Khao Lak Dive Sites

Similan Dive Sites from Khao Lak

The Similan Islands National Park located in North Andaman Sea, only 60 kilometers from Thaplamu pier, Khao Lak. Khao Lak dive sites are known for its white coral sand beaches, crystal clear blue waters, and beautiful rock formations, The Similan Islands offer some of the best dive sites in the world as they are home to a wide variety of marine life from the beautiful small reef fish to the migrating Whale Sharks. The Similans consists of nine inhabited islands with some of the best panoramic scenery in Thailand.

The Similan Islands are very easy to visit by speed-boats or liveaboards. The islands may be visited for one day or tourists can stay overnight as well. The Similan islands are government owned and controlled, which means there are no resorts or stores on the islands, but only a couple of National Park Ranger stations and a few Similan bungalows/tents available for rent. The only two islands where tourists can step on for a visit or stay overnight is Island No.4 and Island No.8.

PLEASE NOTE: The Similan Islands National Park is closed from mid May until mid October of each year.

Nearby Khao Lak dive sites are only the Khao Lak Wrecks and Kaonayak reef are possible to dive, all the other dive sites are near the Similans.

Similan Islands Dive Sites

We recommend you to check out our marine life guide of the Similan islands and the Similan corals guide too.

North Point

North Point is located just north of Similan Island No.9. There are submerged boulders, which are surrounded by area of sand. The northern boulders fall steeply down below 35m. The formation of the rocks create many swim-through and channels around a depth of 20m. Next to the channel near the island are shallow reefs, which comprise of Stag-horn corals and hard corals, stretching all the way from east to west.

Depth range: 10 – 35 m.
Visibility: 20 – 30 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Intermediate
Current: Moderate to Strong

Marine life: Leopard shark and Blue spot stingray can sometimes be found lying on the sandy bottom. White tip reef shark, Blue-fin trevally, Unicorn-fish, Giant trevally often visit the site. Many small creatures that can be found here include Pipefish, Purple fire goby, Octopuses, and Nudibranchs.

West of Eden

West of Eden is located on the west side of Similan Island No.7. It is a very distinct dive site as it comprises of large boulders covered with beautiful giant sea-fans, anemones, feather stars, and soft corals. The shallow area are characterized by rubble and sloping reef falling to a depth of 30-35 meters.

Depth range: 12 – 35 m.
Visibility: 20 – 25 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Beginner to Intermediate
Current: Moderate

Marine life: Clown triggerfish, Sea turtle, Snake, Bluefin trevally, Giant moray, Angelfish and School of yellow snapper are quite common. You can also find Pipefish is small cracks. Frogfish can be found camouflaged inside the coral.

Christmas Point

Located on the northwest ridge of Similan Island No.9, Christmas Point is a cluster of submerged boulders with the exception of a pinnacle at the surface. Underwater, there are big boulders that are stacking together and stretch from the island to a depth of 35-40m. Covering the wall of the boulders are colorful soft corals and seafans. There is a sand area in the west which are full of tiny rocks along the way. A coral garden in the shallow area at the depth of 10m are full of Pore coral and Staghorn coral.

Depth range: 10 – 40 m.
Visibility: 15 – 30 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Intermediate – Advanced
Current: Moderate to Strong

Marine life: Leopard shark can sometimes be found around the borders of the rock at 25-40m. White tip reef shark, Napoleon wrasse, Turtle, Great barracuda are common. This site is also a home to school of Bluefin trevally, Neon fusilier, and Purple and Red fire goby. Giant sweetlips and Groupers can be seen in the swim-throughs.

Breakfast Bend

Breakfast Bend is located on the east of Island No.9. It is a very long reef dive site, which stretchs from north to south. The reef slopes gently from a depth of 5-10m down to a depth of 25-30m at sandy bottom. The site consists of hard corals, mainly Pore corals, Staghorn corals, Brain corals, and some patches of anemones with clown fish hiding inside.

Depth range: 5 – 30 m.
Visibility: 20 – 30 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Beginner
Current: Moderate

Marine life: Leopard shark can sometimes be found lying on the sandy bottom. White tip reef shark, Napoleon wrasse, Kuhl’s stingray, Garden eels, Big potato grouper are common. This site is also a home to school of Bluefin trevally, Yellow tail barracuda, and Batfish.

Donald Duck Bay

Donald Duck Bay is located in the Similan Island No.8, where the famous viewpoint that has a rock shaped like a sailing boat, or a beak of a duck is located. This is is quite shallow and perfect for beginners and night dive. In the northern side that has 3-4 emerged rocks extended from the island, has patched of hard coral, soft coral, and seafans. The sandy area in the bay is about 20m. deep and there you can find a few patches of coral.

Depth range: 5 – 20 m.
Visibility: 10 – 25 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Beginner
Current: Mild

Marine life: Interesting creatures can be found here, such as Nudibranchs, several

kinds of Coral crabs, Shrimps, Squids, Big lobsters. Reef fish like Trigger fish, several kinds of Butterfly fish, Anemone fish, Moray eel are common. Turtles are often seen swimming around.

Beacon Reef

Located on the east of Similan Island No.8, Beacon Reef is a fringed reef that features a steep drop- off from a depth of 5m to 30-40m. The drop-off has variety of hard coral includes Staghorn coral, Pore coral, Brain coral, Bottlebrush coral and many more. Also a shipwreck called “Atlantis X”, lies in the middle of the reef which makes this dive site more interesting.

Depth range: 5 – 35 m.
Visibility: 15 – 25 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Beginner to Intermediate
Current: Mild to Moderate

Marine life: There are a lot of Porcupine fish, Puffer-fish, Trigger fish, Angelfish, and Moray eel. School of Bluefin trevally, Snappers, Fusiliers, Longnosed emperor can also be seen here.

Turtle Rock

Located on the northwest of Similan Island No.8, Turtle Rock is a composition of coral community on the rocky side and patches of reef on the west. Sandy bottom is at a depth of 25 meters and the average depth of the rocky area is around 15-20m. A swim-through can be found in the shallow part around 8-10m.

Depth range: 10 – 25 m.
Visibility: 15 – 20 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Beginner
Current: Mild

Marine life: On the sandy bottom, Kuhl’s stingray and Garden eels are a common sight. Around the rock area, Sweetlips, Snappers, Groupers, Angelfish, and Moray eel can be found. Small marine life like Nudibranchs, Squat shrimp hiding in the feather stars can be seen. Turtles are often seen here as well.

Elephant Head Rock

Elephant Head Rock is located about 1.5 km to the north of Similan Island No.7. There are three big boulders appearing above the water, with the biggest boulder on the west.
This site is made up of submerged boulders that piled up together, which form swim-throughs and channels that are covered with colorful soft corals and sea fans. The site is surrounded by sandy bottom at maximum 35-40m deep.

Depth range: 5 – 40 m.
Visibility: 15 – 40 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Intermediate – Advanced
Current: Moderate to Strong

Marine life: White tip and Black tip reef shark can be seen outside the boulders. Hiding in the cracks of the rock, divers can find Giant moray eel, Boxer shrimp, Cleaner shrimp, Octopus. In the swim-throughs, school of Oriental sweetlips, Butterfly fish, Snapper can be found. In the deeper part, divers may find Purple Fire Goby, Blennies, Clown anemonefish near the rocks.

Deep Six

Deep Six is located in the north of Island No.7. This site looks like cluster of submerged boulders with a maximum depth of 35-40m. The Deep Six consists of small and big pinnacles throughout the area, with soft corals and sea fans scattered around the outer parts and in swim through. The big boulder in the center of the site has a pile of small rocks that form swim-through, rise from a depth of 22m to shallower parts of 12m. In addition, this island is also surrounded by patches of corals and rocks at a depth of 10-15m.

Depth range: 5 – 40 m.
Visibility: 15 – 25 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Intermediate – Advanced
Current: Moderate to Strong

Marine life: Schools of Blue fin trevally, Neon Fusillier, and Yellow snapper can be seen.

Sometimes in the blue you can see White tip reef shark. Kuhl’s stingray is also common in the sandy area. When passing through the swim through, you may encounter, Oriental sweetlips, Harlequin sweetlips, and big Snapper. Small life like Red fire goby, Blennies, and Nudibranchs can also be found among the lush corals. Frog fish can also be found hiding inside the coral or camouflaged among the pinnacles.

Anita’s Reef

Anita’s Reef spreads across between Island No.5 and Island No.6. This is a reef dive which is perfect for beginners as there are nice shallow areas. However, the reef slope falls from 5-10m down to maximum 26-28m to sandy bottom. The coral gardens in shallow areas comprise of big Pore coral and patches of Staghorn coral with small pinnacles. There are also colorful soft and hard coral scattered along the white powdery sand.
Located on the southeast of the site lies this big beautiful rock called “Hin Muan Deaw”, which means “Whole Roll (of film) Rock”. Because it is so beautiful, you can use up all your film just on this rock. The base of the rock lies at 20m deep and the top is at 12m.
This magnificent rock is covered with various colorful soft corals, anemones, gigantic sea fan, and species of hard corals. A few different nudibranchs can also be found on the rock. This rock is truly a must-see for photographers.
At the south side of Anita’s reef, are big boulders that extend from Island No.5 and
continue southwards. The boulders lie at a depth of 30-35m deep. There are corals scattered on the boulders.

Depth range: 5 – 25 m.
Visibility: 20 – 40 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Beginner – Intermediate
Current: Mild to Moderate

Marine life: You can find Octopus hiding inside the coral. Sea snake, Giant Moray, various Clown fish, Garden eels hiding in the sand, Lion fish, Yellow tail barracuda, Rock-mover wrasse, various nudibranchs and many more.

Honeymoon Bay

Located on the east of Similan Island No.4 in front of the small beach, Honeymoon Bay is a reef of corals line up from north to south, and slopes gently from 5-10m to 26m at sandy bottom. Most of the reef are Staghorn and Pore coral. There are also some groups of small rocks with soft corals.

Depth range: 5 – 26 m.
Visibility: 15 – 25 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Beginner
Current: Mild to Moderate

Marine life: On the sandy bottom, Stingray and Garden eels are a common sight. Around the rock area, Sweetlips, Snappers, Groupers, Angelfish, and Moray eel can be found. Small marine life like Nudibranchs, Decorator crap can be seen. Turtles are often seen here as well.

Boulder City

Located off the southeast coast of Similan Island No.3, Boulder City is cluster of
underwater pinnacles which lie 30-40 meter away from each other. The boulders lie at
about 35-40m sandy bottom. On the surface of the boulders area are covered with soft
corals and big seafans. Patches of Staghorn coral are also seen around the boulders.

Depth range: 12 – 40 m.
Visibility: 20 – 30 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Intermediate to Advanced
Current: Moderate to Strong

Marine life: Reef sharks can sometimes be spotted around the sandy bottom. Napoleon wrasse, Parrotfish, and Turtles can be seen as well. Big grouppers, Snappers, Angelfish, Boxfish, and Pufferfish can be seen swimming among the pinnacles. Small creatures like Fire goby, Nudibranch, Pipefish, Boxer shrimp can be found in the cracks of the wall or under the rocks.

Sharkfin Reef

Located 1km southeast of Island No.3, Sharkfin Reef is a formation of granite boulders and hard corals. This site is approximately 1 km long, where normally three pinnacles can be seen from the surface. The site is mainly occupied by boulders which fall steeply to 35-40 m and surrounded by sandy bottom. As the reef is very long, the site is divided into north and south areas, with the south deeper than the north. The north area has more corals, mostly Stag-horn coral, Soft coral, Seafans, and tiny rocks.

Depth range: 8 – 40 m.
Visibility: 20 – 30 m.
Water temperature: 27 – 30 C
Experience level: Intermediate – Advanced
Current: Moderate to Strong

Marine life: Near the sand area, divers are likely to find White tip or Black tip reef shark, Kuhl’s stingray, Napoleon wrasse and Spotted garden eel. Among the boulders, a lot of marine life like adult Cube Boxfish, Octopus, Devil scorpionfish, Tuna, Giant trevally can be found.

A guide to Khao Lak dive dites

Richelieu Rock is part of the Surin islands national park, find the description and details about Richelieu rock diving.