Underwater pictures from a Similan Islands diving liveaboard trip 21 – 25 February 2024 on the Blue Dolphin liveaboard
Huge school of rainbow runners, jacks and trevally circling the top of Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
One week after a somewhat murky Similans trip, the next one was a total contrast – spectacular visibility, sun-drenched dive sites and Richelieu Rock absolutely on fire with the hundreds of fish constantly racing across the dive site.
Last trip the barracuda had dominated the site at Richelieu. This trip the jacks, rainbow runners, giant trevally and emperorfish took centre stage, with hundreds-strong schools making repeated runs across and over the rock – like being in the middle of a fish stampede and silently praying you won’t get bitch slapped by a giant trevally. Those guys are chonky.
Here’s some highlights from some of the dives:
West Of Eden
Fan corals, West Of Eden © [email protected]
Fusiliers running, West Of Eden © [email protected]
Elephant’s Head Pinnacle
Lionfish and fans, Elephant’s Head Pinnacle” © [email protected]
Three Trees
Running fusiliers, Three Trees © [email protected]
Soft corals, Three Trees © [email protected]
The chonky barrel sponge, Three Trees © [email protected]
Recommended Similan Liveaboards October 2025 to May 2026
Blue Dolphin Liveaboard

The Phinisi Liveaboard

Smiling Seahorse Liveaboard

The Junk Liveaboard

Christmas Point
Fan and curved rock, Christmas Point © [email protected]
Barracuda circling, Christmas Point © [email protected]
Koh Tachai
Humpback snapper, Koh Tachai © [email protected]
Line of batfish, Koh Tachai © [email protected]
School of sturgeonfish, Koh Tachai © [email protected]
Aow Suthep
Staghorn sphere, Aow Suthep, Surin Islands © [email protected]
Staghorn and anthias, Aow Suthep, Surin Islands © [email protected]
Sunlight over the reef, Aow Suthep, Surin Islands © [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.
Richelieu Rock
Anenomes and glassfish at the top of Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
In the school of jacks and rainbow runners © [email protected]
Emperor Fishbomb © [email protected]
Batfish school, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Glassfish curve over the soft corals of Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Glassfish around the fan corals © [email protected]
Big school of jacks and rainbow runners running across Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Emperorfish running down the side of Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Jacks and travally circling over Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Emperorfish and jacks over the glassfish and soft corals, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Glassfish swirling over the anenomes, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Rabbitfish at the surface, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Another epic trip on the Blue Dolphin liveaboard – thanks to all the crew for making it happen.
Similan Liveaboards Overview
- Luxury Similan Island Liveaboards
- Mid Range Similan Island Liveaboards
- Budget Similan Island Liveaboards
- Last Minute Liveaboard Deals
- Diving The Similan Islands 2025: A Quick Guide
- Similan Islands Dive Sites
- Diving Thailand Guide
Upcoming Similan Liveaboard Availability and Pricing
Check availability and pricing for all Similan Islands liveaboards departing in
- October 2025 | November 2025 | December 2025 | January 2026 | February 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 | May 2026
(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.
- Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report 9-13 February 2025
- Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report 21-25 November 2024
- Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report May 2024
- Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report 21 - 25 February 2024
- Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report 15 - 19 February 2024
- Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report December 2023
- Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report October 2023
- Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report April 2023
- Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report February 2023
- Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report December 2022
- Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report February 2020
- Similan Islands and Myanmar Trip Report March 2015