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!
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!
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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.
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.
 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.
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.
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 | Day 4: Hin Daeng & Hin Muang – Koh Lanta National ParkDiving 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 ParkDay 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.
Our final dive at Chimney took us through a dramatic vertical tunnel, where a pair of ghost pipefish greeted us at the exit.
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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!
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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