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Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report December 2022

A Similan Islands liveaboard trip report on diving the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock in December 2022, on the newly-launched Blue Dolphin liveaboard.

Big eye red snapper under ledge with fan, Christmas Point, Similan Islands
Big eye red snapper under ledge with fan, Christmas Point, Similan Islands © chris@divehappy.com

At the beginning of December 2022 I went on the first trip of the newly-launched Blue Dolphin liveaboard to the Similan Islands.

The boat is the new Similan Islands liveaboard from Big Blue Diving. You can see details and make bookings for Blue Dolphin direct on the Big Blue Khao Lak website or on liveaboard.com.

Glassfish over soft corals, Richelieu Rock
Glassfish over soft corals, Richelieu Rock © chris@divehappy.com

The trip followed a fairly standard itinerary for Similan Islands liveaboard – the first day in the Similan Islands themselves, then up to Koh Bon and Koh Tachai for a day, an early morning dive in the Surin Islands, and then three dives at Richelieu Rock. The final day has two last dives at Koh Bon before lunch and the cruise back to Tapla Mu pier near Khao Lak.

Tuna Wreck, Hideaway Bay, Similan Islands
Tuna Wreck, Hideaway Bay, Similan Islands © chris@divehappy.com

The first dive is in the calm waters of Hideaway Bay, descending over the Tuna Wreck and then shallowing up into the white sands of Hideaway Bay.

The wreck is down at 30 metres and the viz is usually clear enough to simply observe it from above, rather than dropping all the way down to see it. It lies on its side with the bow railings still intact.

Tsunami memorial, Hideaway Bay, Similan Islands
Tsunami memorial, Hideaway Bay, Similan Islands © chris@divehappy.com

A memorial to the 2004 tsunami is located in the shallows of Hideaway Bay, consisting of a stone mermaid and 12 circular sculptures of the Chinese zodiac. These have now become encrusted with corals.

Corals and anthias, West of Eden, Similan Islands
Corals and anthias, West of Eden, Similan Islands © chris@divehappy.com

West of Eden, Three Trees, and Christmas Point all delivered with some gorgeous soft and hard corals and Three Trees signature huge barrel sponge. West Of Eden and Christmas Point’s big boulders had both been shaped by the waves of time, creating curved canyons and sculpted overhangs.

Orange fan, Three Trees, Similan Islands
Orange fan, Three Trees, Similan Islands © chris@divehappy.com

Despite the boulders being huge and not moving (unlike everything else underwater), I failed to get any decent shots of them which really captures the almost organic shapes into which the water pressure has carved them. Maybe next time.

Soft corals on white sand, Three Trees, Similan Islands
Soft corals on white sand, Three Trees, Similan Islands © chris@divehappy.com

All three sites make a great contrast with each other, and Three Trees is definitely the highlight for me – the barrel sponge, abundant soft corals and white sand is just epic. Topographically, it’s a coral-covered slope down into a sandy channel.

Giant sponge coral, Three Trees, Similan Islands
Giant sponge coral, Three Trees, Similan Islands © chris@divehappy.com

In the channel are several bommies packed with soft and hard corals and tons of anthias, along with the aforementioned supersized barrel sponge too. It needs to be slack tide to dive Three Trees, as you can imagine the current will rip through the channel when it starts moving.

Sweetlips, Christmas Point, Similan Islands
Sweetlips, Christmas Point, Similan Islands © chris@divehappy.com

While we did a couple of dives at Koh Tachai on Day 2 of the trip in the afternoon, it was surprisingly quiet.

Fan bommie, Koh Tachai
Fan bommie, Koh Tachai © chris@divehappy.com

Tachai is famous for lots of fish action, as they ride the currents, and I was hoping for a batfish school encounter or even – as I’ve only seen there once before – a huge school of barracuda. But we had to content ourselves with the smaller fish life buzzing around Tachai’s signature fan corals.

Hard coral garden, Ao Suthep, Surin Islands
Hard coral garden, Ao Suthep, Surin Islands © chris@divehappy.com

The following morning was a new experience for me – my first time diving at Ao Suthep in the Surin Islands. It has an amazing untouched hard coral garden, which has somehow survived humans and climate change so far. It was a real highlight of the trip for me.

Hard coral garden from above, Ao Suthep, Surin Islands
Hard coral garden from above, Ao Suthep, Surin Islands © chris@divehappy.com

After the first morning dive at Ao Suthep, it was a couple hours cruise to Richelieu Rock. The dive boats like to stay at the Surin Islands for shelter overnight and then head to Richelieu. As Richelieu Rock itself is completely exposed, it’s reassuring to know there’s somewhere to run if the weather suddenly turns bad.

Yellow snapper, Richelieu Rock
Yellow snapper, Richelieu Rock © chris@divehappy.com

On this particular visit we were graced with decent weather, sunshine and fairly good viz. Richelieu was dynamic as ever – the resident hundreds-strong school of yellow snapper, eye-popping soft corals, carpets of glass fish moving as one over the reef – just majestic, and deeply pleasing that we stayed here for the rest of the day doing three dives, although the final one was pretty dark. (For more on Richelieu, see my Richelieu Rock trip report from January 2022).

Fan and glass fish, Richelieu Rock
Fan and glass fish, Richelieu Rock © chris@divehappy.com

We did three dives total at Koh Bon – one on day 2, on the way to Tachai, and then two dives on the final morning of the trip, each time hoping to see a manta ray. But no luck, even with the visibility on the final dive of the trip being pretty much perfect. As I looked down the jagged edge at Koh Bon’s famous ridge dropping off into the depths, I couldn’t help but think back to the spectacular encounters we’d had with manta rays back in March 2022. Oh well, maybe next time.

Koh Bon feeding frenzy wrasse and jacks
Koh Bon feeding frenzy wrasse and jacks © chris@divehappy.com

However, almost as a consolation prize, we were lucky enough to see a big group of wrasse and jacks in a feeding frenzy over some coral, whipping around the bommie lightning fast, striking to get their food and then circling out ready to dive back in again.

The afternoon cruise back to the mainland and real life provided a relaxed time to enjoy lunch, dry out all the dive gear and pack away camera stuff before arriving at the pier around 4 pm. Taxis had already been organised and were waiting to take guests off to Khao Lak or Phuket to spend the night. Everyone is out of the water by around 11.30 am so plan your flight to depart after midday the next day at the earliest.

Glass fish and soft coral bommie, Richelieu Rock
Glass fish and soft coral bommie, Richelieu Rock © chris@divehappy.com

Phuket has several decent cheap hotels right by the airport if you are looking to fly out the next day. The Sixteenth Nai Yang Beach hotel and BS Airport at Phuket almost next door to each other are both fine for an overnight stopover. Both offer a free transfer from the hotel to the airport departures area – literally a five-minute drive, but you wouldn’t want to walk it.

Nai Yang beach is only 10 minutes walk away if you want to spend some more time by the sea. There’s also plenty of other Nai Yang beach accommodation options if you want more time at the beach to relax after your liveaboard.

If you’re looking for alternative liveaboard options, see our page on mid-range Similan liveaboards.



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:: 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.


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:: 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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More Thailand Diving Stories

  • Blue Dolphin Liveaboard Review
  • Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report February 2023
  • Ao Suthep, Surin Islands, Thailand
  • Similan Islands Liveaboard Trip Report December 2022
  • Diving Stonehenge, Koh Lipe, April 2022
  • Manta Rays at Koh Bon, March 2022
  • Diving Richelieu Rock, Thailand – January 2022
  • Diving HTMS Chang and Alahambra Rock: March 2021
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My Recent Dive Trips

  • February 2023: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • December 2022: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • December 2022: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • August 2022: Komodo liveaboard, Indonesia
  • June 2022: USAT Liberty shipwreck, Bali, Indonesia
  • April 2022: Stonehenge, Koh Lipe, Thailand
  • March 2022: Manta Rays at Koh Bon, Thailand
  • January 2022: Richelieu Rock liveaboard, Thailand
  • March 2021: HTMS Chang and Alahambra Rock liveaboard, Thailand
  • February 2020: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • December 2019: Raja Ampat liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2019: Malapascua, Philippines
  • June 2019: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • April 2019: Tulamben, Bali
  • December 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • December 2018: Anilao, Philippines
  • October 2018: Moalboal, Philippines
  • October 2018: Malapascua, Philippines
  • July 2018: Tulamben, Bali
  • May 2018: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • April 2018: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • May 2017: Apo Island and Dumaguete, Philippines
  • April 2017: Tubbataha Reef, Philippines
  • April 2017: Sogod Bay, Philippines
  • March 2017: Triton Bay, Indonesia
  • March 2017: Raja Ampat, Indonesia
  • September 2016: Tulamben, Bali at Alba Dive Resort
  • August 2016: Cenderawasih Bay on Damai 1
  • April 2016: Sogod Bay at Sogod Bay Scuba Resort
  • February 2016: Raja Ampat and Banda Islands on Damai 1
  • April 2015: Anilao at Crystal Dive Resort

My Less Recent Dive Trips

  • March 2015: Myanmar and Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • May 2013: Similan Islands on Thailand Aggressor
  • April 2013: Tubbataha Reef on Discovery Palawan
  • January 2013: Komodo, Indonesia on MSY Damai
  • August 2012: Cenderawasih Bay, Indonesia
  • April 2012: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • January 2012: Similan Islands liveaboard, Thailand
  • August 2011: Hanifaru, Maldives
  • June 2011: Tubbataha Liveaboard Hans Christian Andersen
  • April 2011: Similan Islands and Southern Thailand liveaboard
  • April 2011: Carpe Vita Liveaboard, Maldives
  • March 2011: Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
  • December 2010: Menjangan, Bali
  • July 2010: Tofo, Mozambique
  • July 2010: Sardine Run, South Africa
  • May 2010: Sangalaki / Derawan, Tambora
  • March 2010: MV Flying Seahorse, Similan Islands
  • March 2010: MV Orion, Southern Maldives
  • January 2010: Big Blue Explorer, Palau
  • November 2009: MSY Damai, Banda Sea Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MSY Damai, Komodo Liveaboard, Indonesia
  • October 2009: MV Orion, Maldives Liveaboard
  • September 2009: MV Scubanet, Koh Losin, Thailand
  • May 2009: MSY Seahorse, Banda Sea liveaboard, Indonesia
  • March 2009: Sachika Liveaboard, Maldives
  • February 2009: Daytrips, Koh Lanta, Thailand
  • January 2009: MV Jazz, Burma (Myanmar) Liveaboard

Back In The Day Bragging Rights Dive Trips

  • November 2008: Borneo Explorer, Visayas Liveaboard
  • September 2008: S/Y Siren, Komodo Liveaboard
  • August 2008: Ocean Rover, Sulawesi Liveaboard
  • August 2008: NAD Lembeh Resort, Indonesia
  • June 2008: Koh Tao
  • March 2008: Maldives, Bandos Island
  • February 2008: MSY Seahorse, Raja Ampat Liveaboard
  • January 2008: MV Jazz, Burma Liveaboard
  • October 2007: Bali Dive Safari
  • September 2007: Davao, Philippines
  • July 2007: Great White Sharks, Rodney Fox Liveaboard
  • June 2007: Big Blue, Palau Liveaboard
  • May 2007: Whale Sharks at Exmouth, Australia
  • April 2007: Borneo Explorer, Tubbataha Reef Liveaboard
  • December 2006: Komodo Dancer, Komodo Liveaboard

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