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Located in the Andaman Sea in southern Thailand, the beautiful Similan and Surin islands are a scenic group of islands, and lay claim to being two of the most famous dive destinations in the world.

The Similan islands are all part of the Mu Koh Similan national park and are named by number. The granite boulders and white sand beaches offer stunning vistas. Underwater visibility is typically in excess of 25 metres. The shallow sites on the east coast of the islands are abound with corals and marine life, whilst the western sites are a little deeper offering an exciting mix of boulders and wall diving, where larger species are often encountered. Renowned sites here include Elephant Head Rock and Christmas Point. To the north, Koh Bon is a manta ray cleaning station and Koh Tachai is a beautiful island with an incredible pinnacle dive nearby.

To the north, the Surin Marine national park consists of five granite islands covered in lush forest with idyllic beaches and beautifully clear water. A visit to Richelieu Rock is a must, most famous for sightings of whale sharks and manta rays. This submerged rock is surrounded by a series of underwater pinnacles covered in corals and sea fans and is incredibly rich in marine life, making this a spectacular wall dive in a remote area.

Immerse yourself in colourful reefs, lush corals, impressive sea fans and an incredible variety of marine life including large pelagics such as manta rays and whale sharks. Gigantic boulders, above and below the water line create awesome underwater scenery and exciting swim throughs.

Although some sites can be reached from resorts in Kao Lak, it is best to visit this region by liveaboard. 

View suggested itineraries

Key info

  • Ideal for viewing: whale shark, giant oceanic manta ray, leopard shark, green turtle, hawksbill turtle

Dive trips

This dive location is featured in the following itineraries:

West Coast Explorer

This itinerary allows you to explore the most famous dive sites of Thailand, both from the convenience of a liveaboard in the Similan Islands, and the comfort of a dive resort, where you can relax in tropical surroundings. Find Out More about West Coast Explorer

  • Duration inc. flights: 14 days
  • Price inc. flights: From £2,095 pp
  • Trip type: Tailor-made trip idea

Phuket & Khao Lak Diving

Here are some of Thailand’s most outstanding dive sites, with excellent opportunities to spot leopard sharks amidst a kaleidoscope of marine life, with manta rays often gracing divers with their presence. Find Out More about Phuket & Khao Lak Diving

  • Duration inc. flights: 13 days
  • Price inc. flights: From £1,845 pp
  • Trip type: Tailor-made trip idea
Suggested liveaboards are shown below. Please contact us for further recommendations.

Marco Polo

The friendly crew of the Marco Polo operate diving adventures to Thailand's Similan Islands, including Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and the famous Richelieu Rock, renowned for sightings of whale sharks and manta rays. Find Out More about Marco Polo

The Phinisi

The Phinisi is a traditional sailing yacht, customised for divers, providing a comfortable base for seasonal underwater adventures off the west coast of Thailand and the Mergui Archipelago. Enjoy signature dives and more. Find Out More about The Phinisi

Genesis I

A perfect introduction to liveaboard diving, the Genesis I makes three night trips to Thailand's Similan & Surin Islands from Nov to May. Enjoy unlimited diving from a sea level platform, with dinghy pick up, Find Out More about Genesis I