Thailand Master (The Phinisi) dive boat review
The Phinisi · now Thailand Master · 2026–2027
Photos: Thailand Master operator gallery via LiveAboard.com.
The Phinisi is now marketed as Thailand Master, and those red sails still make her easy to recognise. Also known as Cheng I Sao, this traditional Indonesian-style wooden yacht brings a little sailing-boat character to a holiday built around diving. She was built in 2007, measures 34 m, and carries up to 18 guests in seven cabins.
The appeal is easy to picture: a covered meal on the stern deck, an island view, then another briefing for the next dive. The useful choice is less romantic but just as important: northern pinnacles, southern limestone islands, or a longer journey connecting the two. Departure and arrival ports can be different.
Thailand Master departures & cabin pricesAffiliate link: Divezone may earn a commission if you book.
Seven cabins, all with private bathrooms
| Cabin choice | Layout | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Double / twin · 3 cabins | Bow cabin with fixed double and additional single; two convertible midship cabins. Sold for two guests. | Couples or friends who confirm the exact bed arrangement |
| Fixed twin · 2 cabins | Two separate single beds | Dive buddies sharing a room |
| Quad · 2 cabins | Four single berths; sharing can be mixed gender | Groups and sociable travellers prioritising the fare |
Every room comes with its own ensuite bathroom, air-conditioning, and has storage space. The saving in a quad buys a berth rather than a private room. Reduced occupancy is possible on request, with a supplement; the current operator tariff does not publish one universal single-use percentage.
Life aboard a wooden sailing yacht
The indoor saloon provides a cool retreat, with comfortable seating and a screen for films or the day’s photographs. Outside, the covered dining area is at the stern, while the partly shaded sundeck leaves room for a book and the passing islands. A sail raised for a photograph is a lovely bonus; this remains a scheduled dive cruise, so a holiday spent travelling under sail is not promised.
Thai and international buffets follow the diving rhythm: light breakfast, a fuller breakfast after the first dive, lunch, snacks and dinner. Drinking water, tea, coffee, juice and soft drinks are included; beer and wine cost extra. Dietary requests are handled in advance, with some limits on specialist ingredients. Paid Wi-Fi is listed, but remote-island coverage can be intermittent.
A practical dive deck, with the extras clear
The shaded dive deck has individual preparation space and gear storage, with two tenders for access to sites. Camera tables and freshwater rinses help with equipment care between dives. An 11 L aluminium cylinder, weights and air fills are included; nitrox, larger cylinders and rental equipment are extra.
For Thailand itineraries, ten logged dives are the published minimum on the current Southern Thailand offer, with Advanced Open Water strongly recommended. Depth, current and the selected site still determine suitability. Insurance covering the planned depths, evacuation and recompression is required. Courses need advance arrangement; the listed onboard practical fee does not include PADI e-learning.
Northern reefs, southern islands or both?
The map separates the itinerary families and both directions of the longer Best of Thailand journey. Four-night Similan trips usually loop from Thap Lamu; six-night departures can connect Chalong and Thap Lamu, although some published departures loop back to the same port. The booking’s two port names settle the travel plan.
Interactive map loading; route descriptions remain below.
Approximate planning outlines, not navigation tracks or a fixed daily schedule. Offshore bends are schematic; numbered markers identify selected stops. Conditions, closures and the confirmed departure determine the actual route.
Similan & Surin
1 Thap Lamu → 2 Similans → 3 Koh Bon → 4 Koh Tachai → 5 Surin / 6 Richelieu Rock → port. Four nights allow up to 14 dives; six nights up to 19, with some departures starting or finishing at 7 Chalong.
Best of Thailand
Eight nights allow up to 26 dives; ten nights up to 33. North–south: 1 Thap Lamu → 5/6 Surin and Richelieu → 4/3 Tachai and Bon → 2 Similans → 8 Koh Haa / 9 Hin Daeng–Hin Muang → 10 Phi Phi → 7 Chalong. South–north departures cover the southern stops first, then head north.
Southern Thailand
7 Chalong → 8 Koh Haa → 9 Hin Daeng–Hin Muang → 10 Phi Phi → Chalong. Four nights and up to 14 dives, with additional Phuket-area sites possible. This is a different holiday from a Similan cruise; the programme depends on park access and sea conditions.
Mergui · a separate country
11 Ranong → 12 Kawthaung for border clearance → the Mergui Archipelago, with selected possible stops 13 Western Rocky and 14 Shark Cave → Kawthaung → Ranong. Seven- and ten-night programmes advertise up to 22 and 34 dives. The line shows a regional outline, not a prescribed site order.
Prices for the berth, then the full trip
The following are published 2027 standard fares in USD per person sharing, before mandatory fees and optional extras. A dated departure may use a different tariff or promotion; the table is a planning reference, not an availability promise.
| Length | Quad berth | Twin share | Thailand park / port allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 nights | US$1,440 | US$1,920 | US$65 south / US$80 north |
| 6 nights | US$2,160 | US$2,880 | US$80 |
| 10 nights | US$3,600 | US$4,800 | US$145 |
For late-2026 trips, the operator’s current fuel statement lists US$20 per person per night through 5 January 2027, payable before travel. Later departures need the applicable surcharge confirmed; the end date is not a promise that fuel charges disappear afterwards.
A six-night example: the published 2026 standard quad fare of US$2,040, plus US$80 park/port fees and US$120 fuel, gives US$2,240 before insurance, rental equipment, flights and personal spending. A November promotion showed US$1,530 for the berth, making the same calculation US$1,730 if that offer and those fees apply to the booking.
On a four-night trip, the published rental set is US$90, with computer and torch charged separately at US$30 and US$15. Nitrox is US$105 for four nights or US$175 for six. A 13 L cylinder is a paid upgrade. These are useful differences when comparing a discounted berth with another boat’s package.
Thailand Master departures & cabin pricesAffiliate link: Divezone may earn a commission if you book.
A non-diving partner aboard
Non-divers are accepted. The sundeck, shared meals and arranged beach visits give a companion time aboard and ashore, with snorkelling dependent on the stop and conditions. A southern island programme may suit a mixed couple better than repeated days at offshore pinnacles; that is an itinerary choice, not a promise of an independent excursion programme.
The current primary tariff does not publish a fixed non-diver fare reduction. A cabin-and-departure quote is needed rather than assuming an older advertised discount still applies. Published non-diver park/port fees are US$45 on short Thailand trips, US$75 for eight-night Best of Thailand and US$90 for ten nights; fuel and other booked extras remain relevant.
What guests enjoy, and what to weigh
What guests loved
Detlef H (January 2026) praises the warm atmosphere, crew and food. Camilla L (January 2025) describes attentive guiding and a relaxed trip. These are dated LiveAboard.com guest accounts, not a claim that Divezone has personally sailed on this departure.
What could be better
Quad cabins trade privacy for a lower fare, and extras can narrow the saving. In a positive November 2024 review, Zara W notes busy conditions at Richelieu Rock and fewer large-animal sightings than hoped. That is one trip’s experience, not evidence of a recurring boat fault.
Thailand Master has a clear niche for divers drawn to a traditional wooden yacht and a small onboard community. A traveller wanting a private cabin, reliable work connectivity or a conventional large motor yacht will want to compare those priorities carefully. The Junk review covers another distinctive sailing-style option.
Thailand Master in the Mergui Archipelago
Master Liveaboards’ film of Thailand Master in Myanmar, published 18 August 2026. This shows the Mergui programme, not the Thailand itineraries; current travel-advice and insurance considerations are outlined above. Video on YouTube.
Two ports that should not be confused
Thailand cruises normally embark at 19:00. Thap Lamu serves the Khao Lak end; Chalong is in Phuket. Four-night trips generally disembark at 14:00, while six- and eight-night itineraries normally finish around 10:00. The confirmed departure can differ. Scheduled shared local-hotel or Phuket-airport transfers are included; private or out-of-area transfers cost extra.
The operator asks for a 24-hour interval between the final dive and flying, and does not permit final-morning diving for guests flying out on the disembarkation day of a four-night trip. A night ashore also leaves breathing room for the return transfer.
Thailand Master questions, answered
Is Thailand Master the same boat as The Phinisi?
Yes. The operator identifies Thailand Master as The Phinisi, also historically known as Cheng I Sao. This page keeps the familiar name alongside the current booking name.
Do quad cabins have their own bathroom?
Yes. All seven guest cabins have ensuite bathrooms and air conditioning. A quad booking may involve mixed-gender sharing.
Does every itinerary start and end in Phuket?
No. Some connect Chalong in Phuket and Thap Lamu near Khao Lak; four-night northern cruises usually loop from Thap Lamu. The two ports shown for the departure are the ones that matter.
Is nitrox included in the cabin fare?
Normally it is an extra. Some dated promotions include it; the booking confirmation determines whether a particular offer applies.
Are Myanmar cruises the same as a Thailand cruise?
No. They involve a border crossing, separate formalities and fees, different experience requirements and current travel-advice and insurance considerations.
What should a non-diver budget?
The quoted cabin fare, applicable non-diver park and port fees, fuel and personal extras. A current fixed fare discount was not published in the operator documents reviewed for this update.
Share your Thailand Master experience — your cabin, travel date and diving highlights help fellow divers plan their trip.
Updated 9 November 2026. Current operator specifications, schedules, fees and trip information checked against the partner listing; historical reviews are dated above.
Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?
Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to.
Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.
Myanmar (Burma)
Myanmar's scuba diving is focused on the Mergui Archipelago, but the Burma Banks and plenty of other sites are a bonus to discover! Read up!
Khao Lak
A mainland base for northern Andaman liveaboards, island day trips and fish-filled local wrecks. The best choice depends on your experience, crossing time and the actual departure programme.
Surin Islands
Island reefs and the offshore spectacle of Richelieu Rock, with day-trip and liveaboard options. Surin snorkelling and a pinnacle dive are different experiences with different requirements.
Similan Islands
Granite boulder dives, reef photography and northern Andaman liveaboards. Day boats also visit the Similans; route choice, current and park access determine the right trip.
Phuket
Racha reef days, offshore wrecks and longer Andaman trips: Phuket offers several ways to dive, with the right choice depending on experience, season and time aboard.
Koh Phi Phi
An island base for Bida reefs, limestone walls and local dive trips, with courses and varied reef life close to Phi Phi Don.
Koh Lanta
Offshore reefs, island day trips and a relaxed beach base, with the right route matched to experience and season.
Koh Tao
An island base for learning, reef days and offshore pinnacles, with year-round diving shaped by Gulf weather.
Thailand
Two coasts, very different dive holidays: Andaman liveaboards and limestone islands, or Gulf reefs and Koh Tao dive schools. Season, experience and the actual itinerary make the difference.
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in Myanmar (Burma) & Similan Islands & Thailand, please share your review and let us know what you thought. Please post your comments in the review section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next diving trip
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