REVIEWS

  Incredible trip. - Amazing trip! Brian and the whole crew were top-notch Super attentive and taking care of every little detail under the water and on the boat. The whole crew was... read more super professional and great to be with for a week on a boat. Great variety of food and plenty of it. A different hot tea or ice cream every time you came up from a dive. Air conditioner blew cold down below. 100% confidence in Brian and the Dive masters and the captain . Multiple people on the boat were repeat customers. We did three or four dives every day and got the full variety of fish and topography. Definitely more fish than I’ve ever seen in one dive. Can’t wait to go back!

  Something to do once, at least, in the life time…  - Beautiful dives, lovely boat, very nice crew and amazing food!! I have done several live aboard trips and as a whole this is one of the best!

  Must do diving excursion  - Absolutely fantastic experience. No complaints about this at all. The weather was good and all the dive sites were amazing. The staff and crew were friendly and professional. They do... read more everything they can to keep you happy, relaxed, and well fed. A well oiled machine! I cannot wait to rebook in a couple years and do a longer trip.

  Vacation highlight!  - Myself and the three friends I came with left with nothing but positive things to say about our experience on The Junk. Our dive master, Brian, was incredibly personable... read more and made the experience enjoyable for newer divers like myself as well as much more experienced divers like my friends — so much so that I opted to do the Advanced Open Water Certification during my time on board. I’m sure other reviews probably rave about the food; and this is well warranted. The whole crew was lovely. And the dive sites are fantastic — at one point Brian pointed excitedly at a mating pair of leopard sharks! All in all, I would recommend wholeheartedly and hope to do it again in the future.

  Amazing diving experience  - Amazing experience. Highly professional and experienced crew and guides, really good food, and top notch diving. They made everything super easy, the whole process was super organized, and we were... read more able to do 14 dives in 4 days but it never felt rushed. I highly recommend The Junk, Brian and his crew run a very tight ship.

I was able to get my deep water certification as part of the diving process without taking away from the dives. The other people on the ship were from all over the world, so meeting them was a highlight too.

  Great Service Unreal Diving  - Had a wonderful trip with the Junk this February, 2025. The dive guides, especially Brian, are very knowledgeable and competent and I appreciated the smaller groups so everyone could dive... read more at their own experience. The level of safety in and out of the water was commendable and I felt comfortable the whole time. It truly was full service, all you need to do is put on your gear and go.

The diving was incredible, Richelieu rock was worth the hype. Absolutely unreal, like diving in an aquarium. The sheer number of fish was crazy, felt like a dream. My husband also did his AOW with Brian and had a great course.

We did one excursion to the Similian Islands beach park which was great. Nice to see somewhere so gorgeous without any crowds.

Thank you to the chefs and housekeepers for delicious meals and snacks and a special thank you for accommodating my dietary requirements without any trouble. Variety of Thai and western dishes to choose from with constant snacks available. The rooms are fairly rustic but we slept great. Plenty of space to unpack and dry out gear as well which was appreciated.

Transfers to and from the boat ran smoothly and timely.

I’ll miss everyone on the Junk and I’ll especially miss my morning wake up bell and food bells! Most relaxed i’ve felt in a long time. Going back to reality was rough and we hope to come dive with them again soon!

  Hard to beat!!! - I have been on The Junk 8 Times so far and did other libeaboards before. The Junk: best Crew ever. Best Chef ever. Incredible dive sites. Very Special Boat !!!!... read more Will be back in 2026

  Best experiences you can have in life  - An experience over all possible expectations! The food was spectacular and the vessel is an absolute beauty! The crew was not only professional, helpful and kind but also very humorous.... read more The cruise director was an amazing personality with so much experience, listening to Brians dive breafings was also one of the highlights on the trip. They take such good care of their customers to ensure a safe and beautiful journey around the dive sites. They also took such good care of their customers equipment!
Honestly, a life changing experience. I would dive with these people any day, anywhere, non stop!

  Dream come true - To find words to describe the experience is almost impossible. The diving were spectacular. The care that was taken to preserve the sealife was hart warming. The stay on The... read more Junk Liveaboard was absolutely fantastic!! The staff were so attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. The food was great. If this is not on your bucket list, make sure to put it on!!!

  Top of the line experience  - From the time of boarding to disembarkation, we four Aussies were impressed with the organisation of everything aboard The Junk.
- The food preparation and menu... read more were excellent. With an indoor or outdoor dining area to choose from, and a choice of vegetarian or real food.
- The sleeping accommodation was clean and comfortable with ensuite toilet and shower.
- The dive deck ran like a well oiled machine with a choice of air or nitrox onboard.
- The dive team were primarily local Thai guides who enjoyed showing the local beauty to their guests without egos.
- There was excellent communication between between all staff and passengers.
- The Cruise Director did a great job at orchestrating the trip.

I write this review having done two back to back liveaboards, one with The Junk and one with another provider. I cannot speak more highly of The Junk for your Similans trip.

  Amazing!  - The junk was such a great way to experience the Similan and Surin islands. The diving was incredible, all of the sites we went to were amazing. I completed my... read more advanced course with Brian, he made the course feel easy and ensured I was comfortable and confident in the water. My dive skills improved throughout the trip thanks to him as well. The crew made the whole experience great, everything ran super smoothly and the food was delicious.

  Incredible trip  - We had an amazing time on The Junk.

Brian and his team provided an unforgettable experience from start to finish.

They managed to pack a huge amount... read more into our trip but it never felt rushed.

The food was amazing and the crew were extremely helpful, would highly recommend to anyone looking at a liveaboard in this area.

  Eat, Sleep, Dive, Repeat- an amazing time on an amazing boat  - I booked this trip having only 15 dives experience. I was nervous and questioning my life decisions as I boarded but now having spent 4 nights on The Junk... read more my only regret is having to leave such a phenomenal experience.

The crew are amazing and operate like a well oiled machine. Everything has been thought of. Before each dive Brian would put us as ease with a comprehensive dive brief infused with tips, safety and humor. The dive groups were 4-5 people per dive guide. I was with Nin who navigated us around to see the sights and kept us out of the way of other divers on some of the more popular sites. Arriving to the surface we would promptly be scooped up to be taken back to the boat where Far was waiting with a temperature appropriate beverage to either warm us up or cool us down. The coconut smoothie was amazing.

Eat, sleep, dive, repeat. The food was next level. We were never short of a meal and always eating too much as the quality of food the staff were producing was amazing. There was a level of anticipation to see what was on offer when the bell rang.

While it was a full trip of 18 It never felt crowded and there was great comradery on the boat. The little touches kept us very comfortable. 2 towels provided, unlimited electrolyte replacement and our own water bottles with hooks to keep them organised. Free juice and soft drinks. Lots of charging stations in the main section. Containers of biscuits and fruit baskets in the unlikely event a snack was needed between meals.

This boat operates with professionalism and integrity respecting the environment, the reef, the sea life and other divers. After experiencing other companies less than professional approach under water I couldn’t have been happier with my decision to be on the Junk.

Thank you to everyone that’s a part of the Junk, I had the best time and can’t wait to come back one day.

  The beautiful ship is only the cherry on top of this perfect trip.  - When booking this liveaboard, I assumed that living on an old beautiful ship would come at the expense of comfort and practicality. I was dead wrong. Both the staff and... read more facilities function perfectly and they both create a perfect liveaboard experience: the decks and spaces are both charming and cozy, and spacious enough so that even with a full group of 18 people it didn't feel crowded for a minute (the decks are surprisingly large!!). The heavy furniture throughout the ship was stylish and functional. The food was nothing short of amazing, and very diverse. The entire crew was dedicated and constantly available. Brian, the cruise and diving director, has 20 years (!!) of experience on liveaboard, and he is communicative, approachable, and casually funny. The dive guides were great and everything around the dives worked like a well-oiled machine.

What really did it for me, though, were the small details: a high quality espresso machine, the heavy bell used to declare mealtimes and dive briefings, the fact that we had personal water bottles to help us hydrate, and personal hooks and clips to help us find our things easily in all living spaces, and the crew that served us a different refreshment drink after each dive (tea after a morning dive, a shake after a hot afternoon dive, hot chocolate after the night dive..). You could feel how they thought about every little thing to make our stay completely comfortable and pleasant. That only comes with experience and dedication, both are plenty among the crew.

So yeah, the ship is stunning and unique, but that's only a bonus. If you're looking for a liveaboard in the Similan islands, this is the one. Unmatched value for money.

  Diving Myanmar with the Phinisi 2025. Excellent - I am a returning guest on these boats, and for good reasons.
The crew is incredible, helpful and funny.
Safety is outstanding, thorough boat and dive briefings, evacuation drill,... read more escape hatches in the cabins, plenty of emergency oxygen on board.
The food is gorgeous, 5 meals a day, fresh fruit and cookies baked on board all day.
Myanmar is one of the last froniers for diving, I recommend this trip 100%

  Fantastic Experience  - My husband and I spent 5 days and 4 nights on The Junk. The trip was better than we can imagine. My husband is a diver and I snorkeled and... read more we both had amazing experiences ! The service on the boat was better than a 5 star resort, the food was amazing and the guides were very experienced! I tend to get motion sick and I didn’t have any problems at all. I would highly recommend to anyone considering!

  Excellent liveaboard experience  - I joined a 4 day liveaboard in February 2025. The dives were easy and beautiful. The reefs were very healthy with enormous schools of fish. Richelieu rock definitely deserves its... read more fame.

I appreciated that our dive groups were split by experience. Each group had fun and enjoyable dives regardless of the level of experience.

The boat was very comfortable with spacious enough cabins and lots of spots to relax. The food was great and each meal was different from the others. Crew was very nice and accommodating.

Overall I would highly recommend this liveaboard for novice and experienced divers alike.

  An absolutely unforgettable experience - The Junk Liveaboard in Thailand offers an absolutely unforgettable experience for anyone seeking adventure and relaxation in one of the world’s most beautiful settings. From the moment you board, the... read more friendly, professional crew makes you feel right at home. The boat itself is a stunning blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern comfort, providing a cozy and authentic experience on the water.

The meals onboard are a highlight, with fresh, delicious Thai cuisine served daily, often prepared using locally sourced ingredients. There are plenty of opportunities to socialize or enjoy private moments of peace while watching the sunset over the crystal-clear waters.

The crew’s knowledge of the area ensures that you visit the most pristine and exclusive spots, making every dive an unforgettable adventure.
If you’re seeking an incredible way to explore Thailand’s stunning islands, this liveaboard is the perfect choice!

  Fantastic dive team and wonderful boat support team  - Just completed a 6 night Liveaboard dive trip on The Phinisi Thailand Similan and Surin Islands. Wish I’d had longer! More on Surin Islans maybe. I am 71 now and... read more as an older diver, who no longer has the strength she once did, I felt so well supported and assisted. Thank you.

  Thank you for such a great experience!  - The crew of the Phinisi were absolutely amazing, the food was devine, and the experience and knowledge of the crew made for a really enjoyable experience. I would highly rate... read more and consider going on this boat again!

A special shout out to Ms Bee the Head Chef, the legend Mr Kwan our Dive Guide and Ronnie for being a great Trip Leader.

  A food trip with diving between meals - A food trip with diving between meals? Jokes aside, the diving here is fantastic, absolutely world-class. But so is life on board between dives. The Junk is a charming old... read more ship far from a modern luxury hotel but it works and not least the kitchen. You are spoiled from the moment you step aboard, good food, good variety, a bit adapted to us Westerners but they also offer genuine Thai food.

The diving is really great, even though the weather this time did not allow us to go everywhere. My dive guide was Jay and he really showed the way, without him I would not have even seen half of everything down there below the surface. It felt safe, secure and professional in every situation. A compliment also to the tour guide Brian who really showed that he had the situation under control. Take a trip with The Junk. You will love it.

  Just Amazing....!!!  - Never thought that a liveaboard would have been such an amazing experience. Add to that that I was doing that on The Junk and the experience was amplified 10 fold.... read more /> This is the ONLY liveaboard you should consider if you are looking for great diving, a caring and attentive crew and some of the best food you are likely going to taste while in Thailand. But it's not just about the diving or the great service, it's about the adventure, the camaraderie, the new friends the feeling that you've experienced something truly life changing. The Junk delivers and delivers BIG TIME !!
A heartfelt thank you to all the amazing crew members who made this possible.🫰🫰

  Delivers beyond the promise  - This was my 2nd trip on The Junk and that in itself tells you something. Safety is my number one concern and this trip starts with a full drill not... read more a simple - we’ll tell you what to do.
Then there is the food it is awesome a mix of Thai and more global. I can’t eat seafood and they catered no problem my only concern was there was simply too much of it.
I went for the diving and it didn’t disappoint, the crew are amazing and deliver whatever help you need

  Top notch service  - It is hard to describe The Junk, it is not a 5 star hotel but is a completely 5 star experience. Being a converted working cargo boat, the accommodation is... read more quite rustic but very spacious and has everything you need. When it comes to the diving, the crew and the food, things ratchet up a notch to a level that would shame a 5 star hotel. Professional, safe, helpful and everyone on board goes out of their way to improve your stay to leave you feeling very well looked after.