What a Start to the Season: Whale Sharks, Mantas and 10 Dives at Richelieu Rock
Here we are! The season has started again, and what an incredible start it has been in the north of the Similan and Surin Islands.
First of all, we were completely alone at Richelieu Rock for seven consecutive dives because of bad weather conditions around Khao Lak and Phuket, which prevented other boats from leaving the harbour.
The truth is, however, that up north the conditions were fine, so we didn’t have to change our plans. In the end, we managed an incredible 10 dives at Richelieu Rock!
And then came the highlights. Not just one whale shark, which paid us a quick visit, but two different Manta Rays over two days!
Only one word comes to mind… WOW!!!!!
For this first trip of the season, we were delighted to share some fantastic dives with a small group of divers from the USA, Israel and Austria. We were also very excited to welcome back Walter Marti, a wonderful videographer who joined us for some interesting sessions about underwater videography and how to turn your next diving holiday into a stunning movie.
His video of the trip was coming soon, and we couldn’t wait to share it!
Day 1: Surin Islands National Park
After bidding farewell to Ranong on 21 October, we embarked on a six-hour cruise towards our first dive site in the breathtaking Surin Islands National Park.
Our journey began with the customary check dive at Koh Chi, where we descended into crystal-clear, 29°C water surrounded by tropical fish of every shape and colour. Butterflyfish, Angelfish, Groupers, Damselfish, Parrotfish, Moray Eels and many more were already waiting to welcome us back underwater.
For our second dive, we headed to Torinla Rock, an impressive underwater boulder dome resting on a white-sand seabed. Special hydroids thrive around the rock, providing a habitat for one of the site’s most entertaining little residents: the colourful nudibranch affectionately known as Pikachu.
Among the hydroids and coral, we explored a classic tropical reef scene filled with Parrotfish, Sweetlips, Bannerfish, Lionfish and plenty more.
For our third dive, we ventured to Yellow Rock, where we were astonished by the abundance of marine life. Large schools of Yellowtail Barracuda filled the water, while impressive Potato Groupers moved around the rocks.
Some of our photographers were even lucky enough to capture Robustra, a striking black, red and white nudibranch.
Surin is not only a paradise for divers; it is also a fantastic destination for photographers. This trip was particularly special as we had the pleasure of bringing two young guests, Cléa, aged eight, and her brother Luca, aged six, on their very first snorkelling adventure.
And what an introduction to the underwater world they had! During their snorkelling trip in Surin Bay, they had an exhilarating first encounter with a Blacktip Reef Shark.
The action-packed day ended with a night dive at Surin Bay, allowing us to explore the mysterious nocturnal world beneath the surface.
Days 2 and 3: Koh Tachai and Koh Bon
On Days 2 and 3 of our diving expedition, we embarked on a thrilling journey between Koh Tachai and Koh Bon.
Our first stop was the enchanting underwater pinnacle of Koh Tachai, a mesmerising dive site formed by an immense pile of granite boulders. The site was absolutely teeming with marine life.
We encountered Surgeonfish, schools of Batfish, Chevron Barracuda and Yellowtail Barracuda, as well as a big gang of lobsters, Octopus and Giant Groupers. Then a majestic Blacktip Shark came cruising past a group of divers, giving us the perfect opportunity to marvel at this vibrant ecosystem in excellent conditions.
At Koh Bon, we explored the island and its famous cleaning station near the North Ridge. A school of Batfish gathered around the cleaning station, creating a fantastic opportunity for our photographers to capture their fascinating cleaning behaviour.
Some of our boldest divers also ventured towards the deep pinnacle of Koh Bon. Their adventure was rewarded with more than 40 metres of visibility, revealing the enormous pinnacle rising from a white-sand bottom, with a magnificent school of Batfish gliding overhead.
As a grand finale to Day 3, we embarked on a thrilling Blackwater Dive in the vast open ocean, adding yet another completely different experience to an already unforgettable few days of diving.
Days 4, 5 and 6: Back to Richelieu Rock
During Days 4, 5 and 6 of our expedition, we dedicated our time to the world-renowned dive site of Richelieu Rock.
This marine paradise exceeded all our expectations with its abundance of marine life and constant surprises. With colourful soft corals, seafans and an extraordinary concentration of fish, it is the perfect place for wide-angle photography.
As soon as we descended, we were greeted by the familiar residents of Richelieu Rock. Longnose Emperors, Jackfish and Rainbow Runners formed dynamic schools around the rock, constantly moving as they hunted.
Great Barracudas and Batfish added to the spectacle, sometimes cruising through the blue and sometimes pausing around the reef for a cleaning session.
On the east side of the rock, groupers perched on towering pillars surrounded by clouds of glassfish. Vibrantly coloured Parrotfish, peaceful Angelfish and playful Clownfish moved among millions of tiny shrimp and crabs, creating a spectacular underwater scene.
The cracks and crevices of the reef were home to several species of Moray Eels, quietly watching the busy underwater world around them. And inside the famous horseshoe of Richelieu Rock, rivers of Yellow Snappers filled the water.
Every corner seemed to reveal something new, making our time at Richelieu Rock an unforgettable immersion in one of the Andaman Sea’s most spectacular underwater ecosystems.
Two Mantas and a Whale Shark: The Ultimate Richelieu Rock Surprise
Richelieu was just as stunning as when we left it six months earlier at the end of the previous season. What a pleasure to be back!
But these three days held some truly breathtaking surprises in store for us.
Our luck seemed boundless on one of the dives. It started with a magnificent Whale Shark and ended with an Oceanic Manta Ray coming to bid us farewell. What an extra touch of magic!
We were even more astonished when a second Oceanic Manta Ray elegantly swam near Franck and stayed with him throughout his safety stop, which ended up being extended by a good ten minutes.
While Manta Rays are not uncommon in the Andaman Sea, seeing them at Richelieu Rock is a very special treat. James, with more than two decades of experience in the area, had encountered Manta Rays at this particular site only twice before.
We felt incredibly privileged to witness such a remarkable event at the very beginning of the new season.
Welcome Aboard, Mike Bartick
It was also fantastic to welcome Mike Bartick onboard for the very first time!
Mike is an award-winning photographer whom we had been following from afar since discovering Blackwater diving. Based in Anilao, Philippines, he has pioneered Blackwater diving and leads workshops around the world.
And he certainly got lucky on this trip, capturing the graceful Whale Shark as it passed by. What an encounter!
We were thrilled to have Mike on board and were already looking forward to welcoming him back for an upcoming underwater photography and Blackwater workshop in the Burma Banks.
With sharks by day and Blackwater dives by night, there was certainly plenty of potential for unforgettable images.
One Last Dive and a Big Thank You
Congratulations to Michael on completing his Nitrox course with us, and a huge thank you to everyone on board who helped make this first trip of the season so special.
We were especially happy to have five of our guests returning on board again for the following trip to the Mergui Archipelago and the Burma Banks.
What a way to start the season. Whale Sharks, two Oceanic Mantas, incredible marine life at Richelieu Rock, Blackwater diving, fantastic guests and plenty of unforgettable moments. We couldn’t have asked for a more exciting beginning!
