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North Andaman Sea: 6 Days of Diving Adventures and Amazing Encounters
This week, we welcomed guests from Switzerland, France, Costa Rica, America, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia and the Philippines for six days exploring the Surin Islands and Similan National Park in the North Andaman Sea.
And what an incredible week it was! From colourful reefs and fascinating macro life to manta rays, bull sharks and an extraordinary blackwater encounter, the Andaman Sea certainly gave us plenty to remember.
First Day: Exploring Surin National Park
Our journey began at the enchanting Surin National Park, where excitement filled the air as we prepared for our first dives of the trip.
We eagerly plunged into the crystal-clear waters and, to our delight, a graceful marble ray glided past us. It was a beautiful reminder of the incredible marine life waiting beneath the surface.
As we explored the reef, we encountered a vast school of sweetlips, their vibrant colours creating a spectacular display against the reef. Moving on, a squadron of barracudas appeared, their sleek bodies adding an exhilarating sense of movement to the dive.
Nearby, a regal longnose emperor swam gracefully alongside a group of trevallies. We also spent time searching the reef for nudibranchs, discovering delicate and colourful little creatures hidden among the corals.
Second Day: Richelieu Rock
On the second day of our adventure, we headed for the most renowned dive site in the Andaman Sea: Richelieu Rock.
Known for its spectacular underwater scenery and incredible biodiversity, Richelieu Rock did not disappoint. As we descended into the blue, barracudas darted through the water while longnose emperors and trevallies moved around the pinnacle.
Groupers and yellow snappers added colour to the reef, while our macro-loving divers searched carefully among the corals.
One of the highlights was finding harlequin shrimps. These beautiful little crustaceans are always a special find, and their intricate patterns made them particularly photogenic.
We also discovered ghost pipefish perfectly camouflaged among the reef. Their delicate shapes and incredible camouflage are exactly the sort of details that make Richelieu Rock such a fascinating place to dive.
Third Day: Similan National Park and a Historic Blackwater Encounter
On the third day, we moved towards Similan National Park. During the daytime dives, we encountered big lobsters, octopuses and tuna, but the biggest surprise came after sunset.
Our blackwater dive produced an extraordinary encounter: what was reported at the time as the first-ever blanket octopus seen in Thai waters.
We were incredibly proud and excited to witness such a remarkable animal. It was undoubtedly the highlight of the dive — and probably the highlight of the entire cruise!
While the blanket octopus was undoubtedly the highlight, it wasn’t the only fascinating subject we encountered that night.
Similan dive sites are always beautiful and often offer excellent visibility. The water was getting warmer, which made us very happy! West of Eden was particularly enjoyable, with a large array of macro life hiding among the gardens of hard corals.
We found cute batwing sea slugs and a large spearing mantis shrimp hiding in a hole in the sand. It was another reminder that the Similans are just as rewarding for macro enthusiasts as they are for divers looking for larger marine life.
Fourth and Fifth Days: Koh Bon and Koh Tachai
The fourth and fifth days took us to Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.
The dive sites around Koh Bon feature dramatic underwater pinnacles, colourful coral formations and a wide variety of marine life. Koh Bon is particularly famous for manta ray encounters, but this week it was on fire with massive blotched stingrays and seven bull sharks!
Koh Tachai offers a combination of shallow and deeper dive sites, with beautiful coral reefs, granite boulders and vibrant marine life. Divers can explore underwater caves, reefs and walls while enjoying excellent visibility around the island.
Sixth Day: Manta Rays in the Southern Similan Islands
On the sixth day, we explored the southern Similan Islands. As we glided through the clear water, a dreamlike scene unfolded before us.
Among the vibrant coral reefs, we encountered beautiful manta rays gracefully soaring through the blue. Their effortless movements were mesmerising, and for a moment it felt as though the boundaries between reality and fantasy had disappeared.
Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to get any photos this time… you can’t get lucky every time! 🙂
The Last Day: A Grand Finale in the Similan Islands
On the final day of the trip, our hearts were filled with joy and wonder as we explored Donald Duck Bay, Deep Six, West of Eden, Rocky Point and Anita’s Reef.
We encountered magnificent bull sharks and playful marble rays, while a shimmering school of chevron barracuda created a mesmerising dance in the blue water.
We also found a camouflaged octopus, its tentacles gently waving in the current, while vibrant reef fish surrounded the pinnacles. Every dive brought another memorable encounter and another reason to appreciate the incredible underwater world of the Andaman Sea.
Congratulations to Mary-Ann and Joram for completing their Advanced Open Water courses, and to Sabrina for completing her Nitrox course.
Finally, we would like to say a huge thank you to all our customers. Without you, these trips simply could not happen. We hope you all had a wonderful time with us on board and enjoyed a fantastic holiday in the Andaman Sea.
