Thailand Dive Cruise: Exploring the Surin and Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock

Right after celebrating Songkran, the Thai New Year, we headed to the Surin Islands and Similan Islands for our last trip in Thailand of the season.

On board, we welcomed our very soon-to-be “spoiled customers” 😉

Starting with Mélanie, Max, Geoffrey and Isabelle from Belgium; Christophe, Bénédicte, Mathis and Christelle from France; and JP and Henriikka from Finland.

With such a lovely group on board, the season was definitely ending on a high note. Everyone was ready to make the most of our final Thailand dive cruise before we said goodbye to the Andaman Sea for another season.

Great conditions and a fantastic start in the Surin Islands

The conditions were great: amazing visibility, low current and lots of life all around. It was exactly the kind of start we like to have on a cruise, with comfortable diving conditions and plenty to discover from the very first dives.

From day one in the Surin Islands, we were lucky enough to spot blacktip reef sharks, lots of Kuhl’s rays, ghost pipefish and turtles… and so much more!

The Surin Islands are a wonderful way to begin this itinerary, with healthy-looking reefs and a mixture of larger animals and smaller creatures to keep divers busy. One dive can have you looking out into the blue for a shark, while the next requires you to slow down and search carefully among the reef for a well-camouflaged ghost pipefish.

Koh Bon: schools of fish and some serious encounters

On day two, in the morning, we went to Koh Bon, where the serious stuff started 😉

We began with beautiful underwater scenery and big schools of fish moving around the reef. Diving through large schools of fish is always a spectacular experience, especially when visibility is good and the current is low enough to simply take your time and enjoy the scene.

Koh Bon is also one of those sites where you need to keep your eyes open in every direction. There is always something happening around the reef, from smaller reef creatures hiding among the rocks to larger animals passing by in the blue.

…and then came a guitar and a leopard shark!

Unfortunately, we don’t have any picture of the first one. But enjoy the second one 😉

And then, as if that wasn’t enough, we had a Jenkins and an eagle ray!

Koh Tachai: beautiful corals and dolphins

And then, it was time for Koh Tachai and its beautiful corals!

After the excitement of Koh Bon, Koh Tachai offered another change of scenery. The reefs here gave us plenty of opportunities to admire the colours and shapes of the coral and the enormous variety of life living around them.

But the underwater world wasn’t the only thing keeping us entertained. On the way to Koh Tachai, we met a group of dolphins at the surface!

It is always a bonus when the wildlife starts before you even get into the water. Everyone on board got to enjoy the sight of the dolphins during the journey, adding another memorable encounter to an already busy cruise.

Look at these splendid colours!

The colourful reefs of Koh Tachai were another highlight of the trip. With excellent visibility, the colours of the corals and reef life really stood out, giving everyone plenty to photograph and admire.

Happy divers and barbecue night

After all those dives and encounters, it was time to head back to the boat. And judging by the faces, we had some happy divers on board!

Back to the boat, it was barbecue night!

After a full day underwater, there is nothing quite like getting everyone together on board for a good meal, a few drinks and some time to share the day’s best encounters. And with such a great group, the atmosphere was as good above the water as it had been below it.

And a box game we will remember!

Richelieu Rock: the cherry on the top

Third day, cherry on the top: Richelieu Rock!

After the Surin Islands, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai, it was time for one of the most famous dive sites in the Andaman Sea. Richelieu Rock is always an exciting part of this itinerary, and everyone was ready to see what the famous horseshoe-shaped pinnacle had in store for us.

Richelieu Rock is known for its incredible concentration of marine life, and the underwater landscape gives divers plenty to explore. Schools of fish surround the rock, while the cracks, overhangs and smaller sections of the reef are home to an amazing variety of smaller creatures.

With our group already having enjoyed sharks, rays, turtles, ghost pipefish, dolphins and colourful coral reefs earlier in the trip, expectations were definitely high for this final big dive site.

And last but not least… the biggies!

And last but not least… the biggies, everyone was expecting to see!!!

After an already impressive few days of diving, this was the moment everyone had been waiting for. The big animals had certainly made an appearance throughout the cruise, but Richelieu Rock had one more surprise in store.

These are the encounters that make a Thailand liveaboard trip so memorable. You can plan the route and choose the dive sites, but you never know exactly what will appear once you jump into the water. That element of surprise is part of the magic of diving the Andaman Sea.

What a way to finish our last Thailand trip of the season! From the Surin Islands to Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and finally Richelieu Rock, the cruise gave our guests a wonderful taste of what the Andaman Sea has to offer.

Great visibility, low current, sharks, rays, turtles, ghost pipefish, dolphins, colourful corals, huge schools of fish and, of course, the biggies at Richelieu Rock… not a bad way to close the Thailand season! 😉