The Similans open on October 15th this year, and we are really looking forward to seeing what’s around this year
Last year we were greeted by hugely increased numbers of fish, because the Thai Navy had taken action against illegal fishing during the closed season.
We’re hoping for the same again this year!
The Similan Islands are lovely as islands with several gorgeous white sand beaches open to the public, and even more that are pristine and protected.Underwater there are beautiful hard corals, colourful soft corals, gorgonian fans and masses of tropical fish.
The Similan Islands National Park includes Koh Bon and Koh Tachai. Koh Bon is known for Manta Rays, while Koh Tachai is known for it’s underwater pinnacle, with huge schools of fish and challenging currents.While Koh Tachai is closed to land-based tourists and snorkelers in order to protect the coral, the dive sites are very much open (Yippee!)
Just inside the Surin Islands National Park is Richelieu Rock – my personal favourite dive site, and one that never ceases to amaze. I love the fact that no matter where you look, there is always something to see from the almost microscopic to the huge schools of fish.
The Similans are about 60km off the west coast of Thailand so they’re reachable on a day trip, but if you’ve got the money and the time, a liveaboard gives you so much more bang for your buck.
A liveaboard will also get you to some of the more remote sites (such as Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, or maybe even the Surin Islands) that day trip boats don’t go to so much.
There are a couple of these running from Khao Lak.They leave Tap Lamu port at around 8am, take approximately 3 hours to get to the dive site, give you 2 dives, lunch on board, and 3 hours steaming back.
If a 3 hour trip each way sounds terrible – it isn’t! On the way out you get breakfast on the boat, plenty of time to set up your equipment, lots of time to chat to your dive guide, and it’s quite leisurely and relaxed.By the time you reach the dive site you are kitted up and on the back of the boat, ready to go.On the way back you’ve got time to sunbathe, fill out your log-books, have a beer or a soda, chat to your new-found dive buddies, or sleep.
It’s a great option for families, groups that include a non-diver/snorkeler, those wanting a chilled day, or people with back problems/less than optimum mobility.
There are again a few companies running speed boats and catamarans to the dive sites. These generally leave the pier (either from Tap Lamu or further north at Bang Sak) at around 8.30am. They take between 1 hour 15 minutes and 1 hour 25 minutes to reach the dive-site. Just as with the slow boats, they give you 2 dives, lunch in between, and then return home. They are usually home before 5pm, meaning it’s a much shorter day. That’s great news if you have left family or friends on the beach while you go out for the day.
They can be a bit a bumpy but that’s a small trade off for having 3 hours more at your hotel – a great move if you’re at an ‘all-inclusive’! They go to the same sites as the slow boats, and it’s very much personal preference as to which type of day boat you pick.
*If you have back or mobility problems, choose the slow boats.