Scuba
diving in Thailand - Similan islands liveaboard dive trips around Phuket and Khao
Lak
Day Dive Trips
There are
a choice of three different local day dive trips from Khao Lak: Bangsak Wreck,
Thai Muang Wreck and the Khao Nayak House Reef, plus, if you are very short on
time, it is possible to visit the Similan Islands on a one day trip.
For
our house reef and wreck dive day trips we use our two local Thai style boats,
typical of this area - the longtail boat - which we have specially adapted for
diving, with a covered roof to protect you from the midday sun and a ladder to
assist you on entering the boat from the water.
For
all day trips, full diving equipment is included in the price
2 tank dive from B 5,400
to B 6,500 - Snorkeller from B 3,100 to B 4,000
includes lunch & harbour transfers
These day trips are either onboard large, air conditioned dive
boats or comfortable speedboats and give you the opportunity to get a quick
taste of why the Similans are such a famous dive destination. Departing
daily, you will make two different dives on two different islands. Trips
departs at approximately 8 am and the crossing takes 2-3 hours. After
the first dive lunch is served, followed by the second dive. It is possible
to snorkel between dives, but due to time constraints it is not possible to visit
the islands or beaches. We offer a selection of day trips with various local operators
- please contact us for details.
2 tank dive B1,800
- includes use of a dive computer - and a free lunch!
The
Bangsak Wreck, named after the village of Bangsak 5km away, is an old tin mining
boat that sank in 1984 in unknown circumstances at a depth of 18m. This boat was
owned by the Boonsung Tin Mining Company and operated up and down the Andaman
coast throughout the tin mining boom, which ended early last decade.
At
first, due to it's large size, the wreck lay close to the surface making it a
safety hazard to local fishing vessels. So the Thai Navy were called in to bomb
the boat, reducing its height by collapsing the decks, and creating the wreck
that we dive on today.
Over
the years many shells and hard and soft corals have attached themselves to the
hull, which has become an artificial reef and naturally attracts large schools
of fish from the flat, sandy seabed.
One feature of this outstanding
dive are the leopard sharks, which can often be found sleeping in the sand and
occasionally come for a swim around us. And also the resident seahorses, curious
batfish, a large family of porcupine fish and several kinds of crustaceans, along
with large schools of barracuda and a huge diversity of fish life.
2 tank dive
B1,800 - includes use of a dive computer - and a free lunch!
The
Thai Muang Wreck "Condreco" was built in Sliedrecht in the Netherlands
in 1976. She ended her days working for a Tin Mining company off the west side
of Phang Nga province.
After sinking in September 2000, a few hundred
metres off Thai Muang beach, the Condreco now rests on her side at a depth of
20 meters. The Condreco is in excellent condition with the most amazing soft corals
and has attracted large numbers of Honeycomb & White-eyed moray eels, lionfish
& all types of scorpion fish. It is also possible to spot Ornate ghost pipe
fish here.
There has been a lot of discussion as to whether to raise
this wreck for salvage, and we don't know how long she will stay in this position
off our coast, but for this season at least it is still possible to dive here.
Closer
to home, Khao Na Yak is the house reef for Khao Lak. Only 45 minutes away by local
boat, and with a maximum depth of only 9m, this is a most relaxing dive and an
excellent site for new divers or for those of you who haven't dived for a while.
Khao Na Yak Reef also appeals to experienced divers who like
to spend some time focusing closely on the varied fish life of a tropical reef,
with the advantage of a longer bottom time due to the shallow depth.
Many
beautiful nudibranchs can be found here - and see if you can find the ghost pipefish!
Also visited by many lionfish and the occasional ray and leopard shark, and including
a colourful selection of tropical fish, this dive site is the perfect place to
concentrate on the small things ….
For
our house reef and wreck dive day trips we use our two local Thai style boats,
typical of this area - the longtail boat - which we have specially adapted for
diving, with a covered roof to protect you from the midday sun and a ladder to
assist you on entering the boat from the water. 
The
Bangsak Wreck, named after the village of Bangsak 5km away, is an old tin mining
boat that sank in 1984 in unknown circumstances at a depth of 18m. This boat was
owned by the Boonsung Tin Mining Company and operated up and down the Andaman
coast throughout the tin mining boom, which ended early last decade. 
Over
the years many shells and hard and soft corals have attached themselves to the
hull, which has become an artificial reef and naturally attracts large schools
of fish from the flat, sandy seabed. 
The
Thai Muang Wreck "Condreco" was built in Sliedrecht in the Netherlands
in 1976. She ended her days working for a Tin Mining company off the west side
of Phang Nga province.
Closer
to home, Khao Na Yak is the house reef for Khao Lak. Only 45 minutes away by local
boat, and with a maximum depth of only 9m, this is a most relaxing dive and an
excellent site for new divers or for those of you who haven't dived for a while.
