North to South Andaman Diving Safari: 7 Days of Underwater Adventures in Thailand
Embark on an Extraordinary Underwater Adventure
With the MV Smiling Seahorse, divers explored Thailand’s most breathtaking marine parks during a week-long safari. From the vibrant reefs of Surin National Park and Similan National Park to the unspoiled beauty of Koh Lanta and Tarutao, this journey was a celebration of marine biodiversity and camaraderie among diving enthusiasts.
Here’s a detailed, day-by-day recount of this unforgettable diving safari.
Day 1: Surin National Park – A Promising Start
Our expedition began at Koh Chi, the perfect setting for a relaxed check dive. Highlights included spotting a giant pufferfish, a fleeting requiem shark and the graceful gliding of an eagle ray.
The excitement continued with two dives at the iconic Richelieu Rock, despite slightly hazy visibility.
The site was bustling with life: trevallies, rainbow runners and longnose emperors darted among schools of fusiliers.
A ghost pipefish and playful clusters of tomato anemonefish thrilled the group, making this a fantastic start to the trip.
We concluded the day with a magical night dive at Torinla West, exploring granite boulders that housed a variety of nocturnal critters, including shrimps and crabs.
Day 2: Similan National Park – Visibility and Vibrance
The crystal-clear waters of the Koh Tachai Plateau offered breathtaking encounters, from a swirling barracuda tornado to curious tunas and a playful octopus.
At Koh Bon Pinnacle, we marvelled at batfish, barracudas and vibrant peacock mantis shrimps. A night dive at Koh Bon Bay revealed hidden treasures like Maldivian sponge snails and lobsters, adding to the day’s thrill.
Day 3: Similan National Park – Iconic Dive Sites
Three Trees dazzled with its majestic Napoleon wrasse, garden eels and another spectacular barracuda tornado. The white sandy bottoms and granite boulders created an enchanting underwater landscape, perfect for spotting blue-spotted rays and an octopus.
At Elephant Head Rock, divers navigated swim-throughs adorned with sea fans, encountering blue ribbon eels, a hunting giant moray eel and a juvenile whitetip shark.
Our final dive at West of Eden revealed a thriving coral garden teeming with fusiliers, parrotfish and an elusive blue dragon nudibranch.
Day 4: Koh Lanta National Park – Hin Muang and Hin Daeng
The legendary dive sites Hin Muang and Hin Daeng lived up to their reputations. At Hin Muang, a hawksbill turtle and rainbow runners stole the show.
Meanwhile, Hin Daeng’s vibrant reef showcased porcelain crabs, clownfish and swirling barracuda schools.
The day ended with a blackwater dive, an ethereal experience where bioluminescent plankton and mysterious deep-sea creatures emerged under the starlit sky.
Day 5: Tarutao National Park – A Seahorse Surprise
At 8-Mile Rock, divers delighted in spotting a seahorse, along with a sleeping turtle and several moray eels. The adventure continued at Koh Yang Reef, where clownfish and hermit crabs charmed the group.
Stonehenge proved unforgettable with mating cuttlefish, scorpionfish and a baby frogfish. Another frogfish sighting at Koh Taru, along with devil scorpionfish and a rare sea urchin shrimp, wrapped up an exciting day.
Day 6: Koh Haa – Mystical Caves and Predator-Prey Drama
The drama unfolded at Hin Daeng/Muang, where divers witnessed a giant potato grouper devouring a moray eel – a rare and intense moment.
At Koh Haa Chimney, we explored colourful swim-throughs, while Koh Haa Cathedral revealed magical caves with cleaning shrimps, fusiliers and resting pufferfish. A sunset dive brought the day to a dazzling close.
Day 7: Koh Bida Nok and Shark Point – A Memorable Farewell
Our final day began at Koh Bida Nok, where blacktip reef sharks, a tigertail seahorse and a baby turtle made delightful appearances.
The trip ended with a drift dive at Shark Point, where divers marvelled at cuttlefish, barrel sponges and bustling marine life – a perfect grand finale.
Reflections and Farewells
This North to South Andaman safari was a journey of discovery, showcasing the incredible biodiversity of Thailand’s marine parks. From vibrant coral gardens to thrilling encounters with rare species, every dive was a testament to the beauty of the underwater world.
Thank you to everyone who joined this adventure aboard the MV Smiling Seahorse. Until our next exploration, happy bubbles! 🌊
