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.
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.
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…
As the season comes gently to an end (the Similan Island National Park will close on May 15), here are a few fishy moments from the past couple of weeks on board Big Blue’s MV Hallelujah Similan liveaboard.
During this Similans Liveaboard we had the pleasure of hosting Anna Flam of the Marine Megafauna Foundation. A team of outstanding people dedicated to the research & protection of Marine Megafauna. Anna stayed on board for the duration of the trip hoping to capture Manta evidence and was always on hand for questions and more importantly the passing on of her knowledge.
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….
On this trip we received guests from around the world namely, Great Britain, America, Canada, Japan & Germany but not a full boat. Albeit 17 guests sounds a reasonable number, on MV Hallelujah we can cater for 25 so the boat felt even more enormous than she usually does. This was great for trip leader Matt as he does love his food!
There are many dive sites in the Similans & Surin National parks and over the years we have dived them all, but which one is it that we simply love…
After a stormy start to the new high season, with the choppy seas subsiding we departed on MV Hallelujah for trip number five. Just how choppy the seas had been around the Similan Islands, I wasn’t exactly sure, I’d just returned from a holiday
