Phuket gives divers two very different ways to explore the Andaman Sea. A liveaboard sails for several days to the remote Similan, Surin, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. A day boat returns each evening, covering local reefs and the occasional Similan run. This Andaman Charters guide compares dive sites, cost, time, fitness and season so you choose the right trip with confidence.
The core difference: where each boat sleeps
The single biggest factor is distance. The best dive sites in the Andaman Sea sit far from Phuket: the Similan and Surin national parks, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and the legendary Richelieu Rock are three to five hours away by boat. A liveaboard solves this by sleeping at anchor near the sites, so you wake up already in the dive zone and can fit in three to four dives a day, including dawn and night dives.
A day boat is built around a single round trip from a Phuket pier. You leave in the morning, dive two or sometimes three times, and are back ashore by evening to sleep in your own hotel. That comfort comes at the cost of range: most of the day is spent reaching the sites and returning, which limits how far you can realistically go.
So the decision is less about which is better and more about how far you want to travel, how many dives you want per day, and whether you would rather sleep on the water or on land.
Which dive sites each can reach
Liveaboards open up the marquee sites. Over a typical three- to four-day itinerary you can dive Richelieu Rock (best February to April, intermediate to advanced), the deep pinnacles of Koh Bon and Koh Tachai (advanced, with currents and depths reaching 40 metres and beyond), plus Elephant Head Rock and Christmas Point in the Similans. These remote reefs draw manta rays, whale sharks in season and dense schooling fish that the closer reefs rarely match.
Day boats focus on sites within comfortable reach: local Phuket reefs, Racha Yai and Racha Noi, the Phi Phi area and the Boonsung Wreck off Khao Lak (13 to 20 metres, beginner to intermediate). These are excellent for training, relaxed fun diving and shorter days. Some operators run long day trips to the southern Similans, but you trade a lot of seat time for fewer dives than a liveaboard delivers.
If your bucket list includes Richelieu Rock or the Koh Bon and Koh Tachai pinnacles, a liveaboard is effectively the only practical way to dive them well. If you are happy with vibrant nearer reefs and gentle conditions, day boats cover them perfectly.
Cost: what you actually pay
Day-boat diving is cheaper to start because you pay per day and sleep in your own accommodation. A two- or three-dive day trip is a modest, flexible commitment, ideal if you only have a day or two free.
A liveaboard bundles the boat, cabin, all meals, multiple dives a day, tanks, weights and the long crossing into one package, which is why the headline figure is higher. Across the fleet, shared-cabin liveaboard places start from around 13,900 THB per person on simpler boats such as MV South Siam 4, with more comfortable vessels like MV Sawasdee Fasai from about 30,700 THB and MV Pawara from roughly 32,700 THB. Premium and small-group yachts run considerably higher.
Per dive, a liveaboard is often the better value: four dives a day for several days adds up to far more underwater time than the same money spent on separate day trips. Treat the numbers above as from-prices that vary by season, cabin grade and itinerary length, and confirm the current rate before you book.
Time and pace
A day trip costs you a single day and almost no planning. You can book it after you arrive, fit it around other holiday plans and still sleep in a comfortable bed. The trade-off is that travel time eats into diving time, so two relaxed dives is the usual reward.
A liveaboard asks for a bigger block of your holiday, commonly three to six days, and you commit to it in advance because cabins sell out in high season. In return the pace is intense in the best way: dive, eat, rest, dive again, often four times a day, with no commute. For serious divers chasing logged dives and remote reefs, nothing matches it.
Think of it as depth versus flexibility. Day boats keep your schedule open; liveaboards trade flexibility for a concentrated, immersive run of diving.
Fitness, experience and certification
Day boats are the friendlier choice for beginners and newly certified divers. Nearer reefs such as Racha and the Boonsung Wreck offer shallow, calmer conditions, and you return to land each night to rest, which suits anyone still building confidence or doing a course.
Liveaboards reward experience. Many of the standout sites are advanced: Koh Bon and Koh Tachai have strong currents and greater depths, and Richelieu Rock is best handled by intermediate to advanced divers. Several dives a day over consecutive days also asks more of your stamina and surface intervals, so a current certification, recent dives and reasonable fitness matter more here.
If you are early in your diving life, a few day trips are the smart warm-up. Once you are comfortable with currents and deeper profiles, a liveaboard becomes the natural next step.
Season: timing your trip
The Similan and Surin national parks, where most liveaboards operate, are open roughly from 15 October to 15 May, then close for the monsoon. Liveaboard diving is therefore a high-season activity, and the prime sites are best in the calmer, clearer months from December onward.
Richelieu Rock peaks from February to April, the same window when the Koh Bon and Koh Tachai pinnacles are at their best, so late-season liveaboards are prized for big-animal encounters. Plan and book these months well ahead.
Day-boat diving runs year-round because many local sites near Phuket stay accessible outside the park season, though sea conditions are calmest in the same October-to-May window. In the green season, day trips to sheltered reefs keep diving possible when the parks are closed.
Which should you choose?
Choose a day boat if you have limited time, want to keep your schedule flexible, are newer to diving or simply prefer sleeping on land. It is the easy, lower-commitment way to dive Phuket's nearer reefs and is open most of the year.
Choose a liveaboard if your goal is the Similan and Surin parks, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai or Richelieu Rock, you want maximum dives in minimum days, and you are comfortable with more advanced conditions during the October-to-May season. It is the only realistic way to dive the Andaman's best sites properly.
Andaman Charters books both. Tell us your dates, experience level and the sites on your wishlist and we will match you to the right boat. Message us on WhatsApp at +66 87 466 11 00 for current availability and from-prices.
Featured vessels for this trip
Frequently asked questions
Can I dive Richelieu Rock on a day trip from Phuket?
Realistically, no. Richelieu Rock is far north near the Surin Islands and is best reached by liveaboard. Its prime season is February to April, and it suits intermediate to advanced divers.
Do I need to be an advanced diver for a liveaboard?
Not for every site, but many highlights such as Koh Bon and Koh Tachai have currents and depth and favour experienced divers. A current certification, recent dives and reasonable fitness are recommended; beginners are usually better served by day trips first.
When is liveaboard diving available in Phuket?
Liveaboards mainly run during the Similan and Surin national park season, roughly 15 October to 15 May. The calmest, clearest conditions are typically December onward, with big-animal sites peaking February to April.
Is a liveaboard better value than several day trips?
Often, yes, per dive. A liveaboard package includes the cabin, meals, tanks and three to four dives a day, so you get far more underwater time than the same budget spent on separate day trips. Shared-cabin places start from around 13,900 THB on simpler boats.
Can beginners enjoy diving in Phuket?
Absolutely. Day boats reach calmer, shallower reefs near Phuket, Racha and the Boonsung Wreck that are ideal for training and relaxed fun dives, with a return to land each evening to rest.
How do I book and check prices?
Contact Andaman Charters with your dates, experience and target sites, and we will recommend the right boat. Message us on WhatsApp at +66 87 466 11 00 for current availability and from-prices.