Scuba Dive The Similans, Andaman Sea, Thailand

The Similan Islands in Thailand are generally rated as one of the top 10 dive sites. Consisting of nine islands of granite in a jungle of tropical ocean washed covered by a clear blue tropical Similan Islands (Similan even as simple as that), places d ' Diving offer some of the most beautiful and most varied in Thailand. Similan Islands are in a 25 km long north-south chain of islands 65 km off the coast of Phang NgaProvince in the Andaman Sea, Thailand's main tourist town about 100 km from Phuket.

The eastern edge of the Similan feature pretty hard coral gardens in shallow water and the reef slope banks up to thirty meters. At some sites, such as East of Eden, bommies (coral) increases the size of the seabed and are covered with soft corals, sea fans and schools of tropical fish smaller. East Coast Similan Islands diving is relatively simple, soenough time to explore the sights at your own pace leisurely.

The west side of the Similan together with the north and south areas offer exciting diving as eddy currents around the huge granite rocks deep-set, the tunnels are a series of arches and canyons on sites such as Christmas Point and Elephant Head Rock. Ascending and between huge rocks is a tapestry of colorful soft corals. In the channels between the rocks, sea lovers can growabout three feet wide, and in such numbers that they can not swim. The contrast between the east and the west coast and the diversity of the underwater topography is one of the reasons for the Similan Islands are so popular - every dive offers something different.

For underwater photographers and lovers of the underwater world, diving in the Similan Islands is hard to beat so the diversity and abundance of tropical fish. Leopard sharks make appearances on a normalBase, and you can also see white tip sharks. It is a paradise 'big fish', but it's always great diversity of the underwater world. You can find everything from small ghost pipefish to turtles and giant bump head parrot fish.

Although the 2004 tsunami, have affected some of the reefs here, most are in excellent condition and many divers in recent seasons, said that we could not see the damage to the reef.

Dive cruises departing from Phuket tours are usually four days,Visit the Similan and Surin Islands, including Koh Bon, Richelieu Rock and Koh Tachai. Some shorter trips (2 or 3 days), just visit the Similan Islands. Day trips for diving and snorkeling are now increasingly in Phuket.