Why join a Similan Liveaboard?

If you never thought that staying on a boat with 12 strangers for a whole week, far away from civilization and nothing else to do except diving, exploring uninhabited islands, eating and sleeping would be a great and exciting experience…then read on!

Your very first day on the Similan Liveaboard will immediately change your perspective about living aboard – meeting the crew and staff, the slow cruise across the Andaman Sea and the incredible ocean along the way!

Plenty Of Diving! Plenty of time to explore the islands!

With time underwater throughout the day – as well as the opportunity to snorkel, visit the beaches and relax under the skies of the Andaman sea…this is why you would want to be here? You will certainly enjoy every minute, every second in and on the ocean. You will even enjoy the time in bed too!

Everything and everyone is relaxed

Imagine waking-up with the sunrise, listening to the sound of the waves and knowing that Manta Rays could just be right under you – isn’t that a great nature wake-up call? Walk out of your cabin to see the sun rising over the mountains of Thailand, look to your left and see uninhabited islands and long winding reefs and look to the west and knwo the next piece of land is India! Even if you are not the typical morning person – this is a great way wake up!

And during the day you don’t have to care about anything except remembering all the incredible creatures you have seen under water to fill up your logbook or look for the names in one of the encyclopedias on board. The staff takes care of the rest.

The good thing about Great Similan Liveaboards – time to relax and enjoy. 3 different Sundecks, cabin space and the galley to snack in. Lots of room to ponder life and think about fish

People – just like you!

It is a real pleasure to find new friends while on a an expedition! People who are interested in enjoying life, experiencing Thailand and the Islands like no one else and of course – love diving!

Watching the sun set over the Indian ocean while the waves gently lap at the side of the boat. 12 other people relaxing with you…chatting about the incredible marine life and beaches you all saw that day.

Yes…Life can be good…

Similan Diving

3 Good reasons to take a Similan Islands Liveaboard

If you never thought that staying on a boat with 12 strangers for a whole week, far away from civilization and nothing else to do except diving, exploring uninhabited islands, eating and sleeping would be a great and exciting experience…then read on!

Your very first day on the Similan Liveaboard will immediately change your perspective about living aboard – meeting the crew and staff, the slow cruise across the Andaman Sea and the incredible ocean along the way!

Plenty Of Diving! Plenty of time to explore the islands!

With time underwater throughout the day – as well as the opportunity to snorkel, visit the beaches and relax under the skies of the Andaman sea…this is why you would want to be here? You will certainly enjoy every minute, every second in and on the ocean. You will even enjoy the time in bed too!

Everything and everyone is relaxed

Imagine waking-up with the sunrise, listening to the sound of the waves and knowing that Manta Rays could just be right under you – isn’t that a great nature wake-up call? Walk out of your cabin to see the sun rising over the mountains of Thailand, look to your left and see uninhabited islands and long winding reefs and look to the west and knwo the next piece of land is India! Even if you are not the typical morning person – this is a great way wake up!

And during the day you don’t have to care about anything except remembering all the incredible creatures you have seen under water to fill up your logbook or look for the names in one of the encyclopedias on board. The staff takes care of the rest.

The good thing about Great Similan Liveaboards – time to relax and enjoy. 3 different Sundecks, cabin space and the galley to snack in. Lots of room to ponder life and think about fish

People – just like you!

It is a real pleasure to find new friends while on a an expedition! People who are interested in enjoying life, experiencing Thailand and the Islands like no one else and of course – love diving!

Watching the sun set over the Indian ocean while the waves gently lap at the side of the boat. 12 other people relaxing with you…chatting about the incredible marine life and beaches you all saw that day.

Yes…Life can be good…

Similan Diving

Diving the Similan Islands – Insight

Thailand – The Similan Islands.

The Similans are commonly rated as one of the top 10 dive destinations in the world. Comprising of nine granite uninhabited islands covered in a tropical jungle, washed by a clear blue Indian ocean the Similan Islands (also referred to simply as the Similans) provide some of the most beautiful and diverse dive destinations in Thailand. The Similans lie in a 25 km long north-south chain of islands, 50 km offshore from Khao Lak in the Phang Nga Province on the Andaman Sea,

The eastern fringes of the Similans feature pretty hard coral gardens in the shallows and sloping reef banks down to thirty meters or more. 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 Similan Islands along with the north and south points, offers divers a more exciting experience 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 three 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 variety and abundance of tropical fish. Leopard sharks make appearances on a regular basis and you’ll also see white-tip reef 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 seasons have commented to us that they could not see any reef damage.

Liveaboards leaving from Khao Lak are typically 4 day tours, and visit both the Similans and Surin Islands including Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock but are usually too fast, and can feel stressed. 5 Day Similan Liveaboards offer the best chance to experience the entire region and take a slower, more natural pace. Some shorter tours (2 or 3 day) visit the Similan Islands only. Day trips for diving and snorkeling are now becoming more common from Khao Lak.

-Khao Lak Diving

Choose the right dive center for the Similan Islands

Ever wonder what it would be like to jump into the water and look around 40m below the surface? The underwater world is mysterious and yet inviting, the experience of diving it provides and addictive sense of zen. There’s no better place to have your first dive experience than the Similan Islands, Thailand – with good conditions year round.

While there are a few dive centers based in Phuekt that still offer trips to the Similan Islands – they drive people 2-3 hours north to Khao Lak and then depart from there. Khao Lak is the real center of Similan Diving operations.

Most dive shops in Khao Lak offer SSI or PADI certifications. Many schools prefer SSI because it offers greater safety and flexibility, while others choose PADI. Beginners may choose to do some training in the swimming pool or in the sea. Also you can join a Similan liveaboard or simply do daytrips.

More advanced divers and those beginners who are confident in their abilities will also consider the local wrecks! Plenty of great marine life as well as incredible scenery. There is also some seriously awesome muck-diving.

Khao Lak offers an excellent choice of dive shops and also has a good range of accommodation to suit most tastes. It is also the closest jumping off point to the Similan Islands.

The Similan Islands, technically located in Phang Nga province, provide some of the best dive sites in the world. Protected within a marine national park, the nine islands are still pristine and rich with wildlife above and below the water. Most dive operators will take you ashore at one of the islands, where you can enjoy the powder-white beaches and see exotic birds and monkeys.

Under the waves, the colourful reefs and boulder formations are teeming with coral and a variety of marine life. Sometimes whale sharks are even spotted in the waters, as well as rays and other sharks. Visibility is good, varying from 30-50m. The best way to see the Similan Islands is by liveaboard, and most dive operators will allow you to do your Open Water dives from the boat if you’ve completed the paper and pool work ashore beforehand.

Not all dive instructors are the same, and some are downright scary. Likewise, equipment standards can vary, and you’ll want to make sure any shop you choose has quality equipment and maintains it properly and hygienically. You should also check into the insurance policy of the dive shop and enquire as to if you should purchase your own dive insurance for the hyperbaric chamber if you have an accident. Also see if there equipment is serviced by certified techinicians (they should be able to provide detailed information on this) and if their boats are insured.

Most the dive operations in Thailand are run by foreigners, which is just as well since Thais have a rather different approach to safety and responsibility, but you’ll find yourself diving with plenty of Thai staff who are their usual friendly easy-going selves.

-Similan Diving

Similan Islands – Where to learn Diving in Thailand

If you want to see clear view of deep blue sea, you may like to try scuba diving. Scuba diving means that you are swimming underwater for extended periods using a tool named Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus, hence the acronym SCUBA. Many places required a diver license before someone start to dive, yet there are some places that is very beginner friendly. There are also some sites that provide short course and training dive for beginner.
For new and serious divers, Khao Lak in Thailand is most likely become one of their dream destination. Many people only think of it as a resort town with 40km of white sand beaches -  but for scuba divers it is the crown jewel of the Andaman Sea. True treasures of the Andaman Sea are actually found at famous dive sites such as Surin Islands, Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock and the local wrecks. The water is warm and clear. By diving into that sea, you might see large group of tropical fish, manta rays, and the awe-inspiring whale shark. All of it will give you one of the best scuba diving experiences. If you have plan for your next holiday to go there for diving, you should not forget to bring your underwater camera to capture every great moment you may not get in other place.

-Similan Diving