Similan Islands Liveaboard Diving

The Similan Islands is a small and remote archipelago 60km off the west coast of Thailand, not far from the border with Burma (Myanmar). It is by far the best place for scuba diving in Thailand, and many regard it as among the best in the world. This is reinforced by the large number of dive sites that can be enjoyed by all levels of scuba diver, and reached by both day trips and liveaboard diving safari cruises.

The warm and clear seawater is easy to dive in for up to four hours per day and attracts lots of colourful and interesting marine life species of all shapes and sizes. What many come to the Similans for is the opportunity to dive with Whale Sharks and Manta Rays. Although sightings are far from guaranteed, from February to April there is usually a fair chance of spotting them. In fact, the best place to see large pelagic species such as sharks and rays is the two uninhabited islands & one underwater pinnacle just a bit north of The Similan Islands. Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock are the country’s three prime dive sites, and teeming with exotic fish, invertebrates and even the occasional marine reptile. The Similan Islands & Koh Bon are part of the Similan Island National Marine Park, and Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock are in the Surin Islands National Marine Park.

It’s possible for those who have never dived before to try Similan Islands Liveaboard diving, but equally possible for those who are diving professionals or very experienced to enjoy a deep, drift or deco dive while spending time underwater with species not found anywhere else in the world. However, the majority of Similan diving passengers who visit the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock are certified scuba divers with some experience at depth and in mild to medium currents. Most of our customers are AOW (Advanced Open Water) or higher, but there are generally more Open Water Divers than Divemasters.

What makes the Similan (& Surin) National Marine Parks so special? The distance from the mainland ensures that there is no pollution in the air or water, everyone feels ‘away from it all,’ but it’s not too far away in case of an emergency or to go there by day trip. The reefs are in excellent condition, and there are enough dive sites to accommodate all the Similan Island Liveaboard boats during the high season. It’s also quite easy on most dives to keep everyone happy. At most Similan & Surin Islands dive sites, it’s possible to drop experienced and professional divers off for a deep and exciting dive then move just a few hundred meters to let the less-experienced divers enter the water at a less-challenging point. 45 minutes to an hour later, everyone is ready to get back on the boat with plenty to talk about and smiles. When taking everything into account, such as value, great diving for everyone, and the logistics & options for getting there and back, there really is very little to beat the Similan Islands (and its neighbouring dive sites) in Thailand.

For Similan liveaboard diving and day trip diving go here www.similandivingtours.com

What marine life can you see at Similan Islands?

There is a wide range of marine life to be seen at The Similans. Larger pelagic species (Whale Sharks & Manta Rays) tend to visit the northern sites more than the Similans, but they do come from time to time. Reef fish, reptiles, invertebrates and more can all be seen at the Similans, from near the surface down to as deep as you are certified to dive to.

Whale Shark

(Rhincodon typus)

Reef Manta Ray

(Mobula alfredi)

Giant Moray Eel

(Gymnothorax javanicus)

Common Octopus

(Octopus vulgaris)

Barracuda

(Sphyraena)

Giant Trevally

(Caranx ignobilis)

Orbicular Batfish

(Platax orbicularis)

Clown Anemonefish

(Amphiprion ocellaris)

Whitetip Reef Shark

(Triaenodon obesus)

Moorish Idol

(Zanclus cornutus)

Ribbon Eel

(Rhinomuraena quaesita)

Leopard Shark

(Stegostoma fasciatum)

You can also see

Tuna

Banded Sea Krait

Skunk Anemonefish

Clark's Anemonefish

Titan Triggerfish

Oriental Sweetlips

Clown Triggerfish

Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Bluespotted Stingray

Honeycomb Moray Eel

Green Turtle

Powder Blue Surgeonfish (Tang)

Blacktip Reef Shark

Tigertail Seahorse

Whitemouth Moray Eel

Yellow Boxfish

Black-Blotched Porcupinefish

Ornate Ghost Pipefish

Horned Boxfish

Harlequin Shrimp

Porcelain Anemone Crab

Spotted Boxfish

White Eyed Moray Eel

Yellow-Margin Moray Eel

Black-Spotted Pufferfish

Blue-Spotted Pufferfish

Leaf Scorpionfish

Green Humphead Parrotfish

Yellow-Banded Sweetlips

Valentini Puffer

Maroon Anemonefish

Ribboned Sweetlips

Napoleon Snake Eel

Squat (Sexy) Shrimp

Giant Sweetlips

Banded Pipefish

Even more marine life

Harlequin Sweetlips

Tawny Nurse Shark

Humphead / Napoleon Wrasse

Starry Pufferfish

Hawksbill Turtle

Redtooth Triggerfish

Pharaoh Cuttlefish

Tassled Scorpionfish

Emperor Angelfish

Redtail Butterflyfish

Cockatoo Waspfish

Crocodilefish

Yellow-Margin Triggerfish

Thorny / Spiny Seahorse

Robust Ghost Pipefish

Warty Frogfish

Broadclub Cuttlefish

Striated / Hairy Frogfish

Painted Frogfish

Durban Dancing / Hingebeak Shrimp

Black Garden Eel

Zebra / Banded Garden Eel

Painted Sweetlips

Blue-Ringed Octopus

Narrow-Lined Pufferfish

Map Pufferfish

Spot-Fin Porcupinefish

Pickhandle Barracuda

Big-Eye Trevally

Fusilier

Angelfish

Butterflyfish

Damselfish

Grouper

Wrasse

Parrotfish

Surgeonfish

Goby

Scorpionfish

Black Combtooth Blenny

Dragonet

Commensal Shrimp

Unicornfish

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin

Cheesecake Nudibranch

Dusky Nembrotha

Oceanic Manta Ray

Pikachu Nudibranch

Velvet Sea Slug

Swallowtail Aglaja

Ocellate Phyllidia

Coleman's Chromodoris / Sea Slug

Red-Margined Glossodoris

Co's Goniobranchus

Miller's Nembrotha

Whitenose Nudibranch

Glorious Flatworm

Cryptic Phyllodesmium

Morose Nudibranch

Linda's Flatworm

Indian Caloria

Lined Nembrotha

Marine Flatworm

Purple-Edged Ceratosoma

Ridged Pearl Ovulid

Ringed Chromodoris

Bullock's Hypselodoris

Multi Pustuled Mexichromis

Pyjama Chromodoris

Swollen Phyllidia

Yellow-Spotted Flatworm

Yellow Masked Angelfish

Blue Ring Angelfish

Day Octopus

Bigeye Snapper

Acanthozoon Flatworm

Teira Batfish

Pinnate Batfish

Bluestripe Snapper

Anemone Shrimp

Zanzibar Whip Coral Shrimp

Ambon Crinoid / Commensal Shrimp

Streaked Spinefoot

Clearfin Lionfish

Common Lionfish / Devil Firefish

Red Lionfish

Zebra Lionfish

Spotfin Lionfish

Domino Damselfish

Dark-Striped Squirrelfish