All about The Junk Liveaboard from Thailand

Picture diving amidst the azure blue waters of Thailand, exploring vibrant coral gardens, and encountering majestic whale sharks and manta rays. From Richelieu Rock and Koh Bon to Koh Lipe, The Junk visits some of the best dive sites in Thailand.

In the Similan and Surin Islands the topography varies from steep walls to gently sloping reefs, and from submerged boulders to coral gardens. You’ll find swim-throughs and caverns in southern Thailand, along with strong current dives on the pinnacles in Koh Lipe.

Featured in the James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun” and the “Swiss Family Robinson,” The Junk offers the epitome of diving experiences in Thailand. Along with its sister ship, The Phinisi, this 108-foot (33 m) vessel combines the expertise of a highly trained dive team with Thailand’s renowned hospitality. With six well-equipped cabins for up to 18 guests, The Junk promises a voyage to remember.

Let’s dive into our review of The Junk.

Where to book

The Junk traditional wooden sailing vessel with red sails at sunset

PADI TravelSecure online booking Liveaboard.comNo booking fees Divebooker.comFree DAN insurance

Diving on The Junk

Rows of scuba gear hanging along the deck of The Junk liveaboard

Manta ray with two remoras swimming beneath it, seen from below

Zebra shark resting on the sandy seafloor

Hawksbill turtle swimming close to the reef

Thailand has some of the clearest waters in Asia, warm year-round and filled with marine life. Divers can see miles of kaleidoscopic corals, giant whale sharks, majestic manta rays, leopard sharks, scorpionfish and blue-spotted stingrays.

Currents in some of the dive sites can be quite strong, so it’s recommended that divers should have Advanced Open Water certification or the equivalent with a minimum of 10 logged dives and some experience with diving in currents. The AOW can also be obtained during your stay aboard The Junk, but e-learning should be done before the trip and communicated ahead of time.

During the low season (May through September) The Junk offers weekend trips from Phuket to the best dive sites around Koh Phi Phi and Phuket for two nights with up to eight dives.

From late October to May The Junk travels to Thailand’s Similan and Surin Islands. These trips depart from either Khao Lak or Phuket and offer longer stays of up to six nights with 19 dives. Due to the remoteness of the Surin Islands not many liveaboards go there, so dive sites are largely free of other divers and you’ll likely have them all to yourselves.

Diving is done from a dinghy and you’ll get picked up wherever you surface. Full rental equipment is available at a surcharge, but an SMB is provided free of charge for the duration of your stay.

Highlights:

Marine life from leopard sharks to whale sharks
Weekend trips for a quick getaway
Dive sites include walls, reefs, caverns, and pinnacles
Up to 19 dives per trip
Free use of an SMB

Onboard The Junk

Dining tables and benches set up on The Junk's open deck

Cushioned lounge chairs on The Junk's sundeck overlooking the harbor

Shaded bow deck of The Junk with lounge chairs and rigging

Cabin bed decorated with towel swans and gift bags aboard The Junk

Dating back to 1962 and refurbished in 1998, The Junk has preserved its historical charm while embracing modern comforts. The June Hong Chian Lee is one of several junks, traditional Chinese sailing ships, built in Penang, Malaysia. This 108-foot (30 m), three-masted vessel features 3,500 square feet (330 square meters) of sails.

The Junk is a historical vessel turned into a charming liveaboard that accommodates 18 guests in six cozy, air-conditioned cabins with en-suite bathrooms and overhead reading lights. Choose between two private cabins with convertible twin/double beds, two three-berth cabins, and two four-berth cabins, which are all bunks.

The spacious, air-conditioned salon is decoratively fitted with hand-carved shelves, drawers and cabinets, behind which is hidden the on-board entertainment selection. There’s a library of books, videos, and mini discs for entertainment when you’re topside. A large, flat-screen TV is perfectly positioned for optimal viewing while relaxing in the saloon.

Outside, work on your tan or take a nap on the loungers and bean bags on the shaded sundeck, which offers amazing views. And, after diving, visit the bar to recap the day’s adventures.

The dive deck has a personal set-up area and storage crates. Underwater photographers and videographers will appreciate the large freshwater rinse tanks and designated areas for charging and preparing equipment.

The Junk is a great choice for families and groups of divers and non-divers or snorkelers, with loads of snorkeling opportunities, kayaks for exploring, and opportunities for exciting shore excursions to nearby islands.

Highlights

Entertainment library for topside time
Personal diving/deck towel
Free use of kayaks

Dining Onboard The Junk

Crew briefing guests on dive sites using a chart at the bar

Tray of fried chicken pieces served alongside rice

Guests eating together at the long dining table aboard The Junk

Buffet spread of rice, curry, watermelon and salad aboard The Junk

The culinary journey aboard The Junk is a feast for the senses and aims to never let guests go hungry. After a simple breakfast before the first dive, you’ll be treated to the full monty, featuring eggs, bread, bacon, ham, fried beans, yogurt, pancakes, and more. Rice soup is offered for a traditional Asian breakfast.

During lunch you will find different kinds of rice and noodles as well as vegetables and fresh salads. Dinner consists of Asian dishes, Western meals, and vegetarian dishes. Special dietary requests can be accommodated with advance notice.

All meals are served buffet-style and you can dine in the saloon or outside on the spacious, shaded deck. Between dives guests can snack on cookies, donuts, cake, and fruit or grab a handful of nuts at the end of the day to go with the after-dive drink from the bar. Soft drinks are included and beer and wine are available at a surcharge.