Dive Safaris

An hour or two northeast of the Similan Islands is the MV Discovery’s next stop, the uninhabited island of Koh Bon. Both above and below the water, waves crash through holes carved by nature through the center of the island. Large nurse sharks sleep in one of the many underwater caves. The breathtaking underwater landscape of the “South Ridge” near Koh Bon is one of the favorite feeding grounds for manta rays. In the entire Andaman Sea, this dive site offers the highest chance of observing these fascinating plankton-feeding creatures while diving in Similan.

Just west of the South Ridge at Koh Bon, the dive path leads over a vast field of staghorn coral, home to trumpetfish going about their business. Of course, there’s much more to see here, such as octopuses, barracudas, and whitetip reef sharks, to name a few examples of this superb dive site.

Although the Similan Islands are more well-known and frequented by more visitors, the Southern Islands of Thailand, located in the provinces of Krabi and Trang, offer excellent diving sites and conditions for divers aboard our liveaboard cruise ship MV Discovery. The reefs of Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, and Koh Ha are unique among Thailand’s dive sites in the Andaman Sea. The dramatic underwater architecture of Hin Däng, Hin Muang, and Koh Ha alone makes the dive cruise a worthwhile experience.
Due to the increase in whale shark encounters in recent years, the popularity of the “Southern Islands of Thailand” has increased, offering a welcome addition to MV Discovery’s liveaboard cruise program in Thailand.

The 3-day diving cruise promises plenty of adventure and can always be combined with a liveaboard dive safari to Burma (Myanmar) or diving in the Similan Islands in Thailand. This allows dive enthusiasts to experience the full range of top dive sites in the Andaman Sea from Phuket, Thailand.

Anyone looking for promising dive sites on an Andaman Sea map will come across the small island of Hin Daeng.
Isolated and isolated, about 40 kilometers from the coast, the small tip of Hin Daeng breaks the water’s surface. Below, Hin Daeng (“Red Rock”) opens up as a spacious dive site whose walls extend beyond the depths of recreational diving.
The dramatic reef formation is highly attractive to large marine creatures. During the 2004/05 season, whale sharks and manta rays stayed there for several months, rewarding MV Discovery’s divers on board the dive cruise in Thailand with the rare and most sought-after encounter while diving in Hin Daeng. Manta rays suddenly sailing past from the deep blue of the Andaman Sea during a dive in Hin Daeng are not uncommon.
The diversity of smaller marine creatures that live here is also impressive. Several species that cannot be observed anywhere else during a dive cruise in Thailand are at home in Hin Daeng.

Hin Muang, or “Purple Rock,” is an underwater reef located just a few hundred meters from Hin Daeng. Hidden deep below is a connection between the two independent dive sites.

The chances of seeing whale sharks are the same as at Hin Daeng, and feeding manta rays are also a regular sight when diving at Hin Muang.
Leopard sharks doze on the sandy balconies that interrupt the spectacular hard and soft coral fields that adorn the slopes and valleys of the southern islands’ Hin Muang dive site.
Dense schools of rainbow trout and barracuda patrol the reef at Hin Muang, while smaller treasures like ghost pipefish hide beneath the boulders and among the corals of Hin Muang.

The nine granite rock islands known as the Similan Islands are lined up like a chain from north to south. The tropical rainforests on the Similan Islands in Thailand consist mainly of large rubber trees, several palm species, bamboo, and vines. In earlier times, sea gypsies settled here. Today, the diving paradise of the Similan Islands is uninhabited except for the buildings of the National Park Authority and the beautiful holiday residence of the Thai royal family on Similan Island number 4. Underwater, the diving paradise of the Similan Islands offers an outstanding array of marine life and over 500 different species of hard and soft corals. Visibility on the Similan Islands ranges between 20 and 40 meters. With every dive, the divers on board MV Discovery’s liveaboards are amazed by the incredible play of colors.

Underwater, the diving paradise of the Similan Islands offers an outstanding array of marine life and over 500 different species of hard and soft corals. Visibility on the Similan Islands ranges from 20 to 40 meters. Divers aboard MV Discovery’s liveaboards are amazed by the incredible array of colors on every dive.
East of Eden (Similan Islands No. 7), one of the Similan Islands, is always a highlight during MV Discovery’s liveaboards before the journey continues north, for example, toward Richelieu Rock. This Similan dive site offers a wide variety of reef fish, soft and hard corals, and stingrays and the occasional shark enliven the sandy bottom.

In contrast, dive sites such as Bolder City (between Similan Island No. 1 and Similan Island No. 2) are classic examples of the Similan Islands’ distinctive underwater architecture. Leopard and whitetip sharks lurk among the enormous boulders. At Elephant Head near Similan Island No. 8, the giant boulders are stacked side by side and on top of each other – pure diving adventure! They create a multitude of interesting channels and tunnels that can be easily navigated while diving in Similan.
Further south, at Deep Six (Similan Island No. 6), sharks patrol the gently sloping sandy bottom. Or you can dive eye to eye with leatherback turtles at Christmas Corner (Similan Island No. 9) in Similan. The experienced guides (none has less than 500 dives in the diving paradise of the Similan Islands) have unique experience in these waters, they adapt all MV Discovery diving safaris to the respective conditions in order to offer the guests on board MV Discovery the best chance of a high-quality diving adventure in the diving paradise of the Similan Islands.

Further north is the island of Koh Tachai, which is part of the diving paradise Similan National Park and offers diving adventures for all diving enthusiasts.

A slightly deeper dive among the massive granite boulders rewards those in search of sharks and rays. The dive ends on the 12-meter-deep plateau, completely covered in beautiful corals and teeming with life. Koh Tachai’s colorful fauna can be found everywhere. Huge schools of jacks, angelfish, surgeonfish, and prowling leopard sharks frolic in the water.

As on Koh Bon, manta rays are regular visitors here, and whale sharks occasionally pass by, delighting divers aboard MV Discovery’s liveaboards.
The safety stop is usually accompanied by a school of batfish within 5 meters.

Welcome to diving at Richelieu Rock – one of the most famous dive sites of all the Andaman Sea diving paradises. It earned its name from its countless purple soft corals. Richelieu Rock itself is only visible from the liveaboard boat during low tide; it is usually completely hidden by the Andaman Sea. A wreck at a depth of approximately 40 meters testifies to its unpredictability.

As the only rock for miles around, Richelieu Rock attracts a wide variety of marine life. Diving adventures and delights are guaranteed for divers aboard the MV Discovery. Here, you’ll find octopuses, large brown marbled groupers, turtles, various moray eel species, red lionfish families of up to 10 members, and beautiful schools of fusiliers. Manta rays are regular visitors, and with a little luck, the experienced guides might spot guitar sharks with their young.

Diving at Richelieu is a truly unforgettable diving experience. As always, keep an eye on the surface and the “blue” of the warm Andaman Sea, as schools of bigeye trevally frolic there, while large barracudas guard the tip of Richelieu Rock. Last but not least, perhaps the best chances of encountering the underwater king, the whale shark, are here at Richelieu.

The Koh Haa archipelago is an absolute El Dorado for diving, and not just because it has so few divers. The water quality is usually top-notch, and the underwater world is fantastic. There are more than 10 dive sites here, each one more beautiful than the last. Generally, all dive sites are accessible for beginners, although diving can be a bit more challenging in currents. Since Koh Haa is a national park, there are many mooring buoys marking the dive sites. The island of Koh Haa Neua has a truly spectacular dive site called “The Chimney.” Here, you can ascend or descend in a kind of chimney.
The island of Koh Haa Yai has a dive site called “The Cathedral.” Here, you enter a cave where you can surface.

Not far from Koh Haa Yai is Koh Haa Rock, a dive site reminiscent of Richelieu Rock. There’s so much fish here it’s hard to believe.