Similan Islands Tourist Information

Similan Island Tourist Information

Similan Islands Tourist Information

Comprising nine granite islands covered in tropical jungle, washed by a clear blue tropical ocean and blessed with fine beaches, the Similans are Thailand's most popular and beautiful dive destination.

Liveaboard dive cruises to these islands, which form the bulk of the Similan National Marine Park, are some of the most popular diving cruises in the world, as they are safe, fun and well organised, as well as being exceptionally good value for money.

The exciting mixture of vibrant reefs and fish of dazzling colours for beginner and intermediate divers, and large deep water boulder formations for the experienced, are irresistible magnetic charms to travelers worldwide.

Similan Islands Diving Season

Similan Island Diving Season

Similan Islands Diving Season

Scuba day trips and overnight trips run from October through to May, with the very best conditions existing from November to April. Outside of these months, surface swells can adversely affect conditions. From May to August, the weather is often better in the Gulf of Thailand, so you might consider day trip diving in Koh Samui, although local diving around Phuket and Phi Phi continues year round too.

The Similan Island liveaboard season runs from early October to mid May, but there are a limited number of cruises all year round.

How to Dive the Similan Island

How to Dive the Similan Island

Similan liveaboards remain the best choice to dive at these islands. There are well over 25 dive sites here, spread over quite a large area and far from the mainland. So, to truly experience all that they have to offer at a relaxed pace, we strongly recommend you choose a liveaboard.

If you are short of time or prefer land based diving, then there are many day trips packages, with and without accommodation, to choose from. Check out the options in the adbox on the right hand side of this page.

As a final alternative, there are a number of overnight trips that offer Similan Islands diving opportunities. These operate with daily speedboats from the mainland that run you out to a main diving boat that you can sleep on. You can disembark whenever you like. These trips are cheap and very popular with budget travelers, but have constant disruptions for re-fueling and passenger transfers, and are therefore not always the most pleasant way to experience the Similans.

Phuket Liveaboard Destinations - Favourite National Marine Park

Favourite National Marine Park

Comprising nine granite islands covered in tropical jungle, washed by a clear blue tropical ocean and blessed with fine beaches, the Similan Islands provide the most beautiful and diverse dive destination in Thailand. Liveaboards to these islands are some of the most popular diving cruises in the world. They lie in a 25 km long north-south chain, 65 km offshore from Phang Nga Province in the Andaman Sea, about 100 km from Phuket. The Similans achieved National Marine Park status in 1982.

The eastern fringes of the islands feature pretty hard coral gardens in the shallows and sloping reef banks down to thirty metres. At some dive sites such as East of Eden, large bommies (coral heads) rise from the sea bed and are blanketed with soft corals, fan corals, and swarms of smaller tropical fish. East coast Similan Islands diving is relatively easy-going, allowing you plenty of time to explore the sites at your own leisurely pace.

The western side of the Similans along with the north and south points can offer more exciting diving as currents swirl around huge sunken granite boulders, which form a series of arches, tunnels and swim-throughs at sites such as Christmas Point and Elephant Head Rock. Growing on, and between, these enormous rocks you find a tapestry of colourful soft corals. In the channels between the boulders, sea fans can grow to some 3 metres across, and in such numbers that you cannot possibly swim through. The contrast between the east and west coasts and the variety of underwater topography is one of the reasons the Similan Islands are so popular - every dive offers you something different.

For underwater photographers and lovers of marine life, then diving in the Similan Islands is difficult to surpass for the variety and abundance of tropical fish. Leopard sharks make appearances on a regular basis and you'll also see whitetip sharks. It's not a 'big fish' paradise, but it's consistently great for sheer diversity of marine life. You may find anything from tiny ghost pipefish to turtles and giant bumphead parrotfish.

Although the tsunami of 2004 did affect a few of the reefs here, most are in excellent condition and many divers in the last season have commented to us that they could not see any reef damage.

• Koh Similan tourist information

Phuket Liveaboard Destinations

Phuket Liveaboard Destinations

Why not join one of our 4 night dive cruises to the Similan Islands? Diving an awesome array of reef formations and underwater landscapes, cruising amongst tropical islands with stunning white beaches, it's not hard to see why Similan liveaboard trips are among the most popular diving adventures in the world.

Excited expectations of diving with manta rays at Koh Bon and chance encounters with whale sharks at Richelieu Rock and Koh Tachai, provide a dramatic complement to Similan cruises and irresistible incentives to most first-timers.

If you're short of time then our southern Thailand liveaboard trips may be just what you are looking for. Deep wall diving at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang offer opportunities to see reef sharks as well as more mantas and whale sharks. These short liveaboards are less crowded and also take in some interesting caverns and the beautiful Phi Phi Islands. There is also a Phi Phi overnight trip which you can book as an add-on to your longer cruise.

For the more adventurous out there, try Burma - the Mergui Archipelago and Burma Banks offer true frontier diving. Leave the crowds far behind and voyage back in time to this wonderous and magical archipelago. Large sharks and rays are often to be expected, but Burma is equally attractive to macro-enthusiasts and experienced divers in search of more elusive marine life such as frogfish, pipefish and nudibranchs, not found so regularly in Thailand.

You can combine any of these destinations for a once-in-a-lifetime diving adventure in this spectacular part of the world.

Reef Ecology Guide Phuket Thailand

Discover Phuket's Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are, without a doubt, one of the true natural treasures of our earth. They are home to an enormous variety of life forms, which is why they are often compared with tropical rainforests. Coral reefs need sunlight and warm water to exist. As a result, we only find coral reefs between the 30th parallels north and south of the equator. The minimum temperature that tropical corals can exist at is 20 degree C.

Coral reefs are a complex system of uncountable micro-living spaces. In addition to the visible plants and animals, there are millions of nearly invisible, microscopic organisms that reside in these micro-caves and crevices inside of the coral blocks. Also, legions of tiny creatures called 'zooplankton' live directly above the reef. These creatures are an essential link in the reef food chain.

The Andaman Sea, which is part of the Indian Ocean, hosts a unique variety of marine life. More than 3000 different types of fish and over 500 unique corals have been identified and catalogued to date. According to experts on this region, there still exists a great quantity of undiscovered marine life – a challenge for all underwater photographers to become the first to document and perhaps even name a new species.

Coral reefs are now facing the threat of massive destruction on a global scale. Fishing with dynamite and cyanide, specifically in Indonesia and the Philippines, has destroyed countless reefs already. As a result of global warming, more and more of the phenomenon known as 'coral bleaching' is also occurring. When bleaching takes place, the symbiotic algae in the corals are expelled and the corals become transparent. When this happens, it becomes possible to see through to the white limestone underneath, hence the name 'coral bleaching'. Most of the corals will eventually recover from the bleaching, but if the warmer water temperatures last too long, the corals will be destroyed forever.

A further danger facing coral reef ecosystems is the increase of tourism. Millions of people worldwide spend their leisure time around, on or in the ocean. Many reefs show extensive damage from boat anchoring and pollution. DIVE ASIA is a leading proponent of reef preservation, and has made protection of coral reefs one of our highest priorities. During all of our dive excursions, customers are fully briefed that no touching of any organism is permitted, and diving gloves are not allowed. The collection of any 'souvenirs' under water is also prohibited. During diving courses, one of our primary focuses is continuous buoyancy control. Diving occurs in small groups, under the guidance of a dive professional. Coral reefs need our help if we are to continue to enjoy them.

In this Andaman Sea Reef Guide, we can't possibly present all the fish and coral that inhabit this region. We have limited this guide to marine life forms which are often encountered while diving in the Andaman Sea. As well, we've include some of the special 'regulars' of Phuket - life forms that you can see here more often than in other dive destinations. We've also included some masters of camouflage, which may require a trained eye to recognize.

Phuket Activities Shooting Range

Shooting Range

800 meters from the Chalong traffic circle towards Kata is a shooting range especially designed for those experienced in using hand guns and rifles. Available are hand guns and rifles of varying caliber. All ammunitions used are special range bullets. The cost varies according to the gun models and quantity of bullets spent.

Phuket Activities Bungee Jumping

Bungee Jumping

The bungy jump site in Kahtu, located halfway between Patong and Phuket Town, is a beautiful lakeside setting that is worth a visit even if you do not jump. Jumpers take off from a metal cage hoisted by a crane to a height of 44 meters. Below the cage is a used tin mine lake. Anyone from 40 to 230 Kg is welcome to make the jump.

Phuket Activities Thai Boxing

Thai Boxing

If you don’t mind the violence, a Thai boxing match is worth attending for the pure spectacle and the wild musical accompaniment, the ceremonial beginning of each match, and the frenzied betting around the stadium.

Each fight consists of five rounds of three minutes each. Accompanying the fight is music stimulated by action in the ring, rising and falling as the boxers battle it out. All surfaces of the body are considered fair targets, and any part of the body except the head may be used to strike an opponent.

The origins of this martial art and sport are thought to stretch back to the wars with the Burmese during the 15th century. Thai Boxing matches are held every Friday night at the Boxing stadium in Phuket town.

Phuket Activities Golf

Golf

The year around warm climate and the natural scenic beauty of Phuket make it a natural for developing championship golf courses. There are three courses on Phuket available for visitors to play. All of the courses on Phuket are old tin mine sites that have been transformed into beautiful and challenging golf courses. The courses offer rental clubs, shoes, and carts.

Phuket Activities Elephant Trekking

Elephant Trekking

In former times wild elephants roamed Phuket Island but as tin mining and rubber plantations changed the natural environment elephants slowly disappeared.

Traditionally domesticated elephants were used as transport, and in the logging industry moving cut timber. All logging was officially banned in Thailand in 1989. Elephants that had been employed to move logs in the forest became unemployed, that is why they can now be seen in Bangkok and tourist areas literally 'begging' for a living. It costs approximately 500 US$ per month to feed and care for an elephant in captivity.

In the modern world elephants have an almost human-like problem of needing to be gainfully employed in order to survive. Elephant trekking can generate the funds to assure the survival of thousands of elephants in a dignified manner. Since 1994 numerous trekking operators offer visitors to the island the opportunity to ride on an elephant.

Phuket Activities Sea Canoeing

Sea Canoeing

Phang-nga Bay is unquestionably one of the great scenic attractions in the world and a must do during your stay in Phuket.

Fringing Phang-nga Bay is a complex network of river estuaries with dense forests of mangrove and nipa palm growing right out into the sea. Protecting the shoreline is a series of sheer-sided limestone mountains and other artistic rock formations that soar up to 300m (980 feet) out of the sea like an eerie army of stone monoliths.

Touring by boat allows you to explore the mysteries of the mangrove swamps and provides a scenic view of distance forested limestone hills. The natural beauty of the bay is breathtaking as you pass coves and bays many with remote idyllic tropical beaches.

Most of the mountains and outcroppings are of limestone origin covered with luxuriant vegetation, bushes, and climber vines that overhang the cliffs. Upon closer inspection many of these odd rock formations are hollow and conceal hidden caves (Hongs) and lagoons. It is easy to picture how pirates managed to operate in this area for centuries and were able to defy the authorities by simply vanishing into one of the many hiding places.

Many visitors claim that being paddled in a canoe through the side of a limestone mountain that emerges into a pristine tidal lagoon isolated from the world and surrounded by sheer rock evokes a surreal experience of going back in time a million years.

This is clearly one of the most remarkable journeys you will ever make. The appeal is universal, it's the perfect all-season, all-weather outdoor adventure, ideal for everyone in the family.

Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach

A ten minute ride on a longtail boat out and around the headland on the extreme southern tip of Patong Beach brings you to one of the most beautiful and isolated beaches on Phuket.

Accessible only from the sea this isolated beach with its dazzling white sand will make you forget about the hustle and bustle of Patong. There is a small restaurant and a few beach chairs, this is a private beach that is open the public, but the owner drives off visitors arriving by jet ski.

While you laze about on the beach you can ponder up new names for the artistic rock formations that guard the entrance to the bay. Don’t forget your mask and fins because the marine life that abounds on the coral reefs is among the best on the island.

WHERE IS FREEDOM BEACH

Phuket Diving

Discover Phuket Thailand - A Diver's Paradise

Phuket Diving

Phuket, Thailand is often referred to as the 'Pearl of the South' and for scuba divers it's certainly the crown jewel of the Andaman Sea. This island paradise lies only 8 degrees north of the equator; it enjoys a tropical climate with an average water temperature of 28°C/78°F containing an amazing variety of aquatic life. For divers, the true treasures of the Andaman Sea are found at famous dive sites such as the Similan Islands, Phi Phi Islands, Koh Raja and Sharkpoint, where the warm, clear water draws large schools of tropical fish, manta rays, and the awe-inspiring whale shark.


The wealth of aquatic life combined with good visibility will delight underwater photographers and marine naturalists. With the combination of world-class diving, superb scenery, great entertainment and international resort facilities, Phuket, Thailand has all the right ingredients for a perfect diving holiday.