We welcomed 14 guests from Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany, Finland, Japan, United States and England and we had a blast, both on the boat and underwater. Thank you for choosing the MV Smiling Seahorse to “pass the cap” on board.
Starting the trip in the Surin National Park, the highlight of the first day was a curious guitar shark visiting us on our very first dive!
Big school of fish, trevally, barracudas, and fusilier were present around the famous Richelieu Rock. Looking on the reef, we could spot ghost pipefish, a seahorse, and 2 pairs of harlequin shrimps for the pleasure of all!
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Cruising down south to the Similan National Park for the next two days, everyone really enjoyed Koh Tachai Pinnacle, which was teeming with life. it’s always great to see the diversity of this ecosystem and two dives are far from enough to see it all.
The first night dive was at Koh Bon where we saw the tinniest Pygmy squid, plenty of moray eels hunting (some where huge!!!), cool crabs like anemone crab or decorate spider crab. The reef was alight with shrimps eyes shinning in our torches and getting closer we recognised Durban dancing shrimps, transparent cleaner shrimps, marble shrimps and tapestry shrimps (both are saron shrimp and oh so colourful!)
The first night dive was at Koh Bon where we saw the tinniest Pygmy squid, plenty of moray eels hunting (some where huge!!!), cool crabs like anemone crab or decorate spider crab. The reef was alight with shrimps eyes shinning in our torches and getting closer we recognised Durban dancing shrimps, transparent cleaner shrimps, marble shrimps and tapestry shrimps (both are saron shrimp and oh so colourful!)
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The following day, we had a little change of plan because the princess of Thailand wanted to go diving in the similans and closed a few sites to make sure she wouldn’t meet any diver underwater… Fun to think the Similan islands as a Royal-worthy dive destination. Three big military ships where guarding the princess and made sure we didn’t get close…
We dove at elephant head rock first where we saw 2 resident Ribbon eel (black and blue), a tinny octopus and tunas. Our second dive was at shark fin reef which had many huge boxfish hanging out and a school of batfish. The third dive was at boulder city and a group got super lucky with a Leopard shark!I think they are my favorite type of shark… what’s yours? |
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A smooth cruising down south to Koh Lanta National Park where we dove the next day around Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, including a wonderful night dive! On this second night dive this week we encountered many crustaceans and morays including another pair of harlequin shrimps!
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Despite being tired by 4 dives that day, quite a few guests and most staff were also up for a big new year celebration, starting with a succulent barbecue and ending up dancing on the sundeck with music, hats and party favors! We all ended up drinking champagne (courtesy of the smiling seahorse) with bright hats on our head, blowing party horns to the sea breeze 🙂 Fun times!
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Tarutao National Park and his famous 8 miles (12.87 km) rock for the two first dives of 2023 were wonderful ! Mobula , frogfish, seahorse and huge school of Jack.
Following by the incredible Stonehenge and his beautiful coral garden where a school or Baraccuda came by to say hello to the lense. That day ended with a Blackwater dive on our way back West.
Following by the incredible Stonehenge and his beautiful coral garden where a school or Baraccuda came by to say hello to the lense. That day ended with a Blackwater dive on our way back West.
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What we see in Blackwater diving in Thailand.
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Back to Lanta National Park, the cameras flashed again in front of harlequin shrimps, a massive stonefish and the amazing wall full of soft coral of Hin Daeng (Red) and Hin Muang (Purple).
We spent the rest of the day in Koh Haa, hunting a variety of nudibranch that even some guides had never seen before ! We went through the scenic Cathedral and Chimney, perfect props for our annual group picture!
We spent the rest of the day in Koh Haa, hunting a variety of nudibranch that even some guides had never seen before ! We went through the scenic Cathedral and Chimney, perfect props for our annual group picture!
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Last day but not least, Bida Nok with its many blacktip reef sharks and their dense school of yellowback fusilier.
The last dive before heading back to Phuket was at Shark Point with the perfect finish to this wonderful cruise: a long and chill encounter of a Zebra Shark !Stay tuned for our next adventure! Thanks for reading; more fishy stories for you next week !
The last dive before heading back to Phuket was at Shark Point with the perfect finish to this wonderful cruise: a long and chill encounter of a Zebra Shark !Stay tuned for our next adventure! Thanks for reading; more fishy stories for you next week !
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