Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai... Dive the Best of Thailand

Why We Love It

The Surin and Similan Islands, northwest of Thailand, host some of the best dive sites in the world. Diving Richelieu Rock, its most famous site, feels like being in a big aquarium filled with lots of tropical fish. Keep your eyes open, as while we were diving there, we almost missed a whale shark because we were just too busy looking at some macro! Big and small, you have it all. It's the perfect dive trip for people who only have a few days, with lots of action and an amazing crew.

Conservation

The boat runs cruises to remove abandoned fishing nets and lines with Ocean Quest Global in Myanmar, and expeditions with Manta Trust and others to identify whale sharks in Thailand (see dates in our "What's Included" section). Adheres to Longitude 181 sustainability guidelines. Receive reef-friendly toiletries on board.

Who Is It For?

For both new and advanced divers who enjoy variety. Drift dives, night dives, deep dives, and shallower dives are all available. Other activities include kayaking, island exploration, delicious meals on board, and relaxing breaks in between dives!

Prices and Dates

Dive Briefing!

Marine Life

• Recognized as a National Park since 1981, Surin and Similan Islands are famous for excellent diving, with beautiful hard coral and lots of marine life!
• Richelieu Rock, a limestone pinnacle carpeted with a thick covering of pink and purple corals, is one of the few sites in the world where whale sharks are encountered on a regular basis.
• You will spot species such as manta rays, leopard sharks, napoleon wrasse, yellow-masked angelfish, bumphead parrotfish, tomato anemonefish, barramundi, trevally, barracuda, tuna, jenkins stingray, and turtles.
• The sites are also good for macro life as you may see some frogfish, ghost pipefish, and seahorses.

Dive Conditions

• Season: high Season from December to April
• Currents: can be strong in some sites
• Visibility: 5 to 20 m (16 to 66 ft)
• Water temperature: ranges 26° to 29°C (79° to 84°F)
• Depth: both deep and shallower dives

Dive sites

• The Surin Islands are a series of jungle-covered granite outcrops that are ringed with coral reefs to a depth of 25-30 meters.
• The most famous dive sites of the area are Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, and Koh Tachai.

The Team

• Operation created in 2012
• Number of boats: one brand-new boat, designed for divers
• PADI courses - ask us
• Languages spoken: English, French
• Maximum number of divers per guide: 4

Safety Information

• Equipment Recommended: a 3mm wetsuit and the usual diving equipment.
• Insurance: Both dive insurance and travel insurance are mandatory. We recommend Dive Assure that has plans to cover both - ask us for a quote.
• Hyperbaric Chamber: in Phuket

Visas, Flights, and More!

Visa Requirements

• Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.
• As of August 2017, no visa was needed for a stay of fewer than 30 days for citizens from France, the USA, Japan, Canada, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, and many other countries.
• Please check latest visa requirements for Thailand before traveling: Thailand Immigration Bureau

How to Get There

• Depending on the date, the boat will depart from Phuket, Kao Lak, or Ranong - ask us.
• Phuket (HKT) is an international airport, and Khao Lak is just an hour and a half drive away
• To get to Ranong, catch a short flight from Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) with AirAsia or Nok Air

More...

• Bring sunscreen, a hat, mosquito repellent, a rashguard, a sweater, or a lightweight jacket