| MV Daranee is one of the cheaper liveaboards in the Thailand liveaboard market. It is popular with budget travelers and tends to have young guests who care more about the diving than the creature comforts. MV Daranee is a Thai owned and run boat that has been diving the Similan Islands since 1981. The staff are all experienced and customer service is superb. The crew make their guests feel like their friends and many customers return year after year. Daranee departs from Tap Lamu pier, just south of Khao Lak and 1 hour north of Phuket island.Transfers from Phuket and Khao Lak are included. Trips are typically 4 day and 4 night cruises to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. Daranee cabins are large with big sliding windows which can be opened if you prefer fresh air to AC. However if you like your cabin icy cool, each cabin has it's own individually controlled air conditioning unit. The shaded open air saloon
on the upper deck is the communal area where food is served. There is a
TV, DVD and music centre there plus a selection of fish ID books and
dive magazine At the front of the main deck there is room to sunbathe. The dive deck is also spacious with storage space for equipment and fresh water rinse tanks for dive gear and camera equipment. Food on board Daranee is excellent, as you would expect from a Thai run boat. Most meals are Thai food. There are three main meals per day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is also a light breakfast before the first dive each day. Snacks are served after dives and fresh tropical fruits are always available. Tea, coffee and drinking water are free of charge but canned soft drinks and beer is extra. |