Christmas Point, Similan Islands - Thailand Dive Sites

One of the signature Similan Islands big boulder dive sites, Christmas Point’s huge rocks have been shaped by the tides over hundreds of years.

Curved rock, Christmas Point, February 2023 © chris@divehappy.com

A labyrinth of house-sized boulders, Christmas Point is one of the Similans’ most topographically interesting dive sites. Sticking out from Similan Island number 9, the Point catches the full force of the ever changing tides and the rocks have been shaped and curved by the movement of the water over thousands of years.

Barracuda circling, Christmas Point, February 2024 © chris@divehappy.com

There is often a lot of current here, so you need to pay attention to safely move between the rocks and not get swept off the site. Having an experienced dive guide that knows the layout of Christmas Point well is crucial to getting the most out of it.

3 fans and soft corals, Christmas Point, February 2023 © chris@divehappy.com

The boulders give shelter in some places for corals to flourish, and there are some beautiful fan corals and soft corals clustered together between the rocks.

Big marble ray resting, Christmas Point, December 2023 © chris@divehappy.com

Besides the corals, some big marine life likes to come up to the relative shallows of Christmas Point. Huge marble rays a good metre in diameter can sometimes be encountered amongst the rocks, especially when the water temperatures drops below 25 degrees.

Fan and curved rock, Christmas Point, February 2024 © chris@divehappy.com

Usually the Similan Islands’ water temperature is around 29 to 30 degrees Celsius during the annual dive season of October to May. (The Similan Islands close during May to October, so don’t plan a dive trip then!). However, sometimes cold waters come up from the deep, making the water temperature drop and bringing more rays and sharks following the cold waters.

Marble Ray on the move, Christmas Point, December 2023 © chris@divehappy.com

The deepest point of Christmas Point is “the ridge”, a huge great lozenge of stone down at 28 metres where you can peer over the edge into the deep and often spot sharks and rays if your group stays low and minimises movement. In December 2023, a group of manta rays showed up around the ridge and stayed for the whole dive. That is a very, very rare occurrence, but it shows that Christmas Point gets everything passing by it. Guitar sharks have also been spotted on the sandy floor in the deeper areas on occasion.

Jellyfish being eaten by rabbitfish, Christmas Point © chris@divehappy.com

Christmas Point also has some great swimthroughs amongst the rocks which are big enough for a diver to comfortably pass through. It’s one of those sites where you’re never quite sure how it’s going to be or what’s going to show up, which makes it endless enjoyable to dive.

Swimthrough, Christmas Point, February 2024 © chris@divehappy.com

All photos taken during Similan diving seasons 2022-2023 and 2023-2024. I’ll probably add more during the 2024-2025 season too. The Similan dive season runs from October to May each year. The Similan Marine National Park is closed from mid May to mid October each year, so don’t plan a liveaboard trip then!