I did my open water and advanced certification in Thailand. All of my diving was on the west coast around Railay Beach, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, and the Similan Islands. Seeing my first shark is what got me hooked, and why I did 24 dives in as many days. The marine life I encountered on those dives spoiled me, with lots of eels, leopard sharks, barracuda, turtles, rays, cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, seahorses, and reef sharks. I enjoyed the diving and the variety of conditions I got to experience while on a liveaboard in the Similan and Surin Islands. I also enjoyed all of the day trips from various laid-back backpacker spots. Topside Thailand holds just as much (if not more) thrall for me - the food, the people, and the stunning landscapes are some of my favourites in the world. It's worth taking time to see more of Thailand than just the southern beach and diving areas, so try to visit Northern Thailand for different cuisines and experiences.

The trip was great! I dived 25 times including 4 night dives. The reef is in good shape with plenty of life. El Aquila is a good shipwreck and an enjoyable dive. Other than one stormy afternoon which caused us to cancel two dives, the weather was great. I recommend this trip to any diver. The crew was excellent with great dive master, a fantastic cook and a top notch skipper. All of the quests were friendly and engaging, and I have even made plans to go on another trip with some of them.

Critter report – lots of macro stuff with little crabs, shrimps, nudibranchs, slugs and stuff. A dozen or so sharks which I really like. Several moray eels. Four octopuses. A number of big lobsters and huge crabs. Plus a couple of turtles.

I had the pleasure of joining the Dune Aurora on an 11-night liveaboard in Raja Ampat. The customer service was exceptional from start to finish.

A traditional phinisi, the Dune Aurora is inspiring to look at from afar and I enjoyed taking in the incredible craftsmanship while onboard. The Aurora’s luxurious staterooms made me feel comfortable throughout the trip, even though I was a solo traveller and shared my room with a stranger. We both had enough space for our belongings without it feeling cramped. The bathroom was well-appointed and had a porthole to look at the incredible scenery.

Food aboard the Aurora never left me wanting, with options for every taste and dietary preference. I spent most happy hours on the sundeck taking in the 360-degree views of the archipelago with a drink in hand. We gathered as a group for our meals at the long dining table where we shared highlights of our dives. The crew prepared a special beach barbeque on a small uninhabited island which unfortunately got rained out in the middle but was enjoyable nonetheless!

Diving from the Dune Aurora was well organized, with equipment shuttled between the dive deck and the tender boats by the crew for each dive. The knowledgeable guides gave detailed dive briefings, which included maps and vital information about currents. From the descent at our first dive site, Barracuda, my mind was blown by the incredible underwater scenery. It seemed as if an unseen conductor was creating a symphony of color and movement with every bit of the dive site and blue water teeming with life. It only got better from there and my favourite dive sites were Boo Windows, Anticoves, Candy Store, Mask Cave, and Melissa's Garden. Misool was the highlight for me, as the pristine reefs seemed untouched with fewer divers and no plastic in the water. The Dampier Strait was also lovely, but Misool stole my heart. Diving in Raja Ampat is well worth the cost and trek to get there.

I enjoyed the non-diving activities available on the Dune Aurora, including kayaking, hiking to the incredible viewpoint, and snorkelling through a unique cave system and in a jellyfish lake. Island visits to Arborek to meet the locals and an early morning hike from Saporkren Village to see the famous bird of paradise were great additions to the itinerary.

Having travelled in late November/early December, I experienced some rainy and cloudy conditions throughout the trip, but the weather did not impact my enjoyment. With an itinerary that covered the best of the Four Kings, spectacular diving, wonderful crew, and exceptional food, my trip on the Aurora couldn’t have been much better.