourite dives have been the ones where I stopped looking into the blue and started paying attention to everything happening on the reef.

Colourful nudibranchs, tiny shrimps, curious octopuses, hunting trevally, and schools of fish moving together can make an ordinary-looking patch of reef absolutely fascinating.

And the beauty of a Similan Islands liveaboard is that you get several days to experience it all. There’s no pressure to squeeze everything into a single dive.

Take your time, look closely, and enjoy whatever the ocean decides to show you.

7. You’ll Probably Forget What Day It Is

This might actually be my favourite part.

Somewhere between your second day at sea and your fifth conversation about what you saw on the last dive, you stop paying attention to the outside world.

Your phone becomes a camera, your schedule revolves around dive briefings and meals, and you realise you haven’t thought about your usual responsibilities for hours.

There’s something incredibly refreshing about that.

You meet people from different places, share stories over dinner, laugh about the little things that happen underwater, and find yourself looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow.

It’s a simple way of living, but one that stays with you long after the trip ends.

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Your First Similan Islands Liveaboard Is More Than a Diving Trip

If there’s one thing I’d tell anyone preparing for their first liveaboard, it’s to enjoy the whole experience, not just the dives.

Pack a little lighter, don’t worry too much about the routine, make time to rest, and appreciate those quiet moments when you’re surrounded by nothing but the ocean.

Because while the diving is what brings us to the Similan Islands, it’s often everything in between that makes us want to return.

Aboard MV DiveRACE Class X, we’ve created a liveaboard experience that brings together exceptional diving, refined comfort, and thoughtful hospitality. From exploring the underwater world to relaxing in your floating home, every part of the journey deserves to be memorable.

Ready to experience it for yourself?

Discover our Similan and Surin Islands liveaboard trips aboard MV DiveRACE Class X and book now.

Exceptional service, above and below the surface.