The Original MV Hallelujah Liveaboard
Construction of MV Hallelujah Liveaboard began in 2000 upon approval or her design plans by the Marine Authorities in Bangkok. Back then MV Hallelujah was designed to be a Similan Liveaboard, but under a different name. MV Halleujah started life as the Viking of the Orient.
A hand-picked team of steelworkers, under the leadership of Khun Lek started construction on 2nd October at Koh Sire in Phuket, Thailand.
The Viking of the Orient was first launched in January 2002. After a series of further fittings at the Phuket Boat Lagoon, she was all set for her maiden voyage which took place in November 2002. It would be her first time to take people diving in the Similan Islands.
The Viking ran successful 5 day Similan liveaboard trips and longer trips including the South Andaman Sea up until the Indian Ocean Tsunami in late 2014.
Construction of the MV Hallelujah Liveaboard
From Viking to Hallelujah
Immediately after the 2004 Tsunami, the Viking of the Orient was involved as a support ship for Thai Authorities in their search and recovery missions at the Similan Islands and Koh Tachai.
Like many operators at the time, the Similan liveaboard struggled with just a handful of bookings in the aftermath of the Tsunami.
With a new name, the MV Hallelujah returned to full operation in 2010 cruising as the flagship Similan liveaboard for West Coast Divers. At the same time Big Blue’s liveaboard was the MV Pawara.
Big Blue took over MV Hallelujah Liveaboard in October 2012 and have be the sole operators of the boat since then.
Similan Liveaboard Life Aboard MV Hallelujah
Big Blue Diving Khao Lak is Getting Greener!
Huge thanks to Nok Malaidang of the Phuket Marine National Park Operation Center 2 for inviting us to attend their recent trip to the Mu Koh Surin National Park on board the Peter Pan Similan Liveaboard. Obviously something we jumped at and here’s what we got up too.
Similan Science With the huge changes to the Similan Islands national park this year, and the seemingly last minute implementation of new rules, it became very clear to us that our communication with the Thai authorities was not enough as it should be. So were overjoyed when we were kindly invited to join the ‘Phuket […]
Strange days in The Similan Islands. We had 6 guests on board and there was hardly another boat in sight. The new national park restrictions are in full force and things are eerily quiet.