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.
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Here’s a detailed, day-by-day recount of this unforgettable diving safari.

Our voyage began on the 19th of March as we bid farewell to Khao Lak and headed towards the Surin Islands National Park. Over the course of the first two days, we immersed ourselves in the underwater wonders of Richelieu Rock, renowned as one of the best dive sites worldwide and one of the best spots in Thailand to encounter Whale Sharks.

The conditions were ideal, and despite not encountering any shark, we witnessed a plethora of marine life in its colourful seascape: From schools of big-eyed trevally and chevron barracuda to solitary great barracuda and massive groupers, every dive was a mesmerizing encounter with the ocean's biodiversity. For macro enthusiasts, the discovery of a tiny baby tigertail seahorse, along with sightings of harlequin shrimp, ghost pipefish, and clownfish eggs, added an extra layer of excitement to our underwater explorations.

On Day 5, we ventured to Hin Deang and Hin Muang, where we encountered stonefish and ghostfish, adding to the intrigue of our underwater adventures. Day 6 brought us to the Koh Lipe area, where we were treated to sightings of a frogfish and seahorse at 8 miles, along with exploring dive sites like Stonehenge, Honeycomb, and Koh Taru.
Want to know how to differentiate a stone fish from other scorpionfish? Read this article!

Unfortunately Franck, owner and onboard photographer wasn't onboard on this trip so I took the liberty to use some older photos to illustrate the article with what was seen this week. I hope you'll like this article and feel free to share it or leave us a comment below! Follow us for more fishy stories :)

Our expedition started in Phuket towards the pristine waters of the Southern Andaman Sea near toward to Malaysian border.

Our first check dive was at Koh Haa, located within the boundaries of Lanta National Park, where our dive offered a glimpse into the underwater wonders that awaited us in the days ahead.
With everyone geared up and ready, we ventured next to Hin Deang and Hin Muang, also known as the Red and Purple Rocks, situated in the open ocean. These magnificent rock formations, adorned with colorful soft coral, served as the backdrop for three exhilarating dives. As we explored the vibrant reef, we were greeted by schools of Red Tooth Triggerfish, Chevron Barracuda, and Red Snapper, accompanied by the occasional sighting of Golden Trevally and Tuna Mackerel.

As our expedition progressed northward, we embarked on an overnight journey from Koh Lanta to the Similan Islands, passing by the shimmering lights of Phuket by night and arriving at the Similan Islands on time to dive it the following morning. We were greeted by the breathtaking beauty of this renowned marine paradise with a first dive at Shark fin reef.

Continuing our journey northward, we reached the Surin Islands on Day 6, where we spent the final three days of our expedition exploring iconic dive sites such as Torinla Rock, Aow Pakgad, Richelieu Rock, Tatchai Pinnacle, and Kho Bon. These sites are renowned for their incredible biodiversity and pristine underwater conditions, offering unparalleled opportunities for marine exploration. From the intricate dance of Harlequin Shrimp to the ethereal presence of Ghost Pipefish, each dive revealed new wonders waiting to be discovered. Massive schools of Chevron Barracuda, Big Eye Trevally, and Longnosed Emperor added to the spectacle, creating a truly unforgettable underwater experience.

As our expedition drew to a close, we reflected on the incredible journey we had undertaken and the wealth of knowledge we had gained from our esteemed guest, Gavin Miller. His passion for marine conservation and dedication to sharing his expertise enriched our expedition experience, leaving us with a deeper appreciation for the wonders of the ocean.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our guests on board for their enthusiasm and camaraderie, making this journey truly unique and memorable. Additionally, we express our gratitude to Trent, Gavin, and Craig for their contributions to this blog post, helping to illustrate the beauty and diversity of our marine science expedition.
For those interested in joining us on future themed expeditions, you can find more info on Special expeditions here.

We also did our blackwater dives around the Similan Islands. Venturing into the depths beneath the cover of darkness, we were met with a mesmerising display of mysterious marine life. Amidst the inky abyss, we marveled at the sight of intricate worms and delicate juvenile fishes, their ethereal forms illuminated by the gentle glow of our bright line and torches. These captivating encounters offered a glimpse into the mysterious world that thrives beneath the surface, reaffirming the boundless wonders of the Andaman Sea.
Did you know we are the pioneers in blackwater diving in Thailand's Andaman Sea and still the only operator offering blackwater dives on every trip to our esteemed guests? Come try it!!!

Our voyage culminated in the idyllic shores of Kho Lipe, where macro wonders awaited beneath the surface. From Seahorses to Ghost Pipefish, each dive offered a glimpse into the intricate tapestry of life that thrives within the coral crags and crevices. A highlight of the day was the tranquil sighting of the Coral Cat Shark, a testament to the pristine ecosystems that abound in these pristine waters.today and dive into a world of endless possibilities

Exploring the Underwater Wonders of Andaman Sea: A Week of Adventure
 
It was a pleasure welcoming back several returning guests this week and forging new friendships, our week was a celebration of exploration, discovery, and the marvels beneath the ocean's surface and a Big thank you to the Photographers (Greg, Yana and Shelley) for the wonderful photos illustrating this article!
 
This cruise welcomed an exceptionally large number of snorkelers onboard as a French family of 4 decided to join as non-divers and another scuba divers had to remain on the surface most of the time due to a health issue.  They were all delighted to be introduced the wonders of the underwater world in the glorious Andaman Sea.

First day  of diving at Koh Lanta National park :
 
Our diving escapades commenced at Koh Ha Lagoon, a haven adorned with an array of nudibranchs and comet long fins. Ghost pipefish enchanted both divers and avid photographers, setting the stage for an underwater symphony of colors and shapes.
 
Hin Muang Hin Muang unfolded a spectacle of Longnose Emperors and Trevallies in a hunting frenzy. Amidst the reef's nooks, Cleaner Shrimps, Morays, Scorpionfish and two bulky stonefish captivated our adventurous souls.

Venturing twice to Hin Daeng that afternoon, we witnessed a fish extravaganza—yellow fusiliers hunted down by some massive giant trevallies for the third dive, and we got invited to a true nudibranch party on the night dive : bornella, pink cowries, flat worms… If sea slugs arent’your thing, loads of shrimps and crabs scurried around from decorator spider crabs to old hermit crabs passing by the abundance of saron shrimps.
 
Some morays (some massive) came out of their holes on the hunt for their last meal of the day.
 
But not every creature is active at night and we also saw a sleepy filefish, dozy porcupine fish and, tucked underneath a shelf of coral, a yellow longnose butterfly fish sleeping upside down.

Second day : Lipe and Tarutao National park
 
At 8 miles, we were greeted by vast schools of trevallies and a charming baby Tigertail Seahorse.
Our second dive at 8 miles coincided with a huge school of big eyes trevallies and giant trevallies heading up to the cleaning stations.
We saw loads of othe schooling reef fish including red toothed triggerfish and quite a few Titan Triggerfish.
 
Pattaya corner in the afternoon was home to a baby Tigertail Seahorse and many cute nudibranchs. Only one frogfish could be found that day, but who knows how many looked at us passing by…
Filefish are usually quite shy, but we met a very inquisitive individual that let us come very close so we could appreciate its intricate details.

3rd day : Koh Lanta National Park
 
Back to the purple rock of Hin Muang, we got enchanted by the big schools of trevallies, rainbow runners, tunas and makerel in the blue…
The stone fish were still in their hiding spot and so were marble shrimps, cleaner shrimps, all types of moray eels (yellow moray, giant moray, fibriated moray…) an eclectic mix of marine life, including an adorable baby Indian Toby, longfin comet fish and Moorish idols.
Hin Daeng painted a canvas of vivid colors with yellow-edged lyretail, peacock grouper, and a diverse congregation of two dots snappers mixed with checkered snappers.

A couple of Indian sailfin surgonfish was grazing around following eachother on the reef and it was nice to take a closer look at the many sea cucumbers and seastars of all types and colors. The prettiest is probably the crown of thorns with its many purple arms, we love them for their look but hate them for their diet as they feed on the polips leaving dead coral in their trail.
 
Koh Haa  cathedral housed a delightful array of nudibranchs like Bornella Anguilla and Blue Dragons, rendering the dive site a colourful, underwater wonderland.
A crinoid opened up for our curious eyes to show a clingfish in its abode. Many cute blennies, my favorite being the bluestriped fangblenny with 2 very bright blues tripes often seen taking a bite of fishing coming for a clean…

Fourth day : Similan national park
There was nice blue warm water at Shark Fin Reef with white tip sharks coming to say hi and plenty of fish to add colour to the underwater scene. We saw clown triggerfish, fairy basslets, butterfly fish, bannerfish, moorish idols, angelfish, morays and so much more….
We were joined by powderblue surgeon fish and lined surgeonfish up at the safety stop.
 
Elephant Head had provided sightings of ribbon eels, skeleton shrimps, black blotched porcupine fish with giant trevallis patrolling the top. I had fun with a jawfish who played with my laser. Our divers saw Orange Pipefish hiding in plain sight on the identically colored rocks.
 
Three Tree had a stronger current, but the shallow reef was gorgeous with plenty of tropical fish roaming around – plus a turtle. Yellow margin triggerfish were frequent along the sandy patches, which are also home to large groups of garden eels.
 
Night dive at Koh Bon was good but outdone by the Sunset Dive which was super fishy with hunting action!
The dark bay whispered tales of parrotfish preparing their bubble beds and the serene presence of cuttlefish, evoking a sense of underwater tranquility.

Fifth day : Bon and Tachai
 
We saw a massive marble ray and a jenkin ray the next morning close to a very pretty pinnacle. A massive school of batfish with attendant Rabbitfish kept us company and we spotted Hawkfish posing on corals.
 
Koh Tachai was also thick with many trevallies, emperors, groupers and schools of bannerfish. There were multiple seafans, small and large, and even a lobster colony.
A spectacular vortex of barracudas, including one or two giant barracudas, patrolled the site. It is always fascinating to watch octopus change their colour and texture to match it’s surroundings – and then disappear like a magician.
 
The happy snorkelers saw multiple sharks (black and white tip) nearly every day, as well as several turtles, banded seakraits, schools of squids and Moray eels out on the hunt.  They were frequently joined by large schools of Chevron and Yellow Tailed Barracudas and Emporers as they swam along the surface, with the Emporers changing colour as they foraged for food.
 
They even tried blackwater snorkeling that night (along with intrepid divers), where they saw many salps and tiny juvenile mantis shrimp, amongst other alien looking creature.

The topography of Richelieu Rock was a canvas adorned with treasures—a couple of spotty boxfish, bannerfish gracefully swaying in the currents, and an array of nudibranchs such as Chromodoris anulata, flabellina exoptata, and moridilla brocki, offering a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors.
 
Amidst the coral landscape, baby angelfish and trumpetfish found refuge, while the ever-watchful mantis shrimps added an air of mystery to this thriving ecosystem.
 
As the day unfolded, Richelieu Rock revealed its intricate details, beckoning us to explore further. Every sighting, from the smallest sea slug to the grandest trevally dance, painted a picture of the sea's infinite wealth.
 
The Surin National Park's depths proved once again to be a haven of awe-inspiring beauty, leaving us with memories that echo the splendor of the ocean's wonders.
 
The very last dive took place at Boonsoon wreck were we appreciated the honeycom murrays and myriad of porcupinefish pattroling the top under a thick cloud of fusiliers, makrels and trevallie on top. It was hard to spot the surface as the schools of fish were so dense. We found a small pipefish on the sand and cute nudis on the ladder of the bridge. We also spotted a rare ringed puffer (arothran Hispidus) with psychedelic rings of yellow around its pelvic fins.
A school of barracudas completed the picture and while it was hard to head back to the surface we could only be grateful of the wonders we had uncovered once more.
 
Our week of underwater marvels was a testament to the beauty of the Andaman Sea, where every dive revealed a new chapter in the rich tapestry of marine life. As we bid adieu to this captivating journey, we carry with us the memories of an adventure that continues to echo beneath the waves.
Until we meet again, let the ocean's allure guide us to new horizons and undiscovered treasures.

Day 1:
Starting off with a check dive in the warm and inviting waters of Kho Chi was the perfect way to ease back into the underwater world. The reef nestled between coral formations and stretches of pristine white sand set the tone for what turned out to be an exhilarating day.
Our tree next dives, at Richelieu Rock was a spectacle beyond compare. The marine life seemed to dance before our eyes. Witnessing the grand parade of trevally, long-nosed emperor, rainbow runner, and the imposing pick handle barracuda was a true underwater symphony. It's heartwarming to hear that our Harlequin shrimp family, seahorses, and ghost pipefish are still thriving in their habitat.
Among the many highlights were the majestic appearances of the giant and white-eye moray eels. However, the cherry on top was undoubtedly the sunset encounter with the Jenkins stingray and the stunning Eagle ray. The sheer magnificence of these creatures against the backdrop of the setting sun was a moment frozen in time....

Day 2:
was a thrilling extension of our underwater odyssey! Our exploration led us to Tachai Pinnacle and Kho Bon, where nature continued to unveil its mysteries. The North Ridge treated us to the elegant spectacle of two guitar sharks gliding effortlessly through the waters, a sight that never fails to captivate.
Venturing further, the West Ridge unfolded a mesmerizing encounter with an octopus and a colossal marble ray, its sheer size and grace mesmerizing as it effortlessly navigated the currents. Each sighting added to the day's excitement, leaving us in constant wonder at the diversity and beauty of marine life.

The adventure continued as we explored Tachai Pinnacle and Kho Bon where nature continued to unveil its mysteries. The North Ridge treated us to the elegant spectacle of 2 guitar sharks gliding effortlessly through the waters, a sight that never fails to captivate. We also encountered octopus and a massive marble ray hovering in the current at the west ridge. 

Day 3:
The third day ushered us into the serene embrace of the Similan National Park where the underwater world revealed even more of its treasures. Diving into the depths of 3 Trees and Elephant Head, we were treated to sightings that delighted our senses. The presence of two white-tip sharks, a majestic leopard shark, and the grandeur of a big nurse shark gracing us with their presence was awe-inspiring.
The underwater landscape at West of Eden welcomed us in the afternoon with the playful antics of an intelligent octopus, showcasing its remarkable intelligence and inquisitive nature. 

Day 4:
Our fourth day was an absolute marvel that felt like a gift from the ocean itself! Our adventure began with a visit to Koh Haa, where the "Cathedral" site unfolded its wonders before our eyes. Delving into three captivating caves and emerging in the embrace of the Cathedral itself was nothing short of breathtaking. The sheer grandeur and beauty of this underwater marvel were awe-inspiring, leaving us in silent appreciation of nature's artistry.
Moving to the "Lagoon," we were greeted by the crystal-clear, warm waters that provided the perfect canvas for a mesmerizing dive. Against the backdrop of pristine white sand, the diversity of marine life danced before us, showcasing the vibrant tapestry thriving beneath the surface.
However, the highlight of the day unfolded in the afternoon at Hin Muang and Hin Dang, where the ocean gifted us an experience beyond compare - swimming alongside majestic Oceanic Manta Rays. Encounter after encounter, we were blessed to witness at least four of these magnificent creatures, each one a testament to the sheer grace and magnificence of the ocean's inhabitants. One of them graced us with an intimate 15-minute dance, spinning around us as if in a choreographed ballet, leaving us in a state of gratitude and sheer amazement.
This encounter with the Oceanic Manta Rays was more than just a dive; it was a soul-stirring experience that left us feeling deeply connected to the ocean and its magnificent inhabitants. Day 4 will forever remain etched in our hearts as a day of profound wonder and gratitude for the beauty that lies beneath the waves.

Day 5:
Christmas Day, was a celebration of wonder and underwater marvels in the Koh Lipe area. Our morning unfolded across Kho Yang East, Pattaya Corner treating us to a treasure trove of macro wonders.

The underwater world seemed to be adorned with a plethora of intricate life forms - nudibranches, ghost pipefish, pipefish, and the delightful presence of seahorses, each one a tiny marvel in its own right.
The afternoon dive at "8 Mile" brought us into the midst of a bustling underwater metropolis, surrounded by a bustling school of trevally. It was an immersive experience to hang around with the giant trevally, witnessing their majestic presence in their natural habitat. The sea seemed to come alive, each creature adding its unique charm to the Christmas festivities unfolding beneath the waves.
As the day drew to a close, the underwater adventures became cherished memories, and we gathered to celebrate Christmas Eve with hearts full of joy and gratitude. Each dive had gifted us moments of sheer amazement and a deeper connection to the underwater world. It was a day not just of diving but of embracing the enchantment that the ocean graciously bestowed upon us, leaving us with memories that will forever sparkle like treasures in our hearts.

Day 6:
Boxing day brought us back to the captivating Hin Muang/Hin Dang, and once again, the underwater world dazzled us with its diverse and vibrant marine life. The day was a kaleidoscope of mesmerizing encounters that left us in awe of nature's intricate tapestry thriving beneath the waves.Among the many highlights, the sighting of a stonefish served as a reminder of the ocean's hidden wonders, blending seamlessly into its surroundings. The friendly school of batfish accompanying us on our underwater journey added a delightful touch, their playful presence a testament to the curious nature of marine life.
The underwater landscape was further adorned by the presence of great barracuda, jackfish, African Pompano, and the imposing giant grouper, each one commanding attention with its unique allure. The bustling activity of tuna mackerel added to the dynamic energy of the dive, while the appearance of a honeycomb moray eel and the graceful movement of pipefish completed the day's vibrant encounters.

Day 7:
Our last day of diving, marked the culmination of our extraordinary Christmas trip around Koh Phiphi national park. Our exploration led us to two captivating dive sites: Bida Nok and the mesmerizing Shark Point. Little did we know that our luck would continue to grace us with incredible sightings, making this day a fitting conclusion to our underwater adventure.
At Shark Point's breathtaking pinnacle, nature unveiled its wonders yet again. Our dives were graced by the majestic presence of both a leopard shark and a guitar shark, their serene movements adding a touch of awe to the underwater landscape. The surroundings, adorned with giant barrel sponges and delicate sea fans, created a truly magical atmosphere, enhancing the beauty of the encounter.
Amidst these incredible sightings, the ocean seemed to put on a grand spectacle for our farewell, presenting us with a vibrant school of chevron barracuda, a mesmerizing sight of thousands of fusiliers, and the spirited presence of bluefin jackfish. 
As we surfaced from our final dive, our hearts were filled with a mix of emotions—a sense of fulfillment and gratitude for the breathtaking experiences, yet a tinge of melancholy that our adventure had come to an end. It was an incredible way to conclude our fantastic Christmas trip, leaving us with memories that will be cherished and reminisced upon forever.
Day 7 was more than just a dive; it was a graceful finale to a journey that submerged us in the beauty, diversity, and magnificence of the underwater world.

Thanks to our amazing guests for choosing The Smiling Seahorse and a big hug to Jeff, who already came countless time with us onboard The Smiling Seahorse (and its predecessor, Thai Sea). Also a big thank you for the lovely photos you shared with us to illustrate this blogpost in Franck's Absence! We really enjoyed sharing these underwater adventures with you. Looking forward to more!!!