The Similan Islands are comprised of nine small granite islands and their surrounding reefs, and they are widely accepted as offering some of the finest diving in Thailand's waters. Located approximately 95 kilometres northwest of Phuket in the Andaman Sea, the Similan Islands now hold protected status after being declared a national marine park in 1982. Journeys to the Similan Islands on a liveaboard can take between 4 hours (from Khao Lak) up to 9 hours (from Phuket).
The islands, which cover approximately 130 square kilometres, are covered by dense vegetation above the water, and this undergrowth is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Under the water, and the terrain and marine life vary depending on which side of the Similan Islands you are diving. The diving on the eastern side is characterized by gentle sloping reefs, which are covered by good amounts of coral.
The western coast of the islands is very different, with the shorelines characterized by huge granite boulders, both above and below the water. The strong currents on the west coast of the islands have removed all the sand surrounding these boulders, and now they are shaped into dramatic swim-throughs, caverns and archways which provide for some fairly dramatic scenery as the stronger currents sweep you past. In general, the more sedate diving experience of the eastern coast is recommended for the less experienced divers, whilst the stronger currents and more dramatic scenery found on the western coast should satisfy even the most experienced of divers.
In all, there are over 25 dive sites throughout the Similan Islands, some of the more well known include Fantasy Reef, East of Eden, Donald Duck Bay and Beacon Beach. However the most well known of the Similan Islands dive sites are the huge boulders located at the Elephants Head Rock. So named as the boulders are said to resemble the back and head of an elephant, this stunning rock formation of archways, swim throughs and caverns is home to a large population of reef fish which inhabit the various corals found here. Aside from the large numbers of reef fish and smaller marine life, Elephants Head Rock is also a good dive site to encounter the population of white tip reef sharks which inhabit the submerged pinnacles at the southern tip of the dive site.
There is a limited amount of accommodation on the Similan Islands, on Koh Miang (Island 4); however the vast majority of the diving here is done from the large numbers of liveaboards which access the area from Phuket and Kho Lak.
The best time to visit the Similan Islands is between November to April, when the seas around the islands are at their calmest. Outside of this period, surface swells can affect diving conditions substantially. In general however, the conditions for scuba diving in the Similan Islands tend to be good, with visibility ranging between 20 - 40 meters, and the water temperature averaging 26 - 29 degrees centigrade.
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