Gentle Giant Liveaboard, Thailand
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8.7 Fabulous
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- Free Internet
- Nitrox available
- from $ 168 / day
- Book Now
“Delicious food was served 4 to 5 times a day, and freshly cooked with a sense of Thai.Crews were very helpful when putting on and …”
Highlights
The M/V Gentle Giant offers unique dive trips in the Andaman Sea. Covering both the north and south Andaman Sea, divers will cover the world-famous Similan islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, and Richelieu Rock, located in the north, and the southern area of Hin Daeng Hin Muang, Koh Haa, King Cruiser, Shark Point and Phi Phi. This special 6-night dive trip is only offered 12 times yearly between November and April. It is a fantastic opportunity for divers to explore the Andaman Sea, completing 22 dives over 7 days.
Topside, MV Gentle Giant caters to up to 20 guests in 10 cabins. Each cabin is en-suite with AC, sea views, and a safety deposit box. There are 1 master cabin, 1 deluxe cabin, and 8 twin standard cabins. Social areas include the fully air-conditioned indoor salon with a 55-inch TV and entertainment area, outdoor covered dining area, or large roof-top sundeck. Meals are a mix of international and Thai cuisine and are prepared fresh.
The experienced and passionate crew of the MV Gentle Giant are waiting to share the beauty of the Andaman sea. Places fill up fast, so book online today to reserve your space.
Choose your departure date
Included: VAT, Airport Transfer, Hotel Transfer, Drinking Water, Soft drinks, Soft Drinks at Meal Times, Tea & Coffee, Full-Board Meal Plan (All meals), Snacks, Diving Package, Cabin Towels, Complimentary Toiletries, WiFi internet.
Required Extras: National Park Fees (600-3,500 THB per trip).
Optional Extras: Dive Insurance (300 THB per trip), Gratuities, Alcoholic Beverages, Alcoholic Drinks at Dinner, Nitrox, Nitrox Course (7,500 THB), Private Dive Guide (12,000 THB per trip), Rental Gear (3,000 THB per trip), Scuba Diving Courses (1,500-7,500 THB).
Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you and you can confirm with a payment later.
* Extra fees are shown per person.
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Cabin Types
Gentle Giant Reviews
- 8.7 Fabulous
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Vessel
7.6
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Crew
8.8
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Food
9.4
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Diving
8.9
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Value
8.9
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- 9.2 Superb
- Charles L
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United States
first liveaboard exceeded expectations
as a new diver on my first liveaboard I must say that for the price, the Gentle Giant has set a high bar for quality of service and hospitality.
- Recommended for
- quality of staff. coherent schedule and communication. meal variety.
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- 9.2 Superb
- Paul S
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United States
A fantastic dive tour of the Andaman Sea islands and dive sites.
I selected Gentle Giant because of its itinerary. Most boats either dive the northern or the southern Andaman Sea. In the same trip, Gentle Giant visits all the most important and beautiful dive sites on the Indian Ocean coast of Thailand, both in the north and south. From the Richelieu Rocks teeming with life, through the fifty-plus meter visibility of the Similian Islands, to the sharks of Koh Phi Phi, our guides, fluent in both English and Mandarin, put us on all the best spots! The diving was amazing! The staff and crew were super friendly and helpful, and the food was fresh, savory, and abundant, with Thai, Chinese and Western selections. I look forward to diving again with Gentle Giant in the future.
- Recommended for
- The extensive itinerary, the diving and dive guides, and the crew services and friendliness.
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- 10 Exceptional
- Eric K
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United States
Liveaboard heaven!
MV Gentle Giant was simply amazing. This was my first liveaboard dive boat and I couldn't have been happier. Let's start with what is most important, the diving. Anyone looking into diving in Phuket knows Similan Islands to the northwest and Phi Phi Islands to the Southwest. This boat, in one trip, covers it all. We did a 5 day trip and dove 18 times. We went everywhere that Thailand has to offer and saw more fish, coral, reefs, sharks, octopus and other amazing creatures than you could hope for. You set up your gear (or they provide if necessary) on day 1 and it never moves. They refill your tank between each dive so all you have to do is put on your gear and jump in the water. They even have people on deck to defog your mask, help you put on or take off your fins and hand you any gear that you want (pokers, lights, cameras, etc...) Now, the food. My expectations were low and was I ever surprised. The chef was amazing. We have an assortment of Thai and international foods. Hot pots, steaks, seafood, eggs, rice and just about anything you could imagine. Have a request, they can do it. Finally, the crew. Travis was the dive master assigned to my group of 4 and he was amazing. He could help you with your gear, show you some amazing creatures and was just great to hang around with. Overall, there were 5 dive masters for 20 divers, so each dive master had a group of 4 each time. This love diver to dive master ratio was spectacular. Another unexpected treat. As a diver for over 20 years who has been around the world, all I can say is, if you are looking for a live-aboard this is the boat for you.
- Recommended for
- The crew, the diving and the food
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- 8.4 Very good
- Elaine T
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United States
It's about the diving!
I look to reviews to help me make satisfactory choices and avoid disappointment (and thus bad reviews). My review will, therefore, reflect my honest impressions. My only previous liveaboard experience was to the Galapagos on a trip that cost me approximately $3500 per person for the week with a significant special discount. This liveaboard trip cost approximately one third that amount. I knew to expect less upscale accommodations and was not disappointed that the room was more basic. I gave the cabin and boat comfort three stars as compared to a more expensive and upscale choice, but I was not at all unhappy with either. The bunk room I shared with a roommate had its own bathroom with shower and filled all needs. While the bed wasn't terribly comfortable I was knocked out from diving and slept soundly (as did my roommate even though, I am told, I do snore!). The food was very good, but again, I am rating compared to a more upscale choice that would include more options. The staff, crew and dive guides are beyond compare - all were excellent - friendly, professional, knowledgeable. The crew and guides cleaned all equipment and suits for divers after each dive and were always available to help in any way. The dive guides had excellent knowledge of dive sites, marine life and diving. The diving was very good. I was fortunate to see a couple of mantas, but the whale sharks are hiding from me! Beautiful hard and soft corals, rocks and caverns, lots of fish. The views from the boat are also stunning. I am a middle aged-senior citizen American woman who was travelling alone and was on this trip with a large dive group (about 20 divers) from China, most of whom were significantly younger than me. I do not speak Chinese and only a few of the other divers spoke English. For me this was a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and share experiences from our different cultural backgrounds. I thoroughly enjoyed the other divers and feel that we really enjoyed each other. If a diver will be travelling alone consider your comfort level with being in a similar situation. Great value - wonderful trip! Thanks, Smile Dolphin!
- Recommended for
- Diving, Dive Guides, Crew including food staff - And Great Value
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- 10 Exceptional
- Alicia F
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United States
Best liveaboard experience!
We did 10 dives in 3 days to the surrounding islands of Phuket, and it was excellent! We saw 3 shipwrecks, lots of coral, sharks, eels, rays, other animals and millions of fish.. very satisfying! The accommodations were nice and the food was beyond excellent. All the guides were very nice and the boat boys were amazing in helping us get ready, and on/off the boat for every dive. An incredible deal for the price!
- Recommended for
- Friendly Service, Great Sites, Great Food
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- 8.0 Very good
- Hubertus W
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Germany
Best of Adaman with Gentle Giant
We booked best of Adaman in CW51 2024, started in Phuket and ended in Tap Lamu Pier (Khao Lak Habour). Taxi was organized by the operator to our hotel for free what was really convenient. We started south Adaman where the view was partially really bad and the drives comparable unspectacular. Similan Islands where better but especially soft coral reef live was rather desolate. Unfortunately we missed the big guys like whale shark and manta completely to compensate. The highlight was Rechilieu Rock in the north close to Myanmar. Amazing mass of fish but also crowded with 8 liveaboards and additional speedboats from khao lak. Similans and Rechilieu Rock request to dive from Dingi (small accompanying boat) that can be a challenge in rough sea. Overall diving was ok but neither very ambitious nor special from flora/fauna point of view. Definitely a tour for rookies, fair enough that it was advertised like this. Especially dive organization and briefings where good and under water guiding was solid. The boat Gentle Giant is not an example for luxury. The smallest cabins that I so far experienced on a liveaboard, missing place to store your stuff. Anyway you usually only use them to sleep so we came along well. What I really missed where some beanbags on the upper deck to relax. They have plenty of space but low offer to relax after diving. Great food but China customer orientated. I would love to see less Chinese but more Thai food. The crew is very eher to fulfill guest wished. I felt very comfortable the whole trip. Value for money is a 5 star. If a luxury boat is not important for you, but easy and relaxed diving for low experience level and low budget, you are right on the Gentle Giant.
- Recommended for
- Well organized diving like planned, good briefings, enough time for preparation. Really experienced guides who 100% know what they are doing.. Delicious food and snacks around the day.. Relaxed atmosphere making me really forget the daily business at home. Crew was eger to make guest live comfortable..
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- 8.0 Very good
- Chien Hung Jackson H
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Canada
Due to the weather, we did not get to go to the famous richelieu rock and hin dang. But we saw the leopard shark. Staff was good and food was good.
Due to the weather, we did not get to go to the famous richelieu rock and hin dang. But we saw the leopard shark. Staff was good and food was good.
- Recommended for
- Staff. Food. Leopard shark.
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- 8.0 Very good
- Jonathan L
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India
A very enjoyable trip
A variety of dive sites, only 2 were repeated. Challenging dives well managed
- Recommended for
- Food quality and variety, decent sized cabins, safety
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- 10 Exceptional
- Timothy J
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Canada
My first liveaboard experience and expectations were surpassed!
The diving was great, the food was delicious, and it was nice meeting other people from different backgrounds!
- Recommended for
- Dives; food; comfort!
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- 8.8 Fabulous
- Lauren E
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United Kingdom
Fabulous people, incredible diving and just a wonderful week!
My partner and I had an incredible week onboard the Gentle Giant. Firstly, everything was very well organised so we were kept well informed of the daily plans. All the crew were excellent - the guides, the chef, stewardess, the boat guys and captain. Everyone was helpful, friendly and really made our stay fun, enjoyable and just really easy. The itinerary was well balanced and we felt that we really made the most of our time on the trip. Our guide, Gai, was very knowledgable and knew the sites well, he made sure we were kept away from larger groups underwater and pointed things out that we wanted to see. Overall, an excellent time - would recommend!
- Recommended for
- It's too hard to think of just three! I would say; the itinerary, the people and the ease of the whole week.
