Scuba Diving the Similan Islands – Thailand
Thailand has one of the world’s most diverse marine habitats, with more than 300 major reef groups covering an area of over 4,500 square miles. From pinnacles and submerged rocks, through to stunning coral gardens and sheer walls, the scuba diving in Thailand has something to offer scuba divers of all levels of experience. It is this diversity in marine habitats and diving environments which attracts so many divers to the waters around Thailand every year, and today the region is one of the world’s most popular scuba diving destinations.
There are a number of major diving destinations in Thailand, all offering a wide selection of diverse dive sites. Throughout all of these major destinations is a network of well equipped, knowledgeable and experienced dive centers, offering a range of diving from leisure dives through to a selection of scuba diving courses.
It would be impossible to discuss Thailand, without looking at the scuba diving in Khao Lak and the nearby Khao Lak with the surrounding areas. Without doubt, the diving from Khao Lak is of the highest standard, and the surrounding dive sites host a plethora of great diving. Similan Islands Scuba Diving is frequently listed as one of the ten best diving opportunities on earth. The are also underwater treasures that lie slightly further afield. Dive sites such as the Burma Banks, The Surin Islands and the Mergui Archipelago are often found high on the wish list of many discerning scuba diver and offer some of South East Asia’s finest dive sites.
The scuba diving on the Western Gulf of Thailand sees a different emphasis, and the small islands found here have become one of the world’s most popular areas to learn to scuba dive. In fact, the island of Koh Tao has developed a complete tourist industry from introducing people to scuba diving, and today large numbers of would be scuba divers travel to o Koh Tao every day to begin their diving education. Other islands within the Western Gulf of Thailand are also home to developed scuba diving industries, and destinations such as Koh Samui and Ko Pha-Ngan are both home to a large number of dive centers and divers. However the dive sites are very overwhelmed and the diving here is often referred to as “champagne diving” – all bubbles.
Throughout Thailand there are a number of exceptional dive sites, and sites such as the Richelieu Rock and Shark fin Reef are widely acknowledged as being world class dive sites. However it is the sheer volume of excellent dive sites that makes Thailand such a popular destination. Destinations such as Koh Lipe Krabi, Phi Phi and the Surin Islands are all home to a number of exceptional dive sites and dive centers. For a good reference try the Best Dive Sites in Thailand.
Today, Thailand is one of the world’s most popular scuba diving destinations, and large numbers of scuba divers travel long distances to dive in the waters surrounding this stunning country. The sheer diversity of the diving on offer here ensures that there is something to cater for all tastes and levels of experience. From vertical wrecks, through to submerged pinnacles, from the largest sharks, through to the smallest nudibranches, the diving in Thailand has something for everyone.
Open Water Course on Similan Liveaboard – Incredible Diving!
There are many different ways to learn to scuba dive. AN instructor teaches someone in a pool. Others jump off a speedboat and some are lucky enough to do their course on a liveaboard. In Thailand the best bang for you Baht is on a liveaboard – more dives and more experience while cruising through paradise.
The Similan Islands are home to Thailand’s most famous dive sites and are often listed as among the 10 best dive sites in the world. Conveniently located to Khao Lak and the nearby Phuket airport – the diving is very accessible. With the option of Speedboats or liveaboards – many beginning divers chose to do their Similan Liveaboard Open Water course on a 3 day journey through the uninhabited islands. These trips offer the guests their own cabins, meals and many different dive sites.
The calm clear waters, the relaxed atmosphere and the skilled instructors will all contribute to the success of the experience. This is important as SCUBA diving is a lifetime passion – not just a whim.
The courses are easy to take and only require a bit of your time. Much of the academic work can now be completed online (and for free) before you even arrive in Thailand. You can spend your vacation time in the water or on the beaches – no the classroom.
The first day is spent in the pool or on the beach simply getting used to the new equipment and incredible sensation of floating weightless! It’s fun and thrilling to realize that gravity no longer exists – it also takes a bit of practice. Diving also requires a few new skills that you are unlikely to have learned before. Your Instructor will go through all the basic skills that will be demonstrated and practiced in the pool. Then you have the opportunity to practice them too!
In the pool or off the beach – the instructor will settle down in front of the student so that they can see all that she is demonstrating. After some breathing exercises and regulator recovery at the surface the instructor will get all the divers to kneel on the bottom of the pool breathing and getting used to being underwater. The instructor, followed by the student will complete each of the skills. The students need to complete mask clearing, regulator recovery and some basic buoyancy control skills. These basic skills are required to ensure the safety of the divers, as well as giving them confidence to truly enjoy the open water. The instructor and student will then swim around at the bottom of the pool getting comfortable with the equipment and used to the feeling of weightlessness and breathing underwater.
Once these basic skills are done and everyone feels comfortable – it’s time to head off on an amazing journey through the Similan Islands. The student has the opportunity to do 9 dives with their instructor – gaining more confidence and feeling more and more at ease under the sea.
After the first couple of dives the underwater world will really open up. Passing turtles make the reefs an incredible opportunity to slow down and enjoy the marine life. That shadow over the students head? A Manta Ray – something that brings chills to even the most experienced diver. The chance to glide over the rainbow colored corals and the hundreds of species of reef fish make this a memory of a lifetime.
After the student has completed their first open water scuba dive – they surface with big smiles on their faces. The instructor will debrief them and explain how they may improve their diving knowledge and skills by doing a full certification open water scuba diver course. Only 8 more dives to go!
This is by far the best way to learn to scuba dive.
If you would like to make this story come true…simply join our Similan Liveaboard Open Water course
Similan Island Diving – When is the best time to dive the Similans?
When is The best Time to Dive the Similan Islands in Thailand?
The Similan Islands are renowned as home to the best diving in Thailand. Great dive sites with sloping reefs, deep boulder sites and virtually untouched pinnacles abound. However the weather plays a much bigger factor in the diving there than almost anywhere else in Thailand.
The factors that make the Similan Islands such a pleasure to dive also make them off-limits for 5 months of the year. The deep ocean currents in the Indian Ocean can bring in nutrient rich waters – as well as the monsoons! While the Similan Islands have great diving almost year-round, the monsoons make them unsafe to visit from May to October of each eyar.
The Government of Thailand takes this into account by making all visits to the islands off-limits – and illegal – from May 15th to November 1st. There are some nefarious operators who will offer trips during this time frame – but they are not only breaking the law – but also risking YOUR life. It is unwise to take them up on these offers.
From November to May the Similan Islands are open to diving. As the whole Similan Islands National Park lies just shy of the continental Shelf, the coral is well-fed from the nutrient waters. In addition the Islands are far enough off-shore to avoid the pollution and damage from the mass tourism of Phuket.
The very best time to dive the Similan Islands is in February and March. There are virtually no winds, the seas can be like a mirror and many of the large pelagics (Manta Rays, Whale Sharks and others) are playing in the local waters.
If you do plan on visiting – please book early. The Similan Liveaboards, for which the region is famous are often sold out (or at least the popular and safe ones – be very wary of “Last Minute Specials”). Daytrips to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon and also Richelieu Rock depart from Khao Lak each day. Leaving by speedboat, the Similan National Park is only 1 hour away. However, Phuket is still 120 km south, so one day trips are not feasible or sensible.
Similan Scuba Diving – Best resources
Here is a blurb from the every helpful – Similan Islands – a resource for all information on the Similan Islands. This is the Scuba Diving section
“Listed as one of the Ten best Dive sites on earth, the Similan Islands are the best diving Thailand has to offer. With Huge rocky drop-offs on the Western side, long coral reefs on the East side, and the transition zones in between. More than the just a simple reef – the Similan Islands also have the Greatest marine diversity in the country.
Nearby are the Surin Islands (and Richelieu Rock), Khao Lak, just North are the Burma Banks. South of the Similan Islands are the SCUBA diving centers of Phuket, Phi Phi and Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Right in the middle are the Similan Islands. Please check here for our list of Similan Dive Centers.”
If you need help or advice for the Similan Islands – this is the place to go!
Good Air for Good Divers
Clean Air – don’t assume it’s there!
While many divers assume the air they are breathing is clean – it’s not always true! One year ago in the Maldives 1 diver died and 9 others were hospitalized when the air they were breathing was severely contaminated. Why? The dive operator was too cheap to properly maintain their compressors, had not properly trained their staff and failed to observe basic safety precautions.
The machine
The air you breath needs to be clean. Much more so if you are diving. The compressors that fill your tanks need to have good, clean, uncontaminated air supplies. The air intake hose needs to be located in a position that provides this.
On liveaboards even more caution needs to be taken. The exhaust from the engines, from people smoking, from cooking all need to be taken into account. In addition the Splash from the ocean and rain needs to be avoided. Even then the air is further purified through filters that remove impurities and moisture.
The Maintenance
One of the biggest fears is carbon monoxide build up. This can come from exhaust and cigarette fumes. The highest acceptable limit for Carbon Monoxide in scuba tanks is 15 ppm (parts per million). In the above mentioned incident – the tanks were tested at 150ppm! The intake hoses were cracked AND were directly in the line of exhaust from the boats engines.
Compressors use filters to rid themselves of impurities. Some compressors run on electric engines and some work on combustion engines (typical of portable compressors). The two kinds also have different filters to meet the different demands. Needless to say the compressors on that liveaboard were fitted with the less expensive filters that were not intended for their compressors.
The Training
Dive staff and the boat crew need to be aware of how to change the filters, which filters to use and how often to change. Their should be a log of servicing as well as an hour meter tracking how long the compressor has been running. Regular inspections of the equipment as well as frequent filter changes are required for compressors to operate correctly.
If these guidelines are not followed – the air you breathe can be bad! So when choosing your diving holiday and boat – do some research! Are the staff trained? How often is the compressor (or any equipment) serviced? Is the compressor (and equipment) serviced by factory trained and certified technicians? Where is the air intake?
Or to look at things differently – do you choose the cheapest parachute?
If two dive operators offer the same service – but one is significantly cheaper – where are the savings? If you would like to be very thorough – ask to see the service log books and records. And always smell the air on your tank before diving! How safe is your dive operator?
At wicked diving all our Similan Liveaboard staff are trained Gas blenders – for both regular air and Nitrox. We have all records of the service performed and we appreciate our guests asking to see them. In addition we do extensive safety training in case of accidents – with at least one Dive medic on staff at all times.
Open Water Training in Thailand!
Learn To Dive in Thailand – Open Water Training
For a beginner it is not obvious what a diving course contains and while many scuba diving courses are very good – there are also examples of the opposite. Thailand – in the former days as a haven for backpackers and shell-shocked ex-pats earned a reputation as a risky place to learn diving. These days the industry is massive and overseen by several safety and governing bodies like SSI. Now - learning to dive in Thailand is both safe and worthwhile.
The most common course for new divers is the Open Water Diver. It is designed to teach divers to independently dive to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60feet. No previous experience is needed and most normally fit people will be able to meet the prerequisites. Read on….
Online Learning!
Instead of taking your valuable vacation time to read and study – why not begin your course right now? The new style of diving is looking forward and you will find that you can do much of your theory and reading online – this includes the reviews. You will still need to do the training sessions – and any good dive center will double check your online training.
Introductory Theory
The open water course has a relatively comprehensive section on basic dive theory. The material is well written and straightforward. Each chapter finishes with review questions. and the course finishes with a theoretical test of 50 questions.
Pool training
The course contains 5 pool sessions or confined water sessions. If you do these courses in your home country you will usually three to five sessions spread over a few weeks. If you do your course while on vacation – these sessions can be combined into two days. They are well thought out and focus on teaching a diver basic scuba skills. The goal is that the student should master the skills and if that is achieved all is good. Not many unnecessary skills are included and the sequencing is relevant. After finishing all confined sessions the student will be pretty well off in the open water.
The Open Water Dives
The course includes a minimum 4 open water dives. The first two to max 12 meters (45 feet) and the last two to max out at 18 meters/60 feet. Each dive has some skills to practice, but if you have paid attention in the pool, then it’s quite easy to do the skills without “Wasting” any of your dive time!
Other reflections
Anyone doing this course should be aware that one has not mastered scuba diving after completing it. Major bits concerning self rescue and general rescue diving are missing and the requirements do not allow independent diving. That said – it is a good introduction and many people can become surprisingly good after only four dives. I strongly recommend doing 4-6 pleasure dives after attempting any other course simply to build more waterman-ship.
Overall impression
The planning and the material is of high quality. The negative sides includes that some students are targeted with repeated selling which can be annoying. Some courses are also over commercialised which means that the standards are followed only to allow a student to get certified and the quality of the training is somewhat lost Choose your school wisely. But all things said – SSI leads the way in diver training and with a bit of common sense this is an excellent introduction to scuba diving.
Similan Island Dive Sites – East Of Eden
As part of our site development and growth – we have moved these dive site descriptions over to the main site…
If you have any questions or concerns – please fell free to contact us
Elephant Head Rock is part of the itinerary for our Similan Islands Liveaboard North Tours
Between islands seven and eight lies Elephant Head Rock – or ‘Hin Pusa’.
A beautiful collection of submerged boulders, ranging from large slabs of rock to smaller stones. The relative isolation of the site between Islands 7 & 8 leaves it open to strong cross currents.
Conditions permitting drop down on the south side between the two large rocks which the break the surface. Stay close to the rocks until the strength and direction of the current has been gauged, and if necessary use the boulders as shelter. The south side of the dive site drops along a series of rock plateaus to a graduating sandy bottom which starts at about 30 meters and goes deeper – more than 50 Meters.
Keep the boulders on your left and work eastwards. Look beneath rocks for lobsters and large rays. A large channel can provide a good introduction to the dive, which sits at around 18 meters. Follow the opening through and then turn left into a smaller series of swim-throughs which bring you towards the north of the dive site.
If you skip the swim-throughs and head outside the site (rather than through) you will find some big fish hunting. Also spend some time looking for Frogfish, Flabellinas and other little stuff. You will be surprised by all that you find.
Conditions permitting continue swimming out towards the Northern-outer edge of the dive site over a sandy plateau where large White tips, Grey and Black tip reef sharks can sometimes be seen.
Also keep an eye open for some weird and wonderful nudibranches and in particular for flabbelina’s. Octopus, sea snakes and cuttlefish can also be found amongst the dead coral. Head south and you should come to an opening which begins at 12 meters and extends south to around 6 meters, where the current usually gains force. Beneath the large rock to your left is a long crack. Use a torch to look for baby white tip reef sharks. This can be a good place to end the dive, swimming back out to the north-east during the safety stop for one final look for Sharks, Rays, Giant Trevally and Great Barracuda.
Similan Island Dive Sites – Elephant Head Rock
Elephant Head Rock Above the water
Thailand is home to some great diving. The Similan Islands are frequently listed among the top 10 dive sites on earth.
It is no wonder that the best dive sites on the Similan Islands are good – damn good! Among the most famous and frequently cited as “incredible” is Elephant Head Rock. Located right int he Center of the islands – just off Koh Similan.
Elephant Head Rock is home to some huge pelagic visitors as well as some incredible macro as well. If you imagine a massive pile of boulders the size of houses that just keep going deeper and deeper into the depths – then you can imagine what this site is like.
Due to Dive profiles and the great features of this site – it’s best to visit in the morning. This usually means joining a Similan Liveaboard as the daytrips usually arrive a bit late.
with Depths to 30 meters and far beyond – Nitrox is also a good idea.
For more on Similan island Dive Sites
Dive With Turtles In Thailand
In November and December We will be offering an incredible opportunity to learn about and dive with Turtles on the Similan Islands
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
The green turtle is found in scattered areas in both the Andaman and South China Sea coasts, nesting in both areas. They are listed as globally threatened by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and are protected by International Law (CITES) and Thai Law. Seen occasionally at East of Eden
The Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Hawksbill turtles are found near off-shore islands in the coastal waters of the Andaman Sea, and the northern Gulf of Thailand. They are listed as “Critically Endangered” in IUCN’s Red List. It is listed in CITES, and is protected by Thai Law. Frequently seen on Breakfast Bend.
The Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
The number of nests on three major nesting beaches has declined dramatically between 1985 and 2002. Olive Ridley’s are listed as “Endangered” by IUCN, and are protected by CITES and Thai Law. Not observed on Similan Islands many years
The Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
The leatherback is only known to nest on the Andaman Coast. The leatherback has been listed as globally endangered since 1970, and was confirmed as “Critically Endangered in Thailand” in 1996. It is listed in CITES, and is also protected by Thai Law. While not seen on the Similans, they have been observed nesting on several beaches in the area.
The sea turtle is a reptile which spends all of its life in water. It obviously needs to go to the surface from time to time, to breathe air. Bear in mind they can actually drown if frightened by divers.
The natural longevity of the sea turtles is not entirely known, but they grow very slowly taking about 15 years to reach maturity.The sea turtle’s diet includes sponges, marine worms, corals and even jellyfish
The distribution of turtles in Thai waters is spread out along the fine sand quiet beaches of the coastline and islands in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. These two geographical areas also reflect different nesting times of the turtles.
In the Gulf of Thailand the most important nesting areas for green and hawksbill turtles are Khram and adjacent islands which are located in the inner Gulf, Chonburi Province. There are some islands along the east coast from Chonburi, Rayong and Trat Province and some islands in the middle Gulf of Chumphon and Surat Thani Province where sea turtles are occasionally found. In the Gulf areas, green and hawksbill turtles lay their eggs all year round with the peak from May to August.
In the Andaman Sea coastal areas of Thailand, the main nesting areas are north-west coast of Phuket, and Phang Nga provinces. In particular these areas include Thai Muang Beach and Phrathong Island, Maikhao beach Phuket, Tarutao Island and Adang-Rawi Islands of Satun Province . Olive ridley and (occasionally) Leatherback turtles are found in these areas. The green and hawksbill are found at the Similan Islands, Surin Islands and Tarutao Islands. The nesting season of sea turtles in the Andaman Sea region occurs only from October to March with a peak from mid-November to mid-January.
The females come ashore after dusk, but they have been observed nesting until just before dawn. They select their nesting site and dig a small pit 18 inches deep using their rear flippers. A clutch of between 40 to 180 eggs will be laid, after which the pit will be carefully concealed by sand before they return to the sea. The whole process usually takes about one hour. During the egg laying, the eyes of the turtle will be covered by a colrless mucus to prevent dehydration and keep out the sand grains.
After an incubation period of 60 days, the hatchlings dig their way up to the surface of the pit, usually at night when the sand is cooler. Hatchlings locate the water’s edge by orienting themselves to the horizon, but distant house lights can disorient the youngsters so that they actually crawl away from the sea.
Turtles are most commonly seen in shallow reefs on similan dive sites such as East of Eden or Breakfast Bend but you may see them deeper on rocky sites such as Elephant Head Rock or Deep Six. The usual sightings are Hawksbill and Green turtles.
At Thai Muang (National Park) beach, Leatherback and Olive Ridley are often seen nesting. There is an annual 7 day event here, usually during the first week of March, to release young turtle hatchlings, which have been raised by the Fisheries Department, back into the sea.
THREATS TO MARINE TURTLES IN THAILAND
Sea turtles have lived on this planet for 130 million years, but egg poaching, habitat degradation, pollution, and over-fishing threaten to make them extinct.
The main threats to turtles in Thailand can be summarized as follows:
* Threats to marine turtles from fisheries
* Entanglement (mostly accidental) and drowning in long-line fisheries and shrimp trawling nets
* Much of both the coastal and open seas areas used by turtles is also used by fishermen. Because of this, each year, many turtles are killed (often unintentionally) by entanglement in fishing gear and drowning. Some injured and exhausted turtles are released from nets before they die, but their subsequent fate is uncertain.
* Threats to marine turtles from consumption and trade
* Turtle eggs are also easy to collect, and highly nutritious. In some cultures they are also suggested to have aphrodisiac properties. Turtles have also been hunted for their shells that are used for ornaments, sunglasses and in jewelery. Their hides are cured for leather. In Asia, there has been a long tradition of consuming turtle flesh and eggs for thousands of years. Historically turtle shell has also been traded in the region for hundreds of years.
* Threats to marine turtles from coastal development
* The construction of seawalls, hotels, marinas, and other infrastructure associated with coastal tourism and commerce, have destroyed large areas of turtle nesting beaches around the world.
* Disruptive activities on or near nesting beaches during nesting season, such as activity, noise, lights, etc.
* Turtle reproductive behavior evolved in an environment of deserted, intact beaches. Nowadays, light and noise pollution frequently deter or interrupt many females from successful laying. Hatchlings locate the water’s edge by orienting themselves to the horizon, but house and street lights can disorient newly hatched turtles so that they actually crawl away from the sea.
* Pollution of the oceans, including chemical contamination
* The ingestion of plastic bags and other garbage
If you are interested in Turtles – why not join us in November & December for a our Similan Turtle Tour – Diving and snorkeling with turtles while learning about them and how you can help their continued survival?
