Diving & Snorkeling Diving at the Similan Islands

Dive Sites

Best of February 2016 - Similan Islands

Similan Islands

Dive Sites

Here are probably the most beautiful and diverse dive sites in Thailand, day trips and liveaboards to the islands are among the most popular worldwide. They consist of nine islands of granite rock with partially lush tropical vegetation, lapped by crystal clear water and lined partly with fine white sandy beaches. The islands stretch over 25 kilometers, like a pearl necklace, from north to south on the Andaman Sea and located 65 km off the coast of Phang Nga province. They were declared a Marine National Park in 1982.

The Similans are ideal for observing or photographing small fish by its enormous biodiversity of tropical reef fish. But not only small fish visit here, even Leopard sharks or White and Blacktip sharks are not rare also Manta rays and Whale sharks can be seen. You can visit the Similan Marine National Park from October to May on day trips or overnight trips, but you will find the best conditions from November to April.

Our dive and snorkeling day trips to the Similan Islands depart every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Dive day trips to Koh Bon and Koh Tachai take place every Wednesday & Sunday.

We bring our guests by Taxi to Tablamu where our comfortable dive boat MV Chai Yo is moored. We try to make sure that also our non-diving guests receive maximum attention, fun and safety.

Manta Ray at Koh Bon

Table Coral with Fish School

Gorgonia Sea Fan

Manta Show Koh Bon

Koh Bon

Manta Ray at Koh Bon

Koh Bon is located about 20km north of Similan Island #9 and features one of the only vertical walls in Thailand. The main dive site is on the southwestern point and has a step-down ridge that carries on to depths of over 45m. The eastern side of this ridge forms the wall and this is where most divers will enter the water and generally where the boat moor.

The western side of the ridge is more of a gentle slope with coral bommies forming mushroom-like formations out of the finger corals. On the ridge itself, sea fans of different sizes, shapes and colors grow, and schooling fish swim in the current feeding. This is generally where most divers will sit most of the dive, hoping for a sighting of the manta rays which frequent this dive site. These creatures seem to travel from Bon to Tachai and back again during the diving season from October until May.

There is a pinnacle in the bay just to the north of the ridge. It's a deep rock but if you are an experienced diver it's worth the short bottom times you'll get as it's a very special site. Not all boats visit it and if conditions are not good (like the current is running strong), it's not worth the effort. But if the water is clear you're good with your air and the current is slack it's a stunning rock. It looks like a monolithic temple built by some ancient culture.

Koh Tachai

Feather Star

Sun Mushroom Coral

Fish Fish Fish ...

Koh Tachai

Twenty-five kilometers north of Koh Bon, Koh Tachai has an offshore underwater ridge that runs perpendicular to the island. Known as "Twin Peaks" this is considered to be one of the finest dives in the Kingdom of Thailand and is famous as a place to see not only the more common species of corals, fans and tropical fish, but larger animals such as rays, leopard sharks, nurse sharks and hawksbill turtles. Whale sharks and Manta rays make an appearance on a regular basis.

A ridge runs between the two pinnacles, though the southern rock is the one most people dive on as there are two boat moorings there which makes it easier for divers to descend in a strong current. If you have the air and the current is not too strong, it's worthwhile swimming to the other rock which comes up a bit shallower. However, most of the time the current runs perpendicular to the ridge making a long swim tiring.

It's heaven for the fish, though; they hunt and dart around, coming very close to divers, making the diving here about as exciting as it gets here in Thailand

Schedules MV Chai Yo², 15. October until 30. April

Monday	Similan Island #9	2 dives
Tuesday	Similan Island #5 and #7	2 dives
Wednesday	Koh Bon and Koh Tachai	3 dives	For divers only
Thursday	Similan Island #4 and #6	2 dives
Friday	Similan Island #3 and wreck	3 dives	For divers only
Saturday	Similan Island #8	2 dives
Sunday	Koh Bon and Koh Tachai	2 dives	Minimum age 12 years

Our day trip boat has a seating capacity of up to 34 divers and 10 non-divers to take you comfortably and with style to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.

Trips to the Richelieu Rock by Speed boat every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday!

PDF Downloads

• Dive Action Plan 2018-19
• Similans, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai
• Dive Site Map

Stingray

Tigertail Seahorse

Christmas Tree Worm

Moray Eel in a coral

Lobster

Day Trip to the Similans

Day Trip Itinerary

Stingray

Pick up at your hotel between 7:00 bis 7:45 am - depends on the location. Our boat departs from Tablamu pier at 8:00 am. After the boat briefing, we enjoy our European breakfast on board. Around 10:45 - 11:00 am we arrive with comfort and style at the Similan Islands or Koh Bon and Koh Tachai where we conduct our first dive & snorkel with our professional guides and right after that we will take our lunch onboard. Around 1:30 - 2:00 pm we prepare for our second dive which will be finished about 3:00 pm after we will begin our journey home to return around 5:30 - 6:00 pm at Tablamu pier.

Our mini-bus will take you back to your Resort.

The third dive on Wednesday will start about 3:30 pm, so we will be back at the pier about 7:30 pm.
The third dive on Friday near the coast will start about 4:30 pm, so we will be back at the pier about 6:00 pm

Pick-Up Times
Baan Nam Khem Pier - 7:00-7:05 am (Transfer + 600 THB / person)
Bang Sak Beach - 7:10 am
Pak Weep Beach - 7:15 am
Pakarang Cape - 7:15 am
Khuk Khak (Main road) - 7:15-7:20 am
Khu Khak (Beach) - 7:15 - 7:20 am
Bang Niang Beach - 7:20-7:25 am
Nang Thong Beach - 7:30-7:35 am
Khao Lak Beach - 7:40-7:45 am

We are happy to arrange as well day trip tours by speed boat to the Similan or Surin Islands.

Furthermore Speedboat Charter for diving or snorkel trips

PDF Downloads

• Day Trip Itinerary

Day Trip Prices

Diving Trip to Similan Islands	2 dives	4600,-
Diving Trip to Koh Bon / Koh Tachai (Sunday)	2 dives	4800,-
Diving Trip to Koh Bon / Koh Tachai (Wednesday) and Similan Island / Wreck (Friday)	3 dives	5600,-

All prices in THB (Thai Baht).

Included in the price
Travel Insurance, Transfer from Khao Lak hotel/ boat/hotel, lunch, drinking water, soft drinks, fruits, towel, mask and snorkel, fins, life jacket, guide, and liability insurance, NITROX
(There is no right to a refund if Nitrox is not available!)

Not included the price
National Park entry fee per day 500 THB + diving fee 200 THB

Rental equipment per day
BCD 200 THB, regulator 200 THB, shorty 3mm 100 THB,
Dive computer 250 THB, LED Flashlight 200 THB, Compass 150 THB

You find the prices for non-divers and children on the snorkel page.

Easy to pay with PayPal

Drone flights are prohibited in all national parks!

PDF Downloads

• Price List 2018-19

Diving at the Similan Islands

Similan Islands

Koh Bon

Koh Tachai

Schedules MV Chai Yo², 15. October until 30. April

Day Trip Itinerary

Day Trip Prices

Contact

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