Departing from Phuket, our international group of divers from the UK, USA, Germany, Australia, France, Sweden, Canada, and Austria embarked on an exciting journey through the northern Andaman Sea. Our itinerary took us through the spectacular dive sites of Similan National Park and Surin National Park, with the highlight dives at Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.

Our third day took us to the Similan Islands, starting with two dives at Koh Tachai. The waters were clear, and the visibility was perfect as we swam alongside schools of bigeye trevallies, yellowback fusiliers, and pickhandle barracudas. ​

We finally could jump into our first blackwater dive that night, and what a treat! We spotted many interesting post-larval critters such as octopuses, lobsters, squid, and flying gurnards drift past our lights drifting past our lights.​

MV Smiling Seahorse welcomed aboard an incredible group of divers from Belgium, Singapore, France, Australia, Germany, and the USA. Departing from Khao Lak, we cruised northward towards the pristine waters of Surin National Park. Over the course of the next three adventurous days, we explored vibrant coral gardens, dramatic pinnacles, and the famous Richelieu Rock, encountering marine life in all shapes and sizes.

Our adventure began with a check dive at Ao Pakkard Bay, a stunning site featuring a vibrant coral garden and a soft, white sandy bottom. The calm waters set the stage for a perfect start, revealing a delightful array of marine life: a graceful eagle ray, curious garden eels, a passing blacktip reef shark, and even the iconic humphead parrotfish munching on coral. Amidst the reef, we were greeted by boxfish, triggerfish, anemonefish, and damselfish darting through the corals.
The second dive took us to Yellow Rock, also known as Rainbow Rock. With incredible visibility and minimal current, the dive was truly breathtaking. Schools of parrotfish, harlequin sweetlips, yellowtail barracuda, and big potato groupers surrounded us, while smaller critters like bentstick pipefish and porcupinefish made charming appearances. Adding to the vibrant scene were tigerfish, angelfish, boxfish, and pufferfish navigating the reef.
For our third dive, we explored Torinla Pinnacle, a boulder-strewn site with excellent visibility and little current. Among the rocks, we discovered catfish, Pikachu nudibranchs, and a curious barracuda hovering in the blue. The reef was alive with parrotfish, triggerfish, and a kaleidoscope of colorful wrasse.
We ended the day with a magical night dive back at Ao Pakkard Bay. Crustaceans took center stage, including squat shrimps, giant red reef crabs, marbled shrimps, and Durban dancing shrimps. Sleeping anemonefish on their purple pillow and parrotfish rested peacefully in their snort bubble, while the water sparkled with bioluminescence at every fin kick.

The day was dedicated to the legendary Richelieu Rock, one of the most biodiverse dive sites in the world. We completed three spectacular dives here, each offering amazing visibility and an explosion of marine life.
Rabbitfish and the usual mob of longnose emperors were seen hunting with big eye trevally on the reef while  pickhandle barracuda and rainbow runners filled the blue above. Close to the reef, we spotted a baby banded stick pipefish on the sandy bottom,  a yellow trumpetfish tried and failed to hide in a bushy coral, jens cleaner pipefish were hiding in every dark crevice. in the shallow a big school of batfish was playing in the sunrays, while schools of yellow and white snappers passed them by. Tiny critters like nudibranchs (including various chromodoris), porcelain crabs, and a tiny yellow cube boxfish delighted our macro enthusiasts and got the strobes flashing!
Our divers also encountered the elusive frogfish, white-spotted boxfish, and clouds of fusiliers darting around the reef. The soft corals here were thriving, home to anemonefish, damselfish, and a kaleidoscope of reef species.
​
For the sunset dive, one group returned to Richelieu Rock, where the current brought in the big action: schools of longnose emperors, giant trevally, barracuda, rainbow runners, and fusiliers swarmed the pinnacle, creating an unforgettable spectacle before nightfall.
Meanwhile, other groups ventured out for a blackwater dive, a surreal night diving experience floating in the open ocean.
Highlights that night included larval filefish, baby day octopuses, Indian halibut, and moray eel larvae, alongside mesmerizing salps drifting in the darkness.

The final day began with a dive at Koh Tachai Plateau/Pinnacle, where we encountered a massive school of blackfin barracudas, giant trevally, and potato groupers swimming across the plateau. Among the reefs, we admired large sea fans, clusters of boxfish, triggerfish, and sizable lobsters scuttling in the crevices. Schools of fusiliers and snapper danced in the current, while tuna and Spanish mackerel zipped past in the blue waters.
​
Next, we headed to Koh Bon Pinnacle, where an amazing school of batfish, white-tip reef sharks, and titan triggerfish took center stage. At West Ridge, the day continued with sightings of a banded sea snake, bluefin trevally, Maldivian sponge snails, and even blue baby lobsters hiding in the cracks. The playful peacock mantis shrimps were a crowd favorite, alongside a variety of snapper, wrasse, and parrotfish.

A heartfelt thank you to all our incredible guests for making this trip such a truly special experience. The smiles, laughter, and shared underwater adventures created unforgettable memories as we explored the breathtaking beauty of the North Andaman Sea. Each moment spent together was cherished, and we are grateful for the camaraderie and joy that you all brought aboard. We sincerely hope to welcome you back on the MV Smiling Seahorse for your next adventure! Your presence made this journey remarkable, and we look forward to creating more magical moments together in the future.

With the MV Smiling Seahorse, where divers explored Thailand’s most breathtaking marine parks during a week-long safari. From the vibrant reefs of Surin and Similan National Parks to the unspoiled beauty of Koh Lanta and Tarutao, this journey was a celebration of marine biodiversity and camaraderie among diving enthusiasts.
​
Here’s a detailed, day-by-day recount of this unforgettable diving safari.

On the east side, we encountered the area’s famous great barracudas and batfish, pausing by the reef for cleaning. Meanwhile, the western side of Richelieu held surprises, from groupers stationed atop deep pinnacles covered with shimmering glass fish to countless reef species like parrotfish, angelfish, and clownfish hiding within anemones. Our divers couldn’t get enough of the lively interactions between various shrimp, crabs, and the resident moray eels tucked within the rocky crevices.

The standout moment came during our final dive at Richelieu Rock. A tiny seahorse clung to a piece of rope at a depth of 29 meters, its delicate frame and vibrant colors creating a moment of awe. Seeing such a rare and graceful creature was the perfect way to cap off our exploration of Richelieu Rock, and it was our first seahorse sighting of the season!​

Here we are! The season has started again with an incredible start in the north Similan and Surin. First of all we were alone on Richelieu Rock for 7 consecutive dives due to bad weather conditions in Kao Lak and Phuket, forbidding other boats to leave the harbour.
- Truth is, up north it was fine and we didn't have to change our plans. We got 10 dives on RR!
Second, the highlight was not only 1 whale shark, that paid us a quick visit, but 2 different Mantas over 2 days!
Only 1 word comes to me... "WOW!!!!!"

For this first trip of the season we were pleased to share some fantastic dives with a small group of divers from the USA, Israel, and Austria and excited to welcome back Walter Marti, a wonderful videographer for some interesting sessions on Underwater Videography and how to make a stunning movie out of your next diving vacations... (His Video of the trip is coming soon and I can't wait to share it with you!)

On Day 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 mesmerizing dive site teeming with diverse marine life nestled among an immense pile of granite boulders. Here, we encountered a myriad of fascinating creatures such as Surgeon Fish, schools of Batfish, chevron, and yellow tail barracudas, a big gang of lobsters, octopus, and giant groupers and another a majestic Black Tip Shark, came by a group of divers allowing us to marvel at this vibrant ecosystem in perfect conditions.
 
Upon reaching Koh Bon, we thoroughly explored the entire island, with one highlight being the bustling cleaning station near the North ridge where a school of Batfish gathered, providing a picturesque opportunity for our photographers to capture their captivating cleaning rituals.
 
Some of our boldest divers ventured towards the deep pinnacle of Koh Bon, their audacity rewarded by a breathtaking spectacle of 40 meters plus visibility unveiling the colossal pinnacle against a backdrop of white sand, with a magnificent school of Batfish gracefully gliding overhead.

During Days 4, 5, and 6 of our expedition, we dedicated our time to exploring the world-renowned dive site known as Richelieu Rock. This marine paradise exceeded all our expectations with its abundant marine life and captivating surprises. With its colorful soft corals and seafans and abundant marine life, it is the perfect spot for wide angle photography.
 
Upon our descent, we were greeted by the familiar residents of Richelieu Rock. A bustling congregation of Longnose Emperors, Jackfish, and Rainbow Runners formed a dynamic community that encircled the rock, engaging in energetic hunts that mesmerized us throughout our dives. These majestic creatures effortlessly swam around us, showcasing their dominance in every direction we looked.
 
As we meandered through the hidden nooks of Richelieu Rock, we encountered the regal Great Barracudas and graceful Batfish gracefully navigating the waters. Their presence added an ethereal charm to the underwater landscape, whether they were on the move or pausing for a cleansing session near the reef.
 
Venturing to the east side of the rock revealed a realm ruled by groupers perched atop towering pillars, teeming with a myriad of glass fish. The vibrantly coloured Parrotfish, serene Angelfish, and playful Clownfish danced amidst millions of shrimps and crabs, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. Furthermore, the cracks and crevices of the reef harboured various species of Moray Eels, peacefully resting and observing the bustling underwater world around them. Not to forget the rivers of yellow snappers covering the inside of this word famous horseshoe!
 
Our time at Richelieu Rock was an unforgettable immersion into a vibrant ecosystem where every corner revealed a new wonder, making it a truly remarkable diving experience.

It was also great to welcome Mike Bartick onboard for the very first time! Who got more lucky than Franck capturing the graceful Whale Shark passing us by!

Mike is an award-winning photographer we've been following from afar since we discovered Blackwater diving. Based in Anilao, Philippines, he’s pioneered blackwater diving and leads many workshops each year around the globe. We’re thrilled to have him on board next week to lead our first underwater photography and blackwater Workshop in the Burma Banks!

With sharks by day and blackwater dives by night, we’re sure to capture some unforgettable moments.
​Stay tuned for photos and trip updates!

Congratulation to Michael on completing his Nitrox course with us and big thank you to everyone on board who make this trip so special. We are very happy to have five of you back onboard tomorrow for the next trip in Mergui Archipelago and the Burma Banks can’t wait!

It is also near the Similan islands that we took a Blackwater Dive to meet all the weird little critters living their best pelagic life :)