Diving liveaboard in Thailand and Myanmar
  • When & Where
    • Schedule and Prices
    • Destinations >
      • North Andaman Thailand >
        • Similan Islands
        • Surin Islands >
          • Richelieu rock
        • The essential Underwater photo Guide to diving Thailand
      • South Andaman Thailand
      • Mergui Archipelago >
        • Marine life in the Andaman Sea
        • Burma's best dive sites
        • The Ultimate Underwater photo Guide to diving Burma
  • ABOUT
    • Our Boat >
      • DELICIOUS FOOD
    • Guest Book
    • Diving in Thailand in 2022-2023 >
      • Ranong Departures >
        • 3D Thailand: Surin National Park
        • 4D3N North Andaman Ranong-Khao Lak
        • 5D Thailand: Surin and Similan
        • 5D North Andaman Ranong-Khao Lak
        • 6D Thailand: Surin and Similan end to Ranong
        • 7D Thailand: All of Surin and Similan
        • 8D Thailand: North & South
        • Alternative itineraries for full charter >
          • 4D4N Evening to morning - Surin Similan
      • Khao Lak Departures >
        • 5D North Andaman from Khao Lak to Phuket
        • 5D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 5D North Andaman Khaolak - Ranong
        • 6D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 6D North Andaman: From Khao Lak to Ranong
        • 7D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 7D North Khao Lak to Khao Lak
        • 8D North & South Andaman Thailand
      • Phuket departures >
        • 5D North Andaman from Phuket
        • 5D South Andaman: Lanta and Tarutao National Parks
        • 6D North Andaman: Phuket to Khao Lak
        • 8D Thailand: South & North
        • 8D Andaman South & North Phuket-Ranong
    • Blackwater diving in Thailand
    • Marine life in Thailand's Andaman Sea
    • Diving in Myanmar | Burma dive cruises >
      • 6D Burma : South Mergui Archipelago
      • 7D Burma: dive Black Rock
      • 8D Burma: Undiscovered Mergui
      • 9D Burma: Exploration trip
    • Dive Courses >
      • Learn to Dive
      • Continue diving education
      • Rescue diver
      • Professional Dive Courses
      • Hone your dive skills with a PADI specialty course
      • Photo coaching in Thailand on the Smiling Seahorse
    • FAQ
  • Plan your trip
    • Our hotels recommendations
    • Khao Sok National Park
    • Taxi services >
      • Taxi services to and from Ranong
      • Taxi services to and from Phuket
      • Taxi services to Tap Lamu and Khao Lak
    • 10 things to do around Ranong
    • Covid-19 news & infos >
      • COVID-19 update travel to Thailand
      • Covid-19 protection on-board
  • PROMO
    • HOT DEALS
    • Manta rays expedition - 19 Mar 2023
    • Ultimate Underwater photo combo expeditions
    • Blackwater expedition 23 Jan 2024
    • UW Photo clinic North Andaman 31 Jan 2024
    • Special Marine Biology - 18 Feb 2024
    • Whale Shark Special - 19 Mar 2024 - North and South
    • Manta rays expedition - 20 April 2024
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The Ultimate Guide to Thailand's Andaman Sea Marine Life

Learn some fun facts about the Indian Ocean's inhabitants in Thailand

Marine life in Thailand Andaman Sea
Thailand is a littoral country with 2,815 km of coastline, 1878 on the East coast (the Gulf of Thailand) and 937 on the West coast, on the Andaman Sea side. 

A part of the Indian Ocean, the Andaman Sea is a roughly 1,200 km long x 650 km wide, limited by the Gulf of Mataban in the north, the Malay Peninsula in the east, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the west and the northern tip of Sumatra in the south.

Being a peripheral ocean isolated from the bay of Bengal by the Andaman-Nicobar island bends, marine life has evolved a bit differently and the Andaman Sea has some endemic species.
marine National parks in the south of Thailand
Marine National parks in the South of Thailand
The Andaman Sea is a tropical haven very rich in Marine life. Thailand has seen early the importance of protecting its marine biodiversity and there are now 22 marine national parks in Thailand where fishes and reefs are protected from fisheries.
Marine life described below have been encountered in the 5 most beautiful Marine national parks of Thailand: 
 Surin islands, Similan islands, Phi Phi Islands, Tarutao, and Koh Lanta national park all located in the Andaman Sea.

We have been diving in Thailand since 2012 and we wrote quite a few blogposts about the critters we encountered here. This page should serve as a menu to Thailand's ultimate Marine life guide to find these articles in a more "organised way".

Whale shark in richelieu rock and tachai

Sharks

We have quite a few kind of sharks in Thailand:
Whale shark (mostly spotted at Richelieu and Koh Tachai)
learn about baby whale sharks here.
White and black tip reef sharks
Leopard / zebra sharks (often sighted at Koh Bon pinnacle) and we recently spotted a tiger shark in the similans.
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in Thailand diving with manta rays

Rays

Giant Manta rays are not the only rays present in Surin and Similan islands.
We also have:
Blue spotted sting rays
Marble blotched sting rays
Eagle Rays

Long nose and Bowmouth guitare fish)
learn about Andaman Sea Rays
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Cephalopods in Surin and similan dive sites

Cephalopods

Several kind of cephalopods can be seen in Thai water:
common reef octopus,
Pharaoh Cuttlefish
Schooling squids
are the most commonly spotted in Surin and Similan islands.
We recently saw a paper nautilus on a black water dive!
Cephalopds camouflages in Burma
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Schooling Fishes in Andaman sea koh tachai

Schooling Fishes

Surin and Similan national parks have many kinds of fish schools:
the most famous ones are barracudas, batfish (orbicular and shaded)
hunting big eye trevallies
yellowtail and yellowback fusiliers
Sergeant major,  goat fish
Rainbow runners, moorish idols
​Crocodile needle fish, Rabbitfish,
Surgeonfish, ​Butterflyfish, triggerfish (including the beautiful clown triggerfish),
hundred of kinds of snappers, emperors, squirelfish, and parrotfishes
​
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Moray Eels in Thailand's Andaman islands

Moray and other Eels

Moray eels are very common in the Andaman sea and you will mostly see:
white eyed moray,
Fibriated morays
Snow flakes moray eels
Giant morays (some really huge) 
Ribbon eels
​Garden eels
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territorial reef fish species in Thailand west coast

Other territorial reef fish

Damselfishes inhabit every anemone: tomato clownfish, false clownfish, clarks anemonefish.
Golden, Humburg and blue Damsel, Rounded and fine-spotted Porcupinefish, Giant pufferfish.
Hawkfish, Trumpetfish, ​Razorfish, groupers, boxfish
Emperor/ regal/ Andaman Angelfish
 Lizardfish and Crocodile fish,
cardinal fish, sweetlips, Napoleon fish and so many other wrasses and the rarer Pineapple fish
many types of gobies and fairy basslet.​
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Harlequin shrimp in Richelieu Rock, Thailand

Crustaceans in Thailand

 There are many kinds of shrimps in Surin and Similan dive sites: Lobsters, Durban shrimp, Mantis shrimp, boxer shrimp, (anemone and crinoid) commensal shrimp, imperator shrimp (on Spanish dancers), squat shrimp, serpentine shrimp.
The Harlequin shrimp (regularly spotted at Richelieu Rock) is on the wish list of all underwater photographers.
Surin NP and similan's crab collection:
Porcelain crabs, spider crabs, sponge crabs, hermit crabs, orangutan crabs and many other crustaceans are found in the Mergui Archipelago.
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Famous thai Nudibranch

Thailand's nudibranch molluscs & sea slugs

​We have a very large array of nudibranches, flat worms, sea slugs, cowries and snails in Thailand such as the Spanish dancer above but also the popular Bornella Anguilla. Learn some fun facts about nudis here.
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Many halgerda and grossodoris slugs as well as the piccachu nudibranch (Thecacera pacifica)​.
You'll see giant clams, Oysters, conch, tiger cowries, soft coral cowrie, cone shells and much more...
Beautiful coral in Similan marine national park

Coral species, sea stars and more

You will be amazed by the coral reef of Richelieu Rock with limestone covered by a rainbow of tree, cauliflower and broccoli soft corals.
Dive sites in Similan islands have more hard coral formations, pale staghorn or solid table coral as well as the very photogenic giant seafans, knotted fan coral, whip and spiral black corals.
You will also find in the landscape many types of sponges, anemone, Sea stars, basket stars, bushy feather stars crinoid, sea cucumbers and sea urchins.
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Lion Fish Koh Tachai

Scorpion fish

Scorpion fishes are very common in Thailand. You will see several kinds of
lion fishes (black and red) as well as plenty of bearded and devil scorpion fish.​
Stonefish
Stonefish
Indian Walkman
Indian Walkman
Sea Turtle in surin islands

Reptiles

Hawkbill and green turtles are the most commonly sighted around Thailand's Andaman islands.

​But you can also spot green turtles and banded sea crait (sea snakes) on a regular basis.
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Sea snake of Thailand
banded sea crait (sea snakes)
Seahorse species in Thailand Andaman Sea

Seahorses and pipefishes

As you may guess from our name, we are seahorses and related pipefish families.
Tiger tail seahorses, spiny seahorses
ornate ghost pipefish, Orange spotted pipefish , Bend stick pipe fish, 
​Cleaner pipefish and more...
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Ghost pipefish Richelieu Rock
Ghost pipefish Richelieu Rock
Marine life in the Andaman Sea is very rich, especially when diving in Thailand's national parks where marine life is protected and abundant. 
Covid-19 has stopped tourism activities in March 2020 and brought some respite for the Marine life in Thailand for many months. This season 2020-2021 will probably be better than previous year because underwater life has been left alone to regenerate. 
Thailand is so popular as a diving destination, its main draw back is the number of people diving the area every year. Thailand has being closed to Tourism... there has never been a better time than this year to explore Thailand's underwater treasures!
It's the best moment to book your dream diving holiday! Check our disponibilities today!
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The Smiling Seahorse

170 Ruangrat Rd, Tambon khao nivet, Mueang Ranong District, Ranong 85000​
Phone: +66860110614​
​Mail: info@thesmilingseahorse.com

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  • When & Where
    • Schedule and Prices
    • Destinations >
      • North Andaman Thailand >
        • Similan Islands
        • Surin Islands >
          • Richelieu rock
        • The essential Underwater photo Guide to diving Thailand
      • South Andaman Thailand
      • Mergui Archipelago >
        • Marine life in the Andaman Sea
        • Burma's best dive sites
        • The Ultimate Underwater photo Guide to diving Burma
  • ABOUT
    • Our Boat >
      • DELICIOUS FOOD
    • Guest Book
    • Diving in Thailand in 2022-2023 >
      • Ranong Departures >
        • 3D Thailand: Surin National Park
        • 4D3N North Andaman Ranong-Khao Lak
        • 5D Thailand: Surin and Similan
        • 5D North Andaman Ranong-Khao Lak
        • 6D Thailand: Surin and Similan end to Ranong
        • 7D Thailand: All of Surin and Similan
        • 8D Thailand: North & South
        • Alternative itineraries for full charter >
          • 4D4N Evening to morning - Surin Similan
      • Khao Lak Departures >
        • 5D North Andaman from Khao Lak to Phuket
        • 5D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 5D North Andaman Khaolak - Ranong
        • 6D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 6D North Andaman: From Khao Lak to Ranong
        • 7D North Andaman: All of Surin and Similan
        • 7D North Khao Lak to Khao Lak
        • 8D North & South Andaman Thailand
      • Phuket departures >
        • 5D North Andaman from Phuket
        • 5D South Andaman: Lanta and Tarutao National Parks
        • 6D North Andaman: Phuket to Khao Lak
        • 8D Thailand: South & North
        • 8D Andaman South & North Phuket-Ranong
    • Blackwater diving in Thailand
    • Marine life in Thailand's Andaman Sea
    • Diving in Myanmar | Burma dive cruises >
      • 6D Burma : South Mergui Archipelago
      • 7D Burma: dive Black Rock
      • 8D Burma: Undiscovered Mergui
      • 9D Burma: Exploration trip
    • Dive Courses >
      • Learn to Dive
      • Continue diving education
      • Rescue diver
      • Professional Dive Courses
      • Hone your dive skills with a PADI specialty course
      • Photo coaching in Thailand on the Smiling Seahorse
    • FAQ
  • Plan your trip
    • Our hotels recommendations
    • Khao Sok National Park
    • Taxi services >
      • Taxi services to and from Ranong
      • Taxi services to and from Phuket
      • Taxi services to Tap Lamu and Khao Lak
    • 10 things to do around Ranong
    • Covid-19 news & infos >
      • COVID-19 update travel to Thailand
      • Covid-19 protection on-board
  • PROMO
    • HOT DEALS
    • Manta rays expedition - 19 Mar 2023
    • Ultimate Underwater photo combo expeditions
    • Blackwater expedition 23 Jan 2024
    • UW Photo clinic North Andaman 31 Jan 2024
    • Special Marine Biology - 18 Feb 2024
    • Whale Shark Special - 19 Mar 2024 - North and South
    • Manta rays expedition - 20 April 2024
  • gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
    • Most popular posts