Diving: Experience the Underwater

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Koh Similan is definitely among the most beautiful groups of dive sites that Thailand offers and one of the best areas for diving in the entire world. Numerous people say that the most fantastic thing about the Similans is that they have two radically different types of environments all combined together into one destination. It is the only site in the world where a diver will find such diverse environments in such a small area.

The islands are located about one hundred kilometers northwest of Phuket, and consist of nine granite islands covered in tropical jungle, washed by a clear blue tropical ocean and blessed with some of the world's finest beaches. The name “Similan” comes from Malay fisherman who named it "The Nine Islands" (Sembilan is "nine" in Malay) and now the islands are recognized by a name - in Thai and a number - for instance, Koh Huyong (Island #1), lies at the southern end of the chain. The Similans have gained national park status and thus are absolutely protected under Thai law.

The area may be divided into two separate types of environments, where the east coast, with its powdery beaches, features hard coral gardens which slope dramatically from the surface down to about 30-40 meters, where sand takes over as the water depth increases. Here the top activity is drift diving along healthy coral gardens and watching the reef inhabitants go about their business. In numerous spots, large coral bommies mount from the bottom and are covered with soft corals, sea fans, and an enormous amount of critters and extraordinary fish. The diving here is easy and navigation simple, allowing each pair to explore at his or her own pace.

Just a short boat ride away, the west coast can offer faster paced, more exciting diving as currents swirl around the huge granite boulders-some larger than the largest of houses. The soft, rounded boulders form spectacular formations, holes, and overhangs ("swim-throughs") underwater where divers can enjoy swimming with the current through the openings. There are some of the most colorful soft corals imaginable, in many places so thick that the rock is no longer visible. The fans, in the larger passages or channels between the boulders, grow to a size sometimes three meters across, and are often so tightly bunched together that it makes it impossible to swim through the passages. The majority of the dive spots on the west coast are best seen with a guide, since navigation can be tricky.

Reef type here is boulders, coral walls, pinnacles. They can be reached overnight by liveaboard boat. Average visibility is great, 20-30 meters plus. The current here is variable, sometimes strong. Corals are in excellent condition, unbelievable diversity. Small fish-life is fantastic.

The main attractions are unusual formations, dramatic scenery, swim-throughs, large fans and beautiful beaches.

Here you may also relish observing and photographing small fish, as the Similans are hard to beat for the sheer numbers and varieties of tropicals. The Similans are not well recognized for consistent big fish action-stories about which fill all the popular diving magazines. If you are interested in this kind of diving, you must travel further to the Burma Banks. Fortunately, there is often an occasional whale shark, while large cow tail rays are fairly common. It is also the most famous aquatic resident of Thailand-the leopard shark-makes his appearance on a regular basis. You may also encounter white tip and black tip sharks once in awhile. Enjoy the Similans for what they are famous for; wild, unspoiled beaches, magnificent coral growth, prolific fish life, crystalline blue water and sensational underwater rock formations.

Best season in the Similans lasts from October until May, but you may dive here all year-round. The water is clearer in the summer and in the fall, but then again, the visibility is usually good in the Similans, averaging about 18-25 meters and at times exceeding 40 meters! You may try out well over 20 charted dive spots in the Similan chain.