Diving in Thailand:
Similan and Surin Islands
"SS" Cruise: 6 days/7 nights

South East Asia Liveaboards - scuba diving vacations in Phuket Thailand and Burma in the Andaman Sea. Enjoy the combination of diving and sailing around Thailand's tropical islands on our liveaboard cruising yacht Wanderlust. SEAL has an unblemished safety record, catering for small groups. The Similan islands marine national park, together with the Surin Islands, and Richelieu Rock are Thailand's premier dive destination with a diversity of marine life including mantarays and other pelagics - whalesharks if you are lucky!

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 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-thoughs'. These boulders are often thickly encrusted with giant gorgonian sea fans, soft corals and sponges. Because these dive sites face into deep,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.

Surin Islands

Sailing fifty nautical miles 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 give the opportunity to see these shy and reclusive people.

Richelieu Rock

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.

Similan Islands - Thailand -- Approximate Itinerary Meet in our Dive Center in Phuket for briefing at approx 7:30pm on the evening of the departure date, board the yacht and depart Patong Bay 9:00pm. Travel overnight to Similan Islands.
	Breakfast then a check out dive; second dive before lunch and third dive mid-afternoon, then travel to protected bay for evening anchorage where clients can go ashore.
	Depart Similans and dive Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and then Surin Islands.
	Early morning travel to Richelieu Rock - 3 dives. Return to Surin in the evening.
	3 day dives around Surin Islands.
	Depart Surin and dive Koh Tachai and Koh Bon with a night dive at either Koh Bon or Similan Islands.
	2 dives, departing the Similan islands at approximately 2.00 pm to return to Phuket late evening.
Optional choices: shore excursion to sample Patong’s night life or stay on board before disembarking from the yacht at 8.00 am the following morning. disembark the yacht at the end of Day 5.