Category: Similan Islands

Trip Report Wonderful North Andaman from the 28th November to the 3rd December

6/12/2025

trip report November 2025, Liveaboard Boat At Sunset Thailand Liveaboard

Our last trip of November began beautifully at Tap Lamu Pier, where we welcomed a lovely international group from the USA, Australia, Canada, and China. Smiles, excitement, and dive bags loaded — we set sail toward the legendary Similan National Park, ready for a week of granite giants, lush reefs, and pelagic encounters.

Day 2 — Similan National Park

Check Dive — West of Eden (Island 7)
The season opened gracefully: the reef was alive with movement, as schools of neon fusiliers, twinstripe fusiliers, yellowback fusiliers, and five-lined snappers flowed around the bommies like a perfectly timed ballet.
Bluefin trevallies, a massive giant trevally, and a sleek dogtooth tuna patrolled the edges while adult black-and-white snappers, oriental sweetlips, and a giant one-spot snapper added structure to the scene.
Down in the sand, a spirit mantis shrimp peeked from its burrow, surrounded by eager squat shrimps, while a banded seasnake weaved around the corals. A relaxed hawksbill turtle joined us mid-dive, followed by a charismatic octopus and a picture-perfect clown triggerfish.
A spectacular start.

Hawkbill turtle (photo from a previous trip)

Boxfish

Dive 2 — Elephant Head Rock
The underwater maze delivered its usual magic: harlequin sweetlips, elegant three-spot angelfish, curious coral groupers, and thick-bodied giant morays.
A scribbled filefish hovered among the boulders, while adult yellow cube-boxfish, blue-spotted puffers, and a hefty porcupinefish wandered peacefully.
Pelagic action was constant with giant trevallies, bluefin trevallies, and dogtooth tuna cutting through the blue.
Among the reef, colorful wrasses, dust-blue surgeonfish, and crunching parrotfish added all the texture you'd expect from a prime Andaman reef.
After lunch, we visited the iconic beach and viewpoint of Donald Duck Bay on Island 8 — a postcard of granite boulders, white sand, and turquoise pools.

Dive 3 — Three Trees
Soft sand, rich bommies, and life everywhere.
Garden eels rose and sank gracefully in the current, a blue-spotted Kuhl’s ray glided over the bottom, and schools of bluelined snappers, rabbitfish, and yellow goatfish swirled around the coral heads.
The hard coral formations here are beautiful — rounded boulders topped with staghorn, pore corals, table corals, and tiny damselfish, triggerfish, wrasses, and unicornfish dancing above them.

Night Dive — Koh Bon

Lights on — and the reef woke up.

Octopuses displayed all their colors, big red crabs patrolled the rocks, and a massive giant moray hunted boldly out in the open.
A sleepy bicolor parrotfish tucked itself between two rocks, while yellowback fusiliers played in the beams. Close to the bottom we found marble shrimps, tiny spider crabs, and the ever-entertaining Durban dancing shrimps.

Video: Decorator Spider crab and hairy Hermit Crab scuttling across the reef

Day 3 — Koh Bon & Koh Tachai

Dive 1 — Koh Bon Pinnacle & North Ridge
A beautiful morning with banded seasnakes twisting through the corals, scorpionfish blending into the structure, and mackerel explosions over glassfish clouds.
A huge marble grouper lounged on the ridge near a shining giant clam.
Schools of barracudas, batfish, yellowback fusiliers, neon fusiliers, and a cast of coral groupers, Clark’s anemonefish, and tiny wrasses added color to the soft yellow, blue, and pink corals covering the area.

Dive 2 — Koh Bon West Ridge
Pelagics everywhere: giant trevallies, shimmering rainbow runners, and a curious giant moray.
Around the bommies: groupers, surgeonfish, tiny blennies, and damsels darting between the hard corals.
Clark’s anemonefish swayed in their soft hosts while cleaner pipefish zipped around.

Freckled Hawkfish Coral Reef Thailand Liveaboard

Ceratosoma Trilobatum Nudibranch Thailand Liveaboard

Dive 3 — Koh Tachai Pinnacle
Action-packed as always.
We were greeted by giant marble groupers, clouds of bluefin trevallies, powerful godtooth tunas (the local spelling fun continues!), and a tornado of barracudas.
Schools of yellowback fusiliers, neon fusiliers, and bluelined snappers danced over the rocks.
Hidden between coral blocks we found lobsters, giant morays, batfish, diamond-shaped unicornfish, bigeye emperors, curious goatfish, and plenty of colorful angelfish, butterflyfish, wrasses, parrotfish, and surgeonfish.

Dive 4 — Tachai Reef or Blackwater
Tachai Reef offered a peaceful end to the day with checkered snappers, shy octopus, bridled monocle bream, Indo-Pacific sergeant, morrish idol, powder-blue surgeonfish, striped surgeonfish, Indian sailfin tang, golden rabbitfish, and a thrilling moment with two blacktip reef sharks hunting fusiliers in the shallows.

Orange Spotted Emperor fish Thailand Liveaboard

Blackwater Dive (off Koh Tachai)
A galaxy in motion: larval anemonefish, stargazers, eel larvae, pyrosomes, siphonophores, venus girdles, comb jellies, larval crabs, and larval triggerfish floating through the dark. Hypnotic. (photos below from a previous trip as out photographer was out of the water this week).

Squid Blackwater Diving Thailand Liveaboard

Pelagic Juvenile Fish Blackwater Diving Thailand Liveaboard

Larval Shrimp Blackwater Diving Thailand Liveaboard

Day 4 & 5 — Richelieu Rock (Surin National Park)

The jewel of the Andaman, discovered by a Danish admiral of the same name — not the French cardinal!
Richelieu greeted us with purple soft corals swaying in the current, clouds of life pulsing around the horseshoe-shaped reef, and visibility that kept changing but always rewarded patience.

The reef was buzzing:
Octopus, elegant harlequin shrimps, a beautiful black-and-yellow ribbon eel, Chromodoris risbecia pulchella, blue dragons, and bright purple flabellinas.
Pelagic visitors included cobias, pickhandle barracudas, yellowtail barracudas, and « the gang » — the longnose emperors teaming up with rainbow runners and several species of trevallies (bluefin, giant, bigeye, golden…).
A courtship of golden trevallies was the highlight of the afternoon.
The clouds of life around the rock were incredible: yellowback fusiliers, two-spot snappers, twinstripe fusiliers, longfin snappers, and more — everything swirling through the soft coral fingers.
The night dive revealed hunting morays, crabs on the move, sleeping parrotfish, and surreal colors in the torch beams.

Four more dives full of action: endless trevallies, rainbow runners, fusilier storms, lovingly posing harlequin shrimps, macro critters hiding in soft corals, and the iconic purple landscape of Richelieu glowing in the morning sun.

Giant Trevally Richelieu Rock, Thailand Liveaboard

Day 6 – Richelieu Rock Farewell & Return to Ranong

For our final day, the ocean treated us to two beautiful morning dives at Richelieu Rock, its horseshoe-shaped reef once again buzzing with life. The soft purple corals were blooming in the current, glassfish shimmering over the pinnacles, and clouds of trevallies hunting in perfect coordination. A curious banded sea snake weaved through the sea fans, and our divers enjoyed long, colorful drifts through schools of rainbow runners and oriental sweetlips.
After these last immersive moments in Thailand’s most iconic site, we began our smooth cruise south toward Ranong. On the way, we made a quick stop at Koh Payam to drop off one of our guests—an unexpected but pleasant pause in this peaceful island paradise—before continuing back toward the pier, watching the sun lower itself behind the Andaman Sea.

We wrapped up the day with a calm sunset and a wonderful BBQ in Surin Bay, sharing stories under a sky full of stars.

Giant Trevallies hunt in a school of tiny bait fish

A fantastic end to our Surin and Similan Liveaboard cruise

Another beautiful trip filled with great dives, wonderful guests, and an ocean full of surprises — from tiny flabellinas to hunting trevallies.
Thank you to everyone on board for bringing such great energy and for the photos illustrating this blogpost!
We can’t wait to have you back onboard for new ocean adventures!

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Trip Report: South & North Andaman — 19th to 26th November 2025

27/11/2025

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Our new diving season began with a wonderfully international group joining us at Chok Thaeworn Pier in Phuket. Divers arrived from Switzerland, France, Holland, Belgium, Taiwan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Canada — including our special guest and paparazza Katie, already armed with her camera. With everyone settled in aboard the MV Smiling Seahorse, we started our southbound journey toward the crystalline waters of the Koh Lanta National Park and the remote pinnacle of Hin Muang.

Day 1 — Koh Haa & Hin Muang

Koh Lanta National Park — turquoise lagoons & dramatic limestone formations

Koh Lanta National Park is known for its sheltered lagoons, underwater caverns, and vibrant coral slopes, making it a perfect starting point for our first dives of the season. Our check dive at Koh Haa set the tone, with chromodoris annulata and chromodoris kuniei decorating the reef like tiny jewels. Coral groupers hovered above bommies as juvenile angelfish and juvenile clown triggerfish darted around. Schools of yellowback fusiliers moved in waves alongside snappers and mackerels, while golden trevallies flashed past in hunting formation. A great barracuda cruised by, and a yellow-margin triggerfish paused at a cleaning station surrounded by busy wrasses and partner shrimps. Dusky damselfish, flutemouths and curious butterflyfish added movement and colour to the scene.

We continued south to Hin Muang for a spectacular wide-blue dive blessed with excellent visibility. Schools of batfish followed us down the wall where giant, bluefin and white-tongue trevallies patrolled the deep. Longnose emperors glided over purple-red soft corals, yellow boxfish played hide-and-seek around ledges, and a fimbriated moray eel peeked out from a crack. Rainbow runners flickered past like silver missiles while dogtooth tunas circled in the blue. A wandering octopus inspected our group before disappearing into the reef, and a white bent-stick pipefish blended perfectly with the soft coral background. Wrasses, anthias and red-toothed triggerfish filled every corner of the reef.

Our final dives of the day took place at Koh Rok Ridge, where porcupinefish of every pattern — false-eye, blue-spotted, black-spotted and fine-spotted — hovered curiously. Blue-legged boxer shrimps and Durban dancing shrimps were busy in the crevices of the giant barrel sponges, one of which hid a massive giant moray eel. Yellowback fusiliers, yellow-lined snappers and giant trevallies passed in numbers, while anemonefish guarded their shimmering homes and hawkfish perched proudly on coral heads.

The night dive revealed an entirely different world. Giant hermit crabs marched across the sand, cleaning shrimps wiggled within the shadows of barrel sponges and delicate flabellinas crawled over the reef. Big red crabs explored the rocks, bubble corals sheltered tiny squat shrimps, parrotfish slept in their mucus cocoons and several triggerfish wedged themselves safely into cracks. A scribbled filefish drifted slowly through the torch beams while cardinalfish and soldierfish hovered along the walls.

Scuba Diver Hovers Over Coral Reef Thailand Liveaboard

Day 2 — Koh Haa, Koh Lanta National Park

We began again at Koh Haa Yai, the famous “Cathedral,” where the large caverns glowed with natural light. Cleaner pipefish hovered above sandy patches, yellow boxfish zig-zagged between boulders, and golden trevallies cruised through shoals of rabbitfish. Hermit crabs roamed along the rocky edges, tiger cowries shimmered on the walls, and Moorish idols danced gracefully in pairs. Surgeonfish, fairy wrasses and angelfish of all sizes added movement around the cathedral arches while another yellow-margin triggerfish watched us pass with suspicion.

Koh Haa Lagoon offered calm, crystal-clear water between islands 2 and 4. A giant moray eel and a yellow-edge moray eel shared the same patch of reef while Durban dancing shrimps and partner shrimps worked tirelessly at cleaning stations. Garden eels swayed like tall grass on the sandy bottom, convict blennies formed tight black-and-white tornadoes, and a red-marbled lizardfish watched for prey. Bearded scorpionfish lay perfectly still, and yellowfin soldiers hovered above the rocks. Two dogtooth tunas patrolled the perimeter while giant trevallies and juvenile emperor angelfish added flashes of yellow and blue. Wrasses, anthias, parrotfish and goatfish swirled across the lagoon.

At Koh Haa Chimney, we descended through the famous vertical tunnel before circling the large boulders outside. Yellow-lined snappers formed dense clouds, neon fusiliers streaked through the blue, and giant trevallies and dogtooth tunas swept along the deeper edges. A giant coral grouper patrolled the sandy bottom, and a proud peacock mantis shrimp marched boldly along the wall. Inside the entrance cave, nudibranchs glossodoris cincta and bornella anguilla decorated the rock while a graceful young banded sea snake hunted in the shallow 3-meter water as we finished the dive.

Our sunset dive at Koh Haa Yai Reef was magical, with schools of Moorish idols, lined surgeonfish and copperband butterflyfish gliding above healthy hard corals and vibrant sea fans. Branching acropora, mushroom corals and large plate corals created perfect backdrops as the day slowly shifted into dusk.

Scuba Diver in Swim Through with Fan Thailand Liveaboard

Peacock Mantis Shrimp Thailand Liveaboard

Day 3 — Entering Phi Phi National Park

A protected archipelago known for limestone cliffs, caverns & rich megafauna

Phi Phi National Park welcomed us with its dramatic limestone peaks and nutrient-rich waters.
Our first dive at Koh Bida Nok delivered an abundance of life. We found four tigertail seahorses clinging to sea fans, two banded sea snakes exploring crevices and a massive lobster hiding under a ledge. A beautifully patterned Dermatobranchus ornatus nudibranch crawled across a rock. Blacktip reef sharks glided by, and a resting leopard shark offered a serene moment. Schools of yellow-lined snappers and juvenile silver batfish danced in loose formation.

At Anemone Reef, the pinnacle was fully carpeted with blue, green and pink anemones swaying with the current, home to colourful anemonefish and porcelain crabs. Cometfish hovered above the reef while squids moved in formation. Yellowback fusiliers, neon fusiliers and yellow-lined snappers circled continuously while a fimbriated moray eel shared a crack with two white-eye morays. A yellow-edge moray eel and a copperband butterflyfish completed the scene.

Shark Point offered yet another highlight with gigantic pickhandle barracudas at a cleaning station, schools of blacktail barracudas, and a pair of pharaoh cuttlefish mating in the shallows. Large barrel sponges and elegant sea fans decorated the ridge. Fimbriated, white-eye and giant moray eels appeared one after another, while copperband butterflyfish played among the soft corals. Wrasses, anthias, damselfish and soft-coral gobies filled every corner of the reef.

We then began our long navigation north — about 15 hours — following the coastline of Phuket and the Phang Nga region toward the Similan Islands.

Pink Clownfish in Anemone Thailand Liveaboard

Scuba Diver Films School of Snapper Thailand Liveaboard

Mating Pharaoh Cuttlefish Thailand Liveaboard

Scuba Divers with Huge Barrel Sponge Thailand Liveaboard

Day 5 — Similan National Park

Nine granitic islands with some of Thailand’s healthiest reefs

After a smooth 12-hour crossing, the iconic boulder landscapes of the Similans appeared on the horizon.
Our first dive at East of Princess Bay (Island 4) took us through Stonehenge, where large slabs of granite formed passageways filled with octopus, giant trevallies and juvenile oriental sweetlips. Lined surgeonfish moved calmly across the reef while peacock mantis shrimps patrolled the sand. Butterflyfish, angelfish, fairy wrasses and juvenile wrasses added colour at every turn.

West of Eden was spectacular with an ovula ovum cowrie mating on a coral head, schools of pennant coralfish weaving between boulders, and both yellowface and bluering angelfish showing off their vibrant colours. African coris and pastel ring-wrasse danced over the hard corals while a white-tip reef shark cruised by, followed closely by five imposing giant trevallies. Blue dragons decorated the coral blocks and a clown triggerfish impressed our divers. Gobies, chromis and small anthias flickered in the light.

At Hideaway, honeycomb groupers, peacock hinds, coral groupers and longface emperors dotted the reef, joined by oriental sweetlips and a mixed school of bluestreak and dory snappers. Durban dancing shrimps cleaned patiently below, while schools of juvenile blackfin barracudas and young bluefin trevallies hunted together with yellow-saddle goatfish.

The night dive at West of Eden revealed sleeping parrotfish, squirrelfish, soldierfish, hunting morays, long-legged spiny lobsters, glossy nudibranchs and massive moon groupers patrolling the shadows. Cardinalfish, sweepers and nocturnal wrasses reflected the torchlight.

Red Tailed Butterflyfish Thailand Liveaboard

Scuba Diver Behind Coral Covered Rock Wall Thailand Liveaboard

Day 6 — Similan Islands 4, 7 & 8

Honeymoon Bay (Island 4) greeted us with two octopuses mating in the sand channel. Dogtooth tunas circled the reef while cometfish, Durban dancing shrimps and partner shrimps explored the coral heads. A school of black-tail damselfish illuminated the water column, and a bright Halgerda tessellata nudibranch was the star of the macro search.

Back at West of Eden, we encountered another dogtooth tuna, a large green turtle and a small hawksbill turtle. Three more octopuses were spotted, including another mating pair. Leopard blennies peeked from holes while black-veined, dusky and two-coloured parrotfish grazed among the corals. Three-spot angelfish, hermit crabs and banded pipefish added to the action.

Elephant Head Rock delivered its signature swim-throughs, where giant trevallies roamed alongside giant yellow boxfish, porcupinefish, unicorn sweetlips, Andaman sweetlips, six-banded angelfish, rabbitfish, spotted boxfish and map puffers.

Our sunset dive at Turtle Rock (Island 8) featured brassy drummers, more giant yellow boxfish, black surgeonfish, blackear wrasse, spotted-tail dart gobies, porcelain crabs, marble groupers, coral groupers, tiger cowries and a parade of parrotfish grazing the reef. A pygmy squid darted in and out of view, and an octopus displayed brilliant colors as it hunted among the rocks.

Scuba Diver With Sea Fan Thailand Liveaboard

Four Nudibranches Together on Coral Reef Thailand Liveaboard

Powder Blue Surgeonfish Thailand Liveaboard

Angelfish and Oriental Sweetlips Thailand Liveaboard

Octopus with Coral Reef Thailand Liveaboard

can you spot the 2 octopus?

Day 7 — Island 9 & Beyond

Eagle’s Rock surprised us with beautiful coral bommies and granite formations sheltering giant morays, bluefin trevallies, dogtooth tunas and sail-finned surgeonfish. A tiny juvenile rockmover wrasse danced hypnotically across the sand.

At Donald Duck Bay, we explored the iconic boulders and giant barrel sponges where peacock mantis shrimps peeked out from holes. Dogtooth tunas, bluefin trevallies, giant morays, clownfish, blue dragons, sail-finned surgeons, sea fans, puffers, hawkfish, cometfish and oriental sweetlips kept us entertained. A tiny teardrop butterflyfish juvenile danced near the surface.

Back to Elephant Head Rock for our third dive of the day, we crossed paths with a white-tip reef shark, slender groupers, lizardfish, coral groupers, giant trevallies, bluefin trevallies and huge schools of neon fusiliers lighting up the blue.

Our blackwater dive was a festival of planktonic life — larval mantis shrimps, long chains of siphonophores, crab larvae, salps carrying tiny fish companions, squids, larval anemones, larval triggerfish, eel larvae, drifting jellyfish and countless shrimp and spreadfish. Even a tiny larval lizardfish appeared under our lights.

Blue Ringed Angelfish Thailand Liveaboard

Pink Clownfish and Anemone Thailand Liveaboard

Day 8 — Final Day: Honeymoon Bay & Boonsung Wreck

Our last morning at Honeymoon Bay was peaceful with a gentle zebra shark resting on the sand. Parrotfish, rabbitfish, wrasses and schools of fusiliers glided calmly above the reef while gobies, blennies and butterflyfish added colour to the shallows.

Boonsung Wreck, as always, was a fish soup of the highest order. Clouds of juvenile yellowback fusiliers, neon fusiliers and blue-striped snappers filled every corner while juvenile silver batfish shimmered around the structure. Porcupinefish floated in groups like balloons, honeycomb and white-eye moray eels peeked from the metal plates, pompano hunted through the clouds of fish and big-eye trevallies zig-zagged through the chaos. Chromodoris kuniei and bright Halgerda nudibranchs crawled along the beams as damsels, wrasses and parrotfish weaved through the dense schools.

We surfaced from our final dive tired, happy and already eager for the next adventure, ending our trip at Tap Lamu Pier with big smiles all around.

Scuba Diver with Soft Coral Thailand Liveaboard

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Surin & Similan - 30th April to 7th of May 2025 - Trip Report

5/6/2025

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Last trip of the season in surin and similan islands

Season Finale aboard MV Smiling Seahorse:
Best of Similan & Surin – April 30 to May 7, 2025

Our final voyage of the season began with sunshine and calm seas as we welcomed our lovely guests from France, Austria and Koh Tao aboard the MV Smiling Seahorse. Departing from Phuket’s Marine Charter Pier, our 8-day journey would take us through the heart of Thailand’s most iconic dive destinations--Similan and Surin National Parks.

These two marine parks are crown jewels of the Andaman Sea. The Similan Islands, renowned for their dramatic granite boulders, swim-throughs, and endless schools of fusiliers, offer breathtaking topography and pelagic action. Further north, Surin National Park is home to colorful coral gardens, rare macro life, and the legendary Richelieu Rock—one of the best dive sites in Southeast Asia.

Day 1: Similan Beginnings

barracudas forming a tornado in thailand

We began with a check dive at Shark Fin Reef, where thousands of juvenile scissortail and yellowback fusiliers blanketed the water column in glimmering silver. Wrasses and rabbitfish busied themselves around the rocks, while starry dragonets tiptoed across sandy patches. Giant and bluefin trevallies flashed by, and a hawksbill turtle glided over the reef. Batfish and a great barracuda patrolled the boulders below.
At Boulder City, the massive sea fans created a forest beneath the sea. Squat shrimps and Durban dancing shrimps swayed with the current, while giant groupers hid in the crevices. Fusiliers flowed like rivers, and we were treated to a turtle sighting once more.
Statue Bay and Hideaway revealed the wreck and stunning hard coral formations shaped like layered flowers. Schools of yellowback fusiliers swirled around us, and we found a tiny juvenile sweetlips bobbing near the coral—an adorable reminder of reef life’s fragility. A giant moray peeked from his lair while an octopus changed color before our eyes.
We ended the day with a peaceful night dive at West of Eden, where the coral glowed under our lights and crustaceans crept out into the night.

Day 2: Pinnacles and Swim-Throughs

At West of Eden again in the morning light, a hawksbill turtle passed by gently as a pipehorse and multibar pipefish darted through soft corals. Blue dragons and oriental sweetlips brightened the boulders below, and a curious sea snake slithered through the reef.
Elephant Head Rock gave us both drama and beauty—giant sea fans waved beside the towering swim-throughs. Blacktip sharks cruised the deep, while batfish posed at safety stop depth. Schools of snappers, scissortail fusiliers, and trevallies zipped by. A pregnant pufferfish hovered in the current, accompanied by her always-alert boxfish companions.
The night dive at Donald Duck Bay was full of life: spiny lobsters, scallops pulsing open and shut, and a nail sea star caught mid-feeding.

Day 3: Heading North

At North Point, we swam among oriental and harlequin sweetlips, longnose emperors, and more fusiliers than we could count. Giant seafans fanned gently in the current. Then at Three Trees, garden eels wavered in the sand while blue-spotted stingrays zipped by. Barrel sponges lined the seafloor, home to gobies and blennies, while yellowband fusiliers clouded the reef above.
En route to Koh Bon, we were met by a pod of dolphins—an incredible mid-ocean surprise.
At Koh Bon Ridge and Bay, we spotted a baby blacktip shark, potato groupers resting on the reef, and schools of longnose emperors hunting alongside giant sweetlips, redtooth triggerfish, coral groupers, and flocks of masked rabbitfish.
That night, the blackwater dive offered up the strange and wonderful: a blue-ring octopus, baby jacks hiding in salp chains, squid, and translucent larval crabs drifting in the dark.

Day 4: Barracudas and Batfish

Koh Bon Pinnacle did not disappoint. Massive schools of fusiliers swirled around us as a great barracuda sat motionless at a cleaning station. Oriental sweetlips mingled with batfish and cleaner shrimps in every nook and cranny. A solitary eagle ray glided silently past us, giving the entire scene a dreamlike touch.
At Koh Tachai, the reef exploded with color. Blacktip sharks circled the pinnacle. Schools of barracuda glimmered beneath the sun’s rays. Bigeye jacks formed a living tornado, while lobsters filled every rocky crevice. Between enormous orange seafans and pink coral towers, we admired juvenile angelfish, bicolor cleaner wrasses, yellowtail wrasses, and tiny jewel fairy basslets fluttering among the purple soft corals. The third pinnacle glowed during our final dive, with batfish forming a stately procession across the reef top.

pretty reef scene in similan national park

Day 5: Surin's Soft Side

We reached Rainbow Rock/Yellow Rock and found the colors mesmerizing: soft coral in every hue—yellow, pink, blue, and violet. A resting Jenkins ray sat camouflaged on the sand, and bluefin trevallies darted past schools of silver sweetlips. Hawksbill turtles grazed on sponge, while pipefish and nudibranchs (including a striking purple one) crept along the coral wall.
At Torinla Pinnacle, we found two elegant black ornate ghost pipefish dancing among the gorgonians. A baby white-tip reef shark rested beneath a ledge, and a giant pufferfish lazily floated by with its ever-present remora. Among the coral, a tiny Thecacera—or pikachu nudibranch—entertained macro photographers.

diving with cobia in surin national park

Days 6 & 7: Richelieu Rock Grande Finale

We saved the best for last. Richelieu Rock, a dive site that truly never ceases to amaze, gave us everything. Visibility was perfect. Glassfish, juvenile fusiliers, and baitballs were being chased in every direction by emperors, trevallies, rainbow runners, and snappers. It was chaos in the best possible way. Chevron and yellowtail barracudas swept in and out, and trumpetfish hunted vertically alongside scorpionfish hiding in coral heads.

fishy dive sites in Thailand's North Andaman

In between the drama, macro life was thriving: the smallest harlequin shrimp we’ve ever seen balanced on a sea star, tiger tail seahorses swayed with the current, and ghost pipefish hovered delicately in their shadows. Moray eels—fimbriated, honeycomb, and giant—peered out from coral alcoves. We found butterflyfish, damsels guarding eggs, and even an elusive mimic blenny poking from the rubble.
These last dives were the perfect conclusion to our season—a celebration of life, color, and the unmatched magic of the Andaman Sea.
As we returned to Ranong, the sun dipped behind the mangroves and the MV Smiling Seahorse entered her summer rest. But in our minds, the ocean is still alive with swirling fish, curious sharks, and coral gardens dancing in the current.
Until next season, happy bubbles from all of us aboard!

harlequin shrimp in Richelieu rock, may 2025

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Trip Report- 21st April 2025- North and South Andaman - Thailand

29/5/2025

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North and South Andaman Adventure in Thailand trip report

Thailand's Andaman Sea: North and South – April 21–28, 2025

Exploring Thailand’s Underwater National Treasures
As the sun rose over Ranong, we welcomed an enthusiastic group of divers from the USA, France, Brasil, and Switzerland aboard the MV Smiling Seahorse. Our journey would take us through some of Thailand’s most iconic national parks—from Surin and Similan to Lanta and Tarutao—each with its own unique seascape and underwater wonders. Spirits were high as we set a course for the famed Surin Islands to begin our underwater adventure. All pictures on this blogpost were taken by our distinguished guests.

Day 1: Surin National Park – A Colorful Beginnin

We started gently at Koh Chi with a smooth check dive. A green turtle greeted us calmly near the surface, while beneath us a flurry of life unfolded. Schools of fusiliers flashed by in silver and gold, flanked by lionfish lurking near coral outcrops. A flabellina nudibranch caught our eye, soon followed by a brilliant Thecacera, better known as the pikachu nudibranch. Moray eels slithered through the cracks, and a stonefish lay well camouflaged in the sand.

Seahorse - Photo by Garry Perrenoud

At Richelieu Rock, the action exploded in all directions. Rainbow runners swept past in schools, chased by jackfish and trevallies. A longface emperor patrolled the reef edge while a ghost pipefish hovered in the current. We marveled at a delicate tiger tail seahorse wrapped around a whip coral and delighted in sightings of harlequin shrimp, white-eyed and giant morays, and a baby mimic octopus dancing across the sand.
Anemone crabs, mackerel, tuna, and hairy shrimp all made appearances, with dogtooth tuna cruising in the distance and clouds of barracudas circling overhead.
Our night dive on Richelieu Rock revealed the reef's secret nocturnal side. Among the crustaceans were banded coral shrimps, squat lobsters, transparent cleaner shrimps, and an energetic boxer shrimp. Decorator spider crabs crept slowly across the corals, while a bold red crab was caught pulling a soft coral free—redecorating the reef, it seemed, in its own way. A trumpetfish patrolled the shallows as scorpionfish hunted under the beams of our torches.

Day 2: Similan National Park – Granite Giants and Pelagic Glory

At Koh Tachai Pinnacle, the visibility stretched on forever, revealing a stunning cast of marine life. Giant groupers peered out from overhangs, and bluefin trevallies streaked past in hot pursuit of silvery baitballs. Blacktip sharks cruised the periphery, while massive schools of yellowback and blueback fusiliers lit up the water. We also admired pickhandle barracudas, giant snappers, and dogtooth tuna patrolling in the blue, and couldn’t miss the clown triggerfish darting between boulders. Lobsters peeked from crevices and surgeonfish grazed along the reef walls.
At Koh Bon, we were lucky enough to spot a whitetip reef shark gliding gracefully across the reef, followed by a school of batfish shadowing us from a respectful distance. Giant trevallies patrolled the deeper sections while groups of parrotfish crunched away at the reef. In the coral gardens, butterflyfish, wrasses, and Moorish idols added dazzling detail to the scene.

Our blackwater dive that night was a dreamlike journey into the abyss. We were met by strange and mesmerizing creatures: larval flounders fluttering in the current, translucent baby squids, flying gurnards spreading their wing-like fins, and a baby sea elephant drifting gently by. Even a juvenile mantis shrimp made a curious appearance.

Tiger egg cowrie - Photo by Gary Perrenoud

Anemonefish - Photo by Gary Perrenoud

Day 3: Similan National Park – Rays, Reefs, and Swim-Throughs

Three Trees delivered calm water and stunning white sand patches covered in garden eels. A porcupine stingray and blue-spotted ray swept by, while above us schools of fusiliers and snappers moved in synchronized waves. Curious trumpetfish hovered and gobies danced along the sandy slopes.
Elephant Head Rock was majestic as always. We drifted through its cavernous swim-throughs, surrounded by walls adorned with giant sea fans and hunting giant moray eels. A white-tip shark slipped by, and above us an eagle ray soared across the sunbeams. We caught sight of a mature yellow boxfish before it tucked into a crevice, while blue-lined groupers and bannerfish hovered near the edges of the boulders.

At West of Eden, a vibrant coral garden greeted us, bursting with color and activity. Fusiliers, parrotfish, groupers, and an array of surgeonfish filled the reef. A hawksbill turtle paddled calmly overhead, and a bold eagle ray buzzed us in the blue. Chromodoris nudibranchs and flabellinas dotted the walls, while a large tuna charged past at the end of the dive.

garden eel in similan islands thailand liveaboard

Garden eel- Photo by Garry Perrenoud

Day 4: Koh Lanta National Park – Deep Blue Action

Mantis Shrimp with eggs in koh Lanta liveaboard

Mantis Shrimp with eggs - Photo by Aiara Ponce de Leon

We spent the entire day diving the twin giants of the South: Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. The reef was electric—ghost pipefish floated in the current, while juvenile clown triggerfish and sweetlips played along the reef. Schools of rainbow runners swept by like silver bullets.

We spotted several Wahoos, giant trevallies and bluefin trevallies on the hunt, and even found a massive clown frogfish and hairy shrimps expertly camouflaged on the wall as well as a mantis shrimp carrying its eggs!

Giant Clown Frogfish - Photo by Aiara Ponce de Leon

Algae Shrimp (Phycocaris simulans) - thailand south andaman

Algae / Hairy Shrimp (Phycocaris simulans) - Photo by Aiara Ponce de Leon

The sunset dive was full of movement and macro life. Helmet crabs and decorator crabs scuttled across the reef while zebra moray eels and common morays hunted along the slopes. Nudibranchs—chromodoris fidelis, annulata, risbecia, and geminus—dotted the rocks like confetti, with bornella anguilla curling through the soft corals.

Day 5: Koh Tarutao National Park – Reef Riches and Tropical Surprises

At 8 Mile, action unfolded fast. Jackfish surged through schools of damsels, while great barracudas enjoyed a spa treatment at a midwater cleaning station. Stonefish crouched on coral heads, hiding in plain sight, while sweetlips and snappers pulsed in the current. Surgeonfish and groupers mingled along the reef, flanked by bannerfish and goatfish.

At Steps, we enjoyed sightings of coral catsharks, triggerfish, angelfish, and a group of blackspot wrasses working over the coral. At Stonehenge, a devil scorpionfish waited in ambush, while a pair of cuttlefish hovered over the sand. We saw blue dragons clinging to overhangs, as well as a mix of tomato, saddleback, and false clown anemonefish.

Coral Catshark at Steps (Atelomycterus marmoratus) - Lipe, Thailand

Coral Catshark at Steps (Atelomycterus marmoratus) - Photo by Aiara Ponce de Leon

At Koh Taru, baby yellow fusiliers filled the reef, flashing like lightning. A baby yellow boxfish stole hearts with its wobbling swim, while a large star puffer looked on with sleepy eyes. Indian Ocean walkman scorpionfish and banded pipefish made rare appearances to round off the day.

Day 6: A Final Sweep Through the South Andaman

Back at Hin Daeng, batfish and fusiliers welcomed us again, with chromodoris nudibranchs adding pops of color. Hin Muang gave us a fantastic encounter with a clown frogfish, alongside a powerful school of wahoo and a mix of giant and bigeye trevallies.

At Koh Haa’s Cathedral, the ethereal beams of sunlight filtering through the swim-through lit up clouds of glassfish, flabellinas, and chromodoris albopunctata. In the Chimney, we added wrasses, gobies, damselfish, and a handful of skunk anemonefish to our growing species list.

Coral closeup by Garry Perrenud

Pretty Nudis by Aiara Ponce de Leon

Day 7: A Grand Finale

At Shark Point, our last dive brought us past massive barrel sponges teeming with life. Schools of fusiliers, chromodoris annulata, and a sly scorpionfish shared the reef with sand-colored flounders and the ever-graceful bannerfish. A pair of butterflyfish saw us off as we began our slow ascent.
As we returned to Phuket, the boat was buzzing with stories, laughter, and glowing memories. From turtles and seahorses to blackwater aliens and reef giants, this trip through Thailand’s best dive sites had truly lived up to its name.

Koh Bida Nok delivered a dramatic last day. A blacktip reef shark cruised by as a yellowtail seahorse clung to coral nearby. A banded sea snake slipped between rocks while cuttlefish hovered in the blue.

Video of the trip by our lovely friend Aiara

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Best of North and South Andaman Sea, Thailand: March 14 - March 21, 2025

28/3/2025

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Our latest adventure took us across the best dive sites of the North and South Andaman Sea, Thailand. This week, we welcomed guests from the USA, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Israel aboard the Smiling Seahorse in Ranong, eager to explore the wonders of the Surin, Similan, Lanta, Tarutao and Koh Phiphi National Parks. Each of these parks offers unique marine landscapes, from vibrant coral gardens to dramatic underwater pinnacles, promising an unforgettable journey beneath the waves.

Day 1: A Colorful Start in the Surin National Park

Our first dive at Koh Chi was a gentle check dive, allowing everyone to get comfortable while enjoying the sights of a friendly hawksbill turtle gliding through the reef. Schools of blue-tailed snappers created a mesmerizing display, while a tiny yellow boxfish peeked out from the coral, amusing us with its clumsy movements. Among the vibrant reef, we spotted angelfish, fusiliers, and parrotfish darting between the coral formations.

emperors and trevalli hunting in Richelieu Rock

The second and third dives brought us to the legendary Richelieu Rock, where life teemed in every direction. Enormous schools of rainbow runners and jacks swirled together, accompanied by long-face emperor fish patrolling the depths. A delicate tiger tail seahorse swayed with the current, while ghost pipefish skillfully camouflaged themselves among soft corals. Peering into crevices, we discovered peacock mantis shrimp and flabellina nudibranchs adding bursts of color to the scene. Surgeonfish, fairy basslets, and Moorish idols flitted through the coral gardens, making for a lively spectacle.
For our night dive at Richelieu Rock, the mysterious "green monster"—a dense thermocline—rolled in, adding a touch of adventure to the dive. Despite the water movement, we enjoyed the eerie sight of moray eels hunting under the cover of darkness, while countless crabs and shrimps scuttled across the reef. A porcupinefish hovered nearby, watching the activity unfold.

Day 2: Entering Similan National Park at Koh Tachai and Koh Bon

At Koh Tachai, our first dive began with a fascinating scene: a pair of white-banded cleaner shrimp diligently grooming a large moray eel. Nearby, two painted spiny lobsters peeked out from their rocky hiding spots. Jackfish patrolled the blue, moving in pairs as they hunted in synchrony. Amid the bustling reef, we found butterflyfish, wrasses, and gobies going about their daily routines.
On our second dive at Koh Tachai, we drifted along with a large school of batfish, their graceful movements mesmerizing against the backdrop of the deep blue. The reef revealed hidden gems like a Maldives sponge sea snail and a pustulose wart slug, while angelfish and bannerfish weaved between the corals.
Koh Bon was our next destination, where fantastic visibility allowed us to fully appreciate the marine spectacle. A big family of batfish greeted us in the bay, their silver bodies flashing in the sunlight. As we ventured further, a massive school of yellow snappers engulfed us, moving as one. Mantis shrimp darted between the rocks, while ghost pipefish hovered delicately among the soft corals. The presence of giant groupers and the occasional passing fusilier added to the excitement.

Happy Birthday!!!

Day 3: Exploring the Similan Island

Our morning dive at Three Trees introduced us to a resting hawksbill turtle, peacefully nestled among the corals. Pipefish drifted along the sandy bottom, while rays and lobsters lurked under overhangs. The reef was alive with fairy basslets, fusiliers, and wrasses, their colors creating a dazzling underwater display.

At Elephant Head Rock, we navigated through the boulder formations, where porcelain crabs clung to their anemone homes. A small family of tunas cruised by, accompanied by schools of fusiliers and snappers. West of Eden offered a spectacular sighting of a Sagaminopteron psychedelicum nudibranch, alongside an octopus skillfully changing colors to blend with its surroundings. A sea snake made a brief appearance, weaving gracefully through the reef.

As the sun began to set, we returned to Koh Bon, where a large school of milkfish swam past, shimmering in the golden light.

how cute is this baby clown triggerfish???

psychedelic batwing sea slug, nudibranch hunting in thailand

pair of ornate ghost pipefish in Thailand

Day 4: Lanta National Park : Macro Wonders and Pelagic Thrill

Our first dive at Hin Nam was filled with delicate discoveries, including ghost pipefish blending seamlessly with the reef and a juvenile clown triggerfish darting between the corals. Later, at Hin Daeng, we encountered tiny juvenile sweetlips moving in their signature wavy dance, while juvenile angelfish added a splash of color to the rocky crevices.

Hin Muang provided thrilling action as tunas and rainbow runners hunted in the open water. Schools of batfish hovered effortlessly, while hundreds of red-tooth triggerfish filled the blue and a magical encounter with a clown frogfish. Our night dive at Hin Daeng revealed an entirely different world, where helmet crabs and decorator crabs scuttled across the seabed, and moray eels—both the common and zebra varieties—prowled for prey

pretty reef scene with moon wrass on top of soft coral

Day 5: Tarutao National Park : Cobia, Jacks, and Mysterious Creature

At 8 Mile, the dive site was alive with schools of large jacks and pairs of smaller hunters weaving through the reef. Among the coral, a beautiful tiger tail seahorse clung to its perch. Snappers and damselfish formed a colorful backdrop as we drifted through the site.
Stonehenge provided an awe-inspiring moment as we encountered a massive lion’s mane jellyfish, its trailing tentacles sheltering tiny fish. Blue dragons and an eagle ray gliding by added to the magic.
At Koh Taru, porcupinefish gathered in abundance, while southern stingrays rested on the sandy bottom. Koh Sawang brought sightings of comet fish and a well-camouflaged devil scorpionfish lurking among the coral.
We also had great encounters on blackwater dives with Indian Halibut and cusk eel!!!

blackwater diving in thailand indian halibut

fantastic finds on blackwater diving in the andaman sea: cusk eel

many cephalopods in the andaman sea, especially on blackwater dives

Day 6: Lanta National Park

Returning to Hin Daeng, we found zebra and honeycomb moray eels slithering through the reef, while a school of batfish hovered gracefully nearby. Hin Muang offered another chance to observe ghost pipefish and playful juvenile clownfish, along with a tiny yellow boxfish hiding in a coral crevice.
Our final dives at Koh Haa brought us face-to-face with a hawksbill turtle cruising through the Cathedral, while thousands of glassfish filled the Chimney, creating a mesmerizing, swirling effect.

clown frogfish in Koh Lanta national park

clown frogfish with red tooth triggerfish in the background

Soft coral is thriving in Thai water

Day 7: A Grand Farewel

On our last day, Koh Bida Nok did not disappoint, with blacktip reef sharks and a majestic leopard shark making an appearance. At Shark Point, the grand finale included hundreds of yellowtail barracudas weaving through the water, while devil scorpionfish lay in wait among the coral.
With unforgettable dives behind us, we made our way back to Phuket, bidding farewell to our wonderful guests after an incredible week exploring Thailand’s best dive sites. Until next time, the Andaman Sea will be waiting!

Happy Faces cocktail on The MV Smiling Seahorse

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18 FEB 2025 7 days North Andaman: Diving Surin and Similan national parks

13/3/2025

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Liveaboard trip repot Thailand North Andaman February 2025

Best of North Andaman Aboard MV Smiling Seahorse (18–24 February 2025)

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.

Day 1: Similan National Park

Check dive at Shark Fin Reef (Similan#3): Our adventure began with a relaxed check dive, where we encountered giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, large families of Clownfish and a striking yellow adult boxfish. Hidden among the sand were blind partner gobies and their shrimp companions, while a curious hawksbill turtle made a brief appearance.
Dive 2 at West of Eden (Similan#7): This site delighted us with a mix of macro and pelagic encounters. We spotted Moyer’s dragonet, a juvenile white-blotch razor wrasse, and an adult rockmover wrasse darting between the corals. Devil scorpionfish lay camouflaged near giant clams, while McCosker’s dwarf wrasse shimmered in the shallows. Schools of blue-lined fusiliers and bluefin trevally kept the dive lively.
Dive 3 at Elephant Head Rock: Dramatic swim-throughs and rocky outcrops set the stage for sightings of porcelain crabs, ribbon eels, and a juvenile white-spotted boxfish. Giant trevally and bluefin trevally patrolled the deeper waters, while a stunning blue dragon nudibranch was spotted gliding over a sponge-covered boulder.
Dive 4 - Night Dive at Turtle Rock: Our first night dive introduced us to an active nocturnal scene. Moray eels emerged to hunt, bigfin reef squid hovered in the dark, and black-spotted egg cowries nestled among the soft corals. Crabs and shrimps scuttled about, while a sleepy sealface pufferfish rested near a coral head.

Day 2: Similan National Park to Koh Bon

Dive 1 at Christmas Point (#9): A stunning start to the day, with sightings of a juvenile emperor angelfish, Napoleon wrasse, and a black-blotched porcupinefish. A vibrant mix of clown triggerfish, humpback unicornfish, and spotted boxfish kept us entertained.
Dive 2 at Three Trees (#9): Green and hawksbill turtles glided past us, while a massive school of bluestripe and twospot snapper swirled over the reef. A Napoleon wrasse made a brief appearance, and a blue-spotted stingray rested on the sandy bottom.
Dive 3 at Koh Bon Ridge: We encountered an array of groupers, including camouflage groupers and blue-lined groupers, alongside curious porcupinefish and a school of needlefish.
Dive 4 at Koh Bon Bay (Optional Blackwater Dive): One group explored the bay, where baby blacktip sharks, barracudas, and octopuses were spotted. The blackwater dive team encountered mesmerizing larval creatures, including sea elephants, mantis shrimp, anemone larvae, and tiny squid drifting in the darkness.

Day 3: Koh Bon to Koh Tachai

Dive 1 at Koh Bon Pinnacle: This deep pinnacle delivered thrilling encounters with longfin and dusky batfish, a school of barracuda, and a massive marble grouper.
Dive 2 at North Ridge and West Ridge: Giant trevallies and tuna passed by in strong currents. A Maldivian sponge snail was spotted on a rocky ledge, while an octopus put on a stunning display, changing colors as it moved between coral heads.
Dives 3 and 4 at Koh Tachai Pinnacle: This was one of the most breathtaking dive spots of the trip! The site was teeming with life—giant trevally, bluefin trevally, and dogtooth tuna hunted in coordinated bursts. A “spiny lobster city” revealed dozens of lobsters tucked into the rocky crevices, and a group of circular batfish hovered gracefully above the reef.

Day 4: Surin National Park

Dive 1 at Yellow Rock (Rainbow Rock): An explosion of color awaited us, with gold-spotted and painted sweetlips, African pompano, and schools of barracuda. Napoleon wrasse and a broadclub cuttlefish added to the excitement.
Dive 2 at Torinla Pinnacle: The legendary Picachu nudibranch made an appearance, alongside big marble groupers, giant moray eels, and triggerfish darting across the coral slopes.
Dive 3 at Ao Pakkard: We drifted among a school of baby blacktail barracudas, garden eels, and blue-spotted stingrays. A Chromodoris nudibranch clung to a sponge, adding a splash of color.
Dive 4 - Night Dive at Ao Pakkard: Our last night dive featured red coral crabs, tiger cowries, and banded boxer shrimp hiding among the anemones. Giant moray eels were actively hunting in the moonlit waters.

goby on sea cucumber artistic underwater photo

Day 5: Cathedral-Like Pinnacle Dive
A truly magical site, with towering rock formations creating an awe-inspiring underwater landscape. Highlights included schools of blacktail and pickhandle barracudas, schools of cobias, and hunting big-eye trevallies. We spotted a potato grouper, a ghost pipefish, and a flabellina exoptata nudibranch. Juvenile oriental sweetlips and angelfish danced along the reef, while a tiger cardinalfish was seen guarding its eggs.

diving with big school of fish in Similans

Day 6: Richelieu Rock – A Spectacular Finale

Our final dives at Richelieu Rock were the perfect ending to an already fantastic trip. The ornate ghost pipefish were back, adding an element of mystery to the site. A massive gang of giant trevally, golden trevally, longnose emperor, and rainbow runners formed a hunting frenzy over the reef. Schools of bigeye trevally created mesmerizing tornado-like formations, while tomato anemonefish hovered protectively over their eggs. A giant marble grouper lingered near a crevice, and a stunning blue dragon nudibranch was spotted among the soft corals.

Final Thoughts
From the vibrant reefs of Similan National Park to the thrilling currents of Koh Tachai and the marine wonderland of Richelieu Rock, this trip truly showcased the best of North Andaman diving. With breathtaking encounters, stunning marine biodiversity, and an enthusiastic group of divers, this adventure aboard the MV Smiling Seahorse was nothing short of unforgettable.

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North to South Andaman Sea Liveaboard Trip Report : February 9-16, 2025

6/3/2025

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Wonderful to welcome this great Dive club from the USA in Thai Waters!

Our latest adventure took us on an unforgettable journey through the Andaman Sea, welcoming 16 enthusiastic divers from a US diving club lead by a return adventurer: Toby. Setting sail from Ranong on the evening of February 9th, we embarked on a week-long liveaboard trip exploring Thailand’s most famous dive sites, from Surin and Similan Islands to Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe National Parks. With crystal-clear waters, thriving marine life, and even a rare sighting of a blue marlin, this was a trip to remember!

Day 1: Surin Islands & Richelieu Rock – A Vibrant Start

Our adventure began with a check dive at Koh Chi, a serene site within Surin Islands National Park. Calm waters and over 30 meters of visibility set the perfect stage for the trip. We spotted blue-spotted stingrays, parrotfish, fusiliers, moray eels, and butterflyfish as we explored the site’s diverse marine life.
Next, we completed three exhilarating dives at Richelieu Rock, Thailand’s most iconic dive site. This world-renowned location was teeming with life--giant schools of bigeye trevally, emperor fish, rainbow runners, barracudas, and batfish at the cleaning station. The croissant-shaped pinnacle, covered in soft corals, giant sea fans, and vibrant anemones, provided the perfect habitat for clownfish with their eggs, dancing shrimp, and porcelain crabs. Franck got to photograph a cardinal fish carrying its eggs in its mouth!

cardinalfish brooding its eggs in its mouth

Day 2: Koh Tachai & Koh Bon : Strong Currents, Big Rewards

We kicked off Day 2 with an adrenaline-pumping dive at Koh Tachai Pinnacle. The strong current made for a challenging dive but rewarded us with an explosion of marine activity--huge schools of barracuda, tomato groupers, surgeonfish, snappers, fusiliers, batfish, and lobsters nesting in bommie corals.

Our third dive at Koh Bon Pinnacle was spectacular. With crystal-clear visibility and no current, we fully enjoyed the deep pinnacle, enveloped by dense schools of yellow snappers and massive batfish.

For our final dive of the day, we embarked on a blackwater dive, descending into the pitch-black depths over 80 meters of open ocean. Floating in the darkness, we encountered larval and post-larval fish, bulb squid, moray eels, flounders, mantis shrimp, snake blennies, and countless other deep-sea critters.

blackwater diving in thailand diamond squid

Juvenile Diamond Squid

flying gurnard

Day 3: Similan Islands – Boulders & Swim-Throughs

Our first dive at Three Trees took us through deep granite boulders covered in soft and hard corals. Among the highlights were blue-spotted stingrays, coral groupers, snappers, and fusiliers.
Next, we explored Elephant Head Rock, a diver’s playground filled with swim-throughs and tunnels among massive boulders. We encountered ribbon eels, octopuses, and giant trevallies hunting in the blue.
Our final dive of the day at West of Eden was a treat for macro lovers. This vibrant hard coral reef was home to turtles, seamoths, bluefin trevallies, and juvenile rock-moving wrasses.

Day 4: Hin Daeng & Hin Muang – Koh Lanta National Park

Diving at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang was nothing short of magical. These remote pinnacles, adorned with red and purple soft corals, were bursting with marine life. We encountered red-toothed triggerfish, milkfish, potato groupers, African pompanos, and bigeye and giant trevallies.
For macro enthusiasts, the highlights included two pairs of ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, juvenile emperor angelfish, and a rare juvenile clown triggerfish.

Tarutao National Park

Day 5: Koh Lipe & 8 Mile Rock – Hunting Trevallies & a Surprise Visitor
Our morning dives at 8 Mile Rock provided perfect conditions, excellent visibility, and no current. The dive site was buzzing with action, as giant trevallies hunted glassfish, while a potato grouper and a passing mobula devil ray made for unforgettable moments! (sorry no photo of this one).

Koh Lanta National Park – A Blue Marlin Encounter

Day 6: Returning to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, we enjoyed more encounters with their spectacular marine life. However, the real highlight of the day came during our third dive at Cathedral—as we explored its underwater caves, we were stunned to witness a rare blue marlin, a once-in-a-lifetime sighting!
Our final dive at Chimney took us through a dramatic vertical tunnel, where a pair of ghost pipefish greeted us at the exit.

beautiful islands in Lanta National park

masked angelfish in Koh Tachai dive site in thailand

Koh Phiphi National Park

Day 7: Koh Phi Phi & Shark Point – The Grand FinaleOur last full day of diving started at Bida Nok, where we explored shallow waters teeming with blacktip reef sharks, massive schools of yellow snappers, and a thriving coral reef.
For the final dive of the trip, we visited Shark Point, an absolute paradise for cephalopod lovers. We encountered bigfin squids, cuttlefish, and a breathtaking moment with a large leopard shark (zebra shark) resting on the sandy bottom.

An Unforgettable Adventure in the Andaman Sea.
From thrilling drift dives and intricate swim-throughs to mesmerizing blackwater encounters and a rare blue marlin sighting, this North to South Andaman Sea diving expedition was truly extraordinary. A huge thank you to our fantastic group of divers for making this trip an unforgettable experience!
Want to join us on our next Thailand liveaboard adventure? Explore our upcoming trips and dive into the magic of the Andaman Sea!

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Trip report : 15th to 21st January 2025

13/2/2025

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trip report The Smiling Seahorse photo clinic 2025

Our Annual Photo Clinic started from Khao Lak this time. Heading out into the Andaman Sea, with eager guests from Belgium, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Australia, the USA, the Philippines, Denmark, and the UK. We were joined again on this journey by our talented friend, Alex Tyrell, to lead our 5th joint workshop. A professional underwater photographer renowned for his skills behind the lens and rewarded by many photo contests, Alex has over 20 years of experience capturing the underwater world and teaches underwater photography all year round at Dive4Photos.

Day 1 : Exploring Similan National Park

Our first dive took us to Shark Fin Reef, where we kicked off with a relaxed check dive. The stunning underwater boulders provided a majestic backdrop as schools of yellowfin goatfish and lunar fusiliers glided past. Bluefin trevally darted in and out of sight, while giant trevally patrolled the area. Moray eels peeked from crevices, and oriental sweetlips added splashes of color.

The second dive at West of Eden delighted us with the rare sighting of a baby banded sea krait slithering gracefully through the reef. A small hawksbill turtle greeted divers near the coral formations, while vibrant chromodoris nudibranchs adorned the rocks. Butterflyfish, such as the saddleback and Meyer's butterflyfish, hovered near the reef, accompanied by emperor angelfish and a playful pair of red-toothed triggerfish darting around coral bommies.

Adding to the excitement, a starry dragonet fish was spotted resting gracefully on the sandy bottom, and a rock mover wrasse entertained divers with its peculiar behavior in search of food.

Elephant Head Rock, our third dive site, held an exciting surprise at 24 meters: a zebra shark resting peacefully—a rare sight in recent years. The dive also revealed blue ribbon eels swaying gently, a blue dragon nudibranch shimmering on a rock, and a stunning Limenandra nodosa hanging from a ledge. We ended the day with a thrilling night dive, where giant moray eels hunted in the shadows alongside a zebra moray eel and a fimbriated moray eel. Massive hermit crabs scuttled across the seafloor, and an octopus performed a mesmerizing display, changing colors and textures as it captivated our divers.

big eye trevalli in the andaman blue water

Day 2 : Koh Bon Bay and Koh Tachai

Our morning began with two dives at Koh Bon Bay, where the highlight was spotting two juvenile blacktip reef sharks gliding gracefully along the sandy bottom. Giant moray eels lurked near crevices, while a large school of batfish hovered elegantly over the reef. Divers were thrilled by the partnership between a giant blue-lined pufferfish and a bluefin trevally, a rare and fascinating sight. African pompano cruised by briefly, and Maldivian sponge snails dotted the coral garden.

In the afternoon, we ventured to the northwest of Koh Tachai. Although the sea conditions made access to the pinnacle challenging, we explored the surrounding reef. A small hawksbill turtle swam lazily through the currents, and colorful flabellina exoptata and blue dragons (Pteraeolidia ianthina) caught the photographers' attention. Surgeonfish, such as the powder-blue and velvet species, mingled with schools of twinstripe fusiliers. Sweetlips gathered near the bommies, and vibrant anemonefish darted among the tentacles of bulb-tentacle sea anemones.

damselfish in hard coral, thailand liveaboard

Our night dive at Torinla Island’s west wall in Surin National Park was alive with activity. Moray eels prowled the reef, while a curious blacktip shark circled at a distance. The reef revealed nocturnal wonders such as red squirrelfish, copper sweepers, and cave sweepers glowing under torchlight.

Day 3 : Surin National Park and Richelieu Rock

Our first dive took us to the iconic Richelieu Rock, a pinnacle rising from the seabed like an underwater cathedral. Known as one of the top dive sites in the world, Richelieu Rock did not disappoint. A great barracuda hovered midwater, being cleaned by wrasse, while schools of yellowtail and pickhandle barracuda circled the site. A massive school of bigeye trevally darted around us, joined by giant trevally and yellowback fusiliers. One group delighted in spotting a tiny tiger tail seahorse clinging to soft coral. Richelieu Rock is renowned for its rich marine life, offering encounters with everything from macro critters to pelagic species.
To escape rough waves, we returned to Surin Island for our second dive at Torinla Pinnacle.

Tigertail Seahorse

Big eye trevallis in Richlelieu Rock

Here, we encountered adorable pikachu nudibranchs, large potato groupers, and blue-spotted stingrays resting on the sandy bottom. Peacock mantis shrimps peeked out of their burrows, while jawfish darted between holes in the seabed.

Our third dive at Yellow Rock introduced us to a vibrant underwater world, with schools of yellowtail barracuda weaving through the water. A Jenkin whipray glided effortlessly along the sandy floor, and slate sweetlips formed tight schools beneath rocky overhangs.

jenkin whip ray photographed in thailand

Jenkin Whiptail ray

We concluded the day with a dive at Bungalow Wall, west of South Surin Island. Cuttlefish danced gracefully in the water, banded stick pipefish hovered near the reef, and lobsters hid within crevices. Schools of fusiliers streamed by, while colorful robastra gracilis nudibranchs adorned the coral.

Credit - Alex Tyrrell, animating our Photo clinic this week

Day 4 and 5 : Richelieu Rock - a photographer's paradise

The next two days were dedicated to Richelieu Rock, providing ample time for our photographers to capture its legendary marine diversity. Schools of blacktail barracuda, yellowtail barracuda, and pickhandle barracuda swirled around the pinnacle. A tiny tiger tail seahorse clung to gorgonian coral, while cobias moved gracefully alongside bigeye trevally.

Macro photographers reveled in the sight of the new generation of reef inhabitants: juvenile oriental sweetlips, juvenile emperor angelfish, Anemonefish tending to their not-yet-born babies, while new ghost pipefish already blended seamlessly into their surroundings.

baby ghost pipefish already playing hide and seek

baby clownfish incubating

mama clark anemonefish tending to her eggs

Their mum making sure they were safe and well aired...

Eagle rays glided through the blue, offering breathtaking moments for wide-angle shots.

Among the corals, divers found flabellina exoptata, baby chromodoris risbecia pulchella, and tiger cowries with their eggs. A cryptic Phestilla laid eggs on a Pavono coral, and whip coral gobies peeked out curiously.

the extremely cryptic Phestilla viei slugs laying eggs on its host coral, Pavona explanulata, from Richelieu Rock

Camouflaged in its environment, the Cryptic Phestilla Nudibranch blends seamlessly with its host coral.

Tiger egg nudibranch make for perfect photo subjects

Our last two dives on Day 6 ensured every critter and tropical reef fish Richelieu Rock had to offer was immortalized in stunning photographs, bringing an unforgettable journey to a close.

Stay tuned for more adventures and stories from the Andaman Sea!

lion fish in richelieu rock, thailand's best dive site

group picture on the sofa of a thailand liveaboard

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Trip Report : 7th-13th of January 2025

6/2/2025

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trip report 7th January 2025 - blackwater expedition

Dive into the mysterious depths of Thailand's Andaman Sea, where the night reveals an otherworldly world teeming with bizarre and beautiful creatures. On our latest adventure aboard the MV Smiling Seahorse, we set off on a special journey through the North Thai Andaman Sea, exploring the iconic dive sites of Surin and Similan National Parks, and diving into the unique world of blackwater diving on every divable night.

Our divers hailed from all over the world—France, Switzerland, the USA, and Germany—and were joined by special guest, professional underwater photographer Alex Tyrrell. Alex brought his expertise to the trip, sharing valuable tips on how to get the best shots, especially on blackwater dives and sharing with us some unforgettable moments.

Blackwater diving liveaboard in the andaman sea

What is Blackwater Diving?

Blackwater diving is a thrilling night dive that takes place far from reefs and shore, in the open ocean. Divers descend along a suspended line with lights, attracting deep-sea critters that migrate to the surface at night. This unparalleled experience offers a glimpse into the bizarre, larval-stage creatures and deep-sea life that thrive in the darkness, seldom encountered by divers.

Day 1 : Diving in the surin islands

We began our journey in the pristine waters of the Surin National Park with dives showcasing the vibrant marine life of this protected area. The first dive at Koh Chi served as a check dive, where we encountered schools of yellow-lined snappers and yellow fusiliers, and a graceful hawksbill turtle joined us for a swim, reminding us of the beauty of this marine sanctuary.

For the second dive at Yellow Rock, we enjoyed sightings of blue-spotted stingrays, oriental and black-spotted sweetlips, schools of yellowtail barracuda and yellow pompanos, along with flabellinas, giant moray eels, and blue-spotted pufferfish.

At Ao Pakkard during the third dive, we were treated to razor wrasse, a school of baby blackfin barracuda, imposter sabertooth blennies, and striped eel catfish. After a night dive on the reef, back at Ao Pakkard, we were ready for offshore blackwater adventures on subsequent nights. Jenkins stingrays, xenocrabs, hermite crabs, coral crabs, cleaning shrimps, and blue-spotted stingrays provided a magical underwater experience.

schools of sweetlips in Surin national park

bannerfish in front of a giant seafan in surin islands

Day 2 : Richelieu Rock

Richelieu Rock is one of the most iconic dive sites in the world, and it certainly lived up to its reputation. With perfect visibility, we watched emperors and giant trevallies hunting in the blue alongside schools of jacks, neon fusiliers, and pickhandle barracuda. The reef dazzled with macro life, including cleaner pipefish, porcelain crabs, nudibranchs, and blue dragons. A rare sighting of a white frogfish, juvenile oriental sweetlips, and a massive potato grouper made the dive even more spectacular. Alex captured one of his most remarkable moments of the trip here, photographing pharaoh cuttlefish mating and laying eggs—a fascinating natural spectacle. Unfortunately the wind picked up and we couldn't do our first blackwater dive planned that day and had to find shelter in Surin islands for the night.

schools of bigeye trevallies in rays of light

school of fish on the reef playing with new lense

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.

pickhandle barracudas in similan national park

We also encountered potato groupers, batfish, and a rare sea moth. Our third dive at Koh Bon Pinnacle was breathtaking, with massive schools of neon fusiliers and batfish. The afternoon dive took us to the ridge of Koh Bon, where we found sweetlips, mantis shrimp, and the Maldivian sponge snail

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.

face to face with an Octopus on blackwater dive

Baby octopus

Sea Butterfly

Squid on blackwater diving expedition in similan

Flying gurnard

Baby crab

Day 4 : More of the Similan National Park

The day began with a dive at Koh Bon Pinnacle and North Ridge, where the visibility was beautiful, revealing the vibrant underwater life. Divers encountered massive schools of yellow back and neon fusiliers, alongside groupers and sweetlips at the North Ridge. Adding to the spectacle were bearded scorpionfish, colorful Moorish idols, and a variety of angelfish and butterflyfish, including raccoon and threadfin butterflyfish.

yellow snapper hiding in hard coral branches

The second dive took place at Three Trees, located on Island number 9 of the Similan Islands. With crystal-clear waters and striking bommies and boulders, this site was teeming with marine life. Highlights included blue spotted stingrays, garden eels, and potato groupers. Additionally, divers admired schools of Bengal snappers, lunar fusiliers, and gold-saddle rabbitfish, weaving through the coral formations.

In the afternoon, the team prepared for two more blackwater dives off the back of Island 8 due to still strong eastern winds, which made open ocean conditions less favorable than usual. Despite this, the dives were successful with only about 70 meters of water under the boat, we met post-larval creatures like flying gurnards, butterflyfish, mantis shrimp, snake eels, and flounders made for an enchanting and surreal experience

There was so much life in the water!

Octopus on thailand blackwater diving liveaboard

including this pretty octopus!

this looks like a young cobia!

mantis shrimp diving liveaboard blackwater

Ever wandered what Mantis shrimp look like before they settle on the reef...

this is an eel but not sure which type (could be a moray, ribbon eel or other species).

this is a Siphonophore, they are pretty but dont go kiss them, they sting!

Day 5 : Similan National Park

The morning commenced with a dive at West of Eden, a vibrant site where Simon spotted a rare sea moth and many pretty psychedelic sea slugs!

More common but still exciting where sightings of giant trevallies, peacock mantis shrimps, and colourful nudibranchs, while a small hawksbill turtle leisurely swam by. Adding to the scene were blue-lined groupers, adorned wrasses, and a myriad of anemonefish darting among the corals.

psychedelic batwing sea slug (Sagaminopteron psychedelicum)

Potato grouper pausing with snappers in front of a giant seafan

anemonefish are often spotted in thailand

Anemonefish, a signature Andaman Sea inhabitant

The day concluded with two more blackwater dives off the back of Island . Despite continued strong eastern winds, these dives offered mesmerizing encounters with pipefish, cusk eels, longarm octopuses, big squids, larval lionfish, and moray eels, showcasing the captivating diversity of the nocturnal ocean realm.

cusk eel - rare specimen seen blackwater diving in thailand

This is a rare type of Cusk-eel larva. Which so far hasn't been spotted by any of the photogrpahers who regularily post in blackwater photo group!

Larvacean - Pelagic Tunicate - Appendicularia

Pipefish

plenty of photogenic squids around

Octopus

Day 6 : Koh Bon Pinnacle and Ridge

We concluded our trip with two dives at Koh Bon Pinnacle and Ridge, exploring hard coral gardens and enjoying incredible visibility. Schools of batfish and tuna filled the blue, while nudibranchs and reef fish added vibrant colors to this final underwater adventure.

This trip was a perfect blend of vibrant reefs, fascinating macro life, and the thrilling mystery of blackwater diving.

Our divers captured stunning photos of their underwater experiences, some of which you can see in our album here. We look forward to welcoming more divers aboard for our next adventure and more blackwater diving in the Andaman Sea!

what a fun time diving in Surin and Similan islands

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Diving 4 of the best Marine national parks in Thailand and Wowed once more by Richelieu Rock - Trip report: December 1st to 8th 2024 -

11/12/2024

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South to North Andaman Adventure: 1st to 8th of December 2024

Our latest journey aboard the MV Smiling Seahorse was a thrilling exploration of the Andaman Sea, moving from the vibrant reefs of the South to the world-renowned sites in the North. This special trip welcomed an energetic group of 16 Bulgarian divers from Go Live Bulgaria, departing from Phuket. With the golden hues of a blazing sunset over Phuket Island as our backdrop, we set off for a week of unforgettable underwater discoveries.

Giant seafan, soft corals and giant barrel sponge

A scorpionfish under black coral

Day 1: Koh Lanta National Park – A Stunning Introduction

We began our adventure at Koh Haa with a relaxing check dive. The tranquil waters revealed schools of fusiliers and snappers, while a lionfish glided past and a beautiful sea slug rested on the white sandy bottom—a serene start to the trip.
At Hin Daeng, the underwater world came alive. We explored the vibrant red rock, surrounded by batfish, giant trevallies, and rainbow runners. The sight of a giant moray eel and a porcelain crab nestled in a white anemone brought smiles to everyone’s faces. Our dive at Hin Muang didn’t disappoint either, with a mix of bluefin trevallies, baby lobsters, and a boxing-arm shrimp adding to the excitement.
The night dive at Hin Daeng was a true spectacle. One group spotted a slipper lobster, while others were captivated by marbled shrimps, banded coral shrimps, and giant moray eels on the hunt. The reef was bustling with life, from decorator crabs to sleepy seal pufferfish, making for an unforgettable end to the first day.

Lionfish on the reef of Tarutao National Park

Beautiful yellow fusilier school

Pufferfish behind seafan

Big eye trevallies

Day 2: Mu Koh Tarutao National Park – Secrets of the Reef

Our first dives at 8 Mile Rock were nothing short of magical. A school of African pompano shimmered in the clear water, and a lucky few spotted a tiger tail seahorse hiding among the corals. The highlight was a giant grouper cruising in open water, followed closely by a curious great barracuda.
At Stonehenge, the reef burst into color and life. From tiny scorpionfish blending into the rock to the ever-charming clownfish, every corner held a new surprise. Sighting of a blue dragon nudibranch and a playful group of saddleback clownfish rounded out a spectacular day.

Titan triggerfish

Impressive giant grouper

Day 3: Koh Lanta National Park – Mystical Caverns and Swim-throughs

The towering pinnacles of Hin Muang welcomed us with schools of giant trevallies darting around the top. At Koh Haa Cathedral, we explored breathtaking caves adorned with banded pipefish and shimmering schools of fish. The Chimney at Koh Haa offered thrilling swim-throughs, where we encountered seal-faced pufferfish, moray eels, and elegant sea fans.
As we set sail toward the Similan Islands in the afternoon, the anticipation grew for what lay ahead.

Giant barrel sponge

similan island's most photogenic spot at Three Tree

Three Tree, Similan Islands

Day 4: Similan National Park – Crystal Clear Paradise

The Similan Islands welcomed us with remarkable visibility and dramatic underwater topography, setting the stage for a day of incredible dives.
We kicked off with a dive at Shark Fin Reef, an underwater haven for large pelagic and reef life alike. The sight of a graceful marble ray gliding over the sandy bottom was a highlight, while a curious Whitetip reef shark circled in the distance. Along the reef, a massive giant moray eel peeked out from its crevice, and colorful reef fish filled the scene. Schools of blue-dash fusiliers, yellowtail snapper, and Moorish idols darted between the coral formations. Closer to the reef, butterflyfish, triggerfish, and the ever-playful damselfish added a kaleidoscope of color.
At Elephant Head Rock, we explored intricate swim-throughs teeming with life. Among the highlights were two ribbon eels, their vivid colors a stunning contrast to the rocky outcrops, and two imposing great barracudas patrolling the area.
Our third dive at Tree Threes was an ethereal experience. The sandy bottom was a field of garden eels, and the massive barrel sponges and giant sea fans on the boulders added a dramatic backdrop.
The day ended with a sunset dive at Koh Bon West Ridge, where some divers opted to try their hand at a blackwater dive, venturing into the open ocean to marvel at bioluminescent plankton and the mysteries of the deep.

Getting ready for a blackwater dive

Another cute baby shrimp

Surprised cute fish

Fairy basslet

Colorful baby shrimp

Psychedelic anemone

Flying gurnard from the top

Another pretty fish

Juvenile flounder

A cute blue eyes crab larvae

Day 5: Similan National Park – Thrills at Every Pinnacle

The day began with a dive at Koh Bon Pinnacle, where crystal-clear waters revealed schools of yellow snappers, cleaning shrimps, and Maldivian sponge snails. The afternoon brought us to Koh Tachai Pinnacle, alive with giant groupers, Spanish mackerels, and batfish.
The sunset dive at Koh Tachai was the perfect finale to the day, with encounters ranging from bannerfish to porcelain crabs. Some divers chose a blackwater dive instead, marveling at the mysterious creatures that emerge from the depths.

Cute fish in giant barrel sponge

Barracudas schooling in Similan

Batfish portrait in Richelieu Rock

Day 6: Surin National Park – Richelieu Rock's Majestic Wonders

Richelieu Rock never fails to amaze, and our four dives here showcased its unmatched biodiversity. The site buzzed with marine life, starting with schools of giant trevally, rainbow runners, and yellowtail barracuda darting around the pinnacle. Closer to the reef, the vibrant colors of anemonefish, including tomato anemonefish and clark's anemonefish, were a delight to spot.
Our divers were captivated by the macro life hiding among the rocks. Peacock mantis shrimps scuttled across the sandy bottom, while Durban dancing shrimps and banded coral shrimps made their homes in crevices. A tiny white-eyed moray eel peeked out playfully, while larger giant moray eels lounged around their rocky dens.
The soft corals, swaying with the currents, provided shelter for a plethora of reef fish, including yellow boxfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, and bluestreak cleaner wrasse busy at work. We also encountered devil scorpionfish, pipefish, and a few colorful nudibranchs. The highlight? Watching a school of batfish glide gracefully through the water, adding an elegant touch to the vibrant underwater scenery.

Coral grouper on the vibrant reef of Richelieu Rock

trumpetfish posing in front of hard coral together with blue line snappers and squirrelfish

Trumpetfish in front of hard coral together with blue line snappers and squirrelfish

Day 7: Similan National Park – A Grand Finale

Our final dive at Koh Bon Pinnacle delivered an unforgettable end to the trip. Huge schools of batfish and yellow fusiliers danced in the sunlight, weaving around the pinnacle’s striking sea fans. A majestic green turtle made a surprise appearance, swimming calmly past the group, to everyone’s delight.
Closer to the reef, the bustling community of reef fish showcased the vibrant ecosystem. Bannerfish, emperor angelfish, sergeant majors, and spotted sweetlips mingled among the hard and soft corals. A small school of Indian mackerel dashed through, while scorpionfish lay camouflaged on the sandy patches. The giant barracuda lurking near the sea fans reminded us of the sheer diversity of life this pinnacle supports.
The crystal-clear visibility and abundance of marine life were the perfect farewell to a week filled with unforgettable underwater adventures. We surfaced with wide smiles and hearts full of gratitude for this magical experience.

Ready for the next dive!!!

The dream team at The Smiling Seahorse

All aboard the dinghy!!!

Our Nutella crepe are always appreciated

Bulgarian crew

Reflections and Farewell

As we returned to Khao Lak, we reminisced about the incredible week of diving. From the vibrant reefs of Koh Haa to the biodiversity of Richelieu Rock, every dive brought something extraordinary. A heartfelt thank-you to our Bulgarian guests, team Go Live for their enthusiasm and camaraderie—it was a joy to share this journey with you.
Until next time, happy bubbles! 🌊🐠

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Day 2 — Similan National Park

Day 3 — Koh Bon & Koh Tachai

Day 4 & 5 — Richelieu Rock (Surin National Park)

Day 6 – Richelieu Rock Farewell & Return to Ranong

A fantastic end to our Surin and Similan Liveaboard cruise

Day 1 — Koh Haa & Hin Muang

Day 2 — Koh Haa, Koh Lanta National Park

Day 3 — Entering Phi Phi National Park

Day 5 — Similan National Park

Day 6 — Similan Islands 4, 7 & 8

Day 7 — Island 9 & Beyond

Day 8 — Final Day: Honeymoon Bay & Boonsung Wreck

Season Finale aboard MV Smiling Seahorse: ​​Best of Similan & Surin – April 30 to May 7, 2025

Day 1: Similan Beginnings

​Day 2: Pinnacles and Swim-Throughs

​Day 3: Heading North

​Day 4: Barracudas and Batfish

​Day 5: Surin's Soft Side

Days 6 & 7: Richelieu Rock Grande Finale

Thailand's Andaman Sea: North and South – April 21–28, 2025

Day 1: Surin National Park – A Colorful Beginnin

​Day 2: Similan National Park – Granite Giants and Pelagic Glory

​Day 3: Similan National Park – Rays, Reefs, and Swim-Throughs

​Day 4: Koh Lanta National Park – Deep Blue Action

​Day 5: Koh Tarutao National Park – Reef Riches and Tropical Surprises

Day 6: A Final Sweep Through the South Andaman

Day 7: A Grand Finale

Video of the trip by our lovely friend Aiara

Day 1: A Colorful Start in the Surin National Park

Day 2: Entering ​Similan National Park at Koh Tachai and Koh Bon

Day 3: Exploring the Similan Island

Day 4: Lanta National Park : Macro Wonders and Pelagic Thrill

Day 5: Tarutao National Park : Cobia, Jacks, and Mysterious Creature

Day 6: Lanta National Park

Day 7: A Grand Farewel

Best of North Andaman Aboard MV Smiling Seahorse (18–24 February 2025)

​Day 1: Similan National Park

​Day 2: Similan National Park to Koh Bon

​Day 3: Koh Bon to Koh Tachai

​Day 4: Surin National Park

​Day 6: Richelieu Rock – A Spectacular Finale

Wonderful to welcome this great Dive club from the USA in Thai Waters!

Day 1: Surin Islands & Richelieu Rock – A Vibrant Start

Day 2: Koh Tachai & Koh Bon : Strong Currents, Big Rewards​

Day 3: Similan Islands – Boulders & Swim-Throughs

Day 4: Hin Daeng & Hin Muang – Koh Lanta National Park

Tarutao National Park

Koh Lanta National Park – A Blue Marlin Encounter

Koh Phiphi National Park

Day 1 : Exploring Similan National Park

Day 2 : Koh Bon Bay and Koh Tachai

Day 3 : Surin National Park and Richelieu Rock

Day 4 and 5 : Richelieu Rock - a photographer's paradise

Day 1 : Diving in the surin islands

Day 2 : Richelieu Rock

Day 4 : More of the Similan National Park

Day 5 : Similan National Park

Day 6 : Koh Bon Pinnacle and Ridge

South to North Andaman Adventure: 1st to 8th of December 2024

Day 1: Koh Lanta National Park – A Stunning Introduction

Day 2: Mu Koh Tarutao National Park – Secrets of the Reef

Day 3: Koh Lanta National Park – Mystical Caverns and Swim-throughs

Day 4: Similan National Park – Crystal Clear Paradise

Day 5: Similan National Park – Thrills at Every Pinnacle

Day 6: Surin National Park – Richelieu Rock's Majestic Wonders

Day 7: Similan National Park – A Grand Finale

Reflections and Farewell

The Smiling Seahorse Diving Blog

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Season Finale aboard MV Smiling Seahorse:
Best of Similan & Surin – April 30 to May 7, 2025

Day 2: Pinnacles and Swim-Throughs

Day 3: Heading North

Day 4: Barracudas and Batfish

Day 5: Surin's Soft Side

Day 2: Similan National Park – Granite Giants and Pelagic Glory

Day 3: Similan National Park – Rays, Reefs, and Swim-Throughs

Day 4: Koh Lanta National Park – Deep Blue Action

Day 5: Koh Tarutao National Park – Reef Riches and Tropical Surprises

Day 2: Entering Similan National Park at Koh Tachai and Koh Bon

Day 1: Similan National Park

Day 2: Similan National Park to Koh Bon

Day 3: Koh Bon to Koh Tachai

Day 4: Surin National Park

Day 6: Richelieu Rock – A Spectacular Finale

Day 2: Koh Tachai & Koh Bon : Strong Currents, Big Rewards