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The
Beautiful - Similan islands
Just over
55 miles northwest of the hoards of bustling holiday makers on Phuket's
Kata Beach lie the Similan islands. The Similan live-aboard diving Phuket
national marine park includes nine islands running from south to north and
are numbered accordingly. The islands are low lying granite boulder
formations, densely covered with tropical vegetation and are home to
crab-eating monkeys, dusky lingers, squirrels, bats and a large variety of
birds.
The
picturesque and often deserted white coral sandy beaches and huge boulder
formations are not the only attractions however as some of the most
interesting sights are to be found beneath the waves. The most  spectacular
coral growths in the world can be found here and the same boulders that
scatter the shores have turned the azure blue waters around the Similans
into an adventure playground for scuba divers not to be missed.
On the
western side of the islands huge granite boulders, some as big as houses,
spill in jumbled piles beneath the surface of the sea to 35 meters and
beyond. Submarine peaks, canyons, caves and passageways provide scuba
divers with some of the most interesting prospects in the world. DThe eastern side of
the islands the boulders have been largely buried by coral and sand and
The word
"Similan" derives from the Malay term sembilan, and means
"nine". Each of the Similan Islands has a number as well as a
name. These are, running from north to south: Koh Ba Ngu (No. 9), Similan
(No. 8), Payu (No. 7), Miang (No. 4, No. 5 and, in some opinion, No. 6),
Payan (No. 3), Payang (No. 2), and Hu Yong (No. 1). Hin Pousar, or
"Elephant Head Rock", is alternatively designated No. 6 by some.
Koh Bon, lying approximately17 nautical miles north of Ba Ngu, is part of
the Similan National Park and may be granted honorary status as No. 10. The
world famous Similan Islands are often described as one of the top ten
dive destinations in the world, and quite rightly so...Jacques Cousteau
confirmed this!
To
dive these wonderful islands check out our Live
aboard boat - we dive them all year round when most operators don't.
Check the
following links for our live aboard dive trips to the Similan Islands - including
dive pictures:
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