Diving at Similan Islands

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Donald Duck Bay is located on the East side of Similan Island No. 8. The name comes from a rock on the bay that looks like the head of the cartoon character. It is a shallow and easy dive site as well as a good spot for snorkeling.
Night dives can be very interesting. You will find many sleeping fish in the hard corals, in particular parrot fish. Lion fish and scorpion fish are numerous and they are active during the night time. Giant morays are also active at night.
There are many turtles and you may find one sleeping during the dive. They are normally beneath a rock at a depth of around 5 meters. Do not try to disturb a turtle and wake it up, as it can become disorientated and drown.
Diving Information:
Depth: 5 - 18 m
Visibility: 5 - 20 m
Currents: Easy
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 27 - 30°C
Diving Season: November to May

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North Point is located about 50 meters out from the north side of Similan Island No. 9 (Ba Ngu Island). Stay east of Christmas Point and find similar conditions to what lies off its north coast - huge boulder formations that cover a wide area.

Diving Information:
Depth: 8 - >40m
Visibility: 10 - 30 meters
Currents: Can be strong from the north
Surface Conditions: Calm to choppy
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Intermediate - Advanced
Diving Season: November to May

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Breakfast Bend is located in the southern areas of Similan Island No.9. The spot derives its name from the beautiful early morning light; it is generally the first dive after breakfast.
The reef slope drops to 18 meters, then steep banks descend to 34 m where you can see black-spot garden eels and many branches of tree, leafy and brain corals. In the shallow waters, leopard sharks are resting in the sand.
Diving Information:
Depth: 5 - 34 m
Visibility: 20 - 40 m
Surface Conditions: Mild
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Easy
Diving Season: October to May

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Beacon Beach is located to the north of Beacon Reef on the east coast of Similan Island No.8. Recently it has become a local favorite due to the sinking of Atlantis X, a local charter boat, in August 2002.
The boat breached on the hard corals and gradually sank backwards so that the bow lies in 16 meters of water and the stern in 30 meters, perpendicular to the shore. Many lesser star and brain corals as well as a lot of colorful reef-fish like damsels, wrasse, parrot fish and others may be seen.
Diving Information:
Depth: 5 - 30 m
Visibility: 20 - 40 m
Currents: Easy
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Beginner - Intermediate
Diving Season: October to May

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Elephant Head Rock lies between Similan Islands No. 7 and 8. It is arguably the most famous west side dive site with a maze of swim-throughs and the reputation for spin cycle like currents running in every direction. The rock formation looks like the head of an elephant.
There is plenty of marine life residing in the site's shallower sections. Around the boulders are angelfish, trigger fish and schools of fusiliers and juvenile snappers. This is an ideal place for spotting small reef sharks. Down to 30 meters on the sand you will find purple fire gobies and in shallower water, the endemic Similan jawfish.
Diving Information:
Elephant Head Rock Reef Basics: Boulder, pinnacle and wall diving
Depth: 5 - >40 m
Visibility: 20 - 40 m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Intermediate - advanced
Diving Season: November to April

Latitude: 8.624264169744093, Longitude: 97.6447188300873

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East of Eden is located on the east side of Koh Payu (Similan Island No.7) and is a reef dive that ranges in depth from 5 to 40 meters. This is one of the most famous dive sites in the Similan Islands.
There are soft corals in the shallower waters at about 12 meters, also schools of snappers and fusiliers and occasionally turtles and leopard sharks. If you keep diving to the south you will come upon a large pinnacle called Ruan Gluay Mai (The Orchid Garden) which is covered with colourful soft corals, a fantastic array of reef fish and lots of macro life in and around holes.
Diving Information:
Depth: 5 - 34 m
Visibility: 20 - 40 m
Currents: Moderate/Strong
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Beginner - Intermediate
Diving Season: October to May

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Deep Six is located north of Similan Island No. 6. The spot was badly damaged during the Indian Ocean tsunami on 26 December 2004. The currents on Deep Six can be quite challenging due to the location, so only experienced certified divers are advised to dive on this site.
The best plan is to stay fairly close to this area by circling out to the north to a depth of 25 meters where there are purple and green soft corals; going deeper when the current runs north is pointless and fairly difficult as it can be a strenuous exercise to get back again. At the center of Deep Six you will find a gigantic granite boulder; many other boulders sit on top and around the center at different levels, making the site perfect for swim-through.
Diving Information:
Depth: 5 - >40 m
Visibility: 15 - 30 m
Currents: Moderate/Strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Intermediate
Diving Season: October to May

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Tachai Island lies about halfway between Similan Islands and Surin Islands. Tachai Island has a beautiful white powdered beach but there is no accommodation available. There are several dive sites, the most famous is the plateau. Whale sharks and Manta rays are often found here.

Around Koh Tachai there are submerged pinnacles, large boulders and excellent fish life. The top of the reef has excellent specimens of hard coral while deeper parts are known to have many boulders, sea mounts and sea fans. As with other islands in the area this region it is usual to spot white tip reef sharks, nurse sharks and manta rays. Other more common species such as large schools of barracuda, napoleon wrasses, yellow-backed fusiliers and banner fish can be found in huge numbers.

Diving Information:
Depth: 14 - 36 m
Visibility: 15 - 40 m
Currents: Can be very strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience Level: Intermediate - advanced
Diving Season: November to April

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