Palm Garden Resort Khao Lak, Similan and Surin Islands

The world-famous diving of the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock has drawn divers from around the world for decades and is considered to be the best in Thailand. The variety of underwater landscapes, rich marine life, clear water, and of course the beautiful island landscapes, are ideal for anyone in search of an exhilarating dive safari.

The underwater landscape of both groups of islands offer everything from rock formations, swim-throughs, steep walls, bommies, and towering rocky pinnacles, all covered in bright corals, sea fans and schooling fish. Around the Similans in particular, the coral gardens and deep rocky gorges are perfect for exploration and offer even experienced divers plenty to discover. Famous sites such as Elephant Head, Christmas Point, East of Eden and Shark Fin Reef offer opportunities to see a wide variety of marine life such as turtles, anemone fish, moray eels, stingrays, pufferfish, lionfish, batfish and occasionally larger species such as barracuda, trevally, leopard sharks and Napoleon wrasse.

Diving Koh Bon and Koh Tachai

If it is big animals you are looking for, then the islands to the north of the Similans - Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and the Surins - are the places to explore. Koh Bon is the site of one of the only wall dives in Thailand, and is well known for manta rays that are seen along the ridge that runs west from the island, or in the deep water to the south. A pinnacle to the north of the ridge is also great for encounters with rays, and leopard sharks are also seen in the deeper sections. Nearby Koh Tachai’s pinnacle is also a great spot for manta rays, and plenty of schooling fish. Both of these islands are quite exposed and can have strong currents so beginner divers have to be cautious.

Diving Richelieu Rock

However it is the famous Richelieu Rock that offers the best diving on the west coast of Thailand. This isolated pinnacle of rock emerges from deep water, breaking the surface of the sea at low tide. The site has become famous for its rich coral, prolific marine life and for being one of the best locations in Thailand to spot whale sharks. Nutrient-rich upwellings create perfect conditions for plankton blooms that in turn attract plenty of fish, including the biggest of all. Whale sharks are most often seen at Richelieu towards the end of the season, from February through to May - April being one of the best months for encounters. But even without the whale sharks, Richelieu Rock is an exceptional dive. The horseshoe-shaped site consists of a huge central pinnacle surrounded by smaller rocks, every inch of which has been colonised by something - soft corals, anemones, barrel sponges and sea fans. Schools of reef fish surround the pinnacles, big groupers and barracuda cruise by and there are smaller creatures to be found in every nook and cranny of the site.