Khao Lak Scuba Adventures, also known as KSA Liveaboard Thailand, is a highly experienced diving operator based in Khao Lak. Established in 2003, the company has grown to become a leading specialist in liveaboard trips to the Andaman Sea’s most renowned dive destinations.
KSA offers incredible multi-day diving safaris aboard its dedicated Manta Queen fleet. These trips primarily focus on exploring the spectacular dive sites within the Similan Islands and Surin Islands National Marine Park, including highlights like Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, and Koh Tachai.
As an officially partnered Scuba Schools International (SSI) Dive Center, KSA provides the full range of courses, from introductory dives to Instructor Level training, using modern facilities that include an in-house training pool and up-to-date materials.
The company is committed to diver safety and professional service, operating with a large team of multilingual SSI Dive Professionals who cater to guests speaking major Western and Asian languages. All divers are provided with annually maintained, high-quality rental equipment from trusted brands like Mares. KSA has received recognition for its service, notably with award-winning reviews on platforms like Trip Advisor.
KSA Liveaboard Thailand serves as a premier platform for experiencing the world-class underwater environment of the Thai Andaman coast.
The Manta Queen Liveaboard Fleet The Manta Queen fleet is KSA’s hallmark, consisting of several custom-designed vessels built to provide comfortable and professional diving experiences. These boats offer varying trip lengths and cabin options to suit different budgets and preferences, with safety and service as core priorities
All Manta Queen liveaboards include freshly prepared Thai and Western buffet-style meals with options for special dietary needs. Small dive group sizes, typically 4 divers per Dive Professional, ensure a personalized and safe experience both above and below the water.
Manta Queen 1 Offers a mix of cabin types, including en-suite.
Manta Queen 2 A shorter option focused on the main Northern sites.
Manta Queen 3 Departs from Phuket for a different range of Southern dive sites.
KSA’s primary itineraries focus on the protected areas of the Similan Islands and Surin Islands National Marine Parks, which are renowned globally for their diverse marine life and stunning underwater topography.
Richelieu Rock: Often hailed as one of the world’s best dive sites, this horseshoe-shaped pinnacle is famous for its vibrant purple soft corals and as a reliable spot for sighting Whale Sharks and Manta Rays during the season. It’s also a macro photographer’s dream, home to seahorses, ghost pipefish, and harlequin shrimp.
Similan Islands: These nine granite islands offer a contrast between the West coast’s dramatic boulder formations (featuring swim-throughs and canyons like at Elephant Head Rock) and the East coast’s sloping, colorful hard coral reefs. Encounters with reef sharks and turtles are common.
Koh Bon & Koh Tachai: Located between the Similans and Surins, these sites are known for attracting Manta Rays to their cleaning stations (particularly at Koh Bon’s West Ridge) and are excellent locations for spotting large pelagic fish.
Boonsung Wreck: Closer to the mainland, this decommissioned tin dredger has become a thriving artificial reef, famous for its incredible density of schooling fish and a great site for day trips.
As an officially partnered Scuba Schools International (SSI) Dive Center, Khao Lak Scuba Adventures provides a full spectrum of diving education and certification programs, from introductory experiences to professional-level training.
KSA follows the SSI training philosophy, which emphasizes “Comfort Through Repetition“ to ensure skills are mastered automatically and confidently.
Beginner Courses: Including the SSI Open Water Diver course, which uses an innovative digital e-learning system for theory and confined water training in a dedicated pool facility.
Continuing Education: Offering a variety of specialty courses, such as Deep Diving, Wreck Diving, and Enriched Air Nitrox (recommended for liveaboard trips to increase no-decompression limits).
Dive Professionals: KSA runs programs up to Instructor level, employing a large, multilingual team of SSI Dive Professionals to cater to a global clientele.
The company’s long history and large fleet have cemented its reputation as one of the most trusted and experienced liveaboard operators servicing the spectacular Andaman Sea dive destinations.