Trip BB2511 Similan Islands

And we’re back from our latest Similan liveaboard with another dose of amazing diving at the Similan and Surin Islands! A trip filled with incredible guests, lots of fun, amazing food (too much as usual), first-time experiences, and… splits on the dive deck. We timed this trip to perfection too—whilst other boats were jostling their schedules around Christmas and New Year, we enjoyed quiet dives away from the crowds at many of the Similan Islands’ most famous dive sites.

First Time Diving at the Similan Islands

Keeping things easy for our first dive, we opted for Hideaway Bay and the Tuna Wreck. This would be Kerry and Lars’s first dive with me after recently completing their Scuba Diver certifications near Khao Lak. Now set to complete their Open Water Course—what a setting for their introductory dives!

Hideaway was on great form with calm conditions topside and clear visibility with no current underwater. Within minutes we were observing a free-swimming moray eel, followed by a mesmerising colour- and shape-changing show from an octopus hunting in the shallows. Watching the reef come to life on these morning dives is always a thrill, and it set a brilliant mood for the day ahead.

One hearty breakfast later, we were keen to get back in the water at Similan Island Seven for dive two at West of Eden. It’s great to see the variety of dive sites on offer in the Similans—the east-facing sloping reefs contrasting with the west-facing dramatic granite boulder sites. As the name suggests, it was time to enjoy some dramatic underwater scenery: huge granite boulders clad in large sea fans and hard coral gardens.

In contrast, dive three was a gentle drift along the sloping reef at Three Trees, curving around the east side of Similan Island Nine. This is always a classic reef dive and a chance to tick off many of our reef favourites—anemone clownfish, pufferfish, morays, angelfish, and butterflyfish.

After snacks and a visit to the famous viewpoint at Similan Island Eight, we rounded off the day’s diving around Donald Duck Bay. Some groups dived Turtle Rock whilst others explored the large granite boulders around the edge of the bay. A great first day in the bag!

A Couple of Stunners and the Splits

Day two, dive one: Christmas Point. For me, there’s no better start to a day in the Similan Islands! There was a little current—just enough to wake up the fish life but nothing that hampered our progress around the site. You have to swim a bit to explore the full extent of this dive site, but it’s well worth it. The amazing shapes worn into the ancient granite boulders, with hidden channels and swim-throughs, make this one of the Similans’ most exciting dives. It was an impressive start to our second day. Unfortunately, Lars being forced to attempt the splits whilst getting back on the boat with a heavy tank and some choppy seas provided a painful end to a great dive!

The current was pumping when we arrived at Koh Bon for dive two. Rolling in at the waterfall and descending, we were swept around the ridge before we had a chance to realise we were being swept around the ridge! Well, that was my group—other braver groups did attempt to explore more of the ridge, but most of the dive was conducted in the more tranquil conditions on the north side of the island.

Thankfully, the strong currents had dropped somewhat by the time we arrived at Koh Tachai, though not entirely—currents were still strong over the shallower areas of this iconic boulder dive site. With enough current to liven things up, decent visibility, and lots and lots of fish, this was dive of the trip for me and my smaller team.

Not wanting to push our luck with the currents, we opted for Koh Tachai Reef for our final dive of the day, and it was lovely! Time to head north to the Surin Islands.

Aow Pakkad Steals the Show

Waking up in the Surin Islands is always peaceful and tranquil. Often overlooked and less famous than the neighbouring Similan Islands, there are some great dives at Surin. One of them is the stunning Aow Suthep, which has never-ending gardens of pristine hard corals and abundant reef fish life. It was a very pleasant wake-up on day three of our liveaboard adventure.

With some unfavourable weather reports, we decided to stay for one more dive in the Surin Islands and let the wind drop before heading out to Richelieu Rock. Little did we know at the time this was probably the best decision made on the trip.

Dive two was at Aow Pakkad, and what a dive it turned out to be! The visibility was incredible, and the current was just enough to allow us to drift along the reef with hardly a fin kick needed. It really was like diving in an aquarium or, as Sam likes to put it, diving the reef in Finding Nemo.

We made it to Richelieu Rock for dives three and four. The visibility had dropped a little compared with our previous dive, and the currents were pumping once again. Richelieu was buzzing with activity and high productivity—and a few hapless divers from other boats, all part of the Richelieu show! We had two excellent dives there, though I have to admit Aow Pakkad was hard to beat that day. Something that probably isn’t said too often.

Koh Bon and We’re Done

On our second day, Koh Bon seemed to pass us by in a whirlwind of currents. Returning for the last two dives of our trip, conditions were much more favourable. Great visibility and little current really gave us the opportunity to explore the bay, the ridge, and some of the best parts of the north reef. Great dives to end a great trip.

Big thanks to all who joined us, and congratulations to Kerry and Lars on completing your Open Water Course. Hopefully the start of many more fun dives to come.

See you all again in 2026!

Ric and all the team…. out