6 days / 7 nights
US$960 (Plus $30 for Thai national park fees)
Enjoy the combination of diving and sailing around Thailand’s tropical islands on our live-aboard yachts. The Similan islands marine national park, together with the Surin islands and Richelieu Rock are Thailand’s premier dive destinations with a diversity of marine life including manta-rays and other pelagics – whale-sharks if you are lucky!
Similan and Surin live-aboard schedule
A cluster of nine tropical islands, fifty five nautical miles north west of Phuket is Thailand's premier dive sites destination. The Similan islands offer a great diversity of marine life and under-sea terrain. This marine national park is considered to have the most colourful reef environment and best all-round conditions of all dive sites in Thailand. The islands themselves have some of the most stunning above-water scenery in Southeast Asia, with dazzling turquoise water, white sand beaches and secluded bays framed by rocky headlands.
Liveaboard and Diving Impressions from SEALThere are dozens of dive sites to choose from; one of the most appealing aspects of diving here is the tremendous variety of underwater experiences they offer. Most striking is the contrast in under-water topography between the east and west sides of the islands. Dive sites on the east - which face towards the mainland and are generally more sheltered - characteristically have shallow hard coral reefs, which give home to a profusion of brightly coloured reef fish of all varieties.
On the west of the Similan islands, the under-water terrain is markedly more rugged with huge underwater boulders - stacked together to form networks of underwater caves, tunnels, archways and swim-thoughs'. These boulders are often thickly encrusted with giant gorgonian sea fans, soft corals and sponges. Because these dive sites face into deep, open sea, divers have excellent chances to encounter a variety of pelagic and other large fish that include tuna, jacks, mackerel, large schools of surgeon fish, eagle and manta rays and several species of shark.
Sailing fifty nautical miles further north brings us to the Surin Islands. This whole area offers good diving, with the local characteristics being quite different to the Similans. Surin is home to the 'Chow Nam', a tribe of nomadic sea gypsies, during the cruise you will be give the opportunity to see these shy and reclusive people.
Similan & Surin live-aboard itinerary
Richelieu Rock
One of the highlights of the trip is Richelieu Rock, rising forty meters from the sea bed, covered with a profusion of purple and pink gorgonians. It offers a rare opportunity to dive with the magnificent whale-shark. Richelieu is one of the few dive sites in the world where these creatures are seen, although their numbers have dwindled during the past few years.
| SIMILAN & SURIN ISLANDS, AT A GLANCE… | |
| Reef type: | Hard coral reef, interspersed on a white sandy bottom. Soft corals & Giant fans. |
| Access: | Liveaboard |
| Visibility: | 25 –35 Meters |
| Current: | Moderate |
| Coral: | Excellent coral life, with Giant Gorgonian soft corals and fan corals |
| Fish: | Good |
| Highlights: | Beautiful corals and a large variety of reef fish with warm clear waters. Good possibilities of seeing Whale sharks and Manta Rays |
| Diving Level: | From Beginner up |