Diving at the Similan National Park

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.

We're only going to Island # 9!

Our guests are picked-up at the hotel and then taken by taxi to our pier in Nam Khem, north of Khao Lak.
(see schedule below)

Rules for the Similan National park

1. For bookings, we need the first name, name,
nationality, age and passport number
2. For divers also: dive level, number of logged dives,
date of the last dive & dive certificate
3. Visitors must carry a copy or picture of their passport with
them
4. Drone flights are strictly prohibited
5. Beginner’s courses (DSD, OWD) are not allowed – only local
6. Single-use plastic is not allowed to take
7. Stay overnight is not allowed anymore
8. Bookings has to be done latest 6:00 pm, the before the trip
starts

Koh Tachai

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

Daily Schedule

Stingray

Pick-up at your hotel between 8:00 and 8:45 am - depends on the location. Our boat departs from iQ-DIVE Pier in Nam Khem at 9:15 am.

We arrive at
Similan Islands around 10:45 am
Koh Bon around 10:00 am
Koh Tachai around 10:15 am

Now, we conduct our first 60 minutes dive or snorkeling with our professional guides and right after that we will have a 90 minutes lunch break on board. After that, we prepare for our second 60 minutes dive or snorkeling. If we do 3 dives, we need an additional 2.5 hours
We will be back at the pier between 15:00 and 17:30 am - depends on the dive destination and the number of dives.
Our Mini Bus will take you back to your Resort.

Pick-up times
Lam Kaen: 08:00 - 08:05 am
Nang Thong: 08:15 - 08:20 am
Bang Niang: 08:20 - 08:30 am
Khuk Khak: 08:30 - 08:40 am
Pakarang: 08:40 - 08:50 am
Pak Weep: 08:40 - 08:45 am
Bang Sak: 08:50 - 09:00 am
Nam Khem: 09:00 - 09:10 am





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

Furthermore Speedboat Charter for dive or snorkel trips