Diving Similan Liveaboard Cruise Scuba Safari       

To understand the location of all the dive sites proposed, at first two main areas have to been dissociated:
► SIMILAN ISLANDS which regroup 9 inhabited islands
► SURIN ARCHIPELAGO witch is constituted from Surin Islands - Richelieu Rock - Koh Tachai & Koh Bon (about 30 to 40 miles north of Similan Islands).


SIMILAN ISLANDS

Their reputation is due to their richest variety of marine life in Thai waters (together with the Hin Daeng - Hin Muang area - southern of Phuket): not less than 500 species of hard and soft corals, and an even higher amount of pelagic and coral fish with sizes that many envy to match.
The Similan Archipelago is also home to the biggest fish in the world, the whale shark, which together with manta rays, leopard and white tip sharks are regularly encountered during the peak season.
Aside from the aquatic realm, the bottom topography is just fantastic: huge granite boulders covered with coral lie together all the way from the surface to 40 meters and beyond, providing lots of exciting swimthroughs-canyons, archways and caves, some perfect spots for U/W pictures and video effects.
We will guide you through the best sites, swimthroughs, coral reefs, drop-offs and pinnacles that the Islands have to offer, but not the most crowded!

SIMILAN ISLANDS Best Dive Sites

● BOULDERS CITY : South East of Similan - cristal water - large area of submerged huge boulders & white sand between 15 and 45 m - gorgonian sea fans tree corals - home of leopard sharks & stingrays - manta rays during the season
● SHARK FIN REEF / HIN PAE : South East of island #3 (ko payan) - huge long submersible boulder forms sloping bottom covered with boulders to depths of 40 m and beyond - formation of rocks always protects one side of the dive site from current - tree corals - leopard sharks - white & black tip reef sharks - manta rays - school of hump head parrotfish
● BIRD ROCK : South Point of island #4 (koh Miang) - site of boulders from 10 to 40 m / rocks covered with soft, yellow coral (can be only found at Koh Bon and Surin Tai) / pelagic fishes; jackfish, tuna, barracuda / current can be very strong
● HONEYMOON BAY : East of sland #4 (koh Miang) - rocks and hard coral - beautiful at night - rich variety of lobster, shrimps & crabs - mostly protected from waves and current - suitable for beginners and check out dives
● HIDE AWAY / BARRACUDA POINT : North East side of the islands #5 and 6 (Koh Ha / ko Hok) - sloping bottom of white coral sand, covered with pinnacles of hard & soft corals - 15 to 25 m - rich variety of tropical reef-fishes - pelagic species on the bottom - current mostly mild following the reef on one direction
● EAST OF EDEN / MORNING EDGE : North East tside of island #7 (koh Payu) - sloping bottom of white coral sand, covered with pinnacles of hard & soft corals - reef descending from the surface till 25-30 m - rich variety of tropical reef-fishes & pelagic species - mostly protected from waves and current.
● DEEP SIX : Certainly the "Deepest dive" of Similan - Starting by Arches above the surface the reef descend like a wall to 50 m++ - rocks covered with hard and soft corals - gorgonian sea fans - smaller reef species as well as pelagic - turtles - grey reef shark - current often present with always protection on one side of the reef
● ELEPHANT ROCK : Group of three big granite boulders emerged between island #7 and #8 - spectacular dive site with forming arches, tunnels & swimthroughs - rich of soft corals and gorgonian sea fans - jackfish fusiliers - tuna - giant moray eels - 10 to 35 m with moderate to strong current but protection is easily found
● BEACON REEF : Eastside of koh Similan (#8) - sloping bottom with hard corals - wreck of a diving liveaboard at 18 m - rich variety of reef fish, snappers, octopus, spiny lobsters - current mostly mild following the reef in one direction
● THE BOUDERS / DUCK BAY : North West point of island #8 - group of shallow boulders - max 12 m - most beautiful at night - hard and soft coral species - lobster, rich variety of crabs and shrimps - small swimthrough - side of the bay always protected from current & waves on the winter season
● SNAPPER ALLEY / BREAKFAST BEND : Eastside of island #9 (koh Bangu) - sloping sandy bottom with pinnacles of hard and soft corals - reef from the surface till 25 m - rich of various reef fish - leopard sharks - current mostly mild following generally the reef in one direction
● CHRISTMAS POINT : West side #9 (koh Bangu) - boulders and arches - dynamic dive site from 10 to 30 m - soft & hard corals - leopard sharks - white & black tip reef sharks - turtles - pelagic fish - tuna, mackerel, barracuda - current moderate to strong
● NORTH POINT : Huge boulders forming large granite canyons area - from 10 to 30 m - gorgonian sea fans, soft corals - home of batfish school, giant moray eels, barracuda & turtles - current mostly mild.

 SURIN ARCHIPELAGO & RICHELIEU ROCK

The Archipelago is composed of Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock.
Koh Bon and its breathtaking drop-off where large sting rays are encountered. Also lately, a manta ray decided to appear during the lunch break and spend 20minutes in 5 meters of water (true story!!…).
Koh Tachai, further North, with its reef in the middle of the sea, up to 35 meters, covered with granite boulders, sea fans and large school of pelagic.
The Surin Islands offer a large number of dive sites with coral garden, fields of granite boulders and therefore a wide and rich amount of fish and coral species.
Richelieu Rock, named after a so-called Captain hit the rock, has enough to show to do several dives there. Sand sharks (leopard, nurse), big sting rays and other pelagic such as barracuda, tuna, mackerel are commonly sighted while you are playing with a cuttle fish. But what about the whale shark waiting right under the boat for you to swim with? In the last years, two of them where actually "resident" on the spot! Take the chance of this unique experience…

SURIN ARCHIPELAGO Best Dive Sites

● KOH BON / THE ROCK : Penicule reaches till 18 m of depth descents till 50 m and more / covered with soft yellow corals / rich variety of pelagic species; barracuda, tuna, jackfish, sharks / in season manta rays often encountered / current can be strong
● KOH BON / WEST RIDGE (THE POINT) : depths between 15 and 35 m / covered with soft yellow, green and blue corals / rich variety of pelagic species / in season manta rays often encountered / current can be strong
● KOH TACHAI / SOUTHERN PLATEAU : Platform in open sea surrounded by boulders / 10-35 m / covered with hard and soft corals / leopard sharks common, white- and blacktip reefsharks, pelagic fishes / in season manta rays and walesharks encounters possible / current can be strong
● KOH TACHAI / CORAL GARDENS : Sloping reef with mostly hard corals / 5-25 m / rich variety of tropical reef fishes / in season manta rays encounters possible
● RICHELIEU ROCK : Limestone pinnacle in open sea between Surin Islands and mainland of Thailand / 8-30 m / covered with soft corals and anemones / very rich variety of reef fishes as well as many pelagics; best divesite to encounter whalesharks / current can be strong but one side of the divesite is mostly protected from current
● KOH TORINLA : South from Surin Islands / 5 – 25 m / beautiful rocks covered with gorgonian sea fans, hard and soft corals combined with a stunning sloping reef / rich variety of hard corals, tropical reef fishes as well as pelagics: tuna, trevallies, barracudas, turtles common / dive along with current in one direction
● YELLOW ROCKS : Beautiful divesite south from Koh Surin Tai covered with yellow soft corals / 10 – 25 m / very rich variety of reef fishes together with pelagics / oriental sweetlips very common as well as turtles and mangrove whip rays / current can be very strong
● ANDAMAN ROCK : Submersible rock at the southpoint of Koh Surin Tai / 5-15 m / hard corals / spiny lobsters and variety of crabs / most beautiful at night
● TURTLE EDGE : Eastside of Koh surin Tai / 5-20 m sloping reef with mostly hard corals / rich variety of tropical reef fishes / turtles common / follow current into one direction
● HQ BAY : Protected bay between Surin Tai and Surin Nua / sloping reef with hard corals / most beautiful at night / variety of crabs, shrimps and tropical reef fishes
● HIN KONG : Tiny island west from the Surin Islands consisting from boulders and one tree / 2- 20 m / underwater boulders are combined with hard corals / most beautiful at night / rich variety of reef fishes, shrimps, crabs and lobsters / mangrove stingrays can be found / current mostly mild but can be strong
● MOKEN BAY : Nordcoast of Koh Surin Nua / huge sloping reef with a very rich variety of hard corals (mostly staghorn) / smaller reef fishes, turtles are common / current no have
● KOH CHI : Small island nord from Surin Islands / 5-25 m / at the westcoast boulders can be found under water / fusiliers, mangrove whiprays and white- and blacktip reefsharks can be seen here / at the nordcoast we find a beautiful sloping reef with a rich variety of hard corals / turtles common here
● HIN RAP : Small island similar to Hin Kong / 10 -35 m / whitetip- and blacktipreefsharks, leopardsharks, and in season mantarays can be found / current can be strong
● KOH LAP : Beautiful sloping reef with mostly hard corals / 5- 25 m / variety of tropical reef fishes, turtles are common, white-and blacktip reefsharks often seen / current mostly mild
● CAPTAIN'S ROCK : Boulders at a depth from 18 – 35 meters / fusiliers, snappers, barracuda, jackfish, whitetip- and blacktip reef sharks/ current can be strong.

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Last Update December 18, 2008