Highlights aboard the Spaboat Merdeka 3
Thailand
What is a liveaboard spaboat?
A liveaboard spaboat is a unique experience that combines the best of diving and wellness.
Basically, it’s a cruise that lets you explore exclusive diving spots while enjoying authentic Thai massages.
When is the best time to do a liveaboard in Thailand?
The best time to visit this part of Thailand is from November to April. The weather is perfect, the sea is calm, and the underwater conditions are simply spectacular.
Want visibility? During those months you can see up to 30 meters underwater with total clarity.
In the low season there’s more rain, but also fewer travelers.
Why did we choose the Merdeka 3?
The Merdeka 3 is a teak-wood boat with just 14 berths. Traditional, comfortable, no flashy luxuries, but the essentials are well looked after.
Our guide, Kikki, was on another level: professional, fun, always making sure we were all right. By day three we already felt at home on board.
What's the diving like in Thailand?
In my honest opinion, diving in Thailand is world-class. You won’t read it online much, but it is.
Every dive feels different and bursting with marine life: tropical fish, blacktip reef sharks, vibrant corals and, if you’re lucky, whale sharks. Everywhere you look there’s something worth seeing.
And with the water at 28–30°C, you can dive comfortably without a wetsuit and take in everything Thailand has below the surface.
A week aboard the Merdeka 3: diving, relaxation and sea in Thailand
Can you imagine spending a whole week at sea? Crystal-clear water, marine life all around, home-cooked Thai meals and sunsets that don’t look quite real. That’s exactly what we did aboard the Merdeka 3, one of the most genuine liveaboards in Thailand.
We wanted something intimate. Nothing like boats packed with 25 people.
What stands out is the authenticity, the human touch and, above all, the laid-back atmosphere.
It’s probably the most relaxed liveaboard we’ve ever been on: set dive times, a small group, and a steady rhythm of our own, with our divemaster and guide Kiki keeping an eye on everyone.
What follows is our experience from the inside: practical advice, personal stories and the small details of a trip we’d happily do again tomorrow.
The best diving sites in and around Phi Phi National Park
Turtle Rock
This spot lives up to its name: though we weren’t lucky enough to spot any sea turtles! Located on Mai Thon Island, Turtle Rock is a perfect place to watch these incredible creatures up close, as well as moray eels, colorful nudibranchs and small clownfish playing in their anemones.
These spots remain relatively untouched and teeming with vibrant marine life. We’ve included photos of the Turtle Rock Dive Site in the Phiphi Islands below for you to see for yourself.
Koh Haa: Neua, Lagoon and Lek
Diving Koh Haa means dropping into one of Thailand’s most striking underwater landscapes. The name literally means “five islands” in Thai, and it’s a small archipelago inside Mu Koh Lanta National Park, known for clear water, swim-through caves and outstanding marine life.
Aboard the Merdeka 3 we dived three specific spots in Koh Haa: Neua, Lagoon and Lek. This was our favourite day: surrounded by thousands of silver fish as we threaded the caves, moray eels and scorpionfish along the walls, and even a curious squid that came right up to us on the night dive.
Hin Bida
Honestly, this one set the bar very high. Hin Bida is famous for its rich marine life, especially for leopard sharks, which you can see resting peacefully on the sandy bottom. We weren’t so lucky (it’s the shark I’ve had the most trouble spotting). We did find eagle rays, large sharks whose species we couldn’t identify, and the highlight was a group of cuttlefish that stayed with us for most of the dive.
It's not all about diving: food, atmosphere and views
Get ready, you're going to be blown away!
The home-cooked Thai food was incredible. Green curry, pad thai, spicy soups, fresh fish, tropical fruit… every meal was different and delicious. I never thought I’d eat so much on a boat, and there was always more. One day there were even chicken nuggets.
The atmosphere on board was what made the trip special: no rush, no pressure, just easy good vibes. At night, long conversations under the stars, soft music, a cold Singha, and a wide terrace where you could lie down and watch the sky.
And honestly? The views from the bow were the best part of the trip. I had plenty of naps there, did some reading, and had the kind of conversations that only happen at sea.
A experience worth having
The Merdeka 3 isn’t just a boat. It’s an experience. It’s the calm of the sea, the excitement of the reef, the taste of curry, shared laughs, and real disconnection.
What I took away most was that feeling of total freedom, of being cut off from the world for a few days. Sleeping with the sea breeze coming through the window, of seeing sharks and then chatting about them with a beer in hand, of learning from other travelers and the team, and of everything happening without any rush.
If you’re looking for something that will take you out of your routine and reconnect you with the sea (and with yourself), this is your sign.
