The Junk Liveaboard Review: Features, What’s Included, Itineraries & Booking Information

For a totally unique Liveaboard experience, you can’t look past the Junk, a luxurious and
character-filled boat. The former merchant ship has been renovated to an exceptional standard,
and has even featured in several films, including James Bond: The Man with the Golden Gun. In
addition to her good looks, the Junk is also well-equipped for ultimate comfort as you cruise
between amazing dive sites. The experienced and professional team will ensure that every diver
is well taken care of on-board, and in the water.

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Table of Contents

What’s Included

A trip on the Junk is sure to be a completely memorable and enjoyable experience. The Junk
doesn’t just rest on her good looks or claim to fame – every aspect of the experience is well
planned and executed to ensure an amazing diving holiday.

Up to sixteen divers can comfortably sleep on board in six air conditioned cabins. A team of staff
are on-hand to ensure the perfect experience, as each staff member is passionate about making
your stay on the Junk one to remember. The Dive Leader and all the crew delight in ensuring
that divers of all levels have an amazing experience in stunning Thailand.

The food is another particular highlight of the Junk, with the expert chefs taking care to provide
ample and delicious Thai and international cuisine, which is all included in the trip cost.
Additional snacks and drinks (including beer and wine) can be purchased at reasonable prices.
Divers will be provided with complimentary, high-quality equipment including tanks, weights
and belts, while additional gear can also be hired at a reasonable cost. The Marine Park fee
(1800 baht) needs to be paid in cash once aboard the boat.

Main Features of the Junk

The Junk began life as a member of a small merchant fleet that sailed down the coast between
Myanmar and Thailand in the 60s, 70s and 80s. As a result, the Junk has a unique, antique look.
Don’t be fooled by the boat’s historic appearance, however – the 33m sailing vessel was
meticulously renovated in the late 1990s, and is spacious and comfortable.

In between dives, guests can make the most of the Junk’s various living spaces. There’s a
spacious and partly-shaded sundeck which is the perfect place to chat about the day’s diving
with other guests, perhaps over a cold beer.

Should you want to escape the sun, the air conditioned salon is well-equipped with a flat-screen
TV and a library of books, movies and games.

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On-board Accommodation

Each of the Junk’s six cabins are the perfect place to rest to get ready for a big day of diving.
They are each decorated in an authentic and rustic style, with wooden accents and traditional
artwork. Two of the cabins are deluxe private doubles, while two further cabins feature three
beds (which can be put together to create a double). The two final cabins each sleep four people.
Each cabin has its own private en suite bathroom.

Itineraries

The dive trips range from 3 days to 7, and have each been carefully assembled to introduce
divers to the dazzling variety of marine life in the Andaman Sea. On each of the trips, divers will
enjoy a mix of the most well-known sites as well as some hidden treasures.
For flexibility, there are three itineraries to choose from.

7 days, 6 nights

Enjoy a week exploring the best of the Similan and Surin islands, with approximately 19 dives,
including a night or sunset dive. Between Phuket and Khao Lak (or vice versa), take in the
beauty of the Similan islands and look out for marine life including leopard sharks, blue spotted
stingrays and angelfish. The dive-through at Elephant Head Rock, the largest pinnacle in the
Similans, is a particular highlight.

The Junk then stops at Koh Bon and Koh Tachai, both excellent sites where graceful manta rays,
giant moray eels and impressive whale sharks can often be spotted. Not far away is Richelieu
Rock, one of Thailand’s premier dive sites. Here, you can expect to be dazzled by the gorgeous
coloured coral and plethora of marine life including rare tiger tail sea horses.

After these stops, the Junk sails on to the Surin Islands, which are more isolated sites far away
from the crowds. As well as a variety of intriguing fish species and colourful coral, you can also
expect to spot some playful sea turtles in the water and near the shore.

The final stop on the itinerary is at the incredible Khao Lak wrecks, where you can observe
decades-old wrecks teeming with life.

5 days, 4 nights

For those with a little less time to spend aboard the Junk, there is a more consolidated itinerary
which offers 12 dives in total. Following the same general itinerary as the 7 days/6 night trip,
divers will be able to explore the same amazing region, just with a few less stops along the way.

3 days, 2 nights

The 3-day Southern Explorer takes in the best diving sites around Phuket, with about 11 dives in
total, including a night dive. The famous island of Koh Phi Phi is the first stop, with excellent
dive spots where tigertail seahorses and back-tip reef sharks are common amongst the min-walls
and shallow coral gardens.

Next, the two pinnacles of Shark Point and Anemone Reef, along with the wreck of the King
Cruiser, each offer spectacular variety and diving for all experience levels. From here, the Junk
sails on to Koh Doc Mai, also known as ‘Flower Island’, where ornate ghost pipe fish, frog fish
and even bamboo sharks can be found.

The Junk then stops at Koh Haa, a cluster of five islands south of Koh Phi Phi. Prepare to be
amazed by the series of caves on the largest of the islands, with walls, sloping reefs and soft
corals to see and explore. Conditions permitting, the boat will also make a stop at Hin Daeng
and Hin Muang, two impressive undersea rock formations that offer amazing diving. There may
even be a stop at one of the islands, to enjoy the pristine beaches and add one more memory to
your Liveaboard experience.

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