Best of the North Andaman: A Journey Through Underwater Wonders
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.
 setting sail from tap lamu pier |  with some lovely guest onboard |
North Andaman - Thailand - December 2024
Day 1: A Warm Welcome at Ao Pakkard Bay
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 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.
 Pikachu Nudibranch   |  Batfish in Surin National Park   |
Day 2: Surin National Park – A Richelieu Rock Extravaganz
The day was dedicated to the legendary Richelieu Rock, one of the most biodiverse dive sites in the world. We completed three spectacular dives here, each offering amazing visibility and an explosion of marine life.
Rabbitfish and the usual mob of longnose emperors were seen hunting with big eye trevally on the reef while pickhandle barracuda and rainbow runners filled the blue above. Close to the reef, we spotted a baby banded stick pipefish on the sandy bottom, a yellow trumpetfish tried and failed to hide in a bushy coral, jens cleaner pipefish were hiding in every dark crevice. in the shallow a big school of batfish was playing in the sunrays, while schools of yellow and white snappers passed them by. Tiny critters like nudibranchs (including various chromodoris), porcelain crabs, and a tiny yellow cube boxfish delighted our macro enthusiasts and got the strobes flashing!
Our divers also encountered the elusive frogfish, white-spotted boxfish, and clouds of fusiliers darting around the reef. The soft corals here were thriving, home to anemonefish, damselfish, and a kaleidoscope of reef species.
For the sunset dive, one group returned to Richelieu Rock, where the current brought in the big action: schools of longnose emperors, giant trevally, barracuda, rainbow runners, and fusiliers swarmed the pinnacle, creating an unforgettable spectacle before nightfall.
Meanwhile, other groups ventured out for a blackwater dive, a surreal night diving experience floating in the open ocean.
Highlights that night included larval filefish, baby day octopuses, Indian halibut, and moray eel larvae, alongside mesmerizing salps drifting in the darkness.
Rabbitfish and the usual mob of longnose emperors were seen hunting with big eye trevally on the reef while pickhandle barracuda and rainbow runners filled the blue above. Close to the reef, we spotted a baby banded stick pipefish on the sandy bottom, a yellow trumpetfish tried and failed to hide in a bushy coral, jens cleaner pipefish were hiding in every dark crevice. in the shallow a big school of batfish was playing in the sunrays, while schools of yellow and white snappers passed them by. Tiny critters like nudibranchs (including various chromodoris), porcelain crabs, and a tiny yellow cube boxfish delighted our macro enthusiasts and got the strobes flashing!
Our divers also encountered the elusive frogfish, white-spotted boxfish, and clouds of fusiliers darting around the reef. The soft corals here were thriving, home to anemonefish, damselfish, and a kaleidoscope of reef species.
For the sunset dive, one group returned to Richelieu Rock, where the current brought in the big action: schools of longnose emperors, giant trevally, barracuda, rainbow runners, and fusiliers swarmed the pinnacle, creating an unforgettable spectacle before nightfall.
Meanwhile, other groups ventured out for a blackwater dive, a surreal night diving experience floating in the open ocean.
Highlights that night included larval filefish, baby day octopuses, Indian halibut, and moray eel larvae, alongside mesmerizing salps drifting in the darkness.
  Juvenile eel - Blackwater critter  Indian Halibut  Day octopus |    |
Day 3: Pinnacles and Plateaus to End the Adventure
The final day began with a dive at Koh Tachai Plateau/Pinnacle, where we encountered a massive school of blackfin barracudas, giant trevally, and potato groupers swimming across the plateau. Among the reefs, we admired large sea fans, clusters of boxfish, triggerfish, and sizable lobsters scuttling in the crevices. Schools of fusiliers and snapper danced in the current, while tuna and Spanish mackerel zipped past in the blue waters.
Next, we headed to Koh Bon Pinnacle, where an amazing school of batfish, white-tip reef sharks, and titan triggerfish took center stage. At West Ridge, the day continued with sightings of a banded sea snake, bluefin trevally, Maldivian sponge snails, and even blue baby lobsters hiding in the cracks. The playful peacock mantis shrimps were a crowd favorite, alongside a variety of snapper, wrasse, and parrotfish.
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.
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Grateful for Unforgettable Adventures...
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.
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