Similan and Surin Island Cruise

Diving Cruise ~ SIMILAN & SURIN Islands, plus Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock.

Sailing Yacht WANDERLUST – very comfortable 52 ft. x 24 ft. trimaran with accommodation for eight passengers – crew of four.

The Similan Islands: a cluster of nine tropical islands, fifty five nautical miles north west of Phuket is Thailand’s premier dive destination.

The Similan Islands offer a great diversity of marine life and under-sea terrain. This marine national park is considered to have the most colourful reef environment and best all-round conditions of all the dive sites in Thailand. The islands themselves have some of the most stunning above-water scenery in Asia, with dazzling turquoise water, white sand beaches and secluded bays framed by rocky headlands. There are dozens of dive sites to choose from, one of the most appealing aspects of diving here is the tremendous variety of underwater experiences they offer. Most striking is the contrast in under-water topography between the east and west sides of the islands. Dive sites on the east - which face towards the mainland and are generally more sheltered - characteristically have shallow hard coral reefs, which give home to a profusion of brightly coloured reef fish of all varieties.

On the west of the Similan islands, the under-water terrain is markedly more rugged. with huge underwater boulders - stacked together to form networks of underwater caves, tunnels, archways and ‘swim-through’ passages. These boulders are often thickly encrusted with giant gorgonian sea fans, soft corals and sponges. Because these dive sites face into deep, open sea, divers have excellent chances to encounter a variety of pelagic and other large fish that include tuna, jacks, mackerel, large schools of surgeon fish, eagle and manta rays and several species of shark.

Sailing eighty kilometres further north are the Surin Islands. This whole area offers excellent diving, with the above and below water characteristics being quite different to the Similans. Surin is home to the ‘Chow Nam’, a tribe of nomadic sea gypsies, during the cruise you will be given the opportunity of seeing these shy and reclusive people.

One of the highlights of the trip is Richelieu Rock, rising forty meters from the sea bed, covered with a profusion of purple and pink gorgonians. It offers a rare opportunity to dive with the magnificent whale shark. Richelieu is one of the few sites in the world where these creatures are seen on a regular basis.

The 'Wanderlust' is also available for charter if required.

Dossier