TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE VESSEL
MV ANDAMAN SEAFARER

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TYPICAL FEATURES OF MV ANDAMAN SEAFARER

She was designed and supervised during the construction in Phuket by his owner who has 24 years of diving experience in Thailand as dive operator (since 1980) and SCUBA Instructor (since 1985). Charlie served as a dive guide on the Calypso vessel (Jacques Cousteau) during the shooting of the film "The Sea convicts" in 1988 at Similan and Surin Islands.

The length and beam make it one of the largest comfortable dive vessels in Phuket and Thailand.

2 V8 engines of 320 Hp each give confidence during the cruises.

Our 4.7m Avon Rib dinghy with a 40 HP outboard allows diving in the most remote places giving our customers an easy mean of accessing the dive site and of course of getting picked up after the dive in the most secure conditions.

2 large showers/toilets. 7500 litres of fresh water. We do not limit the showers during the cruise.

Everywhere inside the vessel, the ceilings are of 2.20 m.

All cabins have air-conditioning during the night.

All bunks have standard mattresses (200 x 90 x 20).

The kitchen is equipped as a restaurant. We never serve the same meals more than once during the cruise.

All guests take their meals on large table on the roof and the food is served buffet style.

Large dive area (6 x 8 m), easy entries and exits with 3 ladders. 14 divers can be in/out of water within a few minutes.

Up to 36 tanks (80 & 100 cf) are available in the racks. We do not need to refill the tanks in the daytime. The 2 Bauer compressors can fill the tanks when the guests are taking a nap in the cabins or in the deckchairs on the solarium.

Solarium (5.5 x 8 m) with deckchairs and mattresses. The perfect place to have a drink at sunset and in the evening.

The Adventure or Advanced course may be taught with a 50% discount during our Similan-Surin-Richelieu and/or Southern Islands Island live aboard dive cruises on board our vessel "MV Andaman Seafarer".

Many divers have seen a lot of advertising in dive magazines about diving in Burma and asked us the possibility of liveaboard dive cruises to Burma with MV Andaman Seafarer. Today we can confirm that SEAFARER Divers will not plan any dive cruise with our vessel MV Andaman Seafarer to Mergui Archipelago & Burma Banks. Comments from divers who had been diving with other dive operators in Burma and also with Seafarer Divers the last season have been confirming that the viz (not better than Surin, Phi-Phi or Phuket area), coral reefs (anchoring and dynamiting), fish (no more big fish: over fishing) are not as good as the dives at Hin Daeng/Hin Muang, Similan or Surin Island National Parks without mentioning the entry/exit problems (Burma closes or opens its border without warning).

Wittaya Hongwiangchan, Chief of the Similan Islands Marine National Park, warned tour and dive tour operators that it was illegal to bring tourists into the marine park during the monsoon season when the seas are rough and dangerous. The park opens again in November 2002.

ARE YOU A RESPONSIBLE DIVER?

1. Diving within the limits of my ability and training.

As a Responsible Diver, I understand…
• My certification card qualifies me to engage in diving activities consistent with my training and experience.
• The importance of continuing my diving education in the form of supervised activities and training, such as night diving and deep diving specialities.
• The need to keep proficient in my diving skills and to refresh them under supervision if I have not been diving recently.
• There are no limits to what I can learn about diving. The more I know, the safer I’ll be.
• My maximum depth should be limited to my level of training and experience.
• I must have training in the proper use of equipment.
• The value of getting specific training in the proper use and application of specialized equipment, such as dry suits and computers.

2. Evaluating the conditions before every dive and making sure they fit my personal capabilities.

As a Responsible diver, I recognize…
• The need for being familiar with my dive sites and the importance of getting a formal orientation to unfamiliar dive sites from a knowledgeable local source.
• The dangers of overhead environments (caves, wrecks, etc.) and will seek specialized training before doing such diving.
• I should postpone my dive, or choose an alternate site, if I evaluate the dive sites conditions as being more difficult than my experience and training level.
• I should use a surface support station, such as a boat or a float, whenever feasible.

3. Being familiar with and checking my equipment before and during every dive.

As a Responsible Diver, I understand…
• That simply owning my equipment does not give me the knowledge and ability to dive safely.
• I must have training in the use of my equipment.
• I should maintain comfort in the use of my equipment through practice.
• My equipment must be equal to the type of diving I will be doing.
• I need to check that my equipment is operating properly before each dive.
• My equipment must be treated with respect and properly maintained.
• My equipment must be serviced according to manufacturers’ standards by a factory-authorized service technician or certified scuba cylinder visual inspector.
• I must follow manufacturers’ recommendations on the use of my equipment and must not modify it to perform in a way not intended by its maker.
• I must use only the breathing gas specified for use by the manufacturer of my life support equipment.
• The importance of being able to easily release my weights if in distress.
• The value of an alternate air source and low-pressure buoyancy control inflation system.
• How to adjust my weights for neutral buoyancy at the surface with no air in my buoyancy control device.

4. Respecting the buddy system and its advantages.

As a Responsible Diver, I recognize…
• I need to keep my diving emergency response skills sharp through practice and mental role-playing.
• The importance of planning my dives with my buddy, including communications, procedures for reuniting if separated and emergency procedures.
• Diving the plan, which my buddy and I agreed to follow helps provide a safe dive.
• I should always deny the use of my equipment to uncertified divers.

5. Accepting the responsibility for my own safety on every dive.

As a Responsible Diver, I know…
• the importance of maintaining good mental and physical fitness for diving.
• I must not dive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Postponing the dive is the correct action if I am suffering from a cold, hangover, flu or other health deficiency that may cause complications.
• To be watchful for and avoid overexertion.
• Diving will be safer if I listen carefully to dive briefings and respect the advice of those overseeing my diving activities.
• The operators I dive with are not responsible for my decisions and actions.
• I should be proficient in dive table use and make all dives no-required decompression dives, allowing for a margin of safety, ascending no faster than 60 feet / 18 meters per minute and making a safety stop at the end of every dive.
• To always breathe continuously while diving and never skip breathe or hold my breath.
• Proper buoyancy should be maintained at all times – buoyant for surface swimming, neutral while swimming underwater.

6. Being environmentally conscious on every dive

As a Responsible Diver, I…
• Am careful about what I touch underwater.
• Do not break plants or coral or collect “souvenirs.”
• Do not feed or handle fish.
• Respect laws on size and limits for game.
• Collect and dispose of trash I find while diving.
• Let dive buddies, resorts and dive operators know how I feel about environmental responsibility.
• Never dive in a manner that would hurt the environment.
The resorts and operators I dive with:
• Use mooring buoys whenever available or anchor in areas free of live bottoms.
• Give thorough environmental briefings to divers before they enter the water.
• Contains photo-processing chemicals for proper disposal.
• Dispose of trash responsibility.
• Uphold environmental regulations and game limits.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE VESSEL
MV ANDAMAN SEAFARER

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