Sunrise Divers - Monday 24 September 2007

Rental Diving Equipment

We are in the process of servicing all our rental equipment. We do a full service on all gear every year and perform regular maintenance throughout the year at our dive center. We like to ensure that our customers have trouble-free diving with top quality, well serviced equipment. We have more than 25 full sets of equipment, with wetsuits to fit the small to the tall and fins for everyone from ballet dancers to the invisible snowman. We invest heavily in our equipment because we believe that good equipment is an important part of happy diving.



One whole floor of our dive center is devoted to equipment. We keep the area spotless and all gear is carefully washed after every use. Mouthpieces on regulators are changed often, we add new neoprene masks straps on our masks every year and often buy new masks, snorkels and fins to replace old gear.





If you dive with us and need rental gear you can be sure of getting quality rental equipment. And best of all - we charge just 500 Baht per day for a full set (BCD, regulator with octopus, shorty wetsuit, fins, mask and snorkel).





Hope to see you here diving in Thailand soon!



Sunrise Divers - Friday 21 September 2007

Special Offers and Last Minute Deals - Thailand Liveaboards

Now that the high season is underway, there will be occasional last minute prices and special deals floating around. We aim to concentrate all these offers on this blog with links to full information on our web site. Since this a blog, you'll find the latest offers on top of the page, but in order to make life easier you should bookmark THIS page where we will link to all the lastest special offers on liveaboards in Thailand, Burma and even Indonesia...

For more details on any offer, for bookings or questions - contact Sunrise Divers by email - info@sunrise-divers.com or call our dive shop 076 398 040, or mobile 08 4626 4646.

Latest Thailand Liveaboard Offers

West Coast Explorer 8 - 12 November
Queen Scuba 6 - 10 November, 20% Off
Pawara 16-22 November
Giamani 4 - 10 November
The Junk - 20% Off for Early Bookings


Latest Burma Liveaboard Offers

Faah Yai - Pay for 2 Divers, Get One FREE!

You can also find last minute offers on our website:

Last Minute Liveaboard Offers - Similan Islands


Latest Indonesia Liveaboard Deals

Komodo Dancer - Save 300 US$ in December 2007



Sunrise Divers - Thursday 20 September 2007

Philkade Luxury Liveaboard - Save 20% in October

If someone asks us "which liveaboard is most luxurious", the answer is simple - Philkade, if you have deep pockets. The Philkade is a former private yacht converted into a 13 berth liveaboard. This is a big boat for just 13 guests, and it's not just big... everything is made from top quality materials. Philkade oozes class.

Of course, luxury is not free of charge! Philkade is also the most expensive boat that we offer, but for the month of October 2007 you can get luxury at a discount. A special early season offer has been announced - you can save 20% on the Philkade for the following 6 night trips to the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock.

21st - 27th October
27th October - 2nd November

Normal price per pax:
Deluxe Cabin US$ 1,980 per person - Special Price US$ 1,584 per person
Standard Cabin US$ 1,680 per person - Special Price US$ 1,344 per person

If you want a slice of luxury this is a great option for October.

For bookings or more information, email Sunrise Divers - info@sunrise-divers.com, or call our Hotline 08 4626 4646.



Sunrise Divers - Wednesday 19 September 2007

Thailand Liveaboard Season - Ready for Kick Off

The start of the "high season" for diving in Phuket and liveaboards to the Similan Islands is just over the horizon. The main season is November to April, but you can get some great liveaboard diving at the extremities of the season in October or May. The very first departures of the season will be 1st October. The MV Jazz has confirmed trips from 1 - 5 October and 6 - 10 October, while the South Siam 3 will be heading to the Similans on the 1st ready for daily transfers by speedboat.

South Siam

South Siam

Save 200 US$ on the Mermaid II

Other boats will start trips later in the month. The Mermaid II has just released a special offer for new bookings received for trips on 21 - 25 October and 25 - 29 October. Normal trip price is US$ 999 per person, but you can book now for just US$ 799.

Mermaid II

If you are looking for liveaboards in Thailand and Burma - ask us! We have been one of Thailand's leading liveaboard specialists since 1999. We know the boats, we know the dive sites, and our aim is to match you to the right boat. We select only the best boats in their price range, unlike some agents who it seems will "sell anything that floats"! We personally inspect all boats and every year we offer new liveaboards and drop old boats or boats that we no longer consider good value.

Similan Island Liveaboards
Burma Liveaboards

For more information, try any of the links on this page, or contact us by email - info@sunrise-divers.com.



Sunrise Divers - Thursday 13 September 2007

Burma Liveaboards - Diving in Myanmar

The Mergui Archipelago only opened up to divers about 10 years ago, mainly because of the military regime in Myanmar who refused entry to tourists. There are still ethical questions of course - should you go? Up to you - if you want great diving you can get it in Thailand, but if you have dived the Similans already and want something new, something off the beaten track, something remote... Burma (yeh, OK, Myanmar) is for you.

Approaching Kawthaung

There are rumours of dive centers starting to exists inside Myanmar, but for the last 10 years the only way to dive north of the border has been by liveaboard boat. Liveaboards depart from Ranong (on the border), Thap Lamu (near Khao Lak) or Phuket. The boats departing from Thailand will include some dives in Thailand. The few that depart from Ranong do all the dives in the Mergui Archipelago.

The diving is not all easy - some currents and deep water, the trips tend to be longer, at least 5 days in duration, but your reward is to dive and cruise an almost uninhabited and not fully explored part of the world. Over the last few years, fishing and dynamiting caused damage to fish populations, but last year there was a serious crack down by the Burmese and the Faah Yai liveaboard (which runs Burma dedicated trips) reported NO dynamite all of last season from November 2006 - April 2007.

Sunset at Western Rocky, Mergui Archipelago

Gilbert took a trip in April on the Sai Mai for 10 days - great trip. Marine life ranging from seahorses to whalesharks! It's all out there.

Burma Diving Links

Burma Liveaboards
Burma Dive Sites

Burma Photo Gallery

The photos on this page were taken by either Gilbert Redmann, Bernard Austermann or are courtesy of the Faah Yai Liveaboard.

The Mergui Archipelago has some beautiful reefs Frogfish, Mergui Archipelago - Many critters are to be found here

Divers taking the plunge at Black Rock

Sunset at High Rock, Mergui Archipelago

Ghost Pipefish

Gilbert enjoying his trip on MV Sai Mai

Mantas are not uncommon in the Mergui Archipelago

Sleeping nurse sharks

You get it all in Myanmar from the big to the small


Burma Liveaboards - Boat Information (updated 2013)

Diva Andaman (luxury)
Deep Andaman Queen (mid price)
Dolphin Queen (low budget)

For more information about diving in the Mergui Archipelago, please contact Sunrise Divers - info@sunrise-divers.com or call our Phuket dive center on 076 398 040.



Sunrise Divers - Monday 10 September 2007

September Special on The Junk

The Junk is one of Phuket's best known liveaboard boats. She has been cruising these waters for a fair number of years and is a unique boat - people on other boats stand and stare and wonder "wow, I wonder how much a trip costs...". The high season price is not cheap (But you can take advantage of a 20% early booking discount).

In the "low season", The Junk runs occasional cruises around Phi Phi and the Racha Islands at a very nice price... There is a confirmed trip for 4 days/5 nights from 15th - 20th September with up to 16 dives at Racha Yai, Racha Noi and the Phi Phi Islands. If you're heading this way soon, The Junk gets you to all the best local dive sites in comfort...

15th - 20th September (4 days diving / 5 nights on board)

Deluxe Double bed cabin: US$ 699 per person
Shared 3 or 4 bed cabin: US$ 549 per person


For Bookings, please email Sunrise Divers - info@sunrise-divers.com, or call our dive center in Karon beach, Phuket on 076 398 040.

More Useful Links

Dive Sites - Phi Phi Islands
Dive Sites - Phuket (includes Racha Islands)
Thailand Liveaboards - Full Listing



Sunrise Divers - Wednesday 5 September 2007

Mermaid 2 - Getting Better All The Time

The Mermaid 2 liveaboard has been running since December 2000. Sunrise Divers very own Jamie was on the very first trip! The boat has been one of the most popular in Phuket ever since, which means 2 things - Mermaid 2 provides great service and has a great reputation and it's almost always fully booked - so if you want to book Mermaid 2, you better let us know early!


There have been a couple of important new improvements made during the summer, meaning Mermaid 2 is better than ever and ready to start trips at the end of next month...

NEW! The aircon was a bit of an achilles heel for the Mermaid 2, she always had a central unit feeding all cabins - now every cabin has it's own individually controllable aircon until. Some like it hot, some like it cold - you choose!

NEW! Liveaboard boats carry a large supply of water, but you may hear the tour leader asking people not to take 5 showers per day... on Mermaid 2 you can take 10 showers per day if you want as she now has a watermaker on board!

Also, the saloon, party deck and dining room have been improved with some beautiful timber decking, the galley has been expanded and the boat is all painted anew for the new season. We hope to have some brand new photos soon!

Mermaid 2 Web Links

Mermaid 2 - Bali and Komodo Schedule

Phuket Liveaboards - Full Listing

For Bookings or Information, contact Sunrise Divers - email info@sunrise-divers.com or call our dive center +66 (0)76 398 040.



Sunrise Divers - Monday 3 September 2007

MV Faah Yai - Friends Dive For Free! Special Offer for Burma Liveaboards

The MV Faah Yai is probably the most experienced "Burma boat" you can dive with. Tour leader Alain has been diving the Mergui Archipelago for 10 years and loves the remote feel of the islands. His wife Sunan is the cook on board Faah Yai and makes some amazing dishes from her floating kitchen. Faah Yai ONLY dives in Burma and is based in Ranong, on the border about 4-5 hours drive North of Phuket. The Northerly departure point means more diving in the Mergui islands and a chance to cruise further North than other boats.


SPECIAL OFFER - Pay for 2 divers and a 3rd travels FREE! (Yes, we mean FREE, the trip price for diver 3 is ZERO). Of course there are a few bits of smallprint - valid for bookings of groups of 3, all 3 divers must share 1 cabin with a double and single bed, valid for any trip but must be booked and paid before November 30th 2007, and the 3rd (FREE) diver must pay Burma fee (US$ 200) same as any other diver.

Anyhow, no matter which way you look at it, this is a very good deal (if you are a group of 3!)

Burma Liveaboards

For bookings, contact Sunrise Divers by email (info@sunrise-divers.com) or call the dive center (+66 (0)76 398 040) or Mobile "Hotline" (+66 (0)8 4626 4646).