u/Dive_Advisor

The Junk

I’ve been wanting to write this review for a while because I think it’s important to share the good and the not-so-good honestly, especially in a diving community where real experiences matter more than marketing.

A few months ago, I spent several days aboard The Junk liveaboard in Thailand, diving around the Similan Islands and nearby areas. First of all, I completely understand why this boat has such a strong reputation. The boat itself is absolutely beautiful — traditional wooden style, lots of character, comfortable cabins, great food, and honestly one of the warmest crews I’ve experienced on a liveaboard.

The dive staff and dive masters were excellent. Professional, relaxed, patient, and clearly passionate about diving. Safety briefings were clear, groups were organized well, and the overall atmosphere onboard felt very personal instead of overly commercial. By the second day it felt more like traveling with friends than being on a tour boat.

The food deserves its own mention too. Some of the best meals I’ve had on a liveaboard anywhere. Fresh Thai food every day, great snacks between dives, and the crew genuinely cared that everyone was comfortable and happy.

Thailand itself is still magical above the water. The islands are stunning, sunsets were unreal, local people were incredibly kind, and every time we stepped onto land the food and culture reminded me why this country is one of the best travel destinations in the world.

Now for the honest part.

The diving itself was… good, but not what I expected from all the legendary stories people tell about Thailand diving 10–15 years ago.

Visibility was decent most days, the reefs still had beautiful colors in some areas, and we saw the usual reef life, but the amount of marine life felt noticeably lower than what older divers describe from the past. Fewer large schools of fish, fewer pelagics, and several dive sites felt quieter than expected.

One thing that really stayed with me was the number of fishing boats we could see at night. Huge bright lights all over the horizon. At first I didn’t think much about it, but about a week later I visited a local fish market and suddenly it all connected. The scale of fishing happening in the region is intense.

I’m not trying to blame local communities or criticize Thailand unfairly — fishing is part of life and livelihood for many people there. But as divers, I think we also have to be honest about what we see underwater. Overfishing is real, and in some areas you can absolutely feel its impact beneath the surface.

That said, I still do not regret the trip at all.

The overall experience was fantastic because diving is not only about chasing sharks or giant schools of fish. Sometimes it’s about the people you meet, the conversations on the dive deck, sunrise coffees before the first dive, and simply being out on the ocean for a few days disconnected from normal life.

Would I recommend The Junk? Absolutely yes.

Would I tell people to adjust expectations if they are expecting untouched oceans full of massive marine life like old Thailand dive documentaries? Also yes.

A few personal tips if you’re considering this trip:
• Go for the experience, not only the “bucket list” marine life expectations
• Bring reef-safe products and avoid touching anything underwater
• Support operators that genuinely care about conservation
• Spend extra time in Thailand before or after the trip — it’s worth it
• Talk to older dive guides; their stories about how the reefs used to be are fascinating and also a reminder of why conservation matters

I’d love to hear from other divers who have done Thailand recently. Did you feel the same way or did I just get unlucky conditions?

Jump in

Hey everyone, and welcome.

This community was created with a simple idea: give divers a place to share real experiences and help each other make better decisions in diving. No fake reviews, no paid promotions, no “best dive center ever” marketing posts — just honest advice from people who actually dive.

Whether you’re brand new to scuba or have thousands of dives, your experience can help someone else avoid mistakes, discover amazing dive spots, choose better gear, or find trustworthy dive operators around the world.

Here’s the kind of stuff we’d love to see here:
• Honest reviews of dive centers, liveaboards, instructors, and dive shops
• Dive site recommendations and travel advice
• Scuba gear opinions and real-world experiences
• Beginner questions without judgment
• Safety tips and lessons learned
• Underwater photos and dive stories
• Marine life encounters and conservation topics

One thing we really want to build is trust. Diving can be expensive, and sometimes unsafe operators or misleading reviews can ruin a trip or worse. Honest feedback from real divers makes a huge difference for the whole community.

If you’re one of the first people here, thank you for helping start this community. Introduce yourself below:
• Where are you from?
• What’s your favorite dive so far?
• What destination is on your bucket list?

And if you have a friend who loves diving, invite them to join us. The more real divers we have here, the more useful this community becomes for everyone.

Dive safe and welcome aboard 🌊