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Similan
Islands, located 100 km Northwest of
Phuket consists of a string of nine granite islands with numerous
outcrops and rocks, running in a South to North direction. Apart
from their Thai names, they are for easy recognition also named by numbers, with the most southerly Island named Island No 1 and the most northerly Island No. 9. Some of the islands are covered with lush tropical rainforest and with beautiful white sandy beaches. In 1982 the islands were declared a Marine National Park, and all fishing in the area was banned.  Today the Similans is world wide know for its spectacular diving and diversity of marine life. |
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On the protected East coast of the islands fringing coral gardens
with sandy areas in between dominates. Moray eels, nudibranchs,
octopus, turtles and a variety of smaller reef fishes are commonly
seen, a Shangri-La for a macro photographer.On the exposed West side of the islands huge granite boulders covered with hard and soft coral predominates, offering exciting swim-throughs, gullies and canyons. Reef sharks and leopard sharks can be seen resting at the sandy bottom. Bigger pelagic fishes are common, schools of barracuda, tuna and trevallies hover close to the reefs and if you are lucky, you will have an encounter with a manta ray. |
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Koh
Bon, located 20 km North of the Similans is part of
the Similan Marine National Park and most
famous for the good chance to see manta rays, and sometimes
even whale sharks.  Koh
Tachai, is located a further 25 km North of Koh Bon
and is also a part of the Similan Marine National Park. Great
dive site, granite boulders with hovering schools of pelagics,
leopard sharks are common and with some luck you will see
mantas and whale sharks. |
Richelieu
Rock, another 45 km North of Koh Tachai and you reach
this
submerged pinnacle, only
visible at low tide. The dive site, big as a football field,
offers more diversity then any other place in Thailand, here
you find the whole spectrum from macros like nudibranchs and
ghost pipe fish up to giants like mantas and whale sharks.  Surin
Islands, (only visited on our 5 days trips) located
15 km west of Richelieu Rock, consists of two main and three
smaller islands. It was declared a National Park in 1981.The islands are beautiful with its dense rain forest and hidden coves and beaches which makes it the perfect place to visit. The reefs in the area are most famous for its hard coral which often reach the surface which makes it an Eldorado for snorkelers. Turtles are common and you often see fish species you normally not find at the Similans as, Napoleon wrasse, yellow-mask angelfish and tomato anemone fish. |
 Diveguide.com 2121 North Frontage Road West - PMB 27 Vail, Colorado USA 81657 Phone/Fax: 303-484-7575 Skype: Diveguide.com Email For Availability And Reservations  |