May is the end of the Similan Islands liveaboard season, and also one of the quietest times to enjoy the dive sites without too many other boats around.
Octopus comfy amongst the corals, Turtle Rock © [email protected]
Out on the final trip of the Similans season on MV Blue Dolphin liveaboard. May is always quieter to be out on the water, with less boats around, which makes for more peaceful dives. The conditions are usually great too but on this trip they were quite challenging with currents moving across the dive sites from unexpected directions and both the water temperature and visibility being very variable over the four days. But, as ever, there was plenty to see and Richelieu was still super active as it has been all season.
West of Eden
Fan corals, West of Eden © [email protected]
Fish over the boulders, West of Eden © [email protected]
Soft corals, West of Eden © [email protected]
Fusilier run, West of Eden © [email protected]
Three Trees
Anthias over the hard coral reef, Three Trees © [email protected]
Soft corals, Three Trees © [email protected]
Barracuda approaching, Three Trees © [email protected]
Barracuda on the turn, Three Trees © [email protected]
Giant barrel sponge, Three Trees © [email protected]
Yellow snappers, Three Trees © [email protected]
Turtle Rock
Octopus amongst the corals, Turtle Rock © [email protected]
Christmas Point
Jellyfish being eaten by rabbitfish, Christmas Point © [email protected]
Koh Bon
Octopus surrounded by fish, Koh Bon Bay © [email protected]
Koh Tachai
Fusilier storm approaching, Koh Tachai © [email protected]
Fusiliers overhead, Koh Tachai © [email protected]
In amongst the fusiliers, Koh Tachai © [email protected]
Yee and Bri © [email protected]
Richelieu Rock
Glassfish around the reef, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Glassfish bowl, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Glassfish swirl, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Sardine ball and rabbit fish, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Glassfish over the reef, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Jacks around the top of the rock in a cloud of glassfish, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Rock with fusiliers running around, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Barracuda and jacks, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Fusilier run, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Fusilier run, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Fusilier run and glassfish ball, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Glassfish ball, Richelieu Rock © [email protected]
Koh Bon Pinnacle
Sea snake, Koh Bon Pinnacle © [email protected]
Filefish around fan coral, Koh Bon Pinnacle © [email protected]
Similan Liveaboards Overview
- Luxury Similan Island Liveaboards
- Mid Range Similan Island Liveaboards
- Budget Similan Island Liveaboards
- Last Minute Liveaboard Deals
- Diving The Similan Islands 2026: 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
- February 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 | May 2026 | October 2026 | November 2026 | December 2026 | January 2027
(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
Similan Dive Sites
Richelieu Rock
Thailand’s best dive site, bar none. A stunning array of soft corals and spectacular stampeding marine life. Read More
Koh Bon
Thailand’s manta ray hotspot, with plenty of other things to see if the mantas don’t show up. Read More
Koh Tachai
Koh Tachai is one of the Similan Islands’ best dive sites but also one of the most volatile. Massive fans, huge schools of fish, maybe manta rays – it’s all to play for. Read More
Boulder City
A dramatic deep water Similan dive site, Boulder City needs the right conditions to explore as it’s exposed to wind and wave from all sides. Read More
Shark’s Fin Reef
A dramatic block of rock rising out of the sand, Shark’s Fin Reef is one of the Similan Islands’ most exciting sites. Read More
Hideaway Bay
Two Similan Islands dive sites in one location, Hideaway Bay and Tuna Wreck can be experienced in a single dive. Read More
North Point
North Point is another of the Similans’ signature big boulder sites, with huge great rocks rising out of the white sand. Read More
Koh Bon Pinnacle
Koh Bon Pinnacle is a deep dive site that feels utterly remote – and where anything could show up out of the blue. Read More
West Of Eden
A big boulder site with spectacular outsize fan corals, beautiful soft corals and the promise of full fish activity, West Of Eden is an archetypal Similan Islands dive site. Read More
Ao Suthep, Surin Islands
Ao Suthep is beautiful hard coral garden in the Surin Islands, often visited by Similan island diving liveaboards and accessible by snorkellers visiting the Surin Islands too. Read More
Three Trees
Three Trees, named after the three trees directly above the dive site on Similan Island 9, is a big wide white sand channel with some awesome corals and fish encounters. Read More
Christmas Point
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. Read More
