Scuba Diving the Similan Islands: Thailand's Premier Dive Destination

The Similan Islands National Marine Park, 84 km northwest of Phuket in the Andaman Sea, is consistently ranked among the world's top ten dive destinations. The archipelago of nine islands (now also including the Tachai and Surin Islands in liveaboard itineraries) offers remarkable diving diversity: granite boulder formations at the northern islands (dramatic swimthroughs and overhangs), pristine coral gardens in the channel areas, and deep water sites where larger pelagic species congregate. Signature dive sites: Richelieu Rock (a submerged pinnacle, the most celebrated single dive site in Thailand — manta rays and whale sharks are regularly sighted here March–May), Christmas Point (granite boulders with vast coral fan gardens), Elephant Head Rock (complex swim-throughs), and Fantasy Reef (spectacular hard coral in 10–15m of water). Visibility typically exceeds 20–30m during peak season. The park is open November to May — it closes June to October for the southwest monsoon, and the closure is strictly enforced to allow ecosystem recovery. Access: most Similan diving is done via liveaboard from Phuket or Khao Lak (2–3 night trips costing ฿8,000–25,000). Day trips from Khao Lak (3.5 hours by speedboat, ฿4,000–6,000) are an option but involve very long days at sea. Minimum certification recommended: Open Water (PADI or equivalent). The park's protected status means fishing and collection are prohibited, resulting in exceptional marine life density compared to unprotected Thai dive sites.