Dive Happy

Similan Islands Liveaboard 15-19 February 2024

Some underwater photos from a Similan Islands diving trip on the Blue Dolphin liveaboard 15 – 19 February 2024

Barracuda, Richelieu Rock
Barracuda, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]

This trip was thankfully a lot warmer than my previous Similan liveaboard in December where water temperatures had dropped to a chilly 23 degrees.

That said, the visibility was quite bad on quite a few dives with green water and strong currents, but there was a lot of marine life around to make up for it. The massive school of barracuda at Richelieu Rock was particularly epic.

Here’s some highlights from some of the dive sites we visited over 4 days:

Tuna Wreck and Hideaway Bay

Tuna Wreck and Pook, Similan Islands
Tuna Wreck and Pook, Similan Islands © [email protected]

Octopus and Jai, Hideaway Bay
Octopus and Jai, Hideaway Bay © [email protected]

Octopus and fish, Hideaway Bay
Octopus and fish, Hideaway Bay © [email protected]

Octopus on coral, Hideaway Bay
Octopus on coral, Hideaway Bay © [email protected]

If you're interested in doing a Similan liveboard yourself, see Diving The Similan Islands: A Quick Guide for a breakdown of how a liveaboard trip works and why the Similans are so special for diving.

Shark’s Fin Reef

Pook and Boots with school of bluestreak fusilier, Shark's Fin Reef
Pook and Boots with school of bluestreak fusilier, Shark’s Fin Reef © [email protected]

Dark-banded fusiliers around the rocks, Shark's Fin Reef
Dark-banded fusiliers around the rocks, Shark’s Fin Reef © [email protected]

Fan and yellow snapper, Shark's Fin Reef
Fan and yellow snapper, Shark’s Fin Reef © [email protected]

Yellow snapper and reef wall, Shark's Fin Reef
Yellow snapper and reef wall, Shark’s Fin Reef © [email protected]

Pook and black sun coral with anthias, Shark's Fin Reef
Pook and black sun coral with anthias, Shark’s Fin Reef © [email protected]

Yellowback fusiliers over the rocks, Shark's Fin Reef
Yellowback fusiliers over the rocks, Shark’s Fin Reef © [email protected]

Diver with big rocks, Shark's Fin Reef
Diver with big rocks, Shark’s Fin Reef © [email protected]

Deep Six

Staghorn corals and damsel fish, Deep Six
Staghorn corals and damsel fish, Deep Six © [email protected]

Harlequin sweetlips and banner fish, Deep Six
Harlequin sweetlips and banner fish, Deep Six © [email protected]

Dark-banded fusiliers running, Deep Six
Dark-banded fusiliers running, Deep Six © [email protected]

Recommended Similan Liveaboards October 2025 to May 2026

Blue Dolphin Liveaboard

Blue Dolphin Liveaboard A mid-range liveaboard with 7 cabins for 16 people. Check availability and pricing

The Phinisi Liveaboard

The Phinisi Liveaboard A Similan mid-range liveaboard with 7 cabins for 18 people.Check availability and pricing

Smiling Seahorse Liveaboard

Smiling Seahorse Liveaboard A mid-range liveaboard with 8 cabins for 16 people. Check availability and pricing

The Junk Liveaboard

The Junk Liveaboard A mid-range liveaboard with 6 cabins for 18 people. Check availability and pricing
 

Christmas Point

Swimthrough, Christmas Point
Swimthrough, Christmas Point © [email protected]

Pook and swimthrough, Christmas Point

Koh Bon

Octopus amongst coral rubble, Koh Bon Bay
Octopus amongst coral rubble, Koh Bon Bay © [email protected]

Koh Tachai

Fan and glassfish, Koh Tachai
Fan and glassfish, Koh Tachai © [email protected]

Fan coral and 2 angelfish, Koh Tachai
Fan coral and 2 redtail angelfish, Koh Tachai © [email protected]

Fan corals, Koh Tachai
Fan corals, Koh Tachai © [email protected]

Fan corals with fusiliers
Fan corals with fusiliers, Koh Tachai © [email protected]

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Fan corals with fusiliers, Koh Tachai © [email protected]

Ao Pakkad

Table corals, Ao Pakkad
Table corals, Ao Pakkad © [email protected]

2 blue ring angelfish and a parrotfish, Ao Pakkad
2 blue ring angelfish and a parrotfish, Ao Pakkad © [email protected]

Parrotfish, Ao Pakkad
Parrotfish, Ao Pakkad © [email protected]

Richelieu Rock

Glassfish over soft corals, Richelieu Rock
Glassfish over soft corals, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]

Jacks around the top of Richelieu Rock
Jacks around the top of Richelieu Rock © [email protected]

Jacks over soft corals, Richelieu Rock
Jacks over soft corals, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]

Jacks over soft corals, Richelieu Rock
Jacks over soft corals, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]

Rainbow runners running, Richelieu Rock
Rainbow runners running, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]

Barracuda, Richelieu Rock
Barracuda, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]

Barracuda, Richelieu Rock
Barracuda, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]

Jacks, Richelieu Rock
Jacks, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]

Koh Bon Pinnacle

Batfish close up, Koh Bon Pinnacle
Batfish close up, Koh Bon Pinnacle © [email protected]

Batfish over the corals, Koh Bon Pinnacle
Batfish over the corals, Koh Bon Pinnacle © [email protected]

A big thankyou to the crew of the Blue Dolphin liveaboard for another great trip.

Similan Liveaboards Overview

Upcoming Similan Liveaboard Availability and Pricing

Check availability and pricing for all Similan Islands liveaboards departing in

(The Similan National Park is closed from mid May to mid October each year)

Similan Liveaboards Trip Reports

Photos from each of the Similan liveaboard trips I've been on over the years.



Diving And Travel Insurance

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities including scuba diving, as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Start Planning Your Thailand Dive Trip Now!

:: Check the availability and pricing of liveaboards in Thailand and book online.


:: Find the cheapest flights to Thailand - Phuket (airport code: HKT) is the nearest airport for diving the Similan Islands. You can get direct international flights to Phuket or go via one of Bangkok's two airports - Suvarnabhumi (BKK), the main airport, or Don Mueang (DMK), the low cost carrier terminal.


:: Make sure you don't forget to bring any of the essentials for your scuba diving trip with our comprehensive Liveaboard Packing List


:: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.


:: Find available places to stay in Phuket for before and after your liveaboard on Booking.com - usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too.


:: Need inspiration? See our Best Places To Dive In Thailand for ideas of where to go and what to do.


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