MUKO SIMILAN MARINE NATIONAL PARK

A group of nine islands set in the Andaman Sea northwest of Phuket, the Similans are renowned for their beauty, both on land and in the surrounding underwater world. Distinctive in their smooth granite rock formations, the islands are studded with inviting sandy beaches; otherwise, there is little to explore on land and the destination is most popular with scuba enthusiasts, the waters here boasting some of the world’s best dive sites.

In addition to remarkable visibility, scuba drivers can expect a fascinatingly varied underwater scene, with coral reefs, huge sea fans and barrel sponges, swim-throughs, cliffs, and stone piles, as well as an abundance of marine life.

Getting There

Public boats and boats for private hire to the Similans depart from Phuket and from Thap Lamu, on the mainland in Phang-nga province. Alternatively, visitors may join one of the organized dive tours that are available from various dive companies on Phuket.

SCUBA DIVING AT THE SIMILAN ISLANDS - PHANG-NGA PROVINCE

The Similan Islands are consistently ranked as one of the world’s top 10 dive sites. The Similan Archipelago consists of nine islands arranged like a pearl necklace from north to south of Phang-Nga province, and it has been a national marine park since the mid-80s. The islands have a rich marine life, consisting of sea fans, barrel sponges, feather stars, and an abundance of reef fish, and spectacular underwater granite rock formation.

BEST TIME TO DIVE

Gulf of Thailand, Southeast Thailand. Diving can be done almost all round in Ko Samui. However, the best time to dive in the gulf is during April when the chances of running into a whale shark and giant manta rays are greatest – general indicator only as sightings of these creatures are highly unpredictable. The worst time to dive in the Gulf is during November as the waters are more choppy due to the strong winds. Andaman sea, Southwest Thailand. Diving in this area is also relatively all year round however the best time to dive is between November and May when sightings of the elusive giant marine life such as the whale shark and giant manta rays are more likely.

When identifying a dive school or operator, it is always best to check if they are PADI accredited. Diving with non-accredited operators can be risky as they may not include insurance or proper emergency procedures within their packages. To find out more about the dive sites located within Thailand, feel free to consult PADI’s website at http://www.padi.com/ where you will find useful links to diving in Thailand. Also visit http://www.padidiveguides.com/ for a useful list of not only dive sites, but also a list of sea life that can be found, as well as a list of PADI accredited dive schools and operators in Thailand.

DIVE DESTINATION: ANDAMAN SEA, SOUTHWEST THAILAND

The start off point for both diving and snorkelling in Phuket Province in Khao Lak which is some 45 minutes drive from Phuket. The snorkeling here is particularly spectacular as the coral reefs are some of the most colourful around.

The Andaman Sea is admittedly the more dazzling of the two destinations as it holds some of the best coral formations and reefs as well as ocean drops and submerged pinnacles. Within the Andaman area where Phuket is located, popular dive sites are Phang-nga Bay, Krabi, Phi Phi Island, Ko Lanta and the Similan Islands.

At both locations, not only will you have a great time diving, but just exploring the archipelago itself is already an adventure. Diverse in Thailand can expect to see Nurse Sharks, the Hawks Bill Turtle, Anemone Fish (clown Fish), Barracuda, Scorpion fish, Manta Rays, the legendary Whale Shark and a large array of other marine life. Start your dive experience in Thailand and create your own personal memories now!

DIVE DESTINATION: SOUTHERN THAILAND

For the more adventourous, or those diverse with more experience, you can choose to start your dive experiences immediately in Southern Thailand’s beach destinations such as Phuket and Ko Samui. Diving in Phuket and Samui can be highly rewarding as the majestic Giant Manta Rays and Whale Shark visit the waters of both islands.

Apart from the great sea life, for those qualified deep sea diverse, wrecks and rock formations abound at both destinations abound and warrant as many as 5 dives to fully explore any one site. There is just so much to see and perhaps the first day is spent in awe of the site itself that not so much exploration is done.

Diving and snorkeling in Southern Thailand is a joy as the waters are still pristine and the sea life plentiful. It must be noted that the Gulf of Thailand’s waters are usually not as clear as the Andaman Sea due to the high amount of plankton in the waters. Despite this, divers dive at both destinations as the experience at either destinations are just incomparable and definitely worth the effort.

In the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Samui in Surat Thani is the launching pad for divers and snorkellers alike. Popular dive sites within this area are the many smaller islands off Samui such as Ko Pha-ngan, Ko-Tao and Chumphon.

DIVE DESTINATION (1)

Eastern Thailand (Gulf of Thailand) Within Chon Buri is the beach resort town of Pattaya, Thailand’s premier modern dive destination for wreck and technical diving with diving activities planned by the dive community there all year round. Off the shores of Pattaya are scatterings of small islands which can be explored, in combination with dive trips. In particular, close to Pattaya is Ko Chang (Chang Island), Thailand’s second largest island and, at the moment, relatively uncommercialised with an abundance of natural underwater treasures that are yet to be discovered. That’s just how new it is as a dive site, although popularity of Ko Chang is growing. (Photo from TAT)

DIVING & SNORKELING: HOW TO GET START?

Diving is a great experience and should be tried by everyone at least once in their life-time. And…it’s not as scary or complicated as you would think. By the way, it’s also not as cumbersome as you would think. Granted the number of equipment for drivers are many however, once you’re in the water, rest assured you’ll not feel weighed down. I suppose you could compare divers to sea turtles. Sea turtles seem cumbersome and walk really slowly on land. But have you seen a sea turtle swim? They literally cut through the waters and zip past you so quickly you may not realize its that same cumbersome turtle you’ve seen on land. That’s how diving is. Once you’re in the water, you’ll be comparable to the most agile and elegant sea creatures . Diving is a great sport to learn and/or practice in Thailand as dive packages are fairly priced when compared to other destinations around the world. The dive schools in Thailand are also among the best in the world. To be assured that you receive the best learning experience and are assured of safety, always sign-up with dive school and operators that are certified by PADI. To get started, consider signing up for a package at a dive school in Bangkok where you are trained in friendly dive tanks and/or pools. Once you’ve grasped the basics and have gained confidence, these Bangkok schools will take you to close by dive destinations in the Gulf of Thailand (eastern Thailand) in Chon Buri to familiarizes you with actual ocean dives. Upon completing this basic course, you can then join the open sea diving course which will take you to deeper waters that could lead to one of the most enriching experience of your life. The more experience you have n diving the deeper and longer your dives can be. For the more adventurous who just can’t wait to hit ocean waters, you can opt to sign-up for diving lessons that starts you off immediately in the following dive destinations.

SNORKELING IN THAILAND

Friendly snorkeling trips and basic lessons are available throughout Phuket, Ko Samui, Pattaya, and all other beach destination in Thailand and, are usually combined with great sea kayaking experiences and picnics on isolated islands and marine national parks. Basically, wherever there are small islands, you can bet that there is a tour company that will be able to take you on about ride to visit them as well as recommend great snorkeling sites. Snorkeling is a great activity for those who have younger children accompanying the group as the risk of an accident is almost non-existent. Moreover, all trip operators do offer life vests for those who are not strong swimmers. In fact, because of the life vests, those who cannot swim have found that snorkeling can be enjoyed.

DIVING IN THAILAND

Swim alongside the world’s largest fish – the Whale Shark and be awed by the haunting underwater flight of the Giant Manta Ray! This is what you can expect in the waters of the Andaman Sea located in the Southwest and, the Gulf of Thailand in the Southeast of Thailand. In case you didn’t already know it, Thailand is THE diving school destination for rookies. Why? Mainly because the Gulf of Thailand has relatively calm waters and good visibility all year round as well as unbeatable dive packages. Most dive operators also incorporate interesting activities for a dive package to make your trip even more interesting, combining them with sight-seeing tours. For instance, when in Phuket, dive packages often include a visit to the pearl cultivation island, Ko Naga. Underwater cave exploration is also a great option for the more seasoned diver. For those who prefer exclusivity, live aboard dive and snorkelling trips are also available. You may consult your dive operator for more information on prices and options for live-aboards and exclusive dive trips.

DIVING AMONG CORALS

Genesis Stock Photo

You wouldn’t think skeletons could be attractive, would you? Yet people come from all over the world to dive on marine exo-skeletons (that’s a skeleton built up outside the body, like a lobster) in the Gulf of Thailand. Actually, these skeletons are usually called coral. Unless you decide to snorkel or have your own scuba equipment, you may want to start at Pattaya where most of the dive shops are. They have the gear and the expertise and they knowwhere the best coral is. Just follow them. But if you are on your own, here is a good tip: Go as far away as possible. In Thailand’s central region that means Ko Chang National Park in Trat province down by the Cambodian border or Khao Laem Ko Samet National Park in Rayong province. It takes most of one day to get to Ko Chang, about half a day only to reach Ko Samet. Either way, if you have the time, it is worth it. Diving or snorkeling amongst the coral at either place is stupendous fun. Ko Chang National Park is of course better. It consists of about 50 islands scattered over about 650 square kilometers. Dive shops can be found across Ko Chang itself. Spectacular dive sites on the west of the islands are just 20 minutes away while Ko Wai, Ko Hradat and Ko Mak are all good. If you know your way around the sea, try to get out to some of the smaller islands. Then settle down for some serious enjoyment. The amazing range of colours and shapes you will see delight you, both hard and soft corals being found here. Shifting in and out of the coral in the filtered sunlight, you will also find little schools of brightly coloured tropical fish. It won’t take long to dazzle you, dumbfound you, turn you into an exo-skeleton freak. Happily these ones, by their outgoing nature, don’t lurk in cupboards.