The Similan Islands Diving Season is under way!
Due to inclement weather conditions the first trip of the season was, unfortunately cancelled, so this was our first jaunt out to the Similan Islands with a boatload of very excited guests, and some equally excited staff!
The weather was on our side as we cruised out on the Parinee from Tap Lamu to the Similans, Captain Kaew at the helm, P’Toon and P’Kaew helping out with equipment, pumping our tanks, and picking us up in the dinghy throughout the trip.
Trip leader Amanda, helped along wonderfully by Tuk, Gae, Roland and JP, had a full boat of guests to take diving and snorkelling – so we picked a fab selection of dive sites to give everyone a good show of the islands. The Eastern side of the Similans have beautiful sloping reefs, with plentiful reef fish, whilst the Western dive sites are characterised more by massive granite boulders. We started out at Honeymoon Bay for the check dive, leaving everyone in awe of the stunning visibility, and finished off the first day of diving on West of Eden, with a curious turtle, clown triggerfish, and a massive school of fusiliers.
That evening, after the first of P’Nui and P’Ooo’s fantastic feasts, a good round of werewolf got the games started – Mike had a few problems remembering who’d died, so ended the game for himself abruptly when he claimed to be a dead villager in a vain attempt to save himself! The toothbrush game came after, as we explained the rules for our own uniquely wicked game of assassins – Nanci proved to be very handy with her toothbrush as she won the game
Anita’s Reef, East of Eden and Christmas Point were our dive sites for day 2 – a few more turtles following us all around, kuhls rays and spearing mantis shrimps, and an octopus all hanging out around the dive sites. Next up a trip across to island number 8 for some beach time – a bit of sunbathing, frisbee and paddling, plus a climb up to the viewpoint for the more adventurous, before heading back to the Parinee for the sunset dive. Cuttlefish for Amy on her Adventure Night dive, more rays, and some juvenile black and white snapper at Waterfall Bay during the night dive, then a turtle came to the boat to say ‘hi’ as we were getting ready for another delicious dinner!
Last day we headed to North Point – a gorgeous dive site on the top of Island number 9. Roland took Mike, Jeroen and Mayke off for the deep dive of their Advanced Adventurer course, whilst Jason completed his nitrox course – a lot of learning on the boat this trip! JP, Alex, Kasima and Jason (AKA ‘Team Sexy’) found beautiful fan corals out deep, and big schools of trevallies, and Gae, Nanci and Jesse followed another turtle up in the shallows. Arnie and Amy snorkelled Three Trees and Beacon Reef, and were treated to the company of a huge Napoleon wrasse, a good start to the morning!
DCTs Scott and Joa were on the trip also, assisting Tuk on Koh and Sue’s Advanced Adventurer course, and towards the end of the trip had a go at leading divers, guiding groups around Three Trees – the dive control specialist course at Wicked incorporates not only the theory behind diving, but a whole load of practical ‘hands-on’ sessions too, so they really get to learn what dive guiding is all about.
We tested them a bit throughout the trip as well, getting them to assemble their dive equipment blindfolded – they did extremely well, setting very high standards for our first Divemaster Course of the season!
J.P. felt quit Wicked, so oversaw this part of their training!
We couldn’t have asked for a better first trip out to the Similan Islands! Sunny skies, loads of beautiful and varied marine life, to go along with a brilliantly fun group of divers.
If you are planning your holidays - better hurry! There are only a few spaces left on our Similan Liveaboards, come and experience the good times with us!
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