Operating out of Phuket, Thailand, the Gentle Giant liveaboard is 27 meters long and six meters wide, accommodating up to 20 divers. The ship offers individual bookings and full charters exploring the iconic Similan Islands in the North Andaman Sea and Hin Daeng Hin Muang nestled in the South Andaman Sea.
The ship has three cabin types: one master cabin, one deluxe cabin, and eight standard cabins, all of which include air-conditioning, an ensuite bathroom, a safe, and a view of the sea. The master cabin is located on the upper deck, and it has one queen-sized bed and one bunk bed. The deluxe cabin is on the main deck and includes a queen-sized bed. The standard cabins have bunk beds and are located across the upper and main decks. The upper deck is home to the wheelhouse, air-conditioned saloon, and dining area. The main deck is primarily composed of cabins but also includes the dive deck.
Gentle Giant Liveaboard offers three itineraries: four days and three nights through the Koh Haa Islands, spotting mantas and whale sharks while diving through caverns and wrecks; three days and two nights exploring the Racha and Phi Phi Islands as well as the Kled Kaew wreck; and six days and five nights swimming alongside pelagic life like whale sharks and mantas and through the vibrant coral reef ecosystems in the South Andaman Sea.
Koh Haa - Hin Daeng Hin Muang - Phi Phi - King Cruiser Wreck - Shark Point (4D/3N)
This 4 day/3 night trip offers divers the chance to explore South Andaman dive sites like Koh Haa islands as well as Hin Daeng Hin Muang which is becoming more popular in recent years. This is because of the possibility of manta and whale shark encounters on the dive sites that are not too far from Phuket. Those who are fond of caverns or swim-throughs will love Koh Haa as there are chimneys and caverns to explore. The trip starts in the evening of the first day when the shuttle picks up divers at their hotel. The diving will start the next morning and will be doing a total of 11 dives on this trip.
Racha-Phi Phi-King Cruiser Wreck-Shark Point (3D2N)
During the green (wet) season in Thailand, starting from May to September each year, all the dive sites in National Parks like Similan, Richelieu, and Hin Daeng Hin Muang will be closed. But Phuket still offers many fantastic dive sites that are open for diving year-round. The 3 day/2 night trip takes divers to all these popular dive sites that day trip boats visit. But divers avoid the crowds and the time spent during the transfer in the morning and evening on a liveaboard. This itinerary starts early in the morning of day 1, cruising to Racha islands doing 3 dives. At night, the boat will moor at Phi Phi island, ready to do another 4 dives in the next morning at Bida Nok, Bida Nai, Hin Bida and Kled Kaew wreck. After the last dive of the day, guests have the opportunity to visit Phi Phi island to grab a beer or enjoy the night’s entertainment. The next day, the ship will visit King Cruiser wreck, Shark Point, and Flower Island, completing a total of 10 dives over this 3D2N trip, arriving back at Chalong pier by 16:30-17:00 where guests will be transferred back to the hotels.
The Gentle Giant offers nitrox for EAN-certified divers but does not support technical diving or rebreathers.
Narrative text and photographs courtesy of Smile Dolphin Diving and the Gentle Giant.