Thailand Liveaboard Diving: Surin, the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock
Another trip with a lovely mix of international guests from Japan, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Russia, America, Canada, Thailand and the United Kingdom joined us for this four-day cruise around Surin and the Similan National Park.
A Guitarfish on the Very First Dive
The trip started brilliantly, with a guitarfish on the very first dive.
Did you know that guitarfish actually belong to the ray family? Their gills and mouth are underneath their bodies rather than at the front, but their large shark-like fins often cause them to be mistaken for sharks or even called guitar sharks.
They also swim more like sharks, using their tail to propel themselves through the water, whereas most other rays prefer to flap their pectoral fins like wings.
Jenkins’ Whipray, Nudibranchs and Harlequin Shrimps
Some of the biggest moments of the week included a large Jenkins’ whipray chilling on the sand, nudibranchs all over the reefs and harlequin shrimps feeding on their starfish.
We also encountered plenty of bluespotted stingrays cruising above the garden eels, before an especially memorable encounter: an eagle ray making a special appearance during a night dive at Richelieu Rock.
Hawksbill Turtles, Sea Kraits and Koh Bon
The Similan Islands did not disappoint either, with hawksbill turtles, banded sea kraits, Maldives sponge snails and great barracudas spotted around Koh Bon.
At Tachai Pinnacle, we witnessed octopus mating, while giant lobsters rested beneath the rocks, including one carrying its eggs under its belly. Pipefish, nudibranchs, cowries and large schools of fusiliers and trevallies completed the impressive list of marine life encountered during the cruise.
Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered and are among the turtles we encounter most frequently on our cruises. Learn more about the hawksbill turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata, and discover more about this fascinating species.
A Birthday, New Certifications and a Few Days Out of the Water
We also celebrated a birthday during the trip. Happy birthday, Sergey!
And a big congratulations to:
- Lucas for completing your Advanced Open Water certification!
- Miles and Christine for completing your Adventure Deep Dive!
Unfortunately, Franck was out of the water because of an ear injury, so there were not many underwater photos from him this month!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this fantastic four-day adventure. We look forward to seeing you all again, above or underwater.
