Thread: Scuba Diving in the Similan Islands Reviews

Scuba Diving in the Similan Islands

Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: Boulder City
Location: Similan Islands, Thailand
Description: Boulder reef
Depth: 12 - 40 metres (39 - 131 feet)
Visibility: 20 metres + (66 feet)
Rating: *****
The topography of this dive site is a sight to behold. Huge rocky canyons, in some places filled with massive gorgonian sea fans. Look out for leopard sharks, reef sharks, napolean wrasses, humphead parrotfish, blue spotted stingrays and, due to the location of these dive sites, manta rays have been seen regularly. One of my favourites.
Debbie Benton, Instructor


Scuba Diving in the Similan Islands

Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: Christmas Point
Location: Bangu Island, Similan Islands, Thailand
Description: Reef / drop off
Depth: 5 - 40 metres (15 - 130 feet)
Visibility: 20 - 40 metres (65 - 130 feet)
Rating: *****
One of the most dramatic dives in the Similan Islands with swim throughs and drop offs. This dive begins at 24m, heading southwest with a series of large arches and the best swim-throughs. Keep your eyes open for surprisingly large jacks that hide in these passageways.
Cormac Kavanagh, PADI Advanced Diver


Scuba Diving in the Similan Islands

Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: East of Eden
Location: Pabu Island, Similan Islands, Thailand
Description: Hard and soft coral sloping reef
Depth: 5 - 35 metres (16 - 115 feet)
Visibility: 20 - 30 metres + (66 - 98 feet)
Rating: *****
East of Eden is home to the biggest coral head or 'bommie' in the whole of the Similans. It starts at around 25 metres with the top at 12 metres. The bommie is completely covered with soft coral with huge gorgonian sea fans in the deeper sections. I have seen anglerfish, ghost pipefish, many types of nudibranches, not to mention all the glass fish and blue fin trevallies hunting them. A great dive with amazing visibility all year round.
Debbie Benton, Instructor


Scuba Diving in the Similan Islands

Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: Elephant Head Rock
Location: Similan Island, the Similan Islands, Thailand
Description: Boulder site
Depth: 70 metres max (230 feet)
Visibility: Normally 20 metres and above (65 feet)
Rating: *****
This is a fantastic site. With over 400 dives in the Similans its still my favourite. From the 4 swim-throughs at 10m to the larger ones at 26m there are some to suit everyone. Drop down over the 40m ledge past the fire gobies and you will find large blue spot stingrays in the sand almost every time and occasionally the odd shark. Lots of schooling with some big trevallies and loads of nudi's higher up on the rocks if you have a keen eye. A fantastic site.
Danny Galt, IDC Staff Instructor


Scuba Diving in the Similan Islands

Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: The Ridge
Location: Pabu Island, Similan Islands, Thailand
Description: Rock and reef site
Depth: 8 - 30 metres (26 - 98 feet)
Visibility: 15 metres + (49 feet)
Rating: *****
The Ridge is a huge granite rock formation that extends down from the healthy hard coral reef to depths of 30 metres plus. The ridge itself is completely covered in gorgonian sea fans, whip corals and barrel sponges. In the shallows there is a crazy resident Hawksbill turtle who likes to come and say hello! A good spot to see anglerfish, mantis shrimp, rock mover wrasse and reef sharks.
Debbie Benton, Instructor


Scuba Diving in the Similan Islands

Reader Reviews:
Dive Site: Snapper Alley
Location: Bangu Island, Similan Islands, Thailand
Description: Reef dive round the whole island!
Depth: 5 - 30 metres (15 - 100 feet)
Visibility: 20 metres (65 feet)
Rating: *****
Drop in about a third of the way up the reef from the corner where it got smashed by the tsunami. The direction of the dive depends on the current. If its left hand on the reef then it's a nice quick jaunt up to the top parts where there are nearly always decent numbers of milk fish, barracuda and turtles. If its right hand down the reef then after a short 5 minutes a dogleg out into the blue at about 30m will find you sharing space with 30 - 40 blue spotted sting rays. A lovely sight when they are "flying" around. There is a reasonable chance of finding a leopard (zebra) shark on this site as well.
Right hand down they tend to be on the bottom at the 20-30m range whereas left hand down they tend to be lying on the sand slopes between coral banks at about the 8-10m range. The top of this reef has an amazing amount of marine life on it and it is one of the nicest dives in the Similans. You could spend many, many hours on the reef and only see a small part of what's available. Just a shame the tsunami took out the corner but still a hugely enjoyable dive with something for everyone.
Danny Galt, IDC Staff Instructor