Richelieu Rock Dive Site
Similan Dive Sites
Richelieu Rock
Koh Surin National park
Richelieu Rock is part of the Surin national park just North of the Similan Islands it is one of Thailand’s most iconic dive sites offering world class diving.
The “croissant-shaped reef” was named after Admiral Richelieu, a commander in the Royal Thai Navy.
Richelieu Rock is one main pinnacle with some smaller rocks and out cropping surrounding it. The dive site is incredibly diverse in the marine life that you can find; from frog fish and seahorses to whale sharks and barracuda this site has something for everyone.
Richelieu Rock Key Points
- Depth 0 – 35 Metres
- Visibility 15 – 30 Meters
- Difficulty Suitable for all levels of divers
Koh Bon
Koh Similan National park
Koh Bon is located 20 kilometres north of the Similan Islands and is a limestone island which contrasts to the numerous granite islands at the Similan Islands and also Koh Tachai.
This distinction in the rock of the dive site gives it a very different feel to the other sites around this around. This site gives many small cracks for excellent macro life to live; blue dragon nudibranchs, peacock mantis shrimps, coral banded cleaner shrimp and many more.
Koh Bon is a famous manta ray agregation site. Occasional Manta rays can be found here all season long but are most commonly seen between January and March.
Koh Bon Key Points
- Depth 0 – 35 Metres
- Visibility 15 – 30 Meters
- Difficulty Can have strong currents
Koh Tachai
Koh Similan National park
Koh Tachai is a small island located North of the Similan Islands however it still belongs to the Similan National Park. Koh Tachai is infamous for big currents at certain times of the month. These big current do invariably bring the big life with it.
Diving Koh Tachai is never dull you will find big schools of travelly, chevron barracuda, rainbow runners and fusiliers give movement to the site. Occasionally you can see passing manta rays and whale sharks.
Along with all of these fish you can also find giant morays, many different type of lion fish, oceanic trigger fish, lots of macro life, huge gorgonian seafans and soft corals.
Koh Tachai Key Points
- Depth 0 – 35 Metres
- Visibility 15 – 30 Meters
- Difficulty Difficult diving in strong currents
Hideaway Bay
Koh Similan National park
Hideaway Bay is located on the Southern edge of Similan Islands Five and Six. As the name suggests, the bay offers dive boats calm moorings and is an ideal site for you Similan liveaboard check dive.
A pretty fringing reef runs along the site starting at around 8m sloping down to 30+m. The shallow waters are a good starting point and then a gentle drift along the reef.
If you are feeling more adventurous there is a wreck, locally known as the Tuna Wreck, laying on it’s side towards the east end of the reef. The top is at 30m.
Towards the West end of the site there are several statues in the shallow clear waters to explore at the end of your dive. These statues were placed as memorials after the 2004 Tsunami.
Hideaway Bay Key Points
- Depth 0 – 35 Metres
- Visibility 15 – 30 Meters
- Difficulty Suitable for all levels of divers
Elephant Head Rock
Koh Similan National park
Elephant Head Rock gets its name from the unusual granite rock formations that protrude from the water giving the look of an elephants head.
This dive site contrasts with other dive sites around the area as it is further away from the protection of any island. You can therefore see different marine life that you wouldn’t so easily find in other sites around the Similan Islands.
The massive granite boulders form some very interesting swim throughs and channels that add some excitement to the dive. In amongst all of the cracks, under hangings and dark spaces you can find purple fire gobies, ornate ghost pipefish, Andaman sweetlips and perhaps a sheltering hawksbill turtle.
Deeper on the dive site you can go searching for the Similan Jawfish, McCosker’s dwarf wrasse and if you are lucky you may come across a white-tip reef shark.
Elephant Head Rock Key Points
- Depth 12 – 40 Metres
- Visibility 15 – 30 Meters
- Difficulty Medium (swim throughs need good buoyancy and there can be currents)
Three Trees / Breakfast Bend
Koh Similan National park
This is a very easy dive site for all levels as if there is any current present you can simply spend your dive ‘going with the flow’!
Located on the East side of island number nine this dive site offers something for everyone and is a great relaxing early morning dive. The name Breakfast bend comes from the light that emerges across the dive site early in the morning and the name three trees comes from the distinctive three trees that can be seen on the side of the island!!
The dive site starts close to the island with coral reef where turtles and black tip sharks are frequently sighted. From the reef the site turns into a sandy bottom with sporadic coral patches.
The coral patches are covered in glass fish, a plethora of different shrimps and crustaceans, eels, lion fish and much more macro life to be found.
Three Trees Key Points
- Depth 5 – 35 Metres
- Visibility 20 – 35 Meters
- Difficulty Easy
Boonsung Wreck
Boonsung wreck is a located only a few kilometers from Tap Lamu Pier so is a great dive site for day trips.
Originally a tin dredging vessel that sank over 30 years ago and was broken up by the tsunami it is a great nursery for a plethora of life.
The dive lies at a maximum depth of 20 meters so is a fantastic option for divers of any level. Huge schools of fusiliers, juvenile barracuda and snapper surround the dive site, and life covers ever crack and post; stone fish, lion fish, nudibranchs and honey comb morays are easy find around the site.
Boonsung Wreck Key Points
- Depth 15 – 20 Metres
- Visibility 5 – 20 Meters
- Difficulty Easy