MV Smiling Seahorse

This is a brand-new boat launched in October 2018. MV Smiling Seahorse was purpose designed for Myanmar liveaboard diving safaris in the Mergui Archipelago. Replacing MV Thai Sea, MV Smiling Seahorse is bigger but its guest capacity remains the same. Therefore everyone has more space to relax, socialise & move around. There are eight cabins, each for no more than two guests. All of Smiling Seahorse’s cabins have air conditioning, and most have private en suite bathrooms. The boat also has a strong steel hull and two new large engines which mean trips far out into the archipelago are smooth and easy.

MV Smiling Seahorse is 25 metres long and 6.5 metres wide. Taking no more than 16 guests, it’s the perfect size to give space but keep things friendly and not waste fuel. The boat’s design means that everything is located perfectly for the purpose of the trips. Some Myanmar liveaboards are converted fishing boats. MV Smiling Seahorse has a huge sundeck on the roof that has shaded areas, too. It’s perfect for topping up your tan or enjoying the view without getting sunburnt. And at night you can gaze at the stars in the clear skies.

The upper deck of Smiling Seahorse has two guest cabins and the main area for dive briefings, meals & socialising. The guest cabins are air-conditioned twin or double ‘Superior Cabins.’ Their doors open out onto deck instead of in to a corridor. This enables guests to enjoy a sea view. At the back of Smiling Seahorse’s upper deck is the main area for when you’re not diving or sleeping. Delicious meals are enjoyed around tables, and the team give detailed dive briefings. There plenty of comfortable seating, and a bar flat-screen TV for movies or pictures & videos of the day’s diving.

The main deck of Smiling Seahorse has six guest cabins and the dive deck. There are four Deluxe Cabins & two Master Cabins. All have air-conditioning & private bathrooms. The large Master Cabins are at the front of the boat. They have double beds. The Deluxe Cabins can be set up as twins or doubles. All have doors opening out onto the deck, which gives you a nice view & more privacy. Between the cabins and the dive deck is the boat’s kitchen. Here the chefs make delicious meals which are served buffet style throughout the cruises. MV Smiling Seahorse meals are the perfect blend of local cuisine to western taste. Vegetarian guests won’t go hungry, and vegans or anyone who has any other special dietary needs can be catered for. But please inform in advance. Next to the kitchen is something that more and more diving liveaboard boats need to have. The photography room is becoming increasingly important on diving liveaboards. The Smiling Seahorse team made sure that a good-size room is available for guests to clean, charge, or service their camera gear. The boat’s large dive deck is well-designed. There‘s of space for equipment, tanks and for everyone to move safely to the back of the boat in small groups.

Down in the lower deck of MV Smiling Seahorse is the crew’s cabins, and where the new large engines are located. Smiling Seahorse goes on long adventures far into the Mergui Archipelago, and its new larger engines enable more-adventurous diving cruises than could be enjoyed before.

MV Smiling Seahorse has several trip itineraries into the Mergui Archipelago. They all leave from & return to Ranong, in the south of Thailand very near the border of Myanmar. There are two different 6D5N trips that offer up to 17 dives in Myanmar. Then there are also two different 8D7N trips. It’s almost certain that most of the time Smiling Seahorse will be on the only scuba diving liveaboard within sight!

Similing Seahorse also has trips the Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock in Thailand

Prices & Schedule

MV Smiling Seahorse has several itineraries into Myanmar. All trips depart from & return to Ranong, Thailand at lunchtime.

There are four different itineraries, two for each trip length (6 Day 5 Night & 8 Day 7 Night).

The differences depend on diving destitnations & the prices.