For more information on the best time to go to the SImilan Islands click here.
GPS / Location:
East of Island Nine, Koh Bangu
Skill Level:
Beginning – intermediate / good OW site
Depth:
8 – 30m+
Occasional, slight to moderate
Steep reef slope with coral shelves, sandy bottom, rocky outcrops. Abundant hard coral garden on SE side. Small coral bommies dotted around the site.
Approximately 30m off the north side of the reef, heading east, three huge neighbouring boulders at a depth of 24-30+ m, stark contrast to otherwise essentially sloping reef dive site. Good site to spot leopard sharks and Kuhl’s Stingrays. Various and abundant soft corals.
Turtles, Batfish, Red-Tooth Triggerfish, Longnose Filefish, Milkfish in the shallows, Leopard shark and stingrays on sandy areas, Ribbon eel, Garden eels at max depth, Lionfish, Barracuda, Moorish Idols, Racoon Butterflyfish, Bannerfish
How to dive this site:
Descend in the north, parallel to three trees and flat rock formation located on island #9 to max depth at the boulders, head west back to the reef, shallow up and drift south. Northerly drift also possible depending on current direction.
Our tips:
Best first dive of the day, thus the name! As the sun shines very brightly on this site early in the morning, colors are most distinct at early hours.
Allow enough time and air supply at the end of the dive to explore the shallows for juvenile leopard sharks, turtles and resting Guitar sharks!
Photo tip:
Wide-angle or macro, depending on preference.
Similan Islands 7-9
Similan Islands 4-7
Northern Islands and Surin: