Scuba diving in Thailand - Similan islands liveaboard dive trips around Phuket and Khao Lak

Scuba Diving in Thailand - Similan Islands Liveaboards Dive Trips around Phuket and Khao Lak

Similan and Surin Islands

Similan Islands

Similan Islands Marine National Park - nine uninhabited tropical islands in the Andaman Sea offer you first class diving in one of the worlds top dive areas. Located 65km off the coast of Phang Nga province, here you will find the best and most diverse diving in Thailand. Famous for their white sand beaches, fringed by extensive coral reefs in crystal clear blue water with a rich variety of fish life, the Similan Islands are covered by tropical rainforest with large granite boulders creating unusual rock formations. Underwater, the granite boulders continue, now covered with hard and soft corals, offering numerous swim-throughs, gullies and canyons.

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The reefs are home to a multitude of tropical fish of all sizes, shapes and colours, with frequent sightings of turtles, rays and sharks. Visibility averages 30m and the sea temperature is 27-29C. Back onshore, take a short walk through the rainforest to visit the National Park headquarters on Koh Miang, or climb to the top of the famous rock formation at Ao Guerk for beautiful views over the bay - a perfect place to watch the amazing tropical sunsets.

To fully appreciate the beauty of these islands, both above and beneath the water, we strongly recommend you join a liveaboard trip. However, if you are very short on time, then it is also possible to take a one day/two dive day trip - just to get a taste!

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Surin Islands, Koh Tachai and Koh Bon

From the Similan Islands head north, first stopping at Koh Bon, an unusual island for this area due to its basaltic rock composition. No beaches to be found here, but a beautiful submerged coral ridge makes this island definitely worth a visit. This near-vertical slope makes this the only true wall dive in the area, and manta rays are frequently spotted playing here.

North again to Koh Tachai, an isolated island with a beautiful beach, but famous for its dive site of three underwater plateaux at varying depths, with probably the most colourful coral gardens in the area, where again there is a good chance to see larger fish life. Finally the Surin Islands, also a Marine National Park, located on the border with Burma and home to a village of Chao Leh - the traditional sea gypsies of the Andaman Sea. The two main islands offer good jungle walks surrounded by white sand beaches. Known for its shallow water coral gardens and great snorkelling, the Surins also have a great variety of dive sites to choose from. Visibility is usually a little less than at the Similans but the greater density of fish life more than makes up for this.

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Richelieu Rock

Only one and a half hours from the coast and Khuraburi harbour, south-east of the Surins, Richelieu Rock is a collection of submerged pinnacles and is renowned for its visiting whale sharks from February to May. But even without the whale sharks, this is an outstanding dive site, with large schools of different fish, including barracuda, jackfish, snapper and many others. As the only rock formation in this area, rising up from the seabed and breaking the surface at low tide, Richelieu is a natural magnet for all fish life seeking protection from their predators. This is also a good place to see seahorses - if you look closely!

And between the islands... 

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Sea Dragon Dive Center
Telephone:  +66 (0)76 485 420
Fax: +66 (0)76 485 418
Postal address: 5/51 Mu 7, T. Khuk Khak, Khao Lak
A. Takua Pa, Phang Nga 82190, Thailand
Email: info@seadragondivecenter.com

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