Notes

Similans, Surin, Richelieu

Similan Itinerary

This trip gives a full five (4 on some trips) days diving with up to four dives a day. The dive sites usually include: East of Eden, Deep 6, Elephant Head Rock, Boulder City, and Three Trees on the Similan Islands themselves as well as Ko Bon, Ko Tachai, and of course Richelieu Rock which are all to the north.

Divers will see hard coral reefs, soft coral covered pinnacles, and large boulder sites (a Similan speciality). All these are covered with Snapper, Goat Fish, Grouper, Green and Hawksbill Turtles, Anthea, and Damsel Fish. Keep your fingers crossed and you may also be lucky enough to see Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, Whale Sharks, Leopard Sharks, schools of Barracuda, Sea Horses, Harlequin Shrimp, and many more in these waters.

Between dives guests can visit the islands, either by tender or kayak, to experience what the Similan Islands have to offer above, as well as below the water. You may lounge on the beaches of Ko Miang, Ko Similan or Ko Tachai, or take a walk to the view points overlooking Honeymoon Bay and Ao Guerk.

Over the past couple of seasons there have also been regular sightings of Manta Rays, Eagle Rays, Whale Sharks, Leopard Sharks, schools of Barracuda, Sea Horses, Harlequin Shrimp, and much more.

Departure Day
3:00-5:00pm - Pick up from the hotel or airport
6:00pm - Check-in, orientation, boat & crew introduction.
7:00pm - Depart from Chalong Bay to Similan Islands, while having dinner.

Day 1

Light Breakfast
Dive #1 at Similan Islands - Anita's Reef (check out dive)
Full Breakfast
Dive #2 at Similan Islands - East of Eden
Lunch
Dive #3 at Similan Islands - Three Trees
Snacks
Dive #4 (Sunset Dive/Evening Dive) at Similan Islands - Turtle Rock
Dinner

Day 2

Light Breakfast
Dive #1 at Similan Islands - North Point
Full Breakfast
Dive #2 at Ko Bon Pinnacle
Lunch
Dive #3 at Ko Bon West Ridge
Snacks
Dive #4 (Sunset Dive/Evening Dive) at Ko Tachai Pinnacle
Dinner

Day 3

Light Breakfast
Dive #1 at Richelieu Rock
Full Breakfast
Dive #2 at Richelieu Rock
Lunch
Dive #3 at Richelieu Rock/Ko Tachai
Snacks
Dive #4 (Sunset Dive/Evening Dive) at Ko Tachai/Ko Bon West Ridge
Dinner

Day 4

Light Breakfast
Dive #1 at Similan Islands - Elephant Head Rock
Full Breakfast
Dive #2 at Similan Islands - Deep Six
Lunch
Dive #3 at Similan Islands - Shark Fin Reef/Boulder City
Snacks
Dinner
Depart from Similan Islands to Chalong Bay

Option to disembark at Ranong.

Arrival Day

6:00am - Arrive Chalong Bay
8:30am - Transfer to the hotel/airport after Breakfast

Andaman Islands

This group of 500+ islands lying some 280 miles to the north west of Phuket cover an area of approximately 3000 square miles and are ripe for discovery, and you can be among the first to dive here.

Though much closer to Thailand, the Andamans are an Indian territory and offer something new to the discerning diver. Sites pencilled in for these trips include Barren Island, Narcondam Island, Invisible Bank, and South Button Island among many others.

With a selection of fringing reefs, walls, pinnacles, and volcanic lava to choose from, the marine life is hugely diverse here. If you like pelagics you have the opportunity to see Grey, Blacktip, Nurse and Leopard Sharks. For the lucky ones there is even the chance of Silvertip, Oceanic White Tip and Hammerhead Sharks on selected sites. There are also cleaning stations where you can see groups of Barracuda hovering, Hump Head Parrot Fish by the dozen and also the possibility of glimpsing majestic Manta Rays.

Not impressed by the big stuff? A wide variety of macro life including Sea Horses, Ornate Ghost Pipe Fish, and Nudibranchs abounds. And for those who just love diving? Hard corals, soft corals, sea fans, schools of Jacks, Surgeon Fish, Sweetlips, Snapper, Fusilier, Rainbow Runner, Grouper, Potato Cod, and Sting Ray are all waiting for you in the depths.

Departure Day

Arrive in Port Blair, capital f the Andamana Islands.  Pick up from the hotel or airport. Embark Philkade, orientation, boat and crew introduction. Depart from Port Blair while having dinner.

Day 1: North and South Cinque Islands
Day 2: Passage Island and The sisters
Day 3: Invisible Bank
Day 4: Barren island
Day 5: Narcondam island
Day 6: Narcondam island
Day 7: Button islands and area
Day 8: Havelock island and area (e.g Minerva Ledge, Campbell Shoals)

Note: There will be a combination of known dive sites as well as a certain amount of exploration along the way. The sites above are likely to be included, combined with other, as yet unknown, sites

Arrival Day: Arrive Port Blair. Transfer to the hotel/airport after Breakfast.

Remark: The above itinerary is an example and other sites may be substituted in or out without notice at the discretion of the Cruise Director or based on the weather conditions.

Similan & Hin Daeng Christmas Special

This special Christmas and New Year itinerary offers a chance to experience the best diving in both the northern and southern sections of Thailand’s Andaman Sea.

The cruise begins in the south where you will wake to discover that the Phi Phi Islands have stunning scenery both above and below the water. There is a wide variety of dive sites with the chance of Leopard Sharks, Black Tip Reef Sharks, Turtles, as well as bountiful hard and soft corals and anemones. As well as the wonderful diving, the white sand beaches and stunning backdrops offer some of the most beautiful surface intervals available anywhere in Asia.

Two hours south, and Mu Ko Haa is a small group of rocky outcrops between Phi Phi and Hin Deang. These small islands have some interesting caves and swim-throughs that are accessible to everybody regardless of their certification. With opportunities to see small critters such as Sea Horses and Nudibranchs as well as the occasional Shark or Ray it makes for very rewarding diving.

Hin Daeng and Hin Muang are located south of Phi Phi Island, and are known as a magnet for “Big Stuff”, otherwise known as Manta Rays and Whale Sharks. Even if these wonderful creatures are not in attendance the sites have more than enough to offer most divers with pelagics, macro life and spectacular underwater topography.

The Similan Islands are located north of Phuket and are made up of nine granite islands. The calm indigo waters are a haven for all types of marine life and as well as the diving there are also good opportunities to explore the uninhabited islands and their powder white beaches.

Ko Bon is known as the Manta spot of the Similans with dramatic displays of agility and grace these wonderful creatures can keep you entertained for the entire day. As well as the Mantas you can also see Leopard Sharks, and many small critters living along the wall and on the reef. A little to the north and Ko Tachai's interesting pinnacle and reef are home to many wonderful things. The pinnacle is known to attract large schools of barracuda and batfish as well as the occasional Manta Ray or Whale Shark. The reefs are renowned for their abundance of life and the occasional Leopard Shark.

Richelieu Rock is probably the ultimate dive site in Thailand. The large pinnacle boasts large schools of fish from Big Eye Trevally to Barracuda and is also home to Tiger Tail Sea Horses and the ever elusive Harlequin Shrimp. The rock caters to the tastes of all divers, with something to see on every dive.

In between the dives we provide the guests with the opportunity to explore the islands, either by kayak or tender. The true beauty of these islands really should be experienced both above and below the water!! You could lounge on the beaches of Ko Haa Yai, Ko Similan, or Ko Tachai or stretch your legs to the view points overlooking Honeymoon Bay and Ao Guerk.
 

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