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Thailand is one of the most popular destinations for scuba diving holidays. This is no surprise! Its geographical location is ideal for divers to reach and for marine life to flourish. Plus, the warm hospitality of the Thai people, the wonderful local food, and a whole range of other fun activities to do while you are there, makes Thailand one of the best places in the world to take a scuba vacation!

Despite the various challenges, including the tsunami of 2004 and the natural coral bleaching effects of global warming, the west coast of Thailand still has plenty to offer. The west coast of Thailand and the Andaman Sea is still the area where the best of Thailand’s diving can be discovered. Phuket, Phi Phi, Ko Lanta and Ko Lipe, all make the list but the best-of-the-best is still known to be the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock. You can also include Ko Bon and Ko Tachai on any diver’s to-do list!

Scuba holidays can be any length you choose

Similan diving tours are very popular and so there are more day trip and liveaboard options than ever before. 60km west of Phang Nga province, the mini archipelago of Similans is therefore more accessible than ever before. A standard Thailand liveaboard cruise (diving safari) is 4 days 4 nights in length. Now, although this trip length remains the most popular choice with divers, there are also longer and shorter liveaboard Similan trips. These can begin and end on the day that the diver chooses.
Use this online trip planner to help you plan your Similan liveaboard trip.

The ideal length for a liveaboard trip to Similan Islands is difficult to define. 4 day 4 night trips are the most popular. These trips allow you one or two days diving the Similan Islands, then half a day on Ko Bon, a third day on Ko Bon and Ko Tachai, with a final last day on the highlight, Richelieu Rock. This is really a great way to enjoy a scuba diving holiday in Thailand and the difficulty level of dives gradually increases through the trip allowing you to progress into slowly more challenging dives as you go along. For the experienced diver, there are liveaboard trips that head straight to Ko Bon, Ko Tachai and Richelieu Rock. These liveaboard cruises are typically shorter, just 3 days 3 nights in length and offering 9 or 10 dives in the best dive locations Thailand has to offer. These sites are most commonly known for manta ray and whale shark sightings. For those who want to spend more days diving, there are also 5 day 5 night trips with almost 20 dives! These liveaboard cruises are extremely popular and give good feedback. Most boats leave from Phuket or Khao Lak and take divers to Thailand’s best dive sites for up to one week, with longer packages also available.

Are the dive sites overcrowded?
Compared to some of the busier dive spots of Thailand such as Phi Phi and Ko Tao, the answer is definitely ‘no’! However, these dive sites are not remote. We cannot guarantee a dive where only your small group or your liveaboard boat will be at one particular time. While there are many options to dive the Similan Islands, this comes at a compromise; you have to be prepared to share the dive sites with others. The Similan Islands are quite remote when compared to Phi Phi Islands or Ko Tao but still they are accessible by day-trip speedboats from the mainland. A day-trip to the Similans is a long and arduous day but some like to do it that way.

Your best chance of having the dive sites of Similan to yourself, is to book a liveaboard trip and then at least you can get that early morning dive in before the day-trippers arrive! Divers who really want the reef to themselves, far from any other boat or diving group should consider a liveaboard trip to Burma (Myanmar) instead. With boats departing from Thailand, you will have to pay extra to extend your liveaboard trip into Burma because it is further and there are added fees to clear immigration in Burma but this is some of the best lesser-touched reef diving in the world! If you really want the dive sites to yourself and want to escape the crowds, and still enjoy some fantastic world-class diving, then you should definitely consider Burma as a liveaboard diving destination.

How experienced do you need to be to dive Similans & Richelieu Rock?
Anybody can dive the Similan islands and Richelieu Rock. However, Richelieu Rock can be quite a challenging dive site, especially for the beginner. There is very little of the dive site actually visible from the surface. At low tide you can see a very small part of the rock breaks the surface. Just.

Beginner divers are most welcome on liveaboard trips to the Similan Islands but it is generally encouraged to at least make your Advanced Open Water certification while on board, as part of your trip.

Ko Bon and Ko Tachai as dive sites have marine life and corals to very shallow depths which makes them good snorkeling locations also. The best of these islands however have deeper dive sites such as Ko Bon Pinnacle and also Ko Tachai Pinnacle, where you are more likely to see pelagics such as manta rays. Most noticeably there can be strong currents on these dive sites and while you will have a dive guide that is experienced in leading you on these dive sites, you should be aware of how to handle yourself in situations where the current can be strong. Stay close to the reef so you are less affected by the current. Diving groups, entry points and the timing of dives is carefully selected for maximum enjoyment and minimum risk.

When is the best time to go for a scuba holiday in Thailand?
The Similan and Surin national parks are located 60km out to the west of Thailand, in the Andaman Sea. The marine life here is healthy and abundant but the sea and weather conditions dictate when and where it is safe to dive.
The monsoon period for this area is typically mid-May to mid-October so you will find the Similan Islands are closed during this time. No liveaboard trips are scheduled during this time and the marine parks are closed to the public. The seas are rough at this time and even on calm days, the conditions can change rapidly and unpredictably.

However, any time between the beginning of December through to Thai New Year (called Songkran – 13th April) is absolutely perfect for a Thailand liveaboard cruise to the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock. Weather and sea conditions are ideal, the marine life is there to explore and you can see so much! The large pelagic creatures such as whale sharks and manta rays are expected in these waters late January to early April. In particular you should keep your eyes open on the northern dive sites of Ko Bon, Ko Tachai and Richelieu Rock at this time. While January to April is most common to see whale sharks, the last years there have been sightings as early as November! A Similan diving holiday awaits you and maybe a whale shark too.

How do I choose the best trip for me, and how do I book?
The wide range of liveaboard boats and trips available can appear confusing. So many of the boats look similar in style and offer the same trip at different prices, or different trips at the same price.

How do you know what are the advantages of one boat or another?

You are best to ask the experts! SUB AQUA DiveCenter can offer you a totally unbiased view of the best dive boat or schedule to fit your budget and needs. Our specialist advisors on Thailand’s liveaboard diving have been on the boats themselves and even worked as dive guides on some of the boats you find on offer. Only the most safe and comfortable liveaboard boats and operators have been chosen for representation to you, the diver.

We will ask you for information such as your diving history, what facilities you expect from your liveaboard boat or cabin, and what you expect to see while on your Thailand liveaboard. Some trip options welcome snorkelers, while some guests prefer dedicated and serious liveaboard boats designed with divers in mind. The more information you can give us about what you want or need, the better and quicker we can advise you on the choices you have.

How to book is easy. There is typically a deposit required to confirm your booking and your place on board the liveaboard of your choice. This is usually 30% of the full price, or some liveaboard operators will ask for a 50% deposit to hold the place. This is done to ensure that your trip is organized professionally with your place on board firmly reserved. Payments can be made easily and safely online through the website of SUB AQUA DiveCenter.

Book a Thailand Liveaboard

Use the online trip planner to find the right Thailand liveaboard for you.