West Coast Divers
West Coast Divers
4.5
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Full view
About
Welcome on board M/V PAWARA and MV Sawasdee Fasai, our luxurious custom built, steel hull, Similan Islands Liveaboard, refitted especially for this season. Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, the ultimate way to explore one of the worlds top ten dive spots with one of the longest standing Dive Centers in Phuket
Chalong, Thailand
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
275 reviews
Excellent
216
Very good
31
Average
8
Poor
6
Terrible
14
gaidikoff
Phuket, Thailand19 contributions
Mar 2021 • Solo
Been to the Similan Islands many times on many different boats, and the Sawasdee Fa Sai with West Coast Divers is one of the best I have been on , and very good value.The crew was very attentive,helpful and fun to be around. Mickey the Tour Leader and one of the dive guides as well did a very professional job. Dive site briefings were informative and easy to understand. He showed us the best all the sites have and made sure we were all safe and had fun. Food was very good and quite varied. Room was comfortable, all rooms have en-suite bathrooms... Would return one day again and highly recommend it.
Written March 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah M
Raleigh, NC55 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
My husband and I had an incredible four nights aboard the Sawasdee Fasai with West Coast Divers! From the dive guides to the crew it was a seamless, professional operation that you can tell everyone loves doing. This was our third liveaboard, and I can say definitely our favorite one we've done so far.
We also found Steve to be the best dive guide we've probably ever had in our 140+ dives. He was so thorough in his dive briefings, excited and energetic throughout the trip about the dive sites, and just an excellent diver and liveaboard leader. We were amazed at how many dives he's done, and his work to repair the coral reefs in Thailand. We really couldn't have imagined a better experience and would come back just to dive with him again!
I also have to give a shout-out to the crew! We were met with the best smiles, the most helpful boat crew, in gearing up to dive each time. They helped us with everything and went above and beyond to make it really a relaxing dive experience where we barely had to do anything with our gear! Also the chef was amazing and was so kind to create vegan dishes for us for each meal.
Last but not least, we found the dive sites to be a wonderful variety in corals and sea life. The highlights of course being seeing a baby whale shark, an ornate ghost pipefish, and an eagle ray! There was so much sea life and the corals looked to be very healthy from what we saw. We especially loved Richelieu Rock - schools of fish everywhere!
I highly recommend booking this liveaboard for an incredible dive experience!
We also found Steve to be the best dive guide we've probably ever had in our 140+ dives. He was so thorough in his dive briefings, excited and energetic throughout the trip about the dive sites, and just an excellent diver and liveaboard leader. We were amazed at how many dives he's done, and his work to repair the coral reefs in Thailand. We really couldn't have imagined a better experience and would come back just to dive with him again!
I also have to give a shout-out to the crew! We were met with the best smiles, the most helpful boat crew, in gearing up to dive each time. They helped us with everything and went above and beyond to make it really a relaxing dive experience where we barely had to do anything with our gear! Also the chef was amazing and was so kind to create vegan dishes for us for each meal.
Last but not least, we found the dive sites to be a wonderful variety in corals and sea life. The highlights of course being seeing a baby whale shark, an ornate ghost pipefish, and an eagle ray! There was so much sea life and the corals looked to be very healthy from what we saw. We especially loved Richelieu Rock - schools of fish everywhere!
I highly recommend booking this liveaboard for an incredible dive experience!
Written March 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
toriasiemens
Phoenix, AZ15 contributions
Nov 2022
This liveaboard was a highlight of our time in Thailand! The crew and dive guides were all very friendly and helpful. The food was to die for, they kept us fed to keep us energized for the four dives a day. The fresh fruit and all the thai options We were a pretty full boat, but all the other divers were so much fun, and it never felt over cowded. People from all different countries joined together to do a sport they love. Such a fun time! West Coast Divers have a good schedule for the divers, lots to see underwater. We stayed in the basic room, had enough space for two of us bathroom attached and space for our luggage nothing special, but we honestly just slept in there we spent most of our time either on the third deck eating area or up top on the sundeck. Linens included they have a water station you can use to refill your water bottle. Great AC in sleeping quarters. 10/10 recommend doing a liveaboard with West Coast Divers!!
Written December 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kate
Rockville, MD6 contributions
Mar 2021
This is my first liveaboard so I don't have anything else to compare with but this boat - Sawasdee Fasai, the crews and the people were amazing.
The boat crew was very friendly. They always made sure you feel comfortable. The food and beverage were good and plenty. Thanks to Khun Doo for an excellent hospitality.
The boat is very spacious, clean and new. I stayed in the master cabin. The room was nice, spacious and clean with en-suite bathroom.
The diving experience was fantastic. Big thanks to Mickey and Damien. They know the dive sites very well and always made me fee safe and comfortable. I did night dive for the first time here and only had positive experience.
All other guests were very friendly and kind.
I would definitely come back in the near future.
The boat crew was very friendly. They always made sure you feel comfortable. The food and beverage were good and plenty. Thanks to Khun Doo for an excellent hospitality.
The boat is very spacious, clean and new. I stayed in the master cabin. The room was nice, spacious and clean with en-suite bathroom.
The diving experience was fantastic. Big thanks to Mickey and Damien. They know the dive sites very well and always made me fee safe and comfortable. I did night dive for the first time here and only had positive experience.
All other guests were very friendly and kind.
I would definitely come back in the near future.
Written April 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephany H
2 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
While I made the mistake of booking our trip through Liveaboard.com {terrible communication!} our time on the Pawara was amazing. I have some rather annoying food sensitivities & also a VERY finicky eater. The head chef on the boat did an OUTSTANDING job of making food special - just for me! Every meal I had my own prepared plate.
The boat itself was very comfortable. We rented dive gear on the boat as we were in Thailand for a month and did not want to bring our own dive gear. The gear we rented on the boat was acceptable. Vincent did a great job of trying to make our trip a wonderful experience despite a few 'issues' with our dive guide. As long as you are up front & honest with Vincent, he will make every effort to make beneficial changes. This was our first liveaboard - so I do not have anything to compare this with. We did have an amazing time and the Thai crew did an outstanding job. We chose to do a short liveaboard to 'test the waters' ~ We are now excited to try more liveaboards, and longer ones too since we had a good experience on the Pawara.
I wish we could have gotten on the boat earlier in the day - getting on in the early evening was tiresome that evening and the next day.
But, all in all ~ it was a fabulous trip!
The boat itself was very comfortable. We rented dive gear on the boat as we were in Thailand for a month and did not want to bring our own dive gear. The gear we rented on the boat was acceptable. Vincent did a great job of trying to make our trip a wonderful experience despite a few 'issues' with our dive guide. As long as you are up front & honest with Vincent, he will make every effort to make beneficial changes. This was our first liveaboard - so I do not have anything to compare this with. We did have an amazing time and the Thai crew did an outstanding job. We chose to do a short liveaboard to 'test the waters' ~ We are now excited to try more liveaboards, and longer ones too since we had a good experience on the Pawara.
I wish we could have gotten on the boat earlier in the day - getting on in the early evening was tiresome that evening and the next day.
But, all in all ~ it was a fabulous trip!
Written January 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bianca
1 contribution
Jan 2024 • Solo
It was my very first liveaboard, I had high expectations based on the reviews, and it totally delivered! The boat was comfortable, clean, and perfect size for 4 nights. I do recommend getting a cabin on the upper floor - not only it has a window, but it's more convenient for popping in and out of the room during the day. In my opinion, worth the extra bucks.
WHOLE crew was GREAT! Everyone very friendly, professional and attentive.
Vinnie was running the show and was always available if people had questions, and quickly followed up on all issues.
Most dives were awesome, with good visibility and currents in our favor. I guess it's a mix of luck and good planning on Vinnie's part.
We were lucky with the weather. Perfect everyday, providing beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Talking about sunrise, prepare to wake up at 6 am everyday. I'm not a morning person but somehow I didn't mind at all Vinnie's shouting "Goooood morning! Wakey wakey, rise & shine!" everyday at exactly 6 am :) You know you're waking up to a wonderful day of dives in paradise, yummy food, and happiness!
When going on a liveaboard in Thailand in the future, I'll likely choose MV Pawara again!
WHOLE crew was GREAT! Everyone very friendly, professional and attentive.
Vinnie was running the show and was always available if people had questions, and quickly followed up on all issues.
Most dives were awesome, with good visibility and currents in our favor. I guess it's a mix of luck and good planning on Vinnie's part.
We were lucky with the weather. Perfect everyday, providing beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Talking about sunrise, prepare to wake up at 6 am everyday. I'm not a morning person but somehow I didn't mind at all Vinnie's shouting "Goooood morning! Wakey wakey, rise & shine!" everyday at exactly 6 am :) You know you're waking up to a wonderful day of dives in paradise, yummy food, and happiness!
When going on a liveaboard in Thailand in the future, I'll likely choose MV Pawara again!
Written January 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guy H
Phuket, Thailand46 contributions
Dec 2020
From the minute you step on board till the minute the staff are waving you off in your transfer home at the end of the trip everything runs smoothly and professionally ensuring your safety and enjoyment are top priorities. The dive briefings are comprehensive from all the excellent dive guides with all the information you could possibly need to make the most out of every dive. The boat crew are always there to help you with your gear and get you ready to jump in and are waiting to assist you out of the water at the end. The food is great and plentiful, never leaving you wanting more and a constant supply of fresh fruit and snacks are available. The boat is clean, tidy, well equipped and in good condition. Overall a great experience and cant wait to go back for another trip A big thank you to Beto the tour 'manager' and also my dive guide 'Angel' your efforts and enthusiasm where greatly appreciated.
Written December 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul W
Phuket, Thailand29 contributions
Mar 2021 • Couples
Sawasdee Faasai. 37 meters of luxury weighing 235 tons to keep her stable! Amazing vessel. Wonderful staff; outstanding food; superb diving and extremely well run by our Master of Ceremonies, Micky. We guests were very fortunate to have two more outstanding Diving Instructors/Guides on board with ex-Army Damian and ex-teacher, Eamonn providing a very high standard of professional guiding. This was a trip never to be forgotten thanks to all those involved with West Coast Divers and this beautiful live-aboard vessel.
Written March 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
enricochowderson
San Francisco, CA55 contributions
Jan 2022 • Solo
This review is for the wonderful, helpful, and professional staff - particularly Steve. Steve was the best dive instructor / trip manager I've ever had. He was patient and knowledgeable for those without much diving experience. For those with more experience he gave detailed briefings and executed smoothly run trip plans. He does a lot and was a big part of why I enjoyed my trip.
The other staff were helpful and courteous.
The Sawasdee Fasai boat itself was lacking luxury as some of the guests dealt with cleanliness / sewage water issues.
The other staff were helpful and courteous.
The Sawasdee Fasai boat itself was lacking luxury as some of the guests dealt with cleanliness / sewage water issues.
Written January 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joshua K
Oahu, HI5 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
MV Pawara 4 night 4 day live aboard dive tour through Similans, Surin, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai, and 3 dives at Richelieu Rock. Amazing topography and sea life, including 2 whale sharks and 2 mantas. Incredible tour leader, Beto, incredible boat staff, and incredible divemasters.
Special shout out to Mickey, who is a *fantastic* divemaster and teacher and a great storyteller. His underwater guidance was clear especially with very strong currents at Koh Tachai and again at Richelieu Rock.
As a new diver, Beto’s briefs and constant vigilance and global awareness of all his team and guests and environmental conditions left me feeling very comfortable and safe.
Good food and fair lodgings. Small rooms that need a little maintenance love here and there, but what can you expect on a boat? Do not stay on the bottom level if you are very tall. Nitrox typically at 28%, WiFi only when in service range, individual cabin AC, great food. Highly, highly recommended.
Special shout out to Mickey, who is a *fantastic* divemaster and teacher and a great storyteller. His underwater guidance was clear especially with very strong currents at Koh Tachai and again at Richelieu Rock.
As a new diver, Beto’s briefs and constant vigilance and global awareness of all his team and guests and environmental conditions left me feeling very comfortable and safe.
Good food and fair lodgings. Small rooms that need a little maintenance love here and there, but what can you expect on a boat? Do not stay on the bottom level if you are very tall. Nitrox typically at 28%, WiFi only when in service range, individual cabin AC, great food. Highly, highly recommended.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your comment.
We are looking forward to welcome you onboard again.
Written February 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi,
We are actually cycling From Bangkok to Phuket and will arrive at Phuket the 24th of February. We would like to join a cruise of 2 to 4 days. Anything already organized that we could join ?
Tks
Regards
Samia
Written February 21, 2019
Hallo Samia
The dive offering is quite high, so you would be able to book in short notice. Liveaboat from Phuket seems not so interesting as all dive spots are in day trip reach. Cool liveaboard trips are with Similan and Surin Islands. Here you have to book in advance due to new regulations from national park authorithies. At last this was the case in Nov-18.
Depending where you are at Phuket, I can recommend Absolute Divers and Dave from Halfway Inn (owner and diving tour arranger). Both are very professional and deep connected within the diving activities in Phuket. Both are with Trip Advisor, so younwill find them to contact if wanted. The will be able to arrange as well in advance if wanted.
best regards
harry
Written February 21, 2019
Hi everyone! Does anyone know the single supplement cost for this liveaboard? Thanks!
Written February 19, 2019
Hello everyone! I would like to know what is the ratio of dive guides/ divers? How big are the groups? How is the organization of the groups and safety considerations during the dive.
Thank you!
Written July 28, 2017
Group sizes depend on the experience levels of the divers and number of divers on board and the number of divers actually diving. There are typically four to five DMs/Instructors on board. So on average there are about 4-6 divers per DM. The DM's attention to safety is high. I am instructor myself and I taught several specialities including Deep, EAN and an AOW class while on board (I had 10 students). They were supportive and assisted me well by selecting appropriate sites and depths while teaching. Professionals. Highly recommend.
Written July 28, 2017
Hola SpixD! veo que has tenido una excelente experiencia en el vida a bordo! Con mi señora estaremos yendo en abril para thai y decidimos hacer el vida a bordo en el Pawara. Nuestra duda surge a la hora de reservar ya que nos exigen pagar el total del viaje antes de llegar alla y eso nos preocupa un poco: vos de que manera lo pagaste? tuviste algun problema con la reserva?
Cualquier recomendación que quieras hacernos será de mucha ayuda!
Muchas gracias!!
Written January 31, 2015
Onenoise2010
Phuket, Thailand
Hi
Please visit our website for payment details.
Choose a trip you wish to join us then click on booking or e-mail us. We will provide full information for your booking.
We got booking policy to guarantee your booking space.
50% Deposit require upon booking confirmed
50% Balance require minimum 30 days before the departure date.
Many of our customers are happy to pay 100% up front.
All of our trips 100% confirmed.
Best Regards,
Doo
Reservation Department
West Coast Divers
Written February 1, 2015
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.