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Liveaboard Diving in Surin Islands
What To Expect on A Surin Islands Liveaboard
A liveaboard dive tour to the Surin Islands in Thailand will take divers to some of the best diving available in the Andaman Sea. Situated in the picturesque Thai province of Phang Nga, the Surin Islands archipelago is about 60km away from the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Designated a National Marine Park in 1981, the Mu Koh Surin National Park is formed of 2 large islands, North and South. The islands are covered in granite outcrops that are ringed with pristine coral reefs that provide an underwater spectacle of life and color. Still relatively untouched, liveaboard diving is the best way to experience diving these islands and enjoy nature's finest. Due to its remoteness, some liveaboards only offer a short 4 days schedule.
Surin Islands Underwater
The abundance of marine life in these waters is staggering with regular sightings of cruising white tip reef sharks, barracuda, batfish, ghost pipefish, bump head parrotfish, napoleon wrasse, octopus, mantis shrimp, blue-spotted jawfish and the rarer sightings of seahorses, frogfish, manta rays, and whale shark. Look closely and you may spot black and blue ribbon eels hiding amongst the crevices.
Be wary of the sometimes aggressive titan triggerfish, especially if nesting and protecting their young. Depths range from 5 to 30 meters with warm clear waters, the coral formations in these waters act as a good barrier with fields of staghorn corals dominating the shallows. These reefs gently slope down to a sandy bottom and if you look into the blue, you may see the occasional passing eagle rays.
Dive Sites Of Surin Islands
Liveaboard dive cruises to the Surin Islands usually include diving at Koh Tachai, Koh Bon and the famous Richelieu Rock:
Koh Tachai is teeming with marine life and known for large numbers of leopard sharks. A coral plateau sloping from 12 - 35 m, this site can be challenging at times with strong currents. Usually done as a drift dive, these currents bring high levels of plankton during the months of February – May and in turn the larger pelagics feeding on them such as the Manta Ray and Whale Shark.
Koh Bon, south of Surin Island is known as the perforated island, classified as a deep dive due to a fantastic wall dive that goes down to 42m on the southwest side. Also frequented by a great number of leopard sharks, the usual suspects such as the morays, white tip reef sharks cohabit these waters. Also a popular cave diving spot, this should only be attempted with the right certifications.
Richelieu Rock, to the southeast of the Surin Islands is renowned for whale shark sightings and other pelagics like the Manta Ray, barracuda, giant trevallies, and dogtooth tuna. For the avid macro lover or photographer, this site also provides a plethora of critters, porcelain crabs, tiger tail sea horses, pipefish, harlequin shrimp, nudibranch and more. The current here is mild to strong.
Other dive sites include: Bon Soong Wreck, Ko Torinla, Koh Chi, Hing Gong
Top Tips For Divers
Liveaboard trips to the Surin Islands run from November to May. February to April season often sees an increase in currents attracting the larger marine creatures like whale sharks and manta rays. Visibility ranges from 25-30m during this period and water temperatures range between 26-29c so a 3mm neoprene wetsuit should be enough. Some of the dive sites can be a bit more challenging and are best reserved for the more experienced diver.
Getting To Surin Islands
Some International flights fly directly to Phuket or you can get a connecting flight from Bangkok, with low-cost carriers such as Air Asia also available. It is recommended you check your departure port with your liveaboard operator before arranging your international flights. Most Thailand liveaboards leave from Phuket or Khao Lak. Some may also leave from one port and return to another. Diving in Thailand is accessible to all and there are liveaboards suitable for all budgets.
Surin Islands Diving Reviews
- 9.2 Superb
- 89 Verified Reviews
Great abundance and variety of Sea Life. Hin Luang dive site will likely be best diving I will ever see.
Diving Surin Islands in March on the Manta Queen 7
Manta's, Manta's and more Manta's, need I say more
Diving Surin Islands in March on the Marco Polo
Almost a relief to get here after the West Ridge and Koh Tachai which certainly raise the blood pressure. Fabulous drift dives over verdant reefs.
Diving Surin Islands in March on the The Junk
Many sea turtles, sting rays, moray eels, … great diving spots.
Diving Surin Islands in January on the The Junk
Easy dive, perfect to get warm for the Richelieu rock
Diving Surin Islands in February on the The Junk
Poor visibility and some strong currents
Diving Surin Islands in February on the Thailand Aggressor
Via was an issue but if you want to see many as and whalesharks it's what you expect.
Diving Surin Islands in February on the The Phinisi
Cold water 24-25 not good visibility Great marin life
Diving Surin Islands in February on the Sawasdee Fasai
Very good, tough currents, not recommended for newbies.
Diving Surin Islands in February on the The Phinisi
Excellent, the vis was very bad but that’s nature!!
Diving Surin Islands in February on the The Phinisi
Lots of school of fishes but not special.
Diving Surin Islands in February on the Hallelujah
Beautiful dive sites! Varying visibility but plentiful sea life
Diving Surin Islands in February on the The Phinisi
Great. Recommend AOW as a minimum.
Diving Surin Islands in February on the Manta Queen 7
Reasonable diving experience, it's luck as to what's going to be there and we didnt see too much here.
Diving Surin Islands in January on the Hallelujah
Again nice dive sites easy diving and plenty of life down there.
Diving Surin Islands in January on the Thailand Aggressor
다양한 생물들이 살아서 좋지만 시야가 그리 좋지 않다
Diving Surin Islands in January on the Sawasdee Fasai
Not as memorable as Richelieu Rock, but the visibility was better
Diving Surin Islands in January on the Hallelujah
Great. More diversity that Similan Islands. Saw some species I had not seen previously
Diving Surin Islands in January on the Manta Queen 7
Beautiful reefs and the islands were idyllic. As with the Similan Islands, there was plenty of healthy reef life there and the diving was similar but with yet more life.
Diving Surin Islands in December on the The Junk
That was fantastic place to dive. Defenitely plenty to see under the water. Clear waters. There was very nice gesture by the crew to organise visit of the islands during the trip.
Diving Surin Islands in December on the The Junk
Beautiful - though we had quite cold currents in some places ("the green monster")
Diving Surin Islands in December on the Thailand Aggressor
Beautiful .. Huge school of Barracuda's
Diving Surin Islands in December on the Bavaria
Great diving, some thermoclines and green water. Overall beautfiful underwater life
Diving Surin Islands in December on the The Junk
The most marine life I have ever seen!
Diving Surin Islands in November on the The Phinisi
same as Similan: fishes, fishes, fishes and healthy corals
Diving Surin Islands in December on the Thailand Aggressor
Visibility wasn’t the greatest but we did encounter Mantas which is always nice.
Diving Surin Islands in November on the Thailand Aggressor
The was first stop and was a great intro as to what was to come.
Diving Surin Islands in November on the Manta Queen 7
Diving in the remote Surin is an experience not to be missed.
Diving Surin Islands in November on the Hallelujah
Very good dive, water was very warm in Thailand, 32 Celsius. Many fishes and corals.
Diving Surin Islands in April on the Sawasdee Fasai Live Aboard
Challenging current and surge but so much fun,Challenging current and surge but so much fun And beautiful reef
Diving Surin Islands in April on the The Phinisi
The Barracudas school was awsome.Much like the Simillan, very strong currents but lots of fish and marine life
Diving Surin Islands in April on the Sawasdee Fasai
Good for beginners. Lots of drift diving.
Diving Surin Islands in April on the Hallelujah
sehr gute Vielfalt an Korallen und Fische
Diving Surin Islands in April on the Sawasdee Fasai
We particularly liked Torinda Original dive site - very colourful ref dwellers, several morays, sea horse...
Diving Surin Islands in January on the Similan Explorer
Colorful and loaded with fish.
Diving Surin Islands in March on the Pawara
Really good lots of schools of fish
Diving Surin Islands in February on the Sawasdee Fasai
Nice warm water and beautiful fish!,Unreal! Breathtaking!
Diving Surin Islands in January on the The Phinisi
Strong current, but very good experiance
Diving Surin Islands in December on the Sawasdee Fasai
Beautiful. Saw many shrimp, lobstar, turtle, rays etc.
Diving Surin Islands in April on the Manta Queen 7
Alive marine life. Some current, beautiful landscape.
Diving Surin Islands in April on the Pawara
Nice place to dive, especially because we were alone on the diving sites.
Diving Surin Islands in December on the Similan Explorer
Even better visibility the further north we got and the sandy patches are just beautiful
Diving Surin Islands in October on the Pawara
Amazing visibility, diverse dive sites
Diving Surin Islands in October on the Hallelujah
No words to describe the experience. Highlight was my first night dive and the ship wreck an. Richelue rock
Diving Surin Islands in February on the Similan Explorer
Many enjoyable dives seeing many new species.
Diving Surin Islands in April on the Sawasdee Fasai
A lot more diverse fish, change in topography with more limestone formations. Beautiful pink and red corals
Diving Surin Islands in March on the Similan Explorer
Interesting to see unique geography.
Diving Surin Islands in February on the The Junk
Really beautifull, great life and night dives, nothing to complain.
Diving Surin Islands in February on the Similan Explorer
Stunning, Some cold currents but great diving
Diving Surin Islands in January on the Similan Explorer
Surin is good..best diving point in Thailand
Diving Surin Islands in December on the The Junk
Real coral garden - every kind of coral in one sight.
Diving Surin Islands in December on the Thailand Aggressor
Visibilities were not super good, but a nice variety of animals.
Diving Surin Islands in November on the MV Similan Explorer
was good and bad, depending from the dives
Diving Surin Islands in March on the The Junk