Introducing a New Boat and a New Destination

Time to read
2 minutes
Read so far

Introducing a New Boat and a New Destination

August 29, 2018 - 00:51
Posted in section:
0 comments

The Phinisi yacht is the new addition to The Junk brand and will operate diving liveaboard cruises in Thailand and Myanmar starting November 1st 2018. She will offer four different routes that cover the best of diving in Thailand: Similan & Surin Islands including the famous Richelieu Rock, as well as Phi Phi Islands, Koh Haa and the two famous dive sites Hin Deang and Hin Muang. Itineraries vary between 4 and 6 nights, and are ideally combined into a 10 night itinerary. On top of that, Myanmar is added to the schedule from 2019 onwards with 7 and 10 night cruises around the Mergui Archipelago.

Officially known as ‘Cheng I Sao’, The Phinisi (pronounced: Pinisi) is fully equipped to accommodate 18 divers in 7 en-suite cabins with individual air conditioning units. Guests can choose between flexible double/twin, fixed twins, and quad cabins. Full of character and charm, The Phinisi also has quite a remarkable history.

Custom-built in 2007 as a liveaboard yacht in classic Indonesian Phinisi style, she became part of the WWDAS fleet as Sampai Jumpa Lagi. In 2008, she was renamed Siren; the first vessel to bear the name of what later became the well-known Siren Fleet. She successfully operated in Thailand, Myanmar, the Andaman Islands, Indonesia, and the Maldives. The Phinisi has had a break from hosting liveaboards for the last couple of years; instead she has been cruising with guests on day trips around the islands near Phuket. Now she is back! New colours, new name, but with the same characteristic style and outstanding service that people have become accustomed to on The Junk.

The Phinisi is a 34 metre custom built diving liveaboard yacht of traditional Indonesian gaft rigged Phinisi style with 7 sails. She hosts 18 guests in 7 en suited double, twin and quad cabins. The main deck features a large indoor salon with comfortable sofas and personal storage. There is an outside dining area with bench seating to the rear complete with full refreshment making facilities. Forward of the Salon is the dive deck, outdoor shaded relaxation area and camera charging station. Upstairs is the large half covered sun deck with cushioned loungers for après dive cocktails.

The itineraries
The Phinisi will offer a variety of itineraries of 4, 6 and 10 night trips around the South of Thailand, The Similan and Myanmar.

4 nights – Southern Thailand – from November 2018 to May 2019 only
The Phi Phi National Marine Park and the southern islands of Koh Haa, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang offer pinnacles, incredible limestone walls full of healthy soft corals and gorgonians full of macro life ready to be discovered by you! That’s not all! There are great chances to find mantas, whale sharks, leopard sharks, black tip sharks as well as schools of barracudas and snappers.

6 nights – Similan & Surin Islands – from November 2018 to May 2019 only
The Marine National Parks of the Similan Islands and the Surin Islands offer over 200 species of hard corals spread between walls and coral gardens and pinnacles where turtles, giant trevallies, huge school of jacks, barracudas, and all kinds of tropical fish patrol. Manta rays and leopard sharks are also a common close encounter. All this as well as one of the best dive sites in the world, Richelieu Rock, and the chance to see majestic whale sharks!

10 nights – Best of Thailand – From November 2019
If you join the southern Thailand itineraries above then you have The Best of Thailand all in a fantastic single 10 night itinerary.
This combo of 4 (south) and 6 (north: Similans) nights = The Best of Thailand is always available; not only this year.

7 & 10 nights – Myanmar – From February 2019
Still relatively unexplored and undiscovered, Myanmar's Mergui Archipelago offers species for all kinds of underwater fauna lovers! From mantas, dogtooth tunas, and barracudas to frogfish, cuttlefish, and seahorses. Macro lovers can expect to see all types of crabs, shrimps and some rare macro interactions. Different kinds of sharks such as leopard sharks, grey sharks, blacktip sharks, nurse sharks and whale sharks also populate the area. The reefs in the area are very impressive, not only because of the beauty of the corals, gorgonians and table corals but also because of their size!

For more information and bookings, consult our website: www.thejunk.com or send an email to: bookings@thephinisi.com.