Liveaboard diving is always great fun. With everyone in scuba diving mode and relaxing on the boat with lots of amazing food and plenty of chatter. Every now and then it just so happens that the boat fills up with extremely chatty people, cue the sociable aspect of a Similans Liveaboard….
Diving the Similans, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock this season there has been a very noticeable increase in productivity on many Simillan dive sites. Richelieu has its resident über mob of juvenile Giant trevallies and Longnose emperors. Koh Tachai, when the current pumps so do the Bluefin trevally and Rainbow runners.
All around the Similans there are more dog tooth tuna, snapper and other types of predatory fish. There are a few possible reasons why we are seeing more bigger fish on our dive sites. There is also a number of contenders in the running for top predator of 2018.
The Similan Islands national park has now set very strict limits for both divers and snorkelers. Most importantly for Big Blue Diving, is the 525 divers per day allowed entry into the Similans. But before we go into the details, just a small amount of history…
A step by step guide on how to repair a collapsed Gorgonian sea fan.
Strange days in The Similan Islands. We had 6 guests on board and there was hardly another boat in sight. The new national park restrictions are in full force and things are eerily quiet.
With the huge changes to the Similan Islands national park this year, and the seemingly last minute implementation of new rules, it became very clear to us that our communication with the Thai authorities was not enough as it should be. So were overjoyed when we were kindly invited to join the ‘Phuket Marine National Park Operation Center 2′ and a group of Thai university students, to help carry out a series of ongoing scientific studies at the Similan Islands.
Huge thanks to Nok Malaidang of the Phuket Marine National Park Operation Center 2 for inviting us to attend their recent trip to the Mu Koh Surin National Park on board the Peter Pan Similan Liveaboard. Obviously something we jumped at and here’s what we got up too.
10% off all cabin prices when you book 2026-2027 now. Just 20% deposit secures your spot—full balance not due until 1st October 2026.
