Similan Dive Center

No other region offers what the Similan Islands offers. It is the best in diving pleasure for the beginner and the novice diver. The mix of great sites and a wonderful scuba diving experience are all found in this protected national park. As a chain of 9 tiny and verdant islands, the Similan Islands pack a big punch filled with white sand beaches and surrounded by some of the area’s richest waters.
There is no substitute for a  liveaboard  on Similan Islands. When choosing your Similan scuba diving trip there is really no substitute for a liveaboard. There is no other way to visit all 25 or so scattered sites at your leisure. The range of liveab oards in the area you will find that there is something to suit every taste and budget.

Seeking a rough and ready backpacker trip? Then choose the Similan Island liveaboard to suit your tastes. The accommodation of your budget is easily obtained. Would you prefer to have a delux 5 star cruise? Then you will find that too in our Similan Island liveaboards section. Trips range from a standard 4 night cruise to 9 or 10 night safaris that visit Burma too.This tropical paradise is designed for the diver – all nature made and waiting for you to explore. There are dozens of dive sites, gentle currents, reefs, and marine life. It’s a sight to behold and you must see it.
This is also only a 1 hour speedboat ride away from Khao Lak! With more than 2 dozen Similan Dive centers to choose from, we are here to help you choose! Another morsel of Similan Islands is that the 1 hour speedboat ride can be a one day trip too. Snorkeling with the family has never been easier to allow for more of a break for the little ones. Still, you may join a liveaboard. We have left the choices open for your convenience.
Insert yourself in to the Similan Islands picture: incredible beachfront resorts, delicious fresh food from dozens of restaurants, 40 kilometers of white sand beaches, warm tropical waters, magnificent marine life, trekking, jungles and dozens of dive sites within 1 hour! All that is missing is you.The dive and snorkel operators with the black water tanks are the better option when deciding to explore the waters. In an effort to maintain the integrity of the Islands please ask to see the responsible tourism policy of any operator before departing on a trip. This will aid in less harassment of marine life, throwing waste in the water, and respecting the best of what mother nature has to offer all of us. A Park Ranger is also nearby to assist.

Similan Dive Centers

The list is many for dive centers. We’ve made it even easier with our list of safe dive centers to assist you at Similan Islands. The dive centers located in Phukett are not listed due to their distance being further away. We did not think you would want to spend so much time on a boat going and coming, so we have conveniently omitted that information.
Khao Lak is the closest point of land to the Similans and with a selection of 30 dive centers and dozens of great resorts, there is no need to stay anywhere else.  Visit the Similan Islands but also the nearby Surin Islands, expeditions to Burma can be arranged as well as Khao Lak’s local dive sites and the nearby caves and lakes. Tech Diving, Instructor Courses, Dive Medical Courses and even beginning diving are all easily arranged in Khao Lak.

Similan Island Weather

If you have not visited the Similan Islands, then you must. The Similan Islands offer the best diving waters of Thailand. You will not find such wonderful scuba diving as can be found in this national park. You will also enjoy the view along the way because the Simlan Islands are a chain of 9 tny and verdant islands with white sand beaches.
Every taste and budget is satisfied with these islands. You can choose from the lowest amount to a more luxury accommodation – both will give you memories to speak of for years. There is no substitute for a liveaboard. You can visit all 25 or so scattered sites at your leisure.
Rough and ready backpacking trip or a deluxe 5-star cruise, you choose and let nature take it’s course. Find what you want in our Similan Island liveaboards section. The trips range from a standard 4 night cruise to 9 or 10 night safaris that visit Burma too.
Enjoy more of the Similans by choosing one or more day trips from  Khao Lak or Phuket.  Although the journey times are greater (45 or 90 km away, respectively). This is recommended  if you are short on time or don't fancy staying on a boat for a few nights, then this may be the choice for you. You can also check out our day trip packages, which can be both with or without accommodation, in our Khao Lak day trip and Phuket day trip pages.

Diving Season

Liveaboards come alive from early November to early May. Enjoy a day trip and an overnight trip from October through to May. We have found that the most constant weather patterns, and therefore, the most stable conditions, tend to be between February and April.  Diving during this time of the year is a diver’s dream come true. The visiibility is always between 25-40m, and calm seas are the norm. The clouds even disappear during this time and all you see if blue. The Similans are only 8 degrees north of the Equator and therefore exhibit a tropical climate, including a water temperature that usually ranges between 26-29°C, being warmest towards the end of the season (February-May). Even at depth, the water is usually only 1 degree less than at the surface.  Imagine having good light conditions as you descend to depth – then that, during this time, is the Similan Islands.
As per our weather updates and tracking  the currents tend to be stronger towards the end of February. That means that drives dives will become more interesting and also attract more pelagics such as manta rays and whale sharks. Green and hawksbill turtles are often seen at the dive sites. Their breeding season is from November to February.

Constant diving can have some effects on an area. The dive sites for this area are closed for 6 months in order to allow mother nature to recuperate and be ready for your dive accordingly. This closed rainy season fortunately co-incides with a period of spawning for many of the fishes.