Thailand and Myanmar Aboard the Ocean Rover
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| Photography by Stephen Frink |
The Boat
The nuts-and-bolts description of the Ocean Rover is as below, reproduced with permission from their web site. Having dived from the Ocean Rover, I'd like to add that this is one of the more ergonomic and thoughtfully laid-out vessels I've had the pleasure of chartering. The spacious dive deck flows naturally to the whale deck for ease of entering by means of a giant stride or boarding the dinghies. The camera tables, both in the main salon and on the dive deck, are commodious and secure. The care given to underwater cameras is evident in the dual rinse tanks, one for an initial rinse and a second one to assure all salt water is effectively washed off. Truthfully, the vessel's lines will never be confused with the sleek profile of a Hattaras or a Sea Ray, but the interior amenities and intuitive dive deck are world-class. She is safe, solid, and delivers reliable food, drinks, air and nitrox. The satellite radio system on board was a nice addition as well.
Ocean Rover Specifications
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| Mark Strickland|
Length: 30 meters
Width: 8 meters
Draft: 2 meters
GRT: 279 tons
Engines: 3 x Hino V10 420Hp
Generators: 2 x 75Kw
Cruising Speed: 10 knots
Range: 3500 miles
The crew deserves special mention as well. Mark's photo-illustrations of the next day's dive sites were informative and entertaining, and Hans, Andy and the rest of the dive staff were professional and extremely attentive to our needs.
Ocean Rover was designed for comfortable and safe offshore diving. Her thick steel hull is 100ft/30m long and 24ft/8m wide. She is powered by three Hino V10 420Hp diesel engines, driving three propellers for extra safety. Her cruising speed is 10 knots and the top speed 12.5, allowing us significant range into the Burma Bank.
Ocean Rover takes a maximum of sixteen passengers in eight cabins, all located on the main and upper deck. Six cabins are identical and have large double beds with single upper berths and large panoramic windows. The two forward cabins are a bit smaller and feature wide upper and lower berths with have dual portholes. All cabins have private bathrooms, individually controlled air-conditioning and lots of storage space.
The huge dive-deck has several camera tables and dual rinse tanks. Care has been taken to ensure that photographers have safe places to put down their expensive cameras just before and after the dive.
Ocean Rover's unique feature is the "Whaledeck" the lower section of the dive deck, which steps down to the waterline allowing for optimum ease of diving operations. This "Whaledeck" is where the dinghies are stored when the vessel is underway.
The spacious salon offers a comfortable dining and sitting arrangement, a fully equipped entertainment center and a camera charging area with 220/110 volts connections. The salon has a refreshments corner and an extensive marine life library. The aft upper deck is partly shaded for sun, or not. A second refreshment corner is located there.
Ocean Rover's sixteen passengers are looked after by twelve crewmembers, most of who also worked on the Fantasea, the predecessor to the Ocean Rover. In fact, most crewmembers have been with the organization for a decade or more and were also involved in the construction of the new boat. They are rightfully proud of their boat and proud of their excellent reputation.
Ocean Rover's main area of operation is the Andaman Sea off the West Coast of Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). The cruises take divers to the Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock and Myanmar's Burma Banks and Mergui Archipelago.
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| Photography by Stephen Frink |
Amenities & Features
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| Photography by Stephen Frink|
- Private cabins with en suite bathrooms
- Daily cabin service
- Individually controlled a/c in all cabins
- Daily fresh towels in cabins
- Hot fresh water showers
- Hair dryers and toiletries in all cabins
- Souvenir giveaways for all guests
- 220V & 110V electrical current
- E6 slide processing, light tables
- Dedicated guest-access computer for digital imaging and e-mail uploads
- Multiple camera tables indoors & on deck
- Huge fresh water camera rinse tanks
- Air-conditioning in all indoor areas
- Audio and video entertainment centers, including satellite radio
- Guest e-mail service and satellite telephone
- Delicious dining and snacks
- Ice-maker and espresso machine
- Warm towels after each dive
- Dive deck and camera assistance
- Revolutionary "whale-deck" design
- Open air sun-deck with shaded area
- Huge dive-deck with fresh water showers
- 16 passengers - 12 crew
- Up to 5 dives per day
- Nitrox system for increased dive safety, perfect 32% mix every time
(membrane system)
- 2 fast chase boats with boarding ladders
- Patient, knowledgeable dive crew, both Western and Thai
| | Photography by Stephen Frink|
The Boat
The nuts-and-bolts description of the Ocean Rover is as below, reproduced with permission from their web site. Having dived from the Ocean Rover, I'd like to add that this is one of the more ergonomic and thoughtfully laid-out vessels I've had the pleasure of chartering. The spacious dive deck flows naturally to the whale deck for ease of entering by means of a giant stride or boarding the dinghies. The camera tables, both in the main salon and on the dive deck, are commodious and secure. The care given to underwater cameras is evident in the dual rinse tanks, one for an initial rinse and a second one to assure all salt water is effectively washed off. Truthfully, the vessel's lines will never be confused with the sleek profile of a Hattaras or a Sea Ray, but the interior amenities and intuitive dive deck are world-class. She is safe, solid, and delivers reliable food, drinks, air and nitrox. The satellite radio system on board was a nice addition as well.
Ocean Rover Specifications
|
| Mark Strickland|
Length: 30 meters
Width: 8 meters
Draft: 2 meters
GRT: 279 tons
Engines: 3 x Hino V10 420Hp
Generators: 2 x 75Kw
Cruising Speed: 10 knots
Range: 3500 miles
The crew deserves special mention as well. Mark's photo-illustrations of the next day's dive sites were informative and entertaining, and Hans, Andy and the rest of the dive staff were professional and extremely attentive to our needs.
Ocean Rover was designed for comfortable and safe offshore diving. Her thick steel hull is 100ft/30m long and 24ft/8m wide. She is powered by three Hino V10 420Hp diesel engines, driving three propellers for extra safety. Her cruising speed is 10 knots and the top speed 12.5, allowing us significant range into the Burma Bank.
Ocean Rover takes a maximum of sixteen passengers in eight cabins, all located on the main and upper deck. Six cabins are identical and have large double beds with single upper berths and large panoramic windows. The two forward cabins are a bit smaller and feature wide upper and lower berths with have dual portholes. All cabins have private bathrooms, individually controlled air-conditioning and lots of storage space.
The huge dive-deck has several camera tables and dual rinse tanks. Care has been taken to ensure that photographers have safe places to put down their expensive cameras just before and after the dive.
Ocean Rover's unique feature is the "Whaledeck" the lower section of the dive deck, which steps down to the waterline allowing for optimum ease of diving operations. This "Whaledeck" is where the dinghies are stored when the vessel is underway.
The spacious salon offers a comfortable dining and sitting arrangement, a fully equipped entertainment center and a camera charging area with 220/110 volts connections. The salon has a refreshments corner and an extensive marine life library. The aft upper deck is partly shaded for sun, or not. A second refreshment corner is located there.
Ocean Rover's sixteen passengers are looked after by twelve crewmembers, most of who also worked on the Fantasea, the predecessor to the Ocean Rover. In fact, most crewmembers have been with the organization for a decade or more and were also involved in the construction of the new boat. They are rightfully proud of their boat and proud of their excellent reputation.
Ocean Rover's main area of operation is the Andaman Sea off the West Coast of Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). The cruises take divers to the Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock and Myanmar's Burma Banks and Mergui Archipelago.
| | Photography by Stephen Frink|
Amenities & Features
| | Photography by Stephen Frink| - Private cabins with en suite bathrooms
- Daily cabin service
- Individually controlled a/c in all cabins
- Daily fresh towels in cabins
- Hot fresh water showers
- Hair dryers and toiletries in all cabins
- Souvenir giveaways for all guests
- 220V & 110V electrical current
- E6 slide processing, light tables
- Dedicated guest-access computer for digital imaging and e-mail uploads
- Multiple camera tables indoors & on deck
- Huge fresh water camera rinse tanks
- Air-conditioning in all indoor areas
- Audio and video entertainment centers, including satellite radio
- Guest e-mail service and satellite telephone
- Delicious dining and snacks
- Ice-maker and espresso machine
- Warm towels after each dive
- Dive deck and camera assistance
- Revolutionary "whale-deck" design
- Open air sun-deck with shaded area
- Huge dive-deck with fresh water showers
- 16 passengers - 12 crew
- Up to 5 dives per day
- Nitrox system for increased dive safety, perfect 32% mix every time
(membrane system)
- 2 fast chase boats with boarding ladders
- Patient, knowledgeable dive crew, both Western and Thai
