Similans & Richelieu Rock

The famous Similans offers a fascinating variety of dive sites that will charm even the most experienced divers. From rocky pinnacles and fringe reefs, to the magnificent boulder dives with many shallow swim-throughs, as long as you visit Thailand, you simply cannot miss out the Similans. Reached mainly via liveaboards and charters, the Similans has so much to offer everyone, that you couldn’t possibly complete the experience within just a day or two – so if you are planning for the Similans, make sure you set aside at least 3 to 4 days if not more. “Similan” comes from the word “nine” in the local language as there are 9 islands that make up the Similans giving all an endless journey of pleasures.

On the east coasts of the Similans, you will find beautiful colorful coral reefs, deep rocky gorges, dizzying landscapes and a huge abundance of marine life. The diving is fairly relaxed, with weak currents and 30m visibility is the norm.

The West coast sites of the Similan Islands are slightly more challenging due to their depths and variable currents. Here you find the most incredible submarine rock formations, with huge boulders, swimthroughs and giant fan corals. This unique mixture of diving makes a Similan diving cruise a beautiful and exhilarating voyage of discovery that always ends too soon.

All this has made Similan Islands dive sites like Elephant Head, East of Eden and Christmas Point rightfully famous. A world of giant underwater boulders, caves, narrow passages, some 500 species of hard and soft corals and an amazing variety of marine life including leopard sharks, guitar rays, whale sharks, manta rays and turtles is waiting to be explored. Photographers take note that the Similan Islands are also a paradise for muck diving – look out for such photogenic critters as ghost pipefish, sea moths, frogfish, ribbon eels and nudibranches. The dive sites at the Similans usually have names but are often referred to according to the island numbers they are at and there are just too many to describe. However, below are some of the best dive sites which any visitor to the Similans simply cannot miss out. Usually included as part of a Similans cruise is “Richelieu Rock”, which is not actually part of the Similans Island. Whatever your dive dream is, diving the Similans with KrabiDivers.com promises you absolute pleasure.