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.