Trip BB2630 Similan Islands

MV Blue Dolphin Similan Liveaboard Trip Report – Similan & Surin National Parks

What a fantastic few days we’ve just had exploring the Similan and Surin National Parks aboard MV Blue Dolphin. With calm seas, great visibility, and an abundance of marine life, this trip really showcased the parks at their very best as the season winds down.

Day 1 – Similan Islands (5–9)

We kicked things off around Islands 5–9 with a series of brilliant dives. Right from dive one, we were treated to a rare and special moment—mating octopus in full display.

Dive two brought us our first turtle sighting of the trip, always a crowd favourite and allows us to continue our support of Andaman Turtle Watch.

A bit of a drift along Island 9 followed 🙂, before finishing the day with a cracking macro dive. The highlight? An ornate ghost pipefish spotted at Turtle Rock—an absolute gem for macro lovers.

At this time of year, we’re starting to feel the arrival of what we like to call the “green monsters” — cooler water layers moving through the park. These temperature shifts, known as thermoclines, occur when colder, nutrient-rich water rises up from deeper areas and meets the warmer surface layer. It can mean a noticeable drop of 4–5°C during a dive, which definitely wakes you up!

While it might come as a bit of a shock at first, these cooler currents play a vital role in the ecosystem. They bring in fresh nutrients that fuel marine life, often attracting larger schools of fish and, with a bit of luck, some truly special sightings.

They certainly played a role on this trip too, with some notable appearances on several dives.

Day 2 – Koh Bon & Koh Tachai

Day two took us north to Koh Bon and Koh Tachai, where the big schools are well and truly back.

We were surrounded by rainbow runners, longnose emperor fish, and bluefin trevally in impressive numbers. Both sites are currently hosting huge, tornado-style schools of barracuda, creating some unforgettable underwater moments. 

It’s clear the parks are finishing the season in style.

Day 3 – Torinla Reef & Richelieu Rock

We started the day at Torinla Reef in what can only be described as aquarium-like conditions. Shallow, vibrant corals, crystal-clear water, and yet another turtle sighting made for a near-perfect morning dive.

Then came Richelieu Rock—and it absolutely delivered. The sheer density of marine life there right now is almost too much to take in.

Three stunning dives filled with movement, colour, and energy wrapped up with a well-earned sunset beer and what might just be a contender for sunset of the year.

Day 4 – Koh Bon & Return

We rounded off the trip with two more cracking dives at Koh Bon before making our way back to Thap Lamu—ending the cruise on a high note.

A huge thank you to all our guests for joining us on this trip. It was an absolute pleasure having you all on board. We’re thrilled to see that some of you have already rebooked, and we’ll be in touch soon as the 2027–2028 season goes live in the coming weeks. We genuinely hope to welcome you all back again very soon.

A special congratulations to Dao and Jaja on completing their SSI Nitrox Diver certifications with instructor Nina—great work!

Until next time,

Boots & Team Blue Dolphin 🐬