Similan Island

Similan Island

The National Park of the Similan Island comprises a beautiful group of island that is one of the world's top ten diving destination. Underwater, healthy and colorful coral reefs abound. December to mid April is the best time to visit and in march, as there are no monsoons, underwater visibility is perfect. Eleven islands large and small, make up the Park are These: Huyong, Payung, Payan, Miang, Ha, Payu, Pusa, Similan, Ba-ngu, Bon, Tachai and the two rock outcrops of Shark fin and Hin Ko Ha.

The deep-sea coral reefs of the Similan Island are home to the most diverse underwater life any where in Thailand. Many new species have been discovered in the Andaman Sea such as the 'Similan Sea Slug' and other such as the 'Three spot Angle Fish' remain unique to the area. More rare species like the 'Clown Trigger Fish' and 'Three Spot Angle Fish' are relatively common around the Similans.

Koh Hok or Koh Payu is a truly beautiful shallow snorkeling area.
Fantasy Reef mean 'soft Coral', 'Coraline' and exotic species such as the 'Ribbon Eel'.
Koh Ha with its 'Soft Coral' and 'Coraline' is a home to 'Garden Eels'.
Christmas Point boast that house of tropical fish and many varieties of 'Sea Slug'
Hin Kalok is a must for 'Sea-turtles' and 'Mantis Shrimps'.
Shark Fin Rock is well named because several 'Leopard', 'Silvertip', and the 'White Tips' like it.
Holiday Rock has entire 'trees' of coral as well as many shoals of different tropical fish including 'Traveler Fish', 'Baracuda' and 'Tuna'. On the sea floor, 'Leopard Shark' and 'stingrays' make a home.
Koh Bon, to the north east of the Similan, is famous for its large underwater wildlife species. 'Manta Rays' live on the sea floor here and can also be found.
Koh Ta Chai and its rocky shoals, to the south, is popular for night diving. (But beware of strong tides.)

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3 hours due East of Phuket, the Phi Phi Islands are a famous destination even for those unaware of the great diving available. As a diver, you will find that the spectacular limestone cliffs above the water become sheer drop-offs and craggy coral encrusted landscape under the water with a rich and colorful diversity of marine life and even whale sharks are known to visit.

King Cruiser :
On the 4th of May 97 King Cruiser, a 85 m catamaran passenger ferry, strayed of course and hit Anemone Reef ripping one of her twin hulls open. Subsequently King Cruiser sunk within an hour with no loss of life. With it's multiple decks, great open passages and depths between 12 and 30 meters the King Cruiser is an ideal wreck dive site for all divers.

Koh Doc Mai :
This small, jungle topped island lies halfway between Shark Point and Phuket. It provides some of the best wall diving in the area with sea fans, soft corals and colorful sea life decorating its underwater cliffs.

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Shark Point & Anemone Reef

Shark Point :
Hin Musang ( Shark Rock, as it translates ), rises out of the water from the surrounding depths of 18-20 meters. Considering the small extent of the rock above water, the actual size of the reef underwater is a big surprise to most divers. Beginning from the relatively steep main rock pinnacle, the reef flattens out to the south rising two more times to just below the surface at the other two pinnacle that make up the reefs structure.

The second pinnacle, depending on the currents is an excellent place to start the dive. Like many places in Thailand, Shark Point's most colorful feature is the profusion of the purple and pink soft corals that cling to the rock. The currents sweeping over the pinnacle's provide food a-plenty for the hundreds of different species of hard corals and limitless tropical fish species. The name of the site comes from the common Leopard (Zebra) Shark (Stegastoma Varium), a docile creature that can be found lying in the sandy bottom surrounding the pinnacles. These completely approachable, trusting sharks grow to a length of a little over 2 meters, and most divers think that they are one of the "cutest" sharks in the ocean.

Divers that are not accustomed to seeing sharks are genuinely surprised at how big and approachable they are. Because they are nocturnal feeders, they are very approachable during the day, especially for u/w photos. The sharks aren't the only attraction here though, Shark Point is one of the richest and most vivid dive spot around, with it's stunning soft corals, fan corals and anemones.

Anemone Reef :
Hin Jom ( Submerged Rock, as it translates ) lies just below the waters surface, about 600 meters to the north of Shark Point. As the Thai name makes it clear, no part of the pinnacle is exposed, and under water the pinnacle drops off more dramatically to a depth of between 20-27 meters until reaching a bottom of sand and oyster shells. Although not as colorful as Shark Point, the marine life here is excellent, and our friends the Leopard sharks, are often seen free-swimming at the top of the pinnacle in 6 meters of water. The English name for this dive site is derived from the profusion of Sea Anemone's that cling to the edges providing a magnificent back drop of colour from the Sammler Clown fish that make this their home. This site also acts as a haven to snappers and groupers and attracts larger game fish like tuna and jack, sometimes even larger pelagics can be seen passing by.

Location of both sites just south of Ao Phangnga and all of it's fresh water rivers, means visibility averages around 10 meters, sometimes less during Phukets rainy season. Although conditions such as this are not what divers dream of when they think of the "perfect dive," the amount of marine life more than makes up for it. On days when the water becomes gin clear, diving here feels like taking a breath of fresh air.

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Racha Island

Due South of Phuket lie two classic tropical islands, Koh Racha Yai ( Big Racha ) and Koh Racha Noi ( Little Racha ). Both islands feature fringing hard coral reefs with an abundance of fish life, including octopus, cuttle fish, and moray eels. You can always find territorial triggerfish and large schools of blue line and yellow tail snapper. Both Islands are especially good for non-divers, plenty of shallow bays with big coral heads - ideal snorkeling territory.

Racha Yai Island :
Racha Yai's best diving is off its east coast which makes it especially attractive during Phukets off season in the summer. Although visibility varies, it is normally around 15 meters all year and during the high season it reaches 25 meters or more. A typical dive is a gentle drift along the sloping rocky face that is sprinkled with hard coral forests of many, many varieties. Especially prominent are stag horn corals of blue and tan. Many times there are large schools of barracuda hovering just outside the reef, while on the reef itself you'll see octopus and cuttlefish, in addition to the many other tropical marine life that is in abundance throughout this location. There is also a wooden shipwreck sitting on a sandy bottom at a depth of 24 meters on the northeastern coast of the island, another enjoyable dive. Not much grows on the wreck as yet, but it attracts large amounts of reef fish, and Bat fish in large schools are common for the u/w photographer. The diving here is generally drift diving so it's allows a diver relax full viewing of all the splendors that these sites have to offer.

Racha Noi :
This spot is popular with the more experienced diver, as the depths a generally greater and the currents frequently stronger than at it's sister island to the north. The northern tip features larger rock formations which finish in hard coral gardens, sightings of larger marine life is normal when visiting this site, which is the main attraction for divers, Visibility during Phukets high season can reach up to 40 meters but is generally around 15 to 20 meters, allowing divers to take advantage of excellent diving without the live-aboard expense. The southern point is a nice drift dive across a varieties of coral formations, with the added bonus of having a beautiful little beach to visit during your surface interval.