Day 1 : Exploring Similan National ParkOur 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. |
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.
Day 2 : Koh Bon Bay and Koh Tachai
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.
Day 3 : Surin National Park and Richelieu Rock
To escape rough waves, we returned to Surin Island for our second dive at Torinla Pinnacle.
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.
Day 4 and 5 : Richelieu Rock - a photographer's paradise
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.
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.
Stay tuned for more adventures and stories from the Andaman Sea!