Scuba Diving and Snorkeling at Similan Islands

While Phuket is a great base for a holiday and offers some reasonable snorkeling and diving, it is to the Similan Islands that the real enthusiasts go. The Similan Islands are a group of nine islands in a marine park about 70km of the coast of Southern Thailand can now be reached by hydrofoil and speed boat in as little as 2 hours, and day-trips targeting snorkelers and divers are becoming popular.

These leave from either Phuket (Patong beach) or Khao Lak, about an hour's drive north of Phuket town. If possible try to go on a multi-day trip: a number of operators, especially in Khao Lak offer these excursions as well as snorkel/dive liveaboards.

The beauty of the Similan Islands is that, unlike elsewhere in Thailand, good, colorful reefs are found in water that is shallow enough to snorkel, and visibility is often superb. The Similan Islands run in a north-south direction and are often referred to by number. Similan Island No. 1 is the furthest south and Similan Island No. 9 furthest north. Good snorkel sites include the Eastern Shallows off Similan No. 1, where the reef is made up of good hard corals, and East of Eden, off Similan Island No. 7, where a multitude of reef fish inhabit a combination of hard and soft coral reef.

The islands are densely vegetated, a couple are worth hiking around and a few have fantastic beaches for après-snorkel/dive lounging.