Similans Diving Archives - Go2Similan Diving and Snorkeling Centre

6 reasons to take a Private Speedboat Charter

Ann — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 10:52:56 +0000

Some people may consider a private speedboat charter to be a luxury. We’re here to show you 6 reasons why you should think of a private speedboat charter as an important part of your holiday.

Family Snorkelling Trip

Similan Islands

Diving Similans

Dive sites to yourself

Half-day trips with little ones

Family time

Sunset Cruise

Sunset drinks onboard

Celebration Trip

Show the love

Local half-day diving

Try scuba anyone?

Why Private?

When an area as beautiful as Khao Lak and the Similan Islands gets discovered by tourists, the infrastructure to look after them follows quickly. Large numbers of hotels, taxis, restaurants, bars and markets are there in very short order.

Tours, tour guides, and boats fight for the business, and the boats get bigger along with the numbers of visitors. This infrastructure is necessary and important, but the quality of the experience goes down as the numbers of visitors go up.

So why private? Because if it’s worth seeing, it’s worth seeing at it’s best.

1) Family Snorkelling trip

When you go out with your family, you want to spend your time with them, doing the things that you enjoy as a family. Generally these things do not include being herded from one location to another with anything up to 70 others from your boat.

A private trip means you spend as long as you want on the beach, go snorkelling in locations where no-one else is. A picnic on the beach, a hike up the view-point – all in your own time, and at your own pace.

2) Diving on the Similans

Whether you are a super experienced diver who wants to see only the best stuff, or a new diver who needs a bit more attention and assistance, a private dive trip is the way to get what you want out of the day.

A private trip means that you get to dive sites when the liveaboards are having their lunch, or on sites where no-one else goes.

3) Half Day Trips with Little Ones

Children are the centre of our lives, but they have short attention spans and need a different sort of activity.

Taking a private local trip gives you the perfect opportunity to plan your day around the most demanding members of your group. You can stop often, move on when they are ready, plan your meals and drinks around their needs.

4) Sunset Tours

West facing coasts are the best place to see sunsets, and photos are so much better without random strangers walking into your shot.

Take a trip starting in the afternoon, go snorkelling or sit on the beach, and then we’ll cruise out to watch the beautiful colours of our sunsets. Bring some beers or a bottle of wine and watch the sun go down on your private speedboat.

5) Celebration Trip

We all have special occasions – birthdays, engagements, weddings, anniversaries. It’s a great time to show our significant other (or ourselves) some love. Bring Champagne or Prosecco and we’ll bring glasses and a cool box, or bring beers to drink on the beach, with a picnic. Your day, your choice.

6) Local half-day diving

You pay a lot of money for your hotel, so you want to enjoy it, and if you have non-diving family members, then you don’t want to leave them rattling around waiting for you. Take a half-day diving trip to see local reefs or wrecks and be back at a time that you choose.

Or book a try scuba experience for the non-divers and show them what you love and why!

The post 6 reasons to take a Private Speedboat Charter appeared first on Go2Similan Diving and Snorkeling Centre.

10 Health Benefits of Scuba Diving

Ann — Sat, 24 Oct 2020 08:42:05 +0000

Dive Your Way to a Healthier You!

When most people think about scuba diving they picture vibrant coral reefs, sea turtles and colourful reef fish and although these are definite reasons to go diving, they are not all that diving has to offer. Did you know that scuba diving has a multitude of positive health effects? Some of the health benefits of scuba diving are derived from the physical activity which it entails, but there are also proven mental health benefits too. In fact, you might be surprised to learn just how far reaching the effects of scuba diving are on both your physical and mental well-being..

Here are just a few of the key benefits which you can experience when you join us for scuba diving on the Similans.

1. Breathing and Respiratory Systems

Scuba diving encourages divers to take long and slow deep breathes. A slow and calm breathing pattern reduces the risk of a lung-expansion injury as well as mucus build up. The breathing technique used for diving is similar to that used during some styles of meditation and it helps to slow the heart rate, promoting a state of peacefulness. Slow rhythmic breathing can also have a grounding and calming effect on the psyche.

2. Resistance for Strength, Flexibility and Fitness

Have you heard of resistance training? When you go scuba diving you’ll be doing that too! Whenever you are moving underwater, your muscles have to work harder than they would do on land due to the increased resistance caused by the water around you. The level of resistance increases significantly again when you are swimming into even just a mild current.
The more you dive and swim, the more your muscles begin to strengthen, and you’ll develop endurance as well as flexibility. Scuba diving and swimming doesn’t just give your legs a work out, it can also help to build up your core strength which is important for a good overall posture in your everyday life.

3. Lower Blood Pressure

Most divers will experience a spike in blood pressure when they first go underwater (due to excitement and adrenaline) but this is usually a temporary increase. Once we have recovered from the initial spike, our heart rate reduces as well as our blood pressure. The slow and deep breathing technique that we learn for diving helps to lower your blood pressure and keep you calm throughout the dive.

4. Travel and Adventure

Although it’s possible to dive virtually anywhere on the planet that has a body of water, divers tend to travel, enjoy exploring and take time to go diving – all of which are excellent ways to destress and have fun. Positive experiences and time out are all proven to be good for your body, mind and soul – much better than being stressed, bored and stuck in a rut. When you start diving in the Similans, you’ll begin discovering a whole new world – underwater!

5. Healing Effects of the Water

Being underwater has many healing effects. The likeness to being in the womb is believed to promote feelings of security, well-being and happiness. In addition, being in salt water for long periods of time can cause your body to dehydrate meaning that you tend to drink a lot more after the dive which means that you are replenishing your cells, receiving all of the benefits of water both externally and internally.

6. Interaction with Marine Life

Seeing stunning coral reefs and an array of fish and critters is enough to put anyone in a good mood. However, it has been proven that seeing certain colours can affect the brain in many different ways. Scientists believe that if we are subjected to bright and intense colours, similar to what we see underwater, it can promote feelings of happiness. In addition, the colour blue has been known to induce a calming effect on the body.

7. Exposure To Sunlight

Being exposed to sunlight creates Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps the rate of absorption of calcium which helps to keep bones healthy and strong. Exposure to sunlight also helps to increase endorphin production within our brains. And let’s not forget about Vitamin Sea..!.

8. Socializing Benefits

Diving involves diving with a buddy – it’s a social activity and among divers we find like-minded people with a common interest. There is a sense of community and of being part of a ‘tribe’ when spending time with other divers – all of which are positive feelings and good for mental wellbeing (lowering stress, building confidence and a sense of security and belonging). Many of our divers make friendships here that last a lifetime..

9. A Great Stress Reliever

We mentioned already that the breathing pattern for diving is similar to a meditative breathing patter. Meditating is a great remedy for stress too as slower breathing promotes calmness. Not only that, but when we are diving we are focused on the environment around us which enables us to completely forget work, family, relationship or financial issues.

Having this mental ‘time out’ gives the body a chance to rest and bring the nervous system back to a natural balance. Studies have shown that having a relaxed and calm mind has been known to promote a positive mental attitude, helping you deal with your issues in a calm and rational way without feelings of depression.

10. Corona Virus and Fitness

In the current global pandemic, there are many uncertainties and unknowns surrounding Corona Virus. One thing is widely believed to be true though – that the effects of COVID-19 are generally less severe in a person who is physically healthy and fit than in someone who is otherwise. So, while you might not cherish the thought of going to the gym to work on your fitness, now you can go diving instead!

Scuba Diving with Go2Similan

At Go2Similan we follow all recommendations regarding health and hygiene standards when diving and we have new procedures in place to ensure that gear is disinfected and all recommendations are being met.
Our priority is always your comfort and safety.

If you’d like to learn to dive
if you are a certified diver and you’d like to join a dive trip,
find out about a diving liveaboard or
if you have any questions about diving, health or corona virus and diving

Please contact us:

The post 10 Health Benefits of Scuba Diving appeared first on Go2Similan Diving and Snorkeling Centre.

Liveaboard Diving on the Similan Islands

Ann — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 10:03:26 +0000

What is liveaboard diving?

Liveaboard diving is somewhere between a diving activity holiday and an hotel. You board, set up your equipment, and then spend the next few days scuba diving, eating and sleeping around some of the best dive-sites in the area.

They range from basic to luxurious. From 1 night up to around 7 nights – with 3 or 4 night trips being the most popular in the Similans. They will cover the better dive sites and will usually include the more remote sites that you can’t reach on a day-trip.

On the west coast of Thailand around Khao Lak, the key sites are Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, and Koh Bon. Either the Similan Islands or the Surin Islands will also be included in the package.

You should expect to be diving 3 or 4 times a day during your trip, although the last day is often just 2 dives, so that you get back to port at a reasonable time in the afternoon.

We have worked on many liveaboards, and as with many services, you get what you pay for. If you want a modern spacious boat, and experienced staff, look at the top end of your budget. The lower budget boats will still get you to the dive-sites, but the boats are older, and the cabins are smaller.

Liveaboard Diving Schedule

They generally have fairly similar schedules, and you usually get picked up from your hotel or the dive shop early evening. You go to the boat, get a boat briefing, set up your equipment and get shown to your room. The boat will usually leave the port at Tap Lamu that evening, and will motor towards the Similans while you eat your evening meal and settle in.

Wake-up is typically around 6.00 am, with time for a coffee, some cereal or fruit, and a dive-safety briefing.

The first dive is a ‘check-dive’ – a nice gentle dive to give you the chance to make sure that all your kit is working properly.It also gives your dive-guide a chance to see how you are in the water, what your air-consumption is like, make sure that you have the right amount of weight, and to check that everyone in the group is of a similar standard. Fine-tuning of groups, weighting, tank sizes etc can all take place after the first dive. If there are any issues with buoyancy or kit then these can be addressed as well.

Meals and Food

The first dive is followed by a big delicious cooked breakfast. There is usually ham, eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato, bread, honey, chocolate spread, peanut butter …….. Different boats have their own specialities, with croissants, rice soup, salad and fruit all being possible variations. From then on you get into a bit of a routine: Dive, Eat, Rest, Dive, Eat, Rest. Beers and wine come out after the last dive of the day. Having said that, after 4 dives in a day, many people are ready for their bed and turn in early.

The meals on-board are one of the highlights, usually buffet style, with lots of choice. Meals are usually a mixture of Thai and Western food. There are usually one or two spicy dishes and at least one with no spices.

Relax and Enjoy

Over the course of the trip you will get to know those in your dive group, others on the boat and the dive staff. Friendships – occasionally even relationships – are forged on these holidays. Most people will come away with e-mail addresses and Facebook links so that they can stay in touch. You will see beautiful sunrises and sunsets at sea, amazing coral, white sand beaches and possibly a Manta or Whaleshark. There are so many fish you couldn’t list them all. All the things that you were concerned about before you left will have quietly evaporated. If you would like some more information on live-aboard diving in the Similans, please contact us. We will be happy to help you find the right trip for you.

The post Liveaboard Diving on the Similan Islands appeared first on Go2Similan Diving and Snorkeling Centre.

Similan Diving Again

Ann — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 03:26:13 +0000

The Similans open on October 15th this year, and we are really looking forward to seeing what’s around this year

Last year we were greeted by hugely increased numbers of fish, because the Thai Navy had taken action against illegal fishing during the closed season.
We’re hoping for the same again this year!

The Similan Islands are lovely as islands with several gorgeous white sand beaches open to the public, and even more that are pristine and protected.Underwater there are beautiful hard corals, colourful soft corals, gorgonian fans and masses of tropical fish.

The Similan Islands National Park includes Koh Bon and Koh Tachai. Koh Bon is known for Manta Rays, while Koh Tachai is known for it’s underwater pinnacle, with huge schools of fish and challenging currents.While Koh Tachai is closed to land-based tourists and snorkelers in order to protect the coral, the dive sites are very much open (Yippee!)

Just inside the Surin Islands National Park is Richelieu Rock – my personal favourite dive site, and one that never ceases to amaze. I love the fact that no matter where you look, there is always something to see from the almost microscopic to the huge schools of fish.

The Similans are about 60km off the west coast of Thailand so they’re reachable on a day trip, but if you’ve got the money and the time, a liveaboard gives you so much more bang for your buck.
A liveaboard will also get you to some of the more remote sites (such as Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, or maybe even the Surin Islands) that day trip boats don’t go to so much.

There are a couple of these running from Khao Lak.They leave Tap Lamu port at around 8am, take approximately 3 hours to get to the dive site, give you 2 dives, lunch on board, and 3 hours steaming back.

If a 3 hour trip each way sounds terrible – it isn’t! On the way out you get breakfast on the boat, plenty of time to set up your equipment, lots of time to chat to your dive guide, and it’s quite leisurely and relaxed.By the time you reach the dive site you are kitted up and on the back of the boat, ready to go.On the way back you’ve got time to sunbathe, fill out your log-books, have a beer or a soda, chat to your new-found dive buddies, or sleep.

It’s a great option for families, groups that include a non-diver/snorkeler, those wanting a chilled day, or people with back problems/less than optimum mobility.

There are again a few companies running speed boats and catamarans to the dive sites. These generally leave the pier (either from Tap Lamu or further north at Bang Sak) at around 8.30am. They take between 1 hour 15 minutes and 1 hour 25 minutes to reach the dive-site. Just as with the slow boats, they give you 2 dives, lunch in between, and then return home. They are usually home before 5pm, meaning it’s a much shorter day. That’s great news if you have left family or friends on the beach while you go out for the day.

They can be a bit a bumpy but that’s a small trade off for having 3 hours more at your hotel – a great move if you’re at an ‘all-inclusive’! They go to the same sites as the slow boats, and it’s very much personal preference as to which type of day boat you pick.

*If you have back or mobility problems, choose the slow boats.

The post Similan Diving Again appeared first on Go2Similan Diving and Snorkeling Centre.

Similan Season is nearly here

Ann — Thu, 06 Oct 2016 14:26:55 +0000

It’s almost Similan Season and we’re getting ready to go – who’s going to join us?

The Similan season starts again on October 15th this year, and we are really looking forward to seeing what’s around this year. Last year we were greeted by hugely increased numbers of fish, because the Thai Navy had taken action against illegal fishing during the closed season.

We’re hoping for the same again this year!

The Similan Islands are lovely as islands with several gorgeous white sand beaches open to the public, and even more that are pristine and protected. Underwater there are beautiful hard corals, colourful soft corals, gorgonian fans and masses of tropical fish.

The Similan Islands National Park includes Koh Bon and Koh Tachai. Koh Bon is known for Manta Rays. Koh Tachai is known for it’s underwater pinnacle, with huge schools of fish and challenging currents. While Koh Tachai is closed to land-based tourists and snorkelers in order to protect the coral, the dive sites are very much open (Yippee!)

Just inside the Surin Islands National Park is Richelieu Rock – my personal favourite dive site, and one that never ceases to amaze. I love the fact that no matter where you look, there is always something to see from the almost microscopic to the huge schools of fish. The Similans are about 60km off the west coast of Thailand so they’re reachable on a day trip, but if you’ve got the money and the time, a liveaboard gives you so much more bang for your buck.

What are the best ways to dive the Similans?

A liveaboard will get you to some of the more remote sites (such as Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, or maybe even the Surin Islands) that day trip boats don’t go to so much.

Day Trip Options

Big boat

There are a couple of these running from Khao Lak. They leave Tap Lamu port at around 8am, take approximately 3 hours to get to the dive site, give you 2 dives, lunch on board, and 3 hours steaming back.

If a 3 hour trip each way sounds terrible – it isn’t! On the way out you get breakfast on the boat, plenty of time to set up your equipment, lots of time to chat to your dive guide, and it’s quite leisurely and relaxed. By the time you reach the dive site you are kitted up and on the back of the boat, ready to go. On the way back you’ve got time to sunbathe, fill out your log-books, have a beer or a soda, chat to your new-found dive buddies, or sleep.

It’s a great option for families, groups that include a non-diver / snorkeler, those wanting a chilled day, or people with back problems / less than optimum mobility.

Speed Boat

*If you have back or mobility problems, choose the slow boats

Liveaboard Options

There are lots of liveaboards going to the Similans. They range in price significantly. From the really budget ‘backpacker’ boat where you all sleep on the roof (yeah, it’s for real!) to the high end, high price luxury boats with en-suite cabins and large air-conditioned lounges.

There are flexible boats where you can stay just one night (6 dives) up to 7-night trips with 26 dives. Most boats go for 3 or 4 nights, with 11 – 15 dives. They all have their own itineraries, but on a 3 or 4 day trip you would expect to get to Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, the Similans and Richelieu Rock. Some go to the Surin islands instead of the Similans. Each trip leader will have their preferred sites, so no two trips are the same.

We offer a range of trips on different boats, and we’re pretty good at matching people to the right boat and the right budget. Feel free to contact us to find your perfect trip.

Local Dive Sites

There are a 3 great wrecks just off the coast that offer a great ‘half-day’ diving option. These generally leave around 9am and back by around 2pm. The most popular is the Boonsung wreck, locally known as ‘fish soup’ because of the huge numbers of fish to be found. This is in a depth of 17-19 metres, depending on the tide, and so is accessible to all divers from Open Water level upwards.

The Premchai wreck is a bit deeper at 24 metres and so is open to divers who have done their Advanced Open Water Course or Deep Adventure Dive.

The Sea Chart is in 40+ metres with the top of the wreck at 27 metres, so we only recommend this for divers with both their Deep Specialty and their Nitrox Specialty. However, it’s a great place to do your Deep Specialty Course because of it’s depth. The Sea Chart is usually offered as part of a 2-wreck trip with the Premchai being the second dive of the day. Our website is an evolving thing with a life of it’s own, but at the moment we’ve got details about our favourite liveaboard Oktavia.We’ve also listed the beautiful Hallelujah and the Manta Queen fleet that covers a big range of budgets, itineraries and schedules. If you can’t see what you’re looking for then please contact us and we can help you put together exactly the right trip(s) for you.

The post Similan Season is nearly here appeared first on Go2Similan Diving and Snorkeling Centre.

Scuba Adventures On My First Live-Aboard (And My First Mantas)

Ann — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 15:30:18 +0000

Kiran has just completed his Divemaster Course with us in Thailand, and during his course he went on a 4 day / 4 night liveaboard trip to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. Here’s his account of the trip.

Where to start?

It all started a week before I left when the great news a liveaboard trip had been secured for me. I was so ecstatic and relieved that I had found one of these trips. The build-up towards the trip was great and spent every day thinking about the amazing adventure I would have.

However the one thing that was pressing on my mind was the stunning sight of Manta Rays. Some could call me narrow minded by fixating on these creatures, but they are the reason why I began to learn how to dive. I find them the most beautiful and elegant animals that have ever been about this planet.

That was the dream. Of course I couldn’t promise myself this sight but I still lay there in hope knowing that if I didn’t see them I would still enjoy the amazing dive sites I was just about to gaze upon.

Wreck Diving before we left!

The day of departure arrived, and as a treat and as part of my deep diver speciality I had already dived two sites in the morning. One was the sea chart wreck with a max depth of 36 M. I fell in love with the wreck as it was a haven for little fish and as a result saw vast balls of youngsters being tracked down and hunted by big great Barracuda and Trevally. It was mesmerising.

Anyway back to the liveaboard.

So arrived at the dive shop in the evening drained from the days diving waiting to leave to the pier to board our home for the next 4 days. Unfortunately one of the transfers from the airport had trouble so we didn’t get the boat till about 10 in the evening which was a shame but it gave us all time to meet and get to know one another.
Our boat and home for the next 4 days was called Manta Queen 1 and was a 26m long 5 metre wide vessel with a wooden hull that could carry a maximum of 22 people.

First day

Woke up by the engines powering us towards the Similan islands. I was originally frustrated by the noise but whilst wandering up to the main deck I was greeted by the rise of the most stunning sunrise. As people finally rose we had our first dive briefing from our trip leader Benn. He stated how each day would be run, timing and how we would carry out of each dive. After this he said “let’s go diving!” and every one got to their battle stations and begun to kit up in readiness for the first dive.

The first dive was a gentle introduction into diving in Thailand. Anita’s reef was a sandy slope with coral bommies teaming with life every 15m. It was a nice dive, as a result of my good air use I was put into another group mid dive. Dive 2 of the trip was at Deep 6 – saw an octopus just as we got down. Quite a strong current this time and a “green monster” that chilled to the bone. Started down a deep gorge that had massive gorgonian fans and we carried on to the swim through which was like a cork out of a bottle. Fun and daunting how we had very little control.

Dive 3 was called West of Eden. It is a lovely reef on the west side of island number 7 that was teeming with life. The last dive of the day was at West of Eden again however it was a night dive and the underwater environment was very different. The site had a calm about it but at the same time was a hive of activity. There were many crabs and shrimp of all kinds even giant lobsters that were fascinating to watch.

Day two of the trip

Started with a 6am wake up and our first dive at Elephant Head Rock. Giant granite boulders made up the dive site making quite a few deep channels which is the typical topography of the Similan national park. Blue spotted stingrays were in number on the sand portion of the site. They tried to camouflage themselves in the sand which shocked me as I moved over one it shot out from underneath me! After that dive we went to Donald Duck bay, it was very peaceful at about 8 am but as we left boats upon boats of tourist started to pull up and the beach was flocked by tourists. Lucky we enjoyed whilst it was calm and peaceful. Dive 2 was at North Point which again had many deep channels to swim through. Saw my first Nudibranch (Multi-coloured slug).

Dive 3 of the day and dive 7 of the trip was the most important dive of the trip and the one I had been looking forward to since I came to Thailand. It was at the west ridge of Koh Bon. Yes we saw MANTAS !! I was so happy when I saw my first manta on my video recording you can even hear me screaming. They were so beautiful and elegant as they swept across our paths and did fly-bys that were so magical. The last dive was at Koh Tachai and the phrase that came up so much amongst my group was fish soup. So many fish from small to large predatory barracuda, as we reached our safety stop 3 massive tuna came sweeping past. As we carried on our journey everyone started to get the motto of our boat, “DIVE, EAT, SLEEP, REPEAT!” because that is what our routine became every day.

Day 3 of the trip

Everyone was meshing well and getting into a good routine. Everything we did became so familiar it made the diving so much easier. The first two dives of the day were at Richelieu Rock. As the sun rose during our first dive so did the activity of the rock. We spent a long time looking at some yellow coral for sea horses but unfortunately didn’t see one. On the second dive we saw a pair of cuttle fish mating and the fighting. Made me laugh how much they are like humans. On the third dive of the day we went back to Koh Tachai, started off as a really relaxing dive but about 30 minutes into the dive the current picked up really strong and it became diver soup so not the best dive but it was good fun for the amount of time it lasted. To finish the day off we went to the west ridge of Koh Bon again, unfortunately no mantas but still one of my favourite dive sites. Koh Bon still has a vast wall full of multi-coloured soft coral with glass fish covering it.

The last day

came quick as a flash. Unbelievable how rapid the trip had felt. The first dive of this day was on a pinnacle of the west ridge of Koh Bon called Hin Luang. The pinnacle starts at 18 m and then descends to over 70m and was the most beautiful dive site I have had the pleasure of being on. It is covered in yellow coral that is the home for all fish. This site was made better by the dull orange glow of the sunrise that painted a picture that was unimaginable. At the top of the pinnacle was the best sight too, I saw my first leopard shark!

The second dive again was Koh bon and it was great and saw a white tipped reef shark! The last dive of the day was at the Boonsung wreck on the way back to Tap Lamu pier. This wreck was situated in the shallows near the coast of the mainland at about a depth of 20m. This wreck has made one of the greatest artificial reef on what is a mainly flat sand area. This meant as we got to the wreck there were fish swarming everywhere, at some points there were so many fish I couldn’t even see a meter in front of me.

After the last dive we headed back to the pier. Everyone was talking and having a great time as they reminisced about the past 4 days, boasting about what they saw and saying how they could definitely do the trip again. After we had our final debrief from our trip leader we all cheered for the dive crew and the boat crew because they deserved it and they all put so much effort into the trip. In conclusion this was a fantastic trip that was worth every penny and all the early hours, it is also the most efficient way to go diving with so many dives in such a short space of time. As a result I recommend this live aboard to anyone who loves diving and wants to do many dives in a short space of time.

The post Scuba Adventures On My First Live-Aboard (And My First Mantas) appeared first on Go2Similan Diving and Snorkeling Centre.