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The Similan Islands, are part of Phang Nga Province, Southern Thailand. A majestic formation that lines the Andaman Sea, this destination’s focus is on gorgeous waters, white sandy palm-fringed beaches and most of all, the underwater realms that lie beneath.
If you’re into snorkelling and diving, then this is one spot that you won’t want to overlook. Some of the most intriguing dive sites can be found across the many areas around the Similan Islands. So, if you ever find yourself in the area, here’s a 3D2N guide covering many of the prominent diving and snorkelling spots.
Day 1 – Get your feet wet
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The Sailing Boat Rock is a curious formation that sits on one of the white sand beaches on the islands. Underwater, a thriving ecosystem with diverse marine creatures has helped establish a reputation for the reefs and sandy beaches here (largely a by-product of diligent scraping and nibbling by organisms like the parrotfish which can excrete more than 16 kilos of sand in the course of a year’s lunching on hard corals).
The ideal conditions for coral growth is probably another reason why this spot is a great diving and snorkelling site. There’s a minimum prevailing sea temperature of about 28C, coupled with exceptionally clear waters and, as a direct result, over 200 different species of hard coral have been identified in this area alone. In addition, these islands have the greatest profusion of reef fish in Thai waters.
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The Similan Islands Marine National Park is renowned among divers the world over, who come to this beautiful 70-sq-km of natural bliss for an experience of a lifetime. The park features smooth granite islands, deep rainforests and flawless white beaches fringed by coral reefs. Sadly, coral bleaching has killed off many of the hard corals, leaving mostly soft corals and fauna. Still, it’s an amazing spot to dive as there remains a great snorkelling area unscathed by coral bleaching. Other islands like Ko Bon were added to the original nine islands making up the park in 1998.
Day 2 – Plunge right in
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If you fancy seeing some sharks, head on over to Deep Six (one of the most famous dive sites of the Similans). Here, beautiful hard coral, soft coral gardens, sponges and colossal granite boulders can be observed in all their glory. Some of the more interesting underwater life also exists in this area, including the Giant trevallies, dogtooth tunas and rainbow runners. A little deeper in, you may run into some whitetip reef sharks, Leopard sharks and blue spotted stingrays. The 2004 tsunami lay waste to an extensive number of corals but the reef is slowly recovering. Deep Six is located on the north tip of the Similan island number 6.
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Travelling further to the east coast of Koh Ha (known also as island No.5), you’ll be able to find Anita’s reef, home to gentle currents and a vast array of Andaman Sealife. The many scuba diving and snorkelling spots here offer a glimpse into active marine life as well as an assortment of corals. These include the Bombora (Bommies in slang) coral, table corals and staghorn corals packed together in the sandy underground. These ancient marine forests are also home to small fish that scurry away from divers and predators as well as a bunch of other species like the lionfish, Sweetlips, Clown triggerfish, Diana’s Hogfish, long nose hawkfish, glassfish, Bluefin Trevally and other juvenile fish.
Day 3 – Ready to do it all over again?
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Finally, the East of Eden is known for its colourful marine life and tranquil waters. Located on the east of Koh Pa-Yu (Similan island number 7), this site spans across the north and south, making it an ideal dive site for divers of all levels. The reef slope ranges between 5 to 40 meters, while a cluster of staghorn coral and clue coral can be found in the north. Frogfish can sometimes be spotted amongst the sponges as well as some glassfish which are difficult to see. Overall, this amazing spot frequently grabs the attention of its visitors through its many beautiful elements.
You’re probably going to come away with fond memories of the Similan islands. They’re an intriguing group of islands and, if you’re a snorkeler or diver, expect to fall in love at first sight! Among the many gorgeous sites scattered throughout the numerous areas, you may just find your favourite underwater experience to date.
