Koh Bon and Koh Tachai: An Incredible Manta Ray Encounter in Thailand
What a fantastic encounter with one of our favourite creatures during our last trip!
We were alone with the manta rays at Koh Bon Pinnacle, enjoying their company in the blue, and then, as if that wasn’t enough, they joined us again at Koh Tachai. 🙂
These are exactly the kind of moments that make Thailand diving so memorable: you never quite know when one of the Andaman Sea’s magnificent animals is going to turn up and make an already great dive even more special.
The encounter continued with these beautiful manta rays at Koh Bon, giving us plenty of time to appreciate them in the water. And then, incredibly, they appeared again at Koh Tachai.
Welcome to our group: Kevin and Emilie from France; Victoria and Daniel from England; Jorgen and Magnus from Sweden; Shashank from India; and Chloé and Michael from South Africa.
The visibility was great and the conditions were easy. There were lots of fish everywhere, making the dives at Koh Bon and Koh Tachai even more enjoyable.
Abundant Marine Life at Koh Bon and Koh Tachai
Alongside the manta rays, the reefs were alive with fish. Surgeonfish, yellow fusiliers, lionfish, jacks and emperor fish all added to the underwater spectacle.
Glass fish were everywhere too, creating interesting, sparkly shapes as they moved together above the reef. Watching huge schools of tiny fish shift and swirl is one of those simple underwater moments that can keep you completely mesmerised.
Mixed with beautiful corals, it was a pretty impressive combination. What else did we need?
Bowmouth Guitarfish and Jenkins Rays
One of our groups also spotted a bowmouth guitarfish in the blue. 🙂 We were lucky with Jenkins rays too — so many!
Those encounters added another special element to a trip that had already delivered some unforgettable manta ray sightings.
And so much more!
Without forgetting the breathtaking outdoor scenery. 😉
Last but Not Least: The Reviews
Last but not least… the reviews of this trip!
“It was a 5 star experience. If I were to do another liveaboard on this part of the world, Smiling Seahorse it would be!”
“We popped our liveaboard ‘virginity’ with the Smiling Seahorse and what an amazing experience it was! Each component was well organised and spectacular. Love the family vibe on the boat …”
Discover More
- Koh Bon – discover one of Thailand’s memorable dive destinations for encounters with manta rays and abundant reef life.
- Koh Tachai – explore the underwater world around this spectacular Andaman Sea dive site.
- Oceanic manta rays – learn more about one of the most spectacular animals encountered while diving in the Andaman Sea.
- Rays of the Andaman Sea – discover more about the rays found in these waters.
- Thailand diving – explore more dive sites and liveaboard adventures in Thailand.
