Dive Thailand Scuba Diving Sites
Click here for a magazine article on a Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip
Similan Islands Diving
The Similans can certainly lay claim to being one of
Thailand's and Asia's top scuba diving destinations. Similan Islands diving is characterised by dramatic underwater
terrain, thriving reefs, abundant soft corals and
the tremendous diversity of marine life which includes many of the more exciting,
larger pelagics.
Diving Similans - Seasons
During late March and April Thailand’s hottest
period, rising sea temperatures cause plankton blooms, which attracts
a wealth of the larger animals into the area, resulting in chance encounters
with amongst others, schooling chevron barracuda, giant trevally, rainbow
runners and reef sharks, Diving in the Similans also offers the scuba diver a selection of rays including
eagle, marbled and enormous but graceful manta.
Dive Thailand - Similans - Underwater Topography
In general, the east-facing scuba diving sites feature gently
sloping reefs and drop-offs with impressive gardens of sea anemones,
flourishing hard and soft corals, and teeming fish populations. With
negligible currents and mostly moderate depths, these dive sites are suitable
for any level of scubs diver. The sheltered conditions are also very suitable
for snorkeling. Dive Thailand or snorkel Thailand - both wonderful experiences in the Similan.
The archipelago’s western scuba sites are quite the
opposite. Here giant boulders tumble to the seabed in depths of 40m
or more. Currents have kept the gaps between the boulders free from
build-ups of sand, leading to the development of tunnels, archways and
caverns that provide exciting swim-throughs. The currents also provide
nutrients for masses of gorgonians, crinoids, seafans and lush soft
corals.
Scuba Dive Similan - North point
Location: The northern apex of island #9
Depth: Average 20m / Maximum 34m
The walls and sides of large boulders are highlighted by radiant soft
corals. Around these are numerous parrotfish of all sizes, small dog-faced
pufferfish and larger solitary clown triggerfish.
Sharing the area are mixed amounts of leafy, brain,
slipper and lip corals. Further down, giant sea cucumbers and blue seastars
decorate the rocky surfaces. The prolific fish-life includes varieties
of butterflyfish, parrotfish, lionfish and wrasse. To the north, manta
rays and barracuda are frequent. Scuba dive the Similan to experience an unforfgettable underwater utopia.
Dive Similan Islands - Breakfast Bend
Location: South-eastern apex of Similan islands #9
Depth: Average 16m / Maximum 34m
Breakfast Bend is so-called because it is generally the first dive on
a liveaboard excursion – after breakfast!
The western section is relatively shallow, averaging
8m; its sandy bottom is punctuated with scattered rocks. Southeast of
here are the beginnings of a reef flat, primarily staghorns; these eventually
achieve garden-like proportions. They are bigger but much less frequent
on the steep reef-slope.
The reef-slope-also formed by small boulders and coral
shelves, with many branches of tree, leafy and brain corals, Moorish
idols, raccoon butterflyfish and Indian lionfish-paired rather than
solitary-are all present en masse. Colonies of garden eels can be seen
on the sandy patches. The seabed has widespread coral mounds.
Similans Islands - Donald Duck Bay
Location: In the small sheltered bay on the northwest coast of Similan islands
#8
Depth: Average 8m / Maximum 14m
A popular night scuba diving site. Scattered coral mounds and boulders provide
the sleeping quarters for a host of marine life, but their formation
forces the nocturnal
creatures into areas of open sand in search of sustenance. Thus night-scuba divers
can observe them with much greater ease and frequency and in larger
numbers. Cuttlefish and squid are often everywhere, as the lights of
the scuba dive boats attract them. Crabs, small lobsters and a wealth of other
invertebrates scurry across the sand at night.
Scuba Dive Similans - Beacon Beach
Location: The reef spans the length of the south-eastern coastline of
Similan islands #8
about 200m offshore.
Depth: Average 12-18m / Maximum 34m
The reef-flat is in just over 5m and features many small boulders of
lesser star and brain corals, interspersed with familiar clusters of
staghorns, all rich in colourful reef-fish like damsels, wrasse, parrotfish
and surgeonfish, as well as large numbers of inquisitive triggerfish.
To the north are areas of foliaceous corals, such as
lettuce and carnation , with many colourful reef-fish: bird and lunar
wrasse, powder-blue surgeonfish, squirrelfish, soldierfish and Indian
lionfish are all plentiful. The bottom in punctuated with large, impressive
coral mounds and rocks, which are covered with soft corals in diverse
hues, encrusting sponges and various tubeworms and featherstars. Scuba Dive the Similans at Beacon Beach for loads of aquatic flora and fauna.
Dive Thailand - Similan - Beacon Point
Location: the southern extension of Beacon Beach Reefs.
Depth: Average 16m / Maximum 55m
This scuba diving site is very like Beacon Beach reef but with more fish and larger
corals, especially in the deeper waters. Also, you have a good chance
of seeing manta and eagle rays, plus large pelagics, in the deeper southern
waters, away from the headland.
The reef-flat features many small boulders of lesser
star and brain corals, interspersed with familiar clusters of staghorn
corals, all rich in colourful reef-fish like chromis, wrasse, parrotfish
and surgeonfish. The coral cover remains constant around the apex, with
individuals increasing in size with depth-especially gorgonian sea fans
at about 30m. Dive Thailand on a Similan liveaboard - surely one of the scuba diving world's most unforgettable experiences.
Scuba Diving Similan - Elephant Head
Location: The giant rocky outcrop off Similan island #8’s southern tip.
As you approach the site from the west the outcrop resembles a partially
submerged elephant-hence the name
Depth: Average 24m / Maximum 70m
Huge boulders, some with frames measuring over 30m,sit individually
or are stacked to form daring swim-throughs comprising arches, caverns,
gullies and tunnels at all depths.
When scuba diving in the Similan you will see plenty of marine life residing in the site’s
shallower sections. Around the boulders are angelfish, triggerfish and
schools of fusiliers and juvenile snappers. This is an ideal place for
spotting small reef sharks.
Scuba Diving Thailand - East of Eden
Location: South-eastern fringing reef of Similan island #7.
Depth: Average 22m / Maximum 34m
This is steep sloping hard coral reef consisting of mostly hard-coral
laminates. However, unusually for an east-facing reef, there are soft
corals in the shallower waters at about 12m. also on view are schools
of snappers and fusiliers, and turtles and leopard sharks are occasionally
seen.
There is a stunning bommie (coral head).
In the middle of the reef, it starts at around 9m and goes down to 30m;
it features one of the finest concentrations of corals in the Similans
and should not be missed. Scuba diving in Thailand offers nothing more jaw-droppingly beautiful.
Scuba Dive Thailand - Shark Fin Reef
Location: Around the rocks, which breaks the water at low tide, 3km
southeast of Similan island #3.
Depth: Average 16m / Maximum 32m
The north-eastern side features a sloping reef, whereas the south-western
side is a more dramatic sheer drop-off: rocks resemble fallen hexagonal pillars and
are the highlight of this side of the scuba diving site. At the south-eastern end
of these formation is a large swim-through; this provides an almost
purpose-built opening to the site’s opposite side. Large Napoleon
wrasse have also been seen around this section as have passing sharks
and rays. Scuba dive Thailand for a blissful bathe in an underwater utopia.
Scuba Diving Thailand - Boulder City
Location: Immediately south of Shark Fin Reef.
Depth: Average 19m / Maximum 32m
This scuba diving site consists of a collection of enormous submerged granite boulders
running southeast-northwest, which are more typical of a west-facing
coastal rock formation.
They fancifully resemble rocky mountains separated by wide valleys,
their sheer sides punctuated occasionally by clusters of soft coral
and radiant crinoids; with small crevices housing a diversity of marine
life. One of the best spots for scuba diving in Thailand.
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