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

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

The Andaman Sea is home to some of the most stunning underwater landscapes, and our journey into its heart took us to the renowned Similan and Surin National Parks. With their vibrant marine ecosystems and world-class dive sites, these destinations are a true diver's paradise.
Our guests this week was an energetic mix of adventurers from Germany, France, the UK, Australia, and Luxembourg. United by a shared passion for the ocean, we ventured into two Marine National Parks in the North Andaman, renowned for their vibrant marine life and spectacular underwater landscapes. 
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The Similan Islands, whose name fittingly means "nine" in Malay, form a cluster of breathtaking isles. Just to the north, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai serve as gateways to Surin National Park, adding even more wonder to the experience. Departing from Khao Lak, this voyage promised a tapestry of unforgettable sights above and below the surface.

We started our adventure with a check dive at Honeymoon Bay (Island Number 4). The coral garden and pristine sandy bottom were teeming with marine life: moray eels, lionfish, peacock groupers, and an octopus made appearances, while Camille spotted a stunning comet longfins. Divers also encountered sealface pufferfish, gobies, butterflyfish, and the graceful humpback unicornfish.

Our second dive took us to West of Eden (Island Number 7), where we marvelled at a vibrant coral garden bustling with life. Juvenile rockmover wrasse danced in the sand, and blue-spotted pufferfish peeked out from coral crevices. Angelfish, snappers, fusiliers, surgeonfish, and tilefish were abundant, making this dive truly delightful.

For our third dive, we explored the iconic Elephant Head Rock, renowned for its massive boulders and swim-throughs. Highlights included a giant trevally, a blue-and-yellow ribbon eel, and colorful nudibranchs adorning the rocks. Divers also spotted parrotfish, triggerfish, and a playful school of bluefin trevally hunting glassfish.
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The day concluded with a mesmerizing night dive at Turtle Rock, near Donald Duck Bay. Shrimps and crabs were out in abundance: banded boxer shrimp, marble shrimp, and Durban dancing shrimp stole the show. A giant moray eel stalking a snapper added an element of drama, while a tiger cowrie and an ornate spiny lobster rounded off our enchanting night.

We began the morning at Xmas Point, where one group was delighted to discover a pair of baby harlequin shrimps munching on a sea star while another group came across a white-tip shark swimming closeby and a curious octopus. Parrotfish and titan triggerfish also came for a quick glance as we explored this dynamic dive site.

Our second dive took us to Three Trees, where we encountered a playful hawksbill turtle and observed garden eels swaying gently in the sand. The highlights of this dive included potato groupers and Moorish idols, as well as blue-spotted rays gliding elegantly through the water.
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Next, we made our way to Koh Bon Bay, where we were greeted by a school of platax (batfish). The spectacle was enhanced by the presence of lionfish, lobsters, and peacock mantis shrimps, along with yellow fusiliers and bluefin trevally darting through the reef.
We concluded the day with a dive at Koh Bon, which featured Andaman sweetlips, tapestry shrimp, and squat shrimps. An octopus made a memorable appearance, and we were particularly thrilled to spot the vibrant halgerda tessellata nudibranch, which was truly a special treat.

Some divers began their day at Koh Bon West Ridge, where Maldivian sponge snails, schools of fusiliers, triggerfish, batfish, and anemonefish were abundant. While others explored the deeper Koh Bon Pinnacle, which was equally rich in marine life.

For the second dive, we ventured to Koh Bon North Ridge and North Reef, enjoying remarkable visibility and sunlight streaming through the water. Divers spotted banded sea snakes, barracudas, lionfish, and baby fimbriated moray eels. Shrimp, including Durban dancers and boxing shrimp, added charm to the reef.
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Dive three took us to Koh Tachai Pinnacle, where the light and visibility were breathtaking. Schools of fusiliers and snappers swarmed around the reef, while giant potato groupers and pufferfish lingered on the plateau. A school of batfish hovered near the walls, accompanied by octopuses and stunning sea fans.
The sunset dive at Koh Tachai Pinnacle featured no current and an abundance of marine life. Mackerel, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, and schools of fusiliers swirled around the site. Potato groupers and a small yellow boxfish provided a perfect ending to the day.

The wind picked up as we made our way toward Surin National Park, prompting us to adjust our plans for safety. We began our adventure at Yellow Rock, located on the southern tip of South Surin Island. Although the visibility and current posed some challenges, our most determined divers were rewarded with sightings of a school of yellowtail barracuda, a massive school of yellow fusiliers, and a solitary humphead parrotfish.

Our second dive at Bungalow Rock, situated northwest of South Surin Island, offered calmer conditions and clearer waters. The underwater landscape was vibrant, featuring boulders teeming with life, including barracudas, sweetlips, shy potato groupers, and a giant moray eel that made this dive truly memorable.
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The final two dives of the day took us to the legendary Richelieu Rock. Although the visibility wasn’t perfect, the site delivered its usual enchantment. Schools of yellowtail barracuda, pickhandle barracuda, trevally, rainbow runners, fusiliers, and snappers painted a mesmerizing underwater scene. The sight of cuttlefish laying eggs added to the excitement, while as the sun began to set, the waters came alive with activity as predators started their hunt.
After the sunset dive, we celebrated with a barbecue in the bay of the Surin Islands—a well-deserved feast for our hardworking divers.

The trip concluded with two final dives at Richelieu Rock, which once again showcased its incredible biodiversity. Schools of barracuda mingled with fusiliers and snappers, while longnose emperors prowled near the rock. Boxfish, trumpetfish, and blue-spotted boxfish were just a few of the vibrant reef inhabitants we encountered. Porcelain crabs, peacock mantis shrimps, and Durban dancing shrimps delighted macro enthusiasts.
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With smiles on our faces and memories of breathtaking dives, we headed back toward Ranong, making a brief stop at Koh Payam to drop off some guests. This journey was truly unforgettable.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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