Sea Dragon Dive Center Khao Lak: Who It Suits

Featured image: Reinhard Link from Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Quick answer: who Sea Dragon suits

Sea Dragon describes itself as a Khao Lak dive center offering liveaboards, PADI courses and day trips. Its liveaboards fit certified divers who want several days at the Similan and Surin islands without daily transfers. Run through this fit-check before you look at dates. This guide has no affiliation with the operator and takes no commission.

• You hold a current certification card and can show logbook details, including your last dive date and total dives.
• You are comfortable diving to a maximum of 30 m (about 100 ft).
• Your medical history clears the operator's policy, covered below.
• You can reach Khao Lak by early afternoon on departure day, ideally earlier.
• You are happy with small groups of up to 4 divers per guide.

What Sea Dragon offers

The operator's schedule page lists two vessels, MV Andaman and MV Explorer. Each has a calendar for the 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 seasons. Trips cover the Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai. Sea Dragon also describes PADI courses and day trips from its Khao Lak base. Dates change, so read the live calendar on the operator's website before planning flights. For site descriptions, see our guides to Khao Lak Dive Sites: Similans, Koh Bon, Richelieu Rock & More and the Similan Islands From Khao Lak: Day Trip Guide.

Liveaboard vs day trip from Khao Lak

A liveaboard puts you near the islands overnight, so more of each day goes to diving. A day trip keeps your hotel base and shorter commitments. Season matters for both. Read our Khao Lak Diving Season: Best Months, Closures & What to Expect page before choosing months. Then check Khao Lak Water Temperature by Month: Swim, Snorkel and Dive Guide to decide on wetsuit thickness. Sea Dragon's own pages describe a dive briefing before every dive, with a hand-drawn site map.

Check-in day logistics

Sea Dragon states you must check in by 4 pm at the very latest on departure day. Its staff advise arriving as early as you can. Bring your certification card and logbook details. You also need a passport copy if you have not already sent one. Pay your balance and the National Park fee at check-in. Dive insurance can also be paid there if you need it. You can leave main luggage in the customer storage room and board with a small bag. A safe in the office holds valuables. Add a buffer day before departure in case flights slip.

• Mistake: arriving after 4 pm. Plan to land in Khao Lak the day before.
• Mistake: missing documents. Carry card and passport copies; phone photos are accepted.
• Mistake: skipping the medical form. Disclose conditions before travel.
• Mistake: relying on one buffer day. Flight delays can still cost you the boat.
• Mistake: booking without checking the live schedule for MV Andaman and MV Explorer.

Medical and certification requirements

At check-in you complete a registration form with medical questions. A YES answer can trigger a request for medical clearance. Sea Dragon says it may not accept statements signed by local doctors in Khao Lak. Contact the operator before you travel if you have any health issue. Statements should be dated within 12 months of your trip. Conditional statements that limit depth or duration are not accepted. The operator names these conditions on its policy page:

• Epilepsy: divers with this condition are not accepted.
• Asthma: not accepted if you had an attack in the last 5 years. An attack 5-10 years ago needs a statement from a diving physician.
• Diabetes: tell the operator in advance. A diving physician's statement is required.
• Hypertension: beta blocker users need a diving physician's statement. Other medication needs a statement showing blood pressure is controlled.
• Thyroid disease: untreated disorders should not dive. Treated hyperthyroidism needs a detailed medical statement.

Safety and dive-style details

Groups are capped at 4 divers per professional guide. Dive staff are PADI Divemasters or Instructors. Maximum depth is 30 m, while sunset and night dives stay near 18 m (about 60 ft). Dives run around 50 minutes, and sunset and night dives about 40. Safety stops are included on every dive, and surface intervals last 2-3 hours. Everyone onboard gets a free dive computer and surface marker buoy. Guides carry a backup computer. Rental gear is mainly Aqualung, Scubapro, Mares or Deep Blue. If you own a DIN regulator, the operator supplies an adaptor free. Staff ask to test your own regulator and BCD on a tank at check-in.

Not diving? Snorkelers and companions

Sea Dragon's published policy covers divers, and it does not say how non-divers are handled. Ask the operator directly whether snorkelers can join a specific departure and what the rate is. Our Khao Lak snorkeling guide lists easier alternatives closer to shore. Companions who want a calmer day can also look at Khao Lak turtle spots. Divers wanting a shallower option can read about the Boonsung Wreck, Khao Lak: Depth, Level & Trip Guide.

Costs and what is typically extra

Sea Dragon publishes current rates on its booking and schedule pages, so use those rather than older blog figures. Expect a liveaboard to cost more than a day trip, since it covers cabin, meals and several days of diving. The National Park fee and balance are paid at check-in. Fees for Similan and Surin are set by the national parks authority, so check the current amount on the Thai national parks site. Other extras to budget for:

• Dive insurance, if you do not already have it.
• Rental gear, if you do not bring your own.
• Bar bill, logbook, T-shirt, towel and similar onboard purchases, paid in cash.
• A tip for the boat crew.

Sea Dragon vs other Khao Lak dive shops

Compare operators on group size, medical rules and what the price includes. Our Khao Lak Dive Shops: How to Choose the Right One page covers the wider field. You can also search for centers through the SSI dive center locator. Put these questions to any operator, including Sea Dragon:

• What does the current price include?
• Which vessel and cabin type will you be on?
• What is the maximum group size per guide?
• What are the cancellation terms?
• Is rental gear included, and is nitrox available?
• What is the exact National Park fee?