Similan Diving Safaris

Blue Skies and calm seas and sun bathing at the Similan Islands

In keeping with our tradition the trip started in bubbly fashion back at the dive centre in khao Lak before heading off to Tap Lamu pier. The boat was again full with a lively group of excited people eager to experience scuba diving in the Similan Islands aboard our liveaboard. Once all the necessary safety procedures and kitting up process was out of the way we headed out in calm beautiful conditions.

The first day started with some nice dives and visibility (20-30m) coupled with nice calm currents. We did our customary check dive to get every nice and comfortable at Anita’s Reef before breakfast and beach time on Island number 4. With the blues skies and amazing views from the beach it was a nice morning for some sun bathing and relaxing in the shallow water for cooling down. After beach we moved up to Island 7 for several dive where Frogfish, leaf pipefish, ghost pipefish, Ribbon eels and more rarer marine life were encountered. The night dive was then back to our starting location which also yielded some interesting marine life, like the sand nose diving Razor Wrasse, nice big lobsters and giant reef crabs.

Day 2 started in keeping with the with the previous days weather with an amazing red sky and sun rise and the first dive at Elephant head rock. For others they ventured to beacon reef to complete their PADI Open Water course and encountered Turtles. A great way to finish off your Open Water course! After more beach time on the nice quiet beach of Beacon reef we moved further north to island number 9 for some leopard sharks at North point. Some customers seeing sharks the first time and realising the not all sharks want to eat people and are actually nice relaxed creatures. We again moved further north to Koh Bon and Koh Tachai for the night dive.

Day 3 started with 2 amazing dives at Richelieu rock where the visibility was roughly 10-15m (Bad considering the normal 20-30m visibility) although it still bought us it’s special feeling and amazing variety of marine like seahorses, Ghost pipefish, Huge Barracudas, rare nudibranch and Harlequin shrimps. Later moving back south we ventured back to Koh Tachai Plateau and for the night dive at the amazing Koh Bon wall.

Day 4 started with the morning dive at Koh Bon Pinnacle with 30+m visibility and leopard sharks. It was also amazing to see the complete pinnacle in its full glory of bright yellow soft corals covering it from head to toe. After this dive we headed back in closer to mainland to do our final dive on the Boonsung Wreck which in recent trips bought us constant action with its huge fish schools (Fish Soup), stone fish, cuttlefish, baby squid, honeycomb moray eels and some of the rarer nudibranch from the Chromodoride family.

Overall I would like to say a great big thank to everyone aboard, it was a great trip with some real characters aboard which in turn bought a lovely lively atmosphere aboard the Dolphin Queen.

I would also like to say special congratulations to Louise who completed her PADI Open Water course and later moved on to complete her PADI Adventure Deep dive along with Rasmus, Julie, Rose and Aaron. I would also like to say special congratulations to Peter who complete his PADI Advanced Open Water. Well done to all of you!

New PADI Open Water and PADI Advanced Open Water Students

SDS05 began in sweltering heat in Khao Lak. Once we headed down to the pier and boarded the boat we departed early evening to the Similans. Due to a recent Typhoon in the Philippines which we were getting the remains of, we were blessed with some choppy seas, which in turn created a rather bumpy ride out. Once we reached the Similan Islands we were sheltered from the elements.

During the trip we had several courses going on with several people completing their PADI Open Water Course and PADI Advanced Open Water Course. During day 1 they enjoyed some delightful diving in the Similan islands with the Open Water students completing the basic knowledge and skills in order to become certified whilst also enjoying the delightful marine life and corals.

During the first dive some people discovered the Tsunami memorial Statues which was a great surprise to them. These were put in place several years ago and are now a nice feature for groups to cruise along admiring in the shallow water. Later in the day we moved further north to Island No. 7 where we did 2 dives.

Due to the rough conditions on the eastern side of the islands we took shelter on the western side for the night, which bought a rare opportunity for an exploration night dive for some. We did initial checks using the depth finder and also from people snorkelling and checking the area. Some groups came across and 1m Jenkins Whip ray which was a great site to see.

Day 2 bought us some calmer weather in the morning where we went to Elephant head rock, later moving up to Donald duck bay for Beach time! After Breakfast and beach time, we did our last dive in the Similans before moving north to the famous Koh Bon home of the mantas. No mantas unfortunately on the occasion but some amazing marine life including Egg Cowries, Barracuda, Napoleon Wrasse and Sea Snakes. For the night dive we moved north to Koh Tachai.

Day 3 started in choppy conditions at Koh Tachai Plateau but was an amazing dive with some groups seeing rare nudibranch. Also it was our first time back since removing the large fishing nets. To my amazement it is now looking as beautiful as it once was. Small amounts of net in areas but the marine life is now forming around it and continuing to grow. To all those people and dive shops who helped I would like to say a big thank you and great work! Without you it would not have been possible and a lot of marine life would have suffered over time. Mission accomplished!

Day 4 started at Richelieu rock which was in its full glory with excellent light and good visibility. Along the way we saw Ghost pipefish, the resident big school of Barracuda including one huge one which has its own entourage of fusiliers, Cowries shells and seahorse. After the dive we headed back closer to mainland for the final and exciting dive at the Boonsung wreck. This delivered it normal beauty of schools for fish seeking shelter and macro heaven in the form of Stone fish, nudibranch galore, Ghost pipefish, Banded pipefish, spearing mantis shrimp and lots more.

All in all a great group of people aboard the dolphin queen for SDS05 and good fun was had by all especially with the leopard sharks! Thank you all and we hope to see you back again one day.

Similan Diving Safaris Trip allows stowaways hitch a ride and Crown of thorn increases and Breakfast bend.

SDS04 started in fine fashion with a small but excellent group aboard the dolphin queen. Due to the smaller numbers aboard, everything was ready and prepared for an early depart from the shop in khao lak. The trip it was a bit of a family orientated trip with plenty of space aboard and the captain bringing his little daughter aboard. She kept us entertained and also became our camera woman.

After the general boat briefing and dinner most people settled down for the night although some volunteered to sit up on the top deck and gaze at the full moon and exceptionally calm weather.

During day 1 we sampled some nice dives around the Similan islands, diving at Anita’s Reef, East of Eden West of Eden and Beacon Reef.

During day 2 we move further north in the Similan Islands before heading off for a 3 hour journey cruising along to Koh Bon for the night dive. We also went to Donald duck bay for the first time this season and everyone was greeted in true fashion with some amazing views and colours

As dive 2 we decided to dive Breakfast bend, it was amazing dive rich in hard and soft corals. As a drift dive north it provided us with the perfect way to explore the shallower areas and came across lots of different marine life including even Harlequin shrimps. It also allowed us to see the problem we really are facing with the Crown of Thorns. During the dive I tried to look for its main enemy the triton and nothing around that I could see, which possibly explains the high rise in numbers. Being able to scan the sloping reef we came across many partly dead patches of big hard corals. The further north we went the more crown of the thorns we came across. In some areas of roughly 2-3 square metres we saw 4 or 5 smothering the corals. Hopefully over the coming months SDS will embark on working with others to slowly tackle this possible problem once and for all and hopefully help keep what was and still is an amazingly rich coral reef.

After the 3rd dive at North Point we noticed we had a stowaway aboard. This was in the form of a little sparrow bird who flew from deck to deck looking for scraps and hitching a ride. He decided to stay with until evening of the 3rd day.

For the night dive at Koh Bon all customers came up saying what an amazing dive it was with lots to see, including Pleurobranchs, Lobsters, GIANT morays, HUGE pufferfish, Decorated Crabs, Sponge Crabs and much more.

Day 3 took us north to our furthest point north in the Surin islands to Richelieu Rock. After 2 amazing dives we then moved south back to Koh Tachai. Later in the evening after a superb dinner we move

Day 4 bought some interesting dives firstly at Koh Bon for the morning dive where Da Boss discovered some White Tip reef sharks and leopard sharks. For the final dive of the trip we were treated to an one at the Boonsung wreck. Firstly we navigated the obstacle course of Jelly fish which tend to bloom at certain times of the year here and then once down treated with great visibility lots of rare nudibranch, cuttlefish and fish soup. It was a great way to end an excellent trip.

On a final note, I would also like to say a big congratulation to Joel Dayne and Rick who passed there PADI Advanced Open Water course and Christine who completed 2 Adventure Dives. Good work and well done..!