Similan’s Gentle Giants: Dive with Whale Sharks

Diving in Thailand is an amazing experience and one of the best things to do in Thailand. Similan Islands offer some of the best scuba diving from Phuket. A Similan liveaboard is a great way to complete Similan Island diving as you can see a variety of dive locations around the Similan Islands. Learn more about Similan Island diving and the possibility of swimming with whale sharks!

The Similan Islands are a group of Islands off the coast of Southern Thailand, Phuket. The Similan Islands were established as a National Park in 1982. Currently, the number of travellers allowed to the Islands is being capped in order to avoid environmental destruction. The easiest way to do a dive trip at the Similan Islands is through a liveaboard out of these destinations: Phuket, Tab Lamu, Ko Lanta, and Ranong.

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Quick Trip Overview

• Location: Similan Islands, Thailand
• Closest Airport: Phuket
• Time of Year: Spring
• Time: 7 Days – Time before going on a liveaboard, and time after before flying.
• Estimated Cost: $3,000 – International flight, live aboard cost, hotel stay.

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What to Expect

The Similan Islands are a popular dive locations for one big reason: Whale Sharks. In the February to April time frame, you have a high probability (no guarantee of course) to be able to dive with whale sharks.

If you are coming towards the end of April to the beginning of May be prepared for the rainy season. The summer time is the beginning of the rainy season for the area and that can mean some rough currents for diving. If you are not as experienced a diver, then try to stay earlier in the season to avoid the choppy waters.

Learn more about where to dive with whale sharks here.

However, there are a lot of little reasons to visit as well! The marine life and dive locations are so abundant and different that no dive is like the previous one.

Looking at diving elsewhere in Thailand? Check out diving Koh Tao here!

Dive Information

• Wet Suit: 3mm
• Water Temperature: Average 30 surface, 28 bottom
• Current: A majority of dive sites have a strong current
• Average Depths: Majority deeper dives at around 20m
• Max Depths: 40m or so

Similan Islands Dive Season

The best time to dive the Similan Islands is from the time period of December to April. This is concurrent with the dry season in Thailand.

March is the best weather for Similan Island diving. There is little wind, which means that visibility is going to be the best.

Most Thailand liveaboards, and Similian Liveaboards, operate from mid-Nvember to mid-May.

Swimming with Whale Sharks

A lot of people scuba dive out of Phuket for the purpose of swimming with whale sharks. As previously stated there is the chance of whale sharks while diving the Similan Islands. I encountered four different whale sharks, during six different dives. The chances seemed pretty good during April on a Similan Island liveaboard to encounter one.

The best chance to see the larger ocean life such as whale sharks, and manta rays, is to visit between February to April. Most guides will take you out to the popular dive site listed farther down in this post in order to see them. However, if you are doing a liveaboard there is a chance to see them at all the different dive sites.

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However, do not let the time frame deter you from visiting the Similan Islands. Even if you do not visit during the February to April time period there are plenty of anemonefish! The first couple of dives I was taking a lot of pictures of anemonefish – what I didn’t know at that time that there would be more to come. Wait until Richelieu Rock, which is covered in anemone and three different types of anemone fish.

What you may see Diving Similan

There is really no wrong time to visit the Similan Islands, just depends on what you are trying to find during your dive trip. Even without the large Manta Rays and Whale Sharks, there are still an abundant amount of large moray eels to spot. If you want to swim with whale sharks, this is a great location to increase your chances.

If you are looking for nudibranch, and another sort of fish, then any time during the year is fine. If you are interested in encountering the famous whale sharks and manta rays then it is best to plan your trip between February to April for increased chances of encountering them.

Just remember, wildlife is wild, therefore there is never a guarantee to see anything even if the probability is higher during a certain time period.

Additionally logged: Oriental Sweetlips, Regal Angelfish, Moorish Idol, False Clown Anemonefish, Giant Moray Eel, Tuna, Ribbon Eels, Clark’s Anemonefish, Swollen Phyllida, Spot-banded butterfly Fish, Power Blue Surgeon Fish, Skunk Clownfish, Elegant Unicorn Fish, Spotted Boxfish, Trumpet Fish, Chevron Barracuda, Devil Scorpionfish, Blackfaced Puffer Fish, Blue Spotted Stingray, Whale Shark, Manta Rays.

Richelieu Rock Diving

For diving in Thailand, this is a must see location. Richelieu Rock diving is some of the best diving not just in Thailand, but in the world.

If you are headed to Similan Islands, you are most likely headed for this famous dive location. This location is the most well-known dive spot in the Similan Islands because of the large ocean life that visits it.

This dive location is best known for the chance to dive with whale sharks and manta rays. Richelieu Rock is a horseshoe-shaped coral formation – the rocks are covered in purple corals, anemones (with all types of clownfish), and moray eels at every turn. The depths can go up to 30m, and deeper, however, there is plenty to see at shallower depths giving the diver options when planning their dives. You can accidentally go deep fairly easy here because there is so much to see! I saw a Boxfish (my favourite) and wanted a photo, my dive computer started going off because without realizing it I was at 33m.

Richelieu Rock Diving Routes

Dive routes will vary on the currents which change – on one dive you may go around one side of the rock formation, another dive you may have to go the other direction to avoid the current.

During my two dives there, I dove with two different whale sharks. The whale sharks were especially curious about the divers and enjoyed swimming through the divers’ bubbles. Prior to our arrival, another liveaboard reported that a Manta Ray was at a “cleaning station” there. However, the ray had departed prior to us getting in the water.

How to Get to Similan Islands

As mentioned previously, the best method of diving at the Similan Islands is by liveaboard. For Similan Islands diving, a liveaboard will anchor at numerous dive sites around the Islands giving you the best dive options. Almost all will go to Richelieu Rock as well!

Most dive trips are a minimum of three days! So plan accordingly.

Thailand liveaboards are very popular options, so you can find numerous ones available leaving from locations all over Thailand.

Check out liveaboard options here.

Similan Island Liveaboards

One of the best things to do in Thailand is to do a Thailand Liveaboard. There are a bunch of different types of liveaboards from the budget where you stay in bunks, and share bathrooms. If you are willing to spend a bit more money, then you can splurge on some of the nicer liveaboards and have your own private bathroom and room.

I opted for the later with a liveaboard with Giamani. Diving in Thailand primarily focuses on these Similan Liveaboards. The option for Similan Liveaboards is pretty large, as a majority of boats from Thailand go out to this popular dive location. I picked this liveaboard also because it was departing from Phuket where I was staying, and there were only 10 divers on the boat which meant small dive groups!

Most boats will depart from Phuket, and return to Phuket.

Learn more about picking the best liveaboard in Thailand here!

Staying in Phuket

If you opt for the liveaboard option then I recommend staying a couple of days on the front end and a couple of days on the back end of the trip in Phuket. There is so much to do in Phuket that it is worth it to stay around and visit this part of Thailand.

You will need some time off at the end at least before flying anyway!

Check out my other post here to see what to do before and after your dive trip!