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

Special New Year’s Trip – Similan Islands Diving Liveaboard

Celebrate New Year’s Eve floating in the bay of tropical island on the Andaman sea. Watch the sun go down after a late afternoon dive and indulge in a delicious New Year’s eve dinner. Stay up late and get up to the sundeck just before midnight to count down the seconds together with the others onboard and with a glass of champagne in your hand. Look up and you will see a galaxy of stars above you as bright as you have ever seen to start the new year with (we don’t use fireworks on New Year’s eve – we haven’t found biodegradable firework yet). Sounds good? Then join us for our New Year’s Special Liveaboard trip with Wicked Diving. We offer you 4 days of great fun, special surprises and amazing diving all around the Similan Islands. Why not jump to the trip details and booking section?

We carry only 14 guests on our trips, so the groups are small with a relaxed pace and uncrowded dive sites. Each cabin is air-conditioned with sea views and fresh air. There are 3 toilet / hot shower units on the boat and there is a large gear up area and dive deck. A total of 5 boat crew will be waiting on your needs and we also provide at least one dive guide per 4 guests. You will be treated to the best in Thai hospitality!

When you dive with us you make a difference. Our boat and trucks use only locally produced Biodiesel so your money makes a difference in our community. Wicked uses only fair-trade, phosphate-free soaps and detergents on our boats and in our shops so that we don’t affect our environment around us. Your sheets and towels will be 100% fair-trade organic cotton. Also, 10% of all our profits go to local NGO’s as we continually strive to make the world around us better.

Our staff are among the most experienced and highly trained in all of Thailand. Our continual training programs assures you that all staff are current EFR (1st aid) and DAN Oxygen certified. Wicked Diving has not one but two Instructor Trainers and an experienced Dive Medic on staff. We are the evacuation and emergency center for the entire region. In addition we conduct our dives and courses in English, Swedish, German, Thai, Indonesian, Dutch, Belgian and French (and even American).

Elephant Head Rock – Thailand Dive Sites

Thailand is home to some great diving. The Similan Islands are frequently listed among the top 10 dive sites on earth.

It is no wonder that the best dive sites on the Similan Islands are good – damn good! Among the most famous and frequently cited as “incredible” is Elephant Head Rock. Located right int he Center of the islands – just off  Koh Similan.

Elephant Head Rock is home to some huge pelagic visitors as well as some incredible macro as well. If you imagine a  massive pile of boulders the size of houses that just keep going deeper and deeper into the depths – then you can imagine what this site is like.

Due to Dive profiles and the great features of this site – it’s best to visit in the morning. This usually means joining a Similan Liveaboard as the daytrips usually arrive a bit late.

with Depths to 30 meters and far beyond – Nitrox is also a good idea.

For more on Similan island Dive Sites

Christmas Liveaboard – Similan Islands Special

Merry Christmas!

What? Seems too early? Well our holiday trips fill up very quickly, so it’s best to register now!

23rd – 26th of December 2009 – 4 days

We carry only 12 guests on our trips, so the groups are small with a relaxed pace and uncrowded dive sites. Each cabin is air-conditioned with sea views and fresh air. There are 3 toilet / hot shower units on the boat and there is a large gear up area and dive deck. A total of 5 boat crew will be waiting on your needs and we also provide at least one dive guide per 4 guests. You will be treated to the best in Thai hospitality and European standards!

When you dive with us you make a difference. Our boat and trucks use only locally produced Biofuel so your money makes a difference in our community. Wicked uses only fair-trade, phosphate-free soaps and detergents on our boats and in our shops so that we don’t affect our environment around us. Your sheets and towels will be 100% fair-trade organic cotton. Also, 10% of all our profits go to local NGO’s as we continually strive to make the world around us better.

Join our staff for our great Christmas Special Liveaboard trip. Our staff are famous for turning these trips into something really special, with gifts, games and funny dress ups. The boat will be decorated in Christmas style and you can expect Santa to visit us again this year and he might even join us for a dive or two!  Let’s hope he leaves his reindeer at home this time. We always have good food on the trips but in addition our staff will prepare a special delicious Christmas dinner and a Christmas breakfast. And if you behave well on the trip, you might get a nice surprise gift from Wicked Diving. Why not jump to the trip details and booking section?

East Of Eden – Thailand’s Dive Sites

As part of our site development and growth – we have moved these dive site descriptions over to the main site…

Similan Island Dive sites – Elephant Head Rock AKA Hin PusarIf you have any questions or concerns – please fell free to contact us

Elephant Head Rock is part of the itinerary for our Similan Islands Liveaboard North Tours

Between islands seven and eight lies Elephant Head Rock – or ‘Hin Pusa’.

A beautiful collection of submerged boulders, ranging from large slabs of rock to smaller stones. The relative isolation of the site between Islands 7 & 8 leaves it open to strong cross currents.

Conditions permitting drop down on the south side between the two large rocks which the break the surface. Stay close to the rocks until the strength and direction of the current has been gauged, and if necessary use the boulders as shelter. The south side of the dive site drops along a series of rock plateaus to a graduating sandy bottom which starts at about 30 meters and goes deeper – more than 50 Meters.
Keep the boulders on your left and work eastwards. Look beneath rocks for lobsters and large rays. A large channel can provide a good introduction to the dive, which sits at around 18 meters. Follow the opening through and then turn left into a smaller series of swim-throughs which bring you towards the north of the dive site.

If you skip the swim-throughs and head outside the site (rather than through) you will find some big fish hunting. Also spend some time looking for Frogfish, Flabellinas and other little stuff. You will be surprised by all that you find.
Conditions permitting continue swimming out towards the Northern-outer edge of the dive site over a sandy plateau where large White tips, Grey and Black tip reef sharks can sometimes be seen.

Turn back towards the rocks shallowing up to around 12 meters, where some inviting swim through bring you towards the center of the dive site characterised by smaller rocks and many small fish. Oriental and Harlequin sweetlips can often be found in the swim through as can larger groupers.

Also keep an eye open for some weird and wonderful nudibranches and in particular for flabbelina’s. Octopus, sea snakes and cuttlefish can also be found amongst the dead coral. Head south and you should come to an opening which begins at 12 meters and extends south to around 6 meters, where the current usually gains force. Beneath the large rock to your left is a long crack. Use a torch to look for baby white tip reef sharks. This can be a good place to end the dive, swimming back out to the north-east during the safety stop for one final look for Sharks, Rays, Giant Trevally and Great Barracuda.

Similan Diving

Similan Islands

Surin Islands

Scuba Diving the Similan Islands

Thailand has one of the world’s most diverse marine habitats, with more than 300 major reef groups covering an area of over 4,500 square miles. From pinnacles and submerged rocks, through to stunning coral gardens and sheer walls, the scuba diving in Thailand has something to offer scuba divers of all levels of experience. It is this diversity in marine habitats and diving environments which attracts so many divers to the waters around Thailand every year, and today the region is one of the world’s most popular scuba diving destinations.

There are a number of major diving destinations in Thailand, all offering a wide selection of diverse dive sites. Throughout all of these major destinations is a network of well equipped, knowledgeable and experienced dive centers, offering a range of diving from leisure dives through to a selection of scuba diving courses.

It would be impossible to discuss Thailand, without looking at the scuba diving in Khao Lak and the nearby Khao Lak with the surrounding areas. Without doubt, the diving from Khao Lak is of the highest standard, and the surrounding dive sites host a plethora of great diving. Similan Islands Scuba Diving is frequently listed as one of the ten best diving opportunities on earth. The are also underwater treasures that lie slightly further afield. Dive sites such as the Burma Banks, The Surin Islands and the Mergui Archipelago are often found high on the wish list of many discerning scuba diver and offer some of South East Asia’s finest dive sites.

The scuba diving on the Western Gulf of Thailand sees a different emphasis, and the small islands found here have become one of the world’s most popular areas to learn to scuba dive. In fact, the island of Koh Tao has developed a complete tourist industry from introducing people to scuba diving, and today large numbers of would be scuba divers travel to o Koh Tao every day to begin their diving education. Other islands within the Western Gulf of Thailand are also home to developed scuba diving industries, and destinations such as Koh Samui and Ko Pha-Ngan are both home to a large number of dive centers and divers. However the dive sites are very overwhelmed and the diving here is often referred to as “champagne diving” – all bubbles.

Throughout Thailand there are a number of exceptional dive sites, and sites such as the Richelieu Rock and Shark fin Reef are widely acknowledged as being world class dive sites. However it is the sheer volume of excellent dive sites that makes Thailand such a popular destination. Destinations such as Koh Lipe Krabi, Phi Phi and the Surin Islands are all home to a number of exceptional dive sites and dive centers. For a good reference try the Best Dive Sites in Thailand.

Today, Thailand is one of the world’s most popular scuba diving destinations, and large numbers of scuba divers travel long distances to dive in the waters surrounding this stunning country. The sheer diversity of the diving on offer here ensures that there is something to cater for all tastes and levels of experience. From vertical wrecks, through to submerged pinnacles, from the largest sharks, through to the smallest nudibranches, the diving in Thailand has something for everyone.

Bumphead Parrotfish – Marine Life of Thailand

The Bumphead Parrotfish or Bolbometopon muricatumis both amazing and beautiful. This is the largest of all the parrotfish family – which is known for colorful displays and strange lifestyles already.

The Bumpheads can grow as large as 1.3 Meters (4 1/2 Feet) and weigh as much as 80 Kilos (180 pounds). They are quite impressive and very exciting to watch. They have the very unusual shape to their heads (it is theorized) as they will use it to ram coral communities to make dining easier?! I’ve never seen this, but their heads look like they’ve had a bit of abuse, so it could very be true.

The other really amusing feature of the bumpheads are their teeth. They have what appears to be a huge beak sticking out. It is in fact a fused tooth that is so thick it can scrap and crush coral colonies. It looks very funny and is kind of intimidating at first. Once you realize they are not only harmless but quite timid you’re attitude changes.

They are also quite peculiar in that they are hermaphroditic – they change sex. They are usually seprated by colors – the juveniles (found in shallows) and females are drab and the males are very brightly colored and vibrant.

As they are very slow to mature and reproduce, they are quite susceptible to diminishing populations or even extinction due to environmental or more realistically – human interference. They are very popular in the Aquarium trade and the Mock reefs of restaurants and resorts

They sleep in shallow areas and often in cracks and nooks in the reef that are often too small for them. Thus they are easily captured for aquariums or spearfished for meat.

Their role in the reef is amazing. Parrotfish are one of the primary sources of sand! They scrape algae off with their teeth, and whatever else gets in, they digest the food, and deposit sand. In most areas where the Bumpheads live, they play an integral role in controlling algae growth. Off the Dominican Republic there were large numbers of Parrotfish and living corals until the mid-80′s. Then, after all other species were fished out, the Parrotfish (Not Bumpheads in this case) were taken in huge numbers. Very soon after the coral was all dead as there was no growth control on the algae. Now imagine when these are the size of humans and eat nearly 3 tonnes of algae a year!

(While they are not list as Endangered they are listed as threatened. In many areas of the world they are extinct. )

They are also quite peculiar in that they are hermaphroditic – they change sex. They are usually seperated by colors – the juveniles (found in shallows) and females are drab and the males are very brightly colored and vibrant.

While we do have them on The Similans – they are not common. Most frequently they are found at Shark Fin Reef and Boulder City. They are spotted at other sites, but not with the frequency one would hope.

So when you do see one, prepare for a giggle and a memory. You can also do your part in preventing their decline by asking what exactly the fish you are eating is – any kind of parrotfish is bad. They are also not that good an eating fish. Also avoid any of the farm raised shrimps and prawns as their feed is purely bycatch from trawlers – which destroys the habitats.

Honeymoon Bay – Similan Islands Diving

Honeymoon Bay

Honeymoon Bay is located to the east of Island 4. The sheltered location of the bay allows for a very easy and relaxing dive. Due to the shallow sandy areas this is a great place to conduct introductory and refresher dives, as well as the check dives. While not the most challenging of Similan Diving - it is still a chance to see many great things

The location of the reef parallel to the islands longest sandy beach also means that it is accessible as a beach dive if you are staying on the island. The reef is also a good night dive, although it is a popular mooring spot so be aware of overhead traffic. The reef gently slopes down to a sandy bottom of about 26 meters, and is made up of clusters of hard corals and small rocks.

The current (although it tends to be mild) runs from north to south and the multiple mooring lines means that it is possible to start the dive at any chosen place. At the northern end it is possible to see large Jenkins rays lying on the sandy bottom. Also scan the floor for garden eels. Large schools of fusiliers are often swimming around the shallower parts, as are a range of other reef fish including goat fish, butterfly fish, banner fish and cube box fish.

It is also possible to see some large giant morays hiding under rocks. During a night dive the reef is a great place to search for crustaceans, including crabs and lobsters, as well as flat worms and nudibranchs.

Diving depths run from 0-25 meters (0-85 feet), though most time is spent in the shallows 5-10 meters (15-30 feet).

Currents are minimal due to location.

Visibility tends towards the murky, being this close to shore and beaches. 15 meters (55 feet) is normal.

Divers of all experience levels can dive here.

Similan Diving

Grey Reef Shark – Marine Life of the Similan Islands

While they are around, we don’t see them as frequently as some of our other sharks - Leopards and Black tips. this is more to do with the geology than anything else. They tend to be a bit more open and in sites we don’t dive as often or that we spend as much time in. Such as Deep off Christmas point and off Koh Tachai

They are also pretty timid when it comes to humans.

Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Genus: Carcharhinus
Species: amblyrhynchos

Habitat

GREY REEF SHARK

Order: Carcharhiniformes
Family: Carcharhinidae
Genus: Carcharhinus
Species: amblyrhynchos

Habitat

Primarily distributed in shallow tropical and subtropical waters, the grey reef shark is often found near coral atolls and lagoons adjacent to reef habitats. It is often observed swimming along the outer edges of coral reefs. Its depth ranges from 0-920 feet (0-280 m). However, this species has been observed in waters down to 3,280 feet (1,000 m). Although more active during the night, grey reef sharks sometimes form schools during the day. These schools swim close to the bottom, over flat habitats. Grey reef sharks also form loose aggregations that lurk close to reef drop-offs. Lone individuals may be seen over shallow reefs either lying motionless on the bottom of the sea floor for long periods of time or swimming. Tagging studies show that sharks living near ocean reefs are nomadic and travel long distances along the reef habitat each day. Sharks residing in lagoon areas tend to return day after day to the same site.

Taxonomy

The grey reef shark was originally described as Carcharias amblyrhynchos by Bleeker in 1856. He later changed this name to the currently valid name of Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos. The genus name Carcharhinus is derived from the Greek “karcharos” meaning sharpen and “rhinos” meaning nose. Synonyms used in previous scientific literature that refer to the grey reef shark include Carcharias nesiotes Snyder 1904, Carcharhinus menisorrah Whitley 1944, Galeolamna fowleri Whitely 1944, Galeolamna turfiensis Whitely 1949, Galeolamna coongoola Whitely 1964, and Carcharhinus wheeleri Garrick 1982.
Common Names

English language common names include grey reef shark, blacktail reef shark, black-vee whaler, bronze whaler, gray reef shark, gray shark, gray whaler shark, longnose blacktail shark, shark, and whaler shark. Other common names from across the world include ‘anga (Tongan), bagea totoho (Gela), grijze rifhaai (Dutch), grys rifhaai (Afrikaans), ikan yu (Malay), jarjur (Arabic), kortneus-swartsterthaai (Afrikaans), mago (Niuean), malie-aloalo (Samoan), marracho enlutado (Portuguese), nga-man-nee (Burmese), pako mej (Marshallese), pating (Tagalog), qio dravu (Fijian), raira (Tahitian), requin à queue noire (French), requin bar (French), requin blanc (French), requin dagsit (French), requin gris (French), te alava (Tuvaluan), te bakoanimarawa (Kiribati), tiburón coralero rabinegro (Spanish), and tiburón de arrecifes (Spanish).
Geographical Distribution The grey reef shark is limited to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In the Indo-Pacific, it is found in the waters off Madagascar and in the Mauritius-Seychelles region. In the western Pacific Ocean, this shark ranges from southern China to northern Australia and the Tuamoto Archipelago. It is one of the most common reef sharks in the Pacific Ocean, along with the blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and the whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus). It is also found in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of India to South Africa, including the Red Sea. In this region it is often referred to as Carcharhinus wheeleri.

Biology

· Distinctive Features

This shark is medium to large in size, growing up to 8.4 feet (2.6 m) in length. It has a long, broadly rounded snout and large eyes. It does not have an interdorsal ridge running between the first and second dorsal fins. The origin of the first dorsal fin is over or just in front of the free rear tips of the pectoral fins. The first dorsal fin is semifalcate with a narrowly rounded or pointed tip. The second dorsal fin originates over the anal fin origin. The pectoral fins are large, narrow, and falcate in shape with narrowly rounded or pointed tips.

· Coloration

The dorsal side of the grey reef shark ranges from dark gray to bronze gray, paling to a white ventral side. The entire trailing edge of the caudal fin has a distinct wide black margin. The pectorals, second dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins have black or dusky tips while the first dorsal fin is either entirely gray or irregularly edged with white.

The blacktip reef shark can be distinguished from the grey reef shark by the black-tipped first dorsal fin
source: FAO Species Catalogue, Vol. 4 – Sharks of the World

The grey reef shark may be confused with the blacktip reef shark (C. melanopterus). The blacktip reef shark can be distinguished by the distinct black tip on the first dorsal fin as well as black tips on the remaining fins.

Grey reef shark upper and lower teeth
source: FAO Species Catalogue, Vol. 4 – Sharks of the World

· Dentition

The teeth are triangular and serrated with 13-14 teeth in each jaw half. The upper teeth are narrow and serrated, semi-erect to oblique in shape with high cusps. The crown feet have coarse serrations. The lower teeth are erect or semi-oblique with narrowly serrated cusps.

·Size, Age, and Growth

The grey reef shark may grow to a maximum size of 8.4 feet (2.6 m) in length and to weights of up to 74.3 pounds (33.7 kg). However, the average size of a grey reef shark is less than 6.6 feet (2 m) in length. The maximum reported age of this shark is about 25 years. Males mature at lengths of 4.3-4.9 feet (1.3-1.5 m) and females mature at 3.9-4.6 feet (1.2-1.4 m) in length, both corresponding to an age of approximately 7 years.

Food Habits

Reef fishes, along with smaller quantities of cephalopods (squid and octopus), and crustaceans (shrimp and lobster), provide the majority of the grey reef sharks’ prey. Reef shark prey also includes bony fish including cowfish, surgeonfish, and butterflyfish. The grey reef shark will also prey on young individuals of their own species. Most of the feeding activity occurs during the nighttime hours which is also this shark’s peak activity period.

· Reproduction

The grey reef shark is a viviparous species, which refers to reproduction when the embryos are nourished with a yolksac placenta during gestation inside the mother. The gestation period lasts approximately 12 months, followed by live birth of a litter of 1-6 pups. Each pup measures between 15.7-23.6 inches (45-60 cm) in length at time of birth.

Predators

Predators of the grey reef shark include larger sharks such as the silvertip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus).

Parasites

The grey reef shark is host to parasitic copepods including Nemesis robusta (gill filaments) and Alebion carchariae (snout, fins, body). These copepods were documented on specimens from waters off western Australia. Ganthiid isopod larvae have also been reported on the gills of this shark.

Importance to Humans

The grey reef shark may be taken by longline shark fisheries and are valued for their fins that are used in shark fin soup. It is also utilized for human consumption and fishmeal. However, this species often occurs out of the range of most commercial shark fisheries.

Conservation

The gray reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, is listed as Lower Risk (LR/nt) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:

LOWER RISK (LR) – A taxon is Lower Risk when it has been evaluated, does not satisfy the criteria for any of the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable. Taxa included in the Lower Risk category can be separated into three subcategories:

1. Conservation Dependent (cd). Taxa which are the focus of a continuing taxon-specific or habitat-specific conservation program targeted towards the taxon in question, the cessation of which would result in the taxon qualifying for one of the threatened categories above within a period of five years.
2. Near Threatened (nt). Taxa which do not qualify for Conservation Dependent, but which are close to qualifying for Vulnerable.
3. Least Concern (lc). Taxa which do not qualify for Conservation Dependent or Near Threatened.

The grey reef shark is vulnerable to overfishing due to its restricted habitat, small litter size, and relatively late age of maturity. These factors, along with an increase in unmanaged fishing pressure, make this shark vulnerable to threats. However, at this time there is not enough data on the grey reef shark to analyze the status of populations.

The grey reef shark is currently listed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) as “Near Threatened”. More fisheries data is required for future assessment. The IUCN is a global union of states, governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations in a partnership that assesses the conservation status of species.

Danger to Humans

Although it is one of the most aggressive sharks, the grey reef shark will usually only attack a person when it is threatened. Even so, it has been responsible for 7 unprovoked attacks resulting in no fatalities according to the International Shark Attack File. If cornered or threatened is some way, the grey reef shark will display threat behavior explicitly. It will raise its snout, depress the pectoral fins, and arch its back while swimming with an exaggerated sway. If the threat continues, the shark will move with lightening speed, delivering quite bites prior to retreating. Although the bites are often serious, they are rarely fatal. This species of shark is also more likely to attack while solitary rather than schooling perhaps due to an increased feeling of vulnerability.

Elephant Head Rock – Similan Island Dive site

The site is named after an unusually shaped rock that juts out of the water just southwest of Koh Similan. The huge boulders that form Elephant Head Rock create

Similan Islands Diving

daring swim-throughs, arches, caverns, gullies and tunnels – great places to hide, and great places to discover! This site is best visited aboard a Similan Liveaboard.

Swimming through the tunnels you’ll come across blue-ringed angelfish, triggerfish and bicolour parrotfish. Yellow goatfish and snappers always hang around at the deepest levels, as well as several species of lionfish. Take a look under the overhanging ledges to find several species of the larger snappers, such as one-spot, mangrove and black and white, as well as giant and Andaman sweetlips – an endemic species.

Hang out in the shallows here to off-gas at the end of your dive. Powder blue surgeonfish make their way across the boulder tops, grazing on the algae. Bigeye bream hang out here, seemingly eying you curiously, as large trains of traveling robust fusiliers arrive on the scene from other nearby feeding stations. Keep an eye out for the great barracuda’s that do some serious hunting here. You will often be surprised by the assaults of the huge Jacks that dive into these passing fish too!

The southern most point of the site has a tiny group of submerged pinnacles in very deep water. A great place to observe small reef sharks. There is a possibility of strong surge and current. This makes it one of the more challenging Similan Islands diving sites.

Diving is done from 5 – 35 meters (15-115 feet) with most time spent 15-30 meters (50-100 feet).

Currents can be present but any experienced dive guide will take you to the sheltered spots.

Visibility is often quite good 30 meters+ (100 Feet) but can be affected by prevailing currents.

Divers should be experienced due to depth and currents. Swim-throughs are a hazard to be conscious of as well.