Similan Islands
The national park of the Similan Islands (เกาะสิมิลัน) is in southern Thailand, 50 kilometers west of Khao Lak. It is considered the best place in Thailand for divers.
Understand
The park covers 140 square kilometers in total, 14 of those being land in the shape of an archipelago consisting of nine islands. They are Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang (two adjoining islands), Ko Payan, Ko Payang, and Ko Huyong. For simplicity they are often referred to by their number instead - 1 through 9 starting from the south. Recently, the park was expanded to include the two remote islands Ko Bon and Ko Tachai, but since "Sembilan" is Malay for "nine" this doesn't seem to stick in people's minds and those are not visited as often as the original nine.
History
The islands were created by upwellings of hot magma during the Tertiary-Cretaceous period some 65 million years ago, then smoothed by glacial ice and the erosion by the sea. The coral reefs are about 5000 years old and hence the oldest in Thailand. In 1982, the national park was established and now it is scheduled to become a World Heritage.
The 2004 tsunami left the islands and the underwater landscape almost unharmed, since the waters are very deep around the islands.
Landscape
The nine granite islands are postcard perfect images of paradise, covered in tropical jungle and equipped with beaches of chalk-white sand. As if this was not enough, the views under the water surface are even more impressive - this is the best dive site in Thailand. Skin-Diver Magazine has acclaimed the Similans to be one of the ten most beautiful places in the world.
Flora and fauna
There is an enormous diversity in species - both in fish and corals. The visibility is the best you will find in Thailand. You will see plenty of colorful fish such as lionfish and clownfish (Nemo), and if you're lucky you may spot a bigger one like a manta or even a whale shark.
On Ko Huyong Thai Marines run a turtle breeding facility, but access to the island is limited.
Climate
High season in the Similans is from December until April, when the monsoon stays far away. The best period to visit is March, when the winds are calm and the water clear. The national park is closed from May 16 to November 15.
Get in
There are several dive trips going to the Similan from Phuket and some from Khao Lak. Both day trips and live aboard cruises are available. Dedicated cruises where your boat picks your group up from your destination and cruises around usually start at 4 days and 4 nights in length. Many shorter trips are available, often with operators who have a large vessel on the islands over summer and who do regular transfers using smaller speed boats.
Note that there is a national park entry fee of 400 baht per traveller and a further daily usage fee of 200 baht per diver per day. Most boats do not include this in their quoted price. It is paid to your dive operator before the trip.
Fees/Permits
The National Park fee is 400 baht/day (children 100 baht). For Thai citizens the fee is 40 baht, children 20 baht.
Diving fee is an additional 200 baht/day regardless of passport.
Get around
There are tours leaving from Khao Lak that offer diving and snorkeling tours. In addition, once on the islands there is the option of using the Marine Park boats for transit between the islands. This is not totally reliable, but is a less expensive alternative.
See
Incredible marine life, great scenery, white sand beaches.
Do
The Similan Islands are home to some of the best diving in the world. They are also home to great snorkeling, bird watching and sunbathing.
Lodging
There are both tents and bungalows available for rent.
Camping
Tents are available for rent. In addition, on Island #8 you can rent space and put up your own tent.
Stay safe
See the Stay safe section of the Scuba diving article for diving safety tips.
The Similans are crowded with boat traffic. There might be as many as seven liveaboards with clients diving in the same area as you. Most will have dinghies with outboards zipping around picking up groups of divers. Be careful when ascending. Listen for boat noise when ending your safety stop (especially if it's getting louder since this means the boat is approaching you) and ascend slowly while continuing to watch and listen for engines. A surface marker ("safety sausage") and 5 metre reel is recommended so that boats avoid passing over you, particularly if you aren't following a guide. Deploy your marker at the beginning of your safety stop.
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