Gentle Giant, Thaïlande

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.

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The crew, the diving and the food

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!

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Diving, Dive Guides, Crew including food staff - And Great Value

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!

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Friendly Service, Great Sites, Great Food

Abwechslungsreiches schönes Tauchen

Mit tollen Tauchgängen im Norden und Süden in der Andaman-See bot dieser Trip abwechslungsreiche Tauchgänge von schönen Korallenriffen bis hin zu immer wieder schönen Fischschwärmen und Highlights wie Leopardenhaien und Seepferdchen. Trotz teilweise schlechter Sichtverhältnisse waren die Tauchgänge entspannt und ziemlich schön.

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viele Fischschwärme. Leopardenhai. teilweise schöne Korallen.

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.

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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..

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.

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Staff. Food. Leopard shark.