Similan (Ranong - Thap Lamu)

Deep Andaman Queen · Thailand · 3 nights

Duration
3 nights
Embarkation
Ranong, Thailand
Disembarkation
Thap Lamu, Thailand
Dives
Approximately 14 dives in total

About this route

Set sail from Ranong into Thailand's Andaman Sea to explore some of the region's most iconic dive destinations. This itinerary offers a world-class liveaboard experience, traversing the pristine waters of the Similan Islands, Surin Islands, and Richelieu Rock. Encounter rich marine biodiversity, vibrant coral reefs, and diverse ecosystems, making it an ideal journey for both wide-angle and macro photography enthusiasts. The trip concludes in Thap Lamu, offering a memorable dive adventure.

Regions on this route

Similan IslandsSurin IslandsRichelieu RockKoh TachaiKoh Bon

Highlights

Koh Bon

Koh Bon is a popular dive site, especially famous for its Manta Ray Point, where manta rays are frequently sighted cleaning or feeding. The site consists of a sloping reef and a wall, covered in healthy hard corals and anemones. Besides mantas, divers can expect to see leopard sharks, reef sharks, and a wide array of colorful reef fish.

  • Manta Ray Point
  • Sloping reef and wall
  • Leopard sharks
  • Healthy hard corals

Koh Tachai

Koh Tachai offers spectacular diving, particularly known for its pinnacle dive site. The currents here can be strong, bringing in large pelagic species such as manta rays and various sharks. The site features beautiful coral formations and attracts schooling fish, making for thrilling drift dives and diverse marine encounters.

  • Pinnacle diving
  • Strong currents
  • Manta ray sightings
  • Schooling pelagics

Richelieu Rock

Richelieu Rock is a famous horseshoe-shaped pinnacle, widely considered one of Thailand's premier dive sites. Its nutrient-rich waters attract an incredible density of marine life, from tiny macro critters like seahorses and nudibranchs to large pelagics. The site is blanketed in vibrant soft corals and is a known hotspot for whale shark sightings during the season, as well as schooling barracuda and trevally.

  • Horseshoe-shaped pinnacle
  • Vibrant soft corals
  • Whale shark encounters
  • Schooling barracuda

Similan Islands

The Similan Islands are renowned for their crystal-clear waters, impressive granite rock formations, and healthy coral reefs. Underwater landscapes feature massive boulders, swim-throughs, and extensive hard and soft coral gardens, supporting a diverse array of marine life. The area offers excellent visibility and is a favorite for both wide-angle photography and critter spotting.

  • Granite rock formations
  • Coral gardens
  • Crystal-clear waters
  • Diverse marine life

Surin Islands

The Surin Islands are part of a national park, offering pristine dive sites with a rich variety of marine ecosystems. The waters here are known for their healthy reefs, providing habitat for numerous reef fish and macro species. It's a key area for exploring vibrant shallow reefs and encountering a diverse range of smaller marine creatures.

  • Pristine dive sites
  • Rich marine ecosystems
  • Healthy reefs
  • Diverse reef fish

Requirements

  • CertificationAdvanced Open Water
  • Minimum logged dives5
  • ExperienceA minimum of 5 logged dives is required for participation.

Good to know

  • Certified Open Water divers can participate; however, completion of the Advanced Open Water certification is required.
  • The Deep Adventure Dive is not available as a standalone dive.
  • Junior Open Water and Junior Advanced Open Water Divers require a private dive guide.
  • Guests with fewer than 20 logged dives or who have not dived for six months or longer must complete a refresher dive.
  • Divers are recommended to wait for 24 hours before flying after the last dive.

Day-by-day plan

  1. Day 1: Embarkation – Ranong

    Guests will be picked up at Ranong Airport in the late afternoon, followed by transfer to the liveaboard in Ranong Pier. Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed with drinks, receive a cabin allocation, and attend a staff introduction and boat briefing before enjoying a welcome dinner. The boat departs later in the evening.

  2. Day 2: Surin & Richelieu Rock – Marine Biodiversity Hotspot

    After a general diving rules and safety briefing, the day is dedicated to exploring the renowned Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock. Richelieu Rock is a horseshoe-shaped pinnacle known for its incredible biodiversity, often featuring vibrant soft corals and attracting large pelagics. The area is famous for its nutrient-rich waters, which draw a wide array of marine life, including various sharks and schooling fish, alongside macro critters. Four dives are planned for the day.

    Dive sites: Richelieu Rock, Surin Islands

  3. Day 3: Similan Islands – Granite Boulders and Coral Gardens

    Today's dives focus on the Similan Islands, an archipelago famous for its crystal-clear waters and dramatic underwater landscapes. The sites here often feature massive granite boulders creating swim-throughs and canyons, alongside extensive coral gardens. The area is known for excellent visibility and a healthy reef system supporting a diverse range of tropical fish. Four dives are scheduled around the Similan Islands.

    Dive sites: Similan Islands

  4. Day 4: Similan Islands – Diverse Reef Ecosystems

    Continuing our exploration of the Similan Islands, today offers more opportunities to experience the rich and diverse reef ecosystems. Dive sites typically present a mix of sloping reefs, vibrant hard and soft corals, and sandy patches, providing habitat for a variety of macro life and reef fish. The region is known for its resident population of turtles and occasional pelagic sightings. Four dives are planned around the Similan Islands.

    Dive sites: Similan Islands

Upcoming departures

  • 2026-11-17 – 2026-11-20from 777.1 USDBook

All routes of this liveaboard

About the vessel

Deep Andaman QueenDeep Andaman QueenThailand
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