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	Scuba Diving at the West Coast of Thailand
... enjoy liveaboard diving at the best dive sites of the Andaman Sea ... Dive at the Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon and the Surin Islands

Koh Similan and Koh Surin are tropical island groups located about 60 km off the west coast of Thailand on the Andaman Sea. These two locales are considered to be amongst the world's top ten finest dive sites.

In the early 80's the Surin and Similan islands were designated as National Marine Parks by the Kingdom of Thailand. There are over 30 different isolated islands belonging to these areas their waters are replete with seamount's, pinnacles, outcroppings and fantastically varied reef and ocean life.

With the average water temperature of 29 C and the visibility ranging between 20 - 40 meters, you will find perfect diving conditions. Large pelagic's such as Manta rays, Sailfish and Whale sharks are frequent visitors and residents. On the reefs live turtles, rays, nudibranches, morays and literally millions of other many-colored wonders!

	The Similan Islands
... dive within fascinating sceneries with manta rays, turtles, sea horses, ghost pipefishes, colourful nudibranches, schools of fishes and lots more ...

Mu Koh Similan is situated about 90 km south of the Surin Islands and covers an area of 128 square km. "Similan" in Malay means 9, recounted that this world-renowned National Marine Park occupies 9 main islands, which are situated in north-south direction. The whole area is uninhabited by humans with exception of the two National Park offices on island no 4, Koh Miang, and island no 8, Koh Similan.

The lush rainforests are filled with rare wildlife and are offset by huge and bizarrely sculpted granite boulders that make up the mountains and become a divers wonderland beneath the sea. Far from shipping lanes and the mainland, water clarity is excellent with visibility of up to 40m +.

The Similan and Surin Islands - Thailand -

This dramatic underwater terrain is highlighted by awesome geological formations, thriving reefs with an abundance of soft corals, and the most diverse collection of marine life to be found anywhere, particularly fish species and many of the larger pelagic's.

Dive sites along the eastern shores of the Similan's feature gently sloping reefs and drop-offs with impressive fields of sea anemones, teeming fish population and flourishing hard and soft corals. With gentle currents and mostly moderate depths, these sites are suitable for any level of diving skill and are perfect for snorkeling.

The western dive sites are quite the opposite. Giant boulders meet up with the seabed at 30mtr or more. The gaps between these boulders channel the open ocean through, creating moderate to strong currents. The water is very clear, yet nutrient rich; there is no sedimentation or sand build up, and the water action has created massive networks of arches and swim through's that provide extremely exciting diving. The high availability of nutrients in the water also provide the raw materials for the food chain, with masses of gorgonian's, crinoids, sea fans and soft corals filtering the plank tonic bounty.

	Koh Bon
... one of the greatest dive sites to have encounters with manta rays ...

Also found within Mu Koh Similan Marine Park is a little island named 'Koh Bon'. Koh Bon is about 20km north of the Similan group and is noteworthy as it has two dive sites that frequently double as manta ray playground.

One of these sites is a wall dive which starts in the bay and concludes at a beautiful rock ridge with overhangs.

The second dive site is a submerged pinnacle, close to the island, which seems to be the spot where many leopard sharks go to relax.

Koh Bon is a famous dive site because divers have here quite reguarly amazing encounters with manta rays. Manta rays are very common here during the dive season, and this dive site is definitely one of their favourite spots to hang out.

Koh Tachai

... liveaboard scuba diving at the Similan- and Surin Islands in Thailand ...

Two hours south from the Surin Islands, we encounter Koh Tachai, which has one of the most spectacular coral gardens interspersed with huge granite boulders, which form a series of plateaus that descends down to 40m.

There are many sea fans, colorful soft corals, moray eels, leopard sharks and schools of batfish to name just some.

Giant manta rays are often spotted there.

Richelieu Rock

... liveaboard scuba diving at the Similan- and Surin Islands in Thailand ...

Richelieu Rock lies just 12km east of the Surin island group. This amazing pinnacle is the only seamount in the area, and rises to the surface from a great depth.

This environment provides a home to large schools of Big Open Ocean (pelagic) fishes, many predators and is frequently visited by whale sharks and giant manta rays.

The rock is covered with forests of brilliantly colored soft corals and has abundance of smaller fish and other reef life.

The Surin Islands

... liveaboard scuba diving at the Similan- and Surin Islands in Thailand ...

Mu Koh Surin lies approximately 64 km due southwest of Koh Chang in the Andaman Sea, very close to the oceanic border between Thailand and Burma.

This marine park consists of a group of 5 islands, the largest being Koh Surin Nua (North Surin Island) which covers an area of 19 square km. To the immediate southwest lies Koh Surin Tai (South Surin Island), which is slightly smaller with an area of 12 square km. Between these two main islands is a 200 m wide channel which can be crossed by foot at low tide.

The only year round residents on the Surin Islands are the National Park officials at the headquarters of Surin Nua and two small communities of Moken or, Sea Gypsies, who have villages on the eastern beaches of Surin Tai and the southern beaches of Surin Nua.

Along many of its white sandy beaches we have also perfect conditions to teach beginners.

The fringing reefs here are shallow and slope gently to the sea floor. For this, Surin is renowned for its fine snorkeling and free diving. There are excellent scuba diving sites that range in depth from 10 to 25m, such as 'Turtle Ledge', (named for the Hawksbill turtles that are frequently sighted there) and 'Baggard Bay', with its gorgeous reefs and calm waters.

For the more experienced and adventurous, there are drift dives through the magical gardens of 'Swift Passage', deep dives at 'Hin Rap' and 'South Torinla' and wall diving on the sheer, submerged pinnacles of 'Little Richi' and 'Marshall Reef'.

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Scuba Diving at the West Coast of Thailand

The Similan Islands

Koh Bon

Koh Tachai

Richelieu Rock

The Surin Islands