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Listed below are specific details on Colona VI's scuba diving sites, please select from below;
The Similan's Islands , Koh Bon, Koh Tachai with Richelieu Rock - Northern Cruise
Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Phi Phi, Shark Point & Koh Doc Mai - Southern Cruise |
Please note that not all of the Scuba Diving Sites mentioned below are visited. This is weather depending.
Colona VI's Cruise Map - Northern & Southern Thailand
THAILAND NORTHERN CRUISE
The Similan and Surin Islands
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The Similan and Surin Islands
- Distance from Phuket: 55 Nautical Miles
- Diving Depth: 0 - 40m (0-135ft)
- Visibility: Excellent to fantastic
- Sea Temperature: 27/29°C
- Diver Level: All levels
The islands are universally recognized as some of the best world-class diving. .The Similan Islands National Park lies some 100km or 4 hours from Phuket. The word "Similan" is derived from the Malaysian word " sembilan " which means "Nine" and there are nine granite islands.
The islands had never been inhabited. For many generations, the only human visitors were the so-called Sea Gypsies who came to fish on the teeming reefs. The Similan Islands were formed some 100-150 million years ago. There present formation is derived from cracked granite rock which has been sculpted from the winds and waves.
The Nine Islands in the similan group are: (running from North to South):
Koh Bangu (No.9), Koh Similan (No.8), Koh Pabu (No.7), Koh Payu (No.6), Koh Ha (No.5), Koh Miang (No.4), Koh Payan (No.3), Koh Payang (No.2) and Koh Huyong (No.1).
The Similan's were designated as a National Park in 1982. The National Marine Park take great pride in the conservation of the islands and have closed islands No.1-3. Island No.1 is turtle inhabitation.
High season in this area officially begins in November, and ends in May, but the visibility varies all year round, from generally 20 meters to sometimes over 40 meters.
On the west side of the islands, the granite has been eroded into massive blocks. Diving here, you can explore swim-through's, avoiding the huge sea fans, you may see a shy white-tip or black-tip shark, as they speed off into the blue. In good visibility, the granite boulders truly can seem like an underwater city. On the east side of the islands, you can drift through coral gardens and streams of fusiliers, watch dozens of feather worms pop closed as you pass, or observe fields of garden eels, swaying in the sand.
Of course, no trip to the Similan's is complete without visiting the nearby Surin National Park. This is the site of the Richelieu Rock, world-famous for sightings of the magnificent, yet gentle, whale shark. Also, Ko Bon and Koh Tachai are top class dives and are the best places to see manta rays.
The reefs are home to a multitude of tropical fish of all sizes, shapes and colours, with frequent sightings of turtles, rays and sharks. ironwood and gum trees are among the larger trees, while jackfruit, rattan and langurs, squirrels, bats, lizards and a good variety of birds. But the most striking feature of these islands, at first glance, are the huge boulders that litter the western and southern shores on several of the islands.
But most of all the Similan's has it all for divers from coral walls, big rocks, huge sea fans and barrel sponges, caves and swim-through's.
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THAILAND SOUTHERN CRUISE
Hin Daeng, Hin Muang and Phi Phi Islands
The islands of the Southern Cruise
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Distance from Phuket: 65 Nautical Miles South East from Phuket
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Diving Depth: 0 - 50m (0-169ft)
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Visibility: Variable to Good
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Sea Temperature: 28/29°C
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Diver Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Superb diving, and spectacular scenery are combined into this one trip. The Southern Cruise. You will have a chance to view the Phi Phi Islands in the Hat Noppamart Thara National Park. These are awesome with their 300 meter limestone walls which tower over the water into the blue sky. Underwater, these cliffs are covered in soft corals, large fans and teeming with fish.
The wall dives go down to about 25 meters, and if you look in the crevices, you find a treasure trove of marine creatures - from Pipefish to Seahorse's.
This is also quite a good place to see sharks. The white-tips and black-tips are quite shy, but you may be able to swim right up to a sleeping, harmless (they're crustacean eaters), Leopard Sharks can also be found here. No touching, please!
The crowning glory of this trip, is of course, the fantastic islands of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, they are undoubtly some of the best dive-sites in the South of Thailand. Hin means rock, Daeng means Red, and Muang means Purple in Thai. There name derives from the pinkish-red soft corals that cover both rocks. Here, you can dive spectacular drop-offs that go down to 50m, but the greatest draw of the islands are the sharks, whale sharks, Manta Rays and other large pelagians that frequent here. Excellent, Fantastic!
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