Thailand Liveaboard: A Bond getaway ship!

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Thailand Liveaboard: A Bond getaway ship!

James Bond is a Scuba diver. This we know. From his watch to his official title as an officer in the Royal Navy, James is a diver.

Now if you’ve watched more than a handful of 007 movies you’ll know he’s fond of an underwater adventure or two. Well, if you remember The Man With the Golden Gun, there’s a scene where he makes a getaway on a traditional Thai junk.

This Thai Junk, the June Hong Chian Lee, is still in service on the seas and it’s a liveaboard for Scuba divers in Thailand.

Known now as just ‘The Junk’, she can carry 18 divers in 6 cabins. Life on board is still an adventure as she sails out of Phuket to take divers to the Similans & Surin Isles or south to East Timor and the Indonesian islands.

There are 6 cabins on board: two private double bed cabins, 2 three- berths and 2 four-berths. Thanks to its massive deck area divers can suit up easily and return to catch rays or stargaze at night.

It’s a life of luxury on board. The average day starts with a light snack and fresh coffee with divers returning to a full breakfast if they want – with other meals embracing a regional flavor.

Highlights for divers in the Similan Islands include huge undersea bolders and gullies for them to swim through, with Whale Sharks and Manta Rays the largest species to spot.

Back on board the crew of 10 like to raise the sails whenever they can, adding to the experience.

As with James Bond movies, the star of the show needs to be refreshed once in a while; built in 1962, The Junk has recently been restored, extending her seafaring years for a long time in the future.

It’s a boat with real charm and character and makes an ideal scuba getaway to this day – unlike Bond’s underwater Lotus which has probably long since rusted away!

Take a look at our latest departures for ‘The Junk’ this special Thai Liveaboard