Choose Diving Day Trips or Liveaboards in Thailand

Thailand is an amazing destination for divers from around the world. There are thousands of exciting and beautiful dive sites in the warm, calm, and crystal-clear waters of the Andaman Sea, Phang Nga Bay, and the Gulf of Thailand. With dive sites like the world-famous Similan and Phi Phi Islands just waiting to be explored, divers can't wait to explore Thailand's undersea world. 

The only decision left to make is which type of dive trip suits you best. Giant Stride is a website offering Thailand's best day trips and liveaboard diving options. If you're new to diving and eager to explore your exciting new hobby, we'll explain why boat diving trips are the best way to go and help you decide whether a day boat diving trip or liveaboard is your best option.

  

The biggest advantage to taking a day diving trip is the flexibility and last-minute ability to book these trips. One of the biggest problems with being a visitor is the need to fly into Thailand, which makes booking a trip on a liveaboard something that has to align with your vacation plans and the liveaboard’s sailing schedule. The day boat diving trip offers flexibility and the option of booking a trip on short notice. 

They offer lower upfront diving costs, the ability to stay in a variety of comfortable land-based accommodations, and the freedom to explore other activities. They’re often the better options for those new to diving who are wary of committing themselves to the intense, daily schedule of diving offered by the liveaboard.  

Some considerations to keep in mind when choosing a day diving trip are the sometimes lengthy travel times on the boat to reach certain dive sites and the limited number of dives that are safe to make in one day.  

There are many advantages to booking a liveaboard diving trip, and these trips are immensely popular with travelers wanting to accomplish a large number of dives during their limited time in Thailand. Booking a trip on a liveaboard allows you to generally complete up to four dives a day, plus a thrilling night dive. They also often offer Nitrox facilities. The liveaboard offers an immersive diving experience, and there are many boats to choose from, offering both economical accommodations where the focus is on the diving, and luxury accommodations with plenty of amenities.

Some of the other advantages include being able to travel to remote dive sites comfortably, and the overall cost-per-dive is less on a liveaboard. The community experience among experienced divers over several days is also a distinct advantage, which will expand your knowledge of diving, quickly improve your diving skills, and make you many new friends while you’re learning and gaining experience. 

Necessary considerations include, the need to align your travel plans with your chosen boat’s sailing schedule, considerably higher up-front costs, limited non-diving activities available onboard, and space constraints over the usual four days of occupancy on the liveaboard.  

Another factor to keep in mind is the seasonal aspect of Thailand's tourists, including divers from around the world. Booking a day boat trip or liveaboard may need to be done far in advance when the trip is planned during the high-season months of November to March. The prices charged can also be greater during these months. Booking a trip so far in advance also leaves you open to weather uncertainties. However, Thailand's weather rarely rains or is stormy for more than a day at a time.  

Seasonal considerations also include the boat’s destinations. Certain dive sites can be crowded during the high season and offer a less-than-optimal dive experience. Consider booking a liveaboard offering destinations and dive sites that few people have heard of or know about. 

The Giant Stride website offers a wide variety of day trips and liveaboards. You can learn about the operator's safety and conservation philosophy, accommodations, group sizes, quality of site guidance, type of food and beverages offered, amenities, schedules, and destinations. Every boat is also given a one-to-five-star rating so you can see what other divers feel about the experience the boat offers. 

Book a Thailand liveaboard diving trip through Giant Stride and experience some of the most extraordinary, beautiful and memorable diving of your life.