THE SIMILAN ISLANDS
WHAT TO EXPECT ON A
SIMILAN ISLANDS LIVEABOARD
Liveaboards in Similan
Islands will take divers to the most well known dive areas in the amazing dive
destination of Thailand.
The Similan Islands are ranked as one of the top dive
destinations in the world. Made up of 9 granite islands, located 100 km
Northwest of Phuket and 65km offshore from Phang Nga Province in the Andaman
Sea, the Similan Islands were declared a National Park in 1982 and offer
scuba divers exceptional diving adventures. Similan Island liveaboards will
visit dive sites that feature varied landscapes and vibrant marine life.
Massive boulders, caves, reefs and passages are home to over 500 species of
hard and soft corals and astonishing pelagic life. The East Coast boasts
exceptional visibility and weak to moderate currents while the West Coast
waters are deeper with stronger currents. With such varied dive sites, the best
way to enjoy the Similan Islands is on a premier dive liveaboard.
SIMILAN ISLANDS
UNDERWATER
The landscape of the
Similan Islands are a feast to the eyes both above and underwater. From the
tropical white sandy beaches and clear blue waters to the granite boulders on
land and underwater, it is a paradise difficult to surpass and understandably
one of the most popular dive locations in the world. It is
becoming ever more popular to take a dive safari on a liveaboard due
to easy access to these remote islands. An abundant marine life roams the
subterranean landscape of these islands. It is common to see leopard sharks,
guitar rays, whitetip sharks, blue spotted stingrays, clown trigger fish,
rabbit fish, scorpion fish, snappers, emperor fish, giant trevally and
angelfish. Turtles and giant bumphead parrotfish make their appearances and the
sharp eyed diver may find tiny ghost pipefish, mantis shrimps, porcelain crabs
or cleaner shrimp. To dive amongst the boulder formations and see their
impressive size underwater is truly wondrous.
DIVE SITES OF SIMILAN
ISLANDS
Similan Liveaboard
itineraries may vary but some popular dive sites include:
Anita's Reef on the east coast, just off Similan
Island No.4 boasts impressive coral formations, boulders this subterranean
landscape provides a sanctuary for a very diverse marine life. From hunting
Bluefin trevally, yellowfin goatfish, blue damsels to the very common
shrimpgobies, the easy currents allow for a great first dive option for most
dive trips.
West of Eden, also known as West of Six for its location
to the north-west corner of Island number 6, enjoys a healthy hard coral reef
and massive granite boulders. Batfish, Turtles and Octopus are common residents
to the reef. Through the rocky channels, frogfish, ribbon eels, giant morays
and barracudas can also be seen. Keep an eye out in the blue for passing larger
pelagics.
Elephant Head Rock, named after a rock that jets out of the
water visible from the surface, this is the biggest pinnacle in the Similans
and has some fantastic swim-throughs. A more challenging dive site due to
strong currents, you may see white tip reef sharks, batfish, trevally and
barracuda can often be seen on the perimeter of the boulders and the avid macro
photographer can look out for smashing mantis shrimp, fire gobies, porcelain
crabs and cleaner shrimps.
Donald Duck Bay, is a popular night dive spot on the
north-west corner of Island no.8. Named after a rock resembling the cartoon
character, this site is great for macro lovers. The boulders are home to
emporer shrimps, red round crabs, decorator crabs, triton shells and cone
shells, bull crabs, red octopus and cuttlefish and green turtles
Boulder City, is a large submerged granite outcropping, about
1km off the east coast of island no.3 with jumbles of boulders scattered around
a flat sandy bottom. A slightly more advanced dive site, the current can
sometimes bring the whale sharks and manta rays.
Shark Fin Reef - As is prevalent in the Similans, this
dive site consists of another series of granite boulders covered in gorgonians
and hard corals with a great diversity of marine life including the Napoleon
wrasse, turtles, boxfish, clown triggerfish, schools of batfish, yellow
goatfish, palette surgeonfish, blue-faced angelfish and bannerfish amongst
others.
Honeymoon Bay lies to the northwest of Island 5. Its
sheltered location, it is a popular place for boats to moor and include a night
dive. This is when the Reef crabs, shrimps, lobsters, cuttlefish and nurse
sharks all come out, leaving their crevices looking for food. With an average
depth of 15-20 meters, the reef is decorated with hard corals, keep an eye out
for shy garden eels on the sandy bottom.
Christmas Point, true to its name, is one of the most
colourful, scenic dives in the islands on the far west side of Similan Island
9. This outcropping is home to several giant archways which provide superb
topography and forms some of the best swim-throughs in the Similans.
Other dive sites
include: Three Trees, Beacon Point, Breakfast Bend, Chinese Wall, Coral
Reef, Deep Six, Hideaway, Deep six, North Point and Stonehenge.
TOP TIPS FOR DIVERS
Thailand liveaboard trips
to the Similan Islands run from November through to May. The Islands are closed
for the rest of the year. The end of February often sees an increase in
currents attracting the larger marine creatures like whale sharks and manta
rays. Visibility ranges from 25-40m during this period and water temperatures
range between 26-29c. You may not need more than a 3mm neoprene shorty or full
body wetsuit bearing in mind after a 3 or more dives a day, you may get cold.
If you are bringing your own equipment, consider bringing a DIN adapter (if you
have DIN regulators) as Thailand uses the standard yoke system.
GETTING TO SIMILAN
ISLANDS
Please check your
individual liveaboard itinerary carefully and be aware of different departure
ports depending on your liveaboard chosen. Liveaboard cruises may depart from
Chalong Pier in Phuket, Thap Lamu Pier in Khao Lak,
Phang-Nga Province. Transfers to the port is provided from Phuket International
Airport or your hotel. Please notice some liveaboards may even depart from one
port and return into another, i.e depart from Phuket and return to Khao Lak.
Some International flights fly directly to Phuket or you can get a connecting
flight from Bangkok.