Dive Similan Islands High light Christmas Point is certainly one of the most dramatic dive sites in the whole of the Similan Islands group. It is attached to island number 9, just west of the probably more famous North Point.
This dive site is completely submerged except for the top of a huge boulder breaking the surface, which then drops down to over 20 meters and beyond. Christmas Point is situated on the North West part of the island facing out into the Andaman Sea.
There are many huge boulders on this site creating fantastic and exciting swim through and the current here can be strong especially during strong tides, so it can also be a little testing for the novice diver.
The bottom is sandy, with very little coral growth, it is very similar to the dive sites on the west of the Similans, corals, and hard ones in particular, tend not to grow this side due to the huge granite boulders not a being great habitat for corals. There are some huge Gorgonian sea fans here and it is well worth a look around to see if there is any macro life on them.
The visibility can vary day to day, but on average, it will be around 20 meters. As you descend down, it soon becomes apparent how huge this site is and it is quite easy if you’re not careful, to easily exceed you’re maximum depth, the site drops down to 50 meters and beyond.
And it is this positioning that can attract the larger pelagic fish, as they come up from the deep; it is their first or last port of call before Koh Bon. Koh Bon is another excellent large pelagic viewing site, further north of the Similans.
Some of the pelagic fish you can see on Christmas point are the Great Barracuda; Giant Trevallies, Black Tip Reef Sharks and White Tips, plus Leopards Sharks too, also seen here are the massive Manta Rays, and on occasion, the elusive Whale shark.
But what makes this site so special is the variety of swim throughs created by the amazing granite boulders. If there is strong currents, the diver can hide among the swim through, in and out making tight turns along the way, it is such a fun site and is often overlooked by a lot of dive schools, so if you dive it as part of your live-aboard trip, it is likely that your group will be alone.
Other interesting critters to look out for on here are, Morays, we have seen Giant, Yellow Edged, White Eyed, Fimbriated and the most strangest of all, the Ribbon Eel. There are large schools of Bait fish and Glass fish here too, this Brings in the Blue Fin Trevallies and Yellow Mackerel’s, Dogtooth Tunas, Spanish Mackerels and Golden Trevallies rain down on these pour little fish regularly with extreme aggression.
Closer to the shallow part of the site, it is not uncommon to see Hawksbill Turtles, rooting around looking for a bite to eat. Also there is an abundance of smaller stuff Scorpion Fish lie in wait for their prey, as do their close cousins the Lionfish, watch were you put your hands. Nudibranchs, Sea Slugs, Cowrie Shells, Crabs, Spiny Lobsters lurking inside rock crevices, Blennies, Gobies, Fusiliers even Coral Banded Sea Snakes; but remember the big stuff won’t come and tap you on your shoulder to introduce themselves: look out into the blue too, you never know who might be just passing by.
Thailand Liveaboards Fleet
MV Giamani
MV Giamani, owned and operated by Colona Liveaboards and a "Top Boat” in the Thailand Liveaboards Fleet. 10 Divers Only, First Class Service, Experienced Dive Guides, Excellent food and Accommodation in En-suite Cabins. NITROX available & Re-breather Divers (SCR & CCR) welcome.
MV Oktavia
MV Oktavia is a Thailand liveaboard where families are welcome to cruise, dive and simply enjoy the tropical and exotic island destinations. Swedish owned and operated MV Oktavia is a comfortable and affordable scuba diving boat. The diving staff and crew are friendly and helpful in making the cruise a most memorable one.
Deep Andaman Queen
Deep Andaman Queen is a well known Thailand liveaboard to cruise the Andaman Sea. A 28.5-meters long and 7-meters wide, twin-engine steel hull motor boat, with the highest safety standards on board. Andaman Queen Accommodates 21 divers in air conditioned en-suite cabins. Nitrox is available.
The Junk
The Junk or also called June Hong Chian Lee. Spend your Similan Islands liveaboard diving holiday, discovering the most fantastic dive sites around Similan & Surin Islands, Thailand. You will have a great time a on board this authentic Thailand Liveaboard which is a real sailing Junk with a long history.
Shark Point Phuket is approximately two hours sail from Chalong Pier and is instantly recognizable by its protruding main pinnacle, which looks like a miniature Lighthouse breaking the water’s surface.
- Max depth: 28m/93ft
- Level of difficulty: Open water upwards.
- Visibility: 5/20m 16/66ft.
- Current: weak to strong.
- Special features: Can be strong currents excellent for drift dives. Numerous pinnacles to explore
- Quick tip: Remember there is more than one pinnacle to explore of this large dive site
The visible part of the Pinnacle itself is quite small; divers are often deceived by the sheer size of the dive site underwater. There are a couple of other pinnacles just below the surface too; these other pinnacles are usually only reachable when the current is not too strong, otherwise it can be tricky to get there.
Shark Point Phuket is famous for its Leopard sharks, sometimes called Zebra Sharks due to their stripy patterns of skin in early life. Leopard Sharks are the most graceful of swimmers you may wish to see.
They have a very distinct tail fin this fin is almost as long as the main part of the fish again. When you approach the Shark, it is possible to get quite close to them, especially if they are sleeping on the bottom.
Move forward with care, you can sometimes get quite close, they will keep their eye on you all the time, do not worry they are not dangerous. If you get too close they will up and swim off.
They are best approached from the front or the side, so that the shark can see you all. They are not to be approached from above! Get as low as possible, as fishes do not like us divers swimming over the top of them, it shows dominance.
Also you should find splattered about the sea floor several Blue Spotted Stingrays, there is always a few Great Barracuda and if you are really lucky you may see a school of smaller Chevron Barracuda hunt here as well.
There are also many kinds of scorpion fishes like the Bearded and Raggy Scorpion Fish; also I have seen here a Reef Stone Fish walking about the bottom. Lionfish, loads of different and colorful Wrasses and Parrot fish, Undulated, Fimbriated White Eyed and Giant Moray eels can also be found here.
It is a good site to find some Snake Eels and nine times out of ten you can spot Squid, Cuttlefish maybe even a Large Red Octopus, there are some great macro stuff here, like Tiger Tail Seahorses and several species of Pipefish including Jens Cleaner Pipefish and the Harlequin Ghost Pipefish.
The site is only a few minutes away from the King Cruiser and Anemone Reef dive sites, so usually a day dive trip will incorporate one of these sites into the days diving too, as well as Koh Doc Mai.
Suitable for most levels of divers, although the surface can become choppy quite quickly, there can also be some interesting currents at certain times of the year too.
Phuket Shark Point is great for fun diving, it also can be a great place to take a Dive Course too, like the Adventure and Advanced courses. Many dives from the Padi specialties list can be completed here too.
Similan Scuba Diving Site – Shark Fin Reef is a long granite ridge extending south and east from Similan Island #3 (Koh Payan). This is as close as we get to the Turtle Sanctuary on Islands 1 & 2 (Koh Huyong & Koh Payang). Towards the center of the ridge the rock breaks the surface in a series of peaks looking like a shark – hence the name. In Thai this site is known as “Hin Phae” which means floating rock.
You will normally start the dive on the southern side of the ridge which is a steep slope drop into the sand at about 25 meters, beside the slope are a number of large boulders which provide hiding places for Moray Eels, Lion Fish and Scorpion Fish also the sandy patches between the boulders are a good place to find Khul’s Stingrays and Leopard Sharks (please do not get too close to these sharks as you will spook them and the rest of your group will miss out).
Normally, current permitting you will head north west along the ridge climbing to about 12 meters where there is a plateau with a number of rocks and coral bommies.
Both Napoleon Wrasse and Hump Head Parrot Fish can be seen here, also keep an eye out for a Banded Sea Krait or a Hawksbill Turtle. As you pass the last of the surfacing peaks the top of the rock is at about 12 meters, sit here for a few minutes watching the shoals of fish, marauding group of parrot fish ripping into the coral and fusiliers and snappers hiding from the current, look out also for Tuna coming in for a feed.Now you turn back but cross to the North side of the ridge stay at between 12 and 18 meters, here there are a number of Channels and swim through’s often full of fish hiding from current sand predators.
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