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Dive Thailand's best dive sites in style on the nicest speedboat out of Khao Lak: The Similan Islands (including Koh Bon, Koh Tachai) and our specialty; Richelieu Rock, arguably the best dive site in Thailand!
The Blue Dolphin, our brand new 43 foot triple engine (225HP Honda 4 stroke) speedboat, is a comfortable and very fast (only 1hr 10min to the furthest dive sites!) way to travel ensuring a relaxed day. You can sit in the shade or catch some on the front sundeck while keeping an eye out for real dolphins en route to the islands.
Fly with the Manta Ray's on Koh Bon every Monday and Friday. Explore macro heaven with seahorses, ornate ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimps etc and the best chance for Whaleshark on Richelieu Rock every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Experience the rich and interesting reef and boulder sites around Similan Islands every Wednesday and Saturday (for your convenience we also go there every day of the week with our partner Speedboat).
The Similan Islands National Marine Park lies directly west, making Khao Lak a great starting point for your trip. Each island is surrounded by thriving coral reef, starting in the shallows just a few metres from the beach, making snorkeling easy and safe for all. Meanwhile divers have access to a wide variety of deeper sites, from rocky canyons and swim through’s to stunning coral gardens. Each island also has view points and jungle walks for the active and glorious beaches for those who want to take life easy.
A little north of Similan Islands, but still part of the same marine park lies Koh Bon and Koh Tachai, stand alone islands with fantastic diving opportunies. Koh Bon features a long sloping reef with cleaning stations favored by large Manta Ray's that fly in for their spa treatments to the joy of us divers. On the south side of Koh Tachai lies a submerged pinnacle with great coral, resident leopard sharks and dramatic dive scenery.
Further north, in the Surin Marine Park, lies Richelieu Rock - named by the famous Jacques Cousteau - arguably the best dive site in Thailand. It’s a dramatic series of rocks in a rough horseshoe shape that features the best chance for whaleshark and stunning macro-life with ornate ghost pipefish, tigertail seahorse, harlequin shrimp and many other goodies, the macro photographers "wet" dream. Frequent schools of barracuda, mating cuttlefish and various other pelagics round off a site that never ceases to amaze.
On the Similan trips, snorkelers and non-divers will be dropped off with a guide on one of the pristine beaches, while the divers explore the deeper sites nearby. We will reunite for lunch on board before moving to another island for an early afternoon dive, swim, sunbathe or walk - whichever activity you have chosen.
We’ll have our lunch together during the surface interval either on the beach or onboard. After the second dive, we offer some refreshing fruits on the return journey home.
Day trips include:
- Pick up from your hotel, transport to the pier and back
- Lunch and fruits
- Drinking water and soft drinks
- National Marine Park entrance fee
- Tanks and weights for the divers
- Dive or snorkel guide
- Lots of fun!
The Blue Dolphin Speedboat
| Length: |
43ft or 13.1 meters |
| Engines: |
3x 225HP Honda 4 stroke (silent running & no smelly fumes) |
| Speed: |
Cruising speed 30-32 knots. Top speed 40+ knots.
Between 50 and 80 minutes run time to dive sites in normal sea conditions. |
| Capacity: |
16 divers or 24 non-divers |
| Features: |
GPS, Radio, Toilet, Outdoor Shower, Emergency Oxygen, First Aid Kit,
State of the art Tank Rack (holds 41 tanks). |
| Pier: |
Ban Namkhem, ca 20 minutes north of Khao Lak |
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