Similan Liveaboard trip report - November 11th, 2013

Ah the joys and excitements of freshly-out-of-the-water divers. We're at the end of our second day of diving in the waters of the Surin and Similan parks. Everybody is now gathering around the fish books trying to figure out what extraordinary creatures were spotted on this night dive in Tachai Reef: Marble and Tapestry shrimps, Wasp fish, a big Marble Stingray fooling around the boat, an octopus or two, Max the great Barracuda chilling around, and now what was it, could it actually have been a couple of tiny Bob tail squids hidding in the crinoids? Pretty much just like after any dive, people meet up around the tables of the MV Mariner, our Similan Liveaboard -our home for a few days- looking at the books on board, showing off their own pictures, their dive computers in one hand, their logbook in the other, eager to share their dive experience with the other divers. But the night does bring a new sort of diving excitement: "I never thought I'd be able to do it, I didn't even get scared!" says with a big grin a fresh Open Water student. That sums up the happiness shared by all of us on these past 7 dives.

But let's get back to the beginning. After a night on the boat leading us away from the coast, our first day brought us to Torinla Island in the Surin Park. All the fish were there, as if awaiting our visit: all sorts of clown fish, Unicorns, Triggers, and schooling of Surgeon fish to name but a few. Our second dive in Aow Pak God was welcomed, among many others by the shy Spotted Garden Eels. And our last dive of the day brought our first Hawksbill turtle in Torinla Reef.

On the following day, after a groovy wake up call to the sound of Austin Power's Soul Bosa Nova, what really got my Advanced Open Water students going was the Naturalist Specialty dive in a magical place such as Richelieu Rock. Imagine what fireworks would look like in the waters, and there you have an idea of what this submerged rock has to offer: schools of fish everywhere, the hunters and the hunted, flashes of colours and sparkles of fleeing bright scales surrounding us on every part. And if you ever were to get tired of this everlasting show, look for the juvenile boxfish, the discreet 2.5 cm juvenile Angelfish hidding under a minute coral table, or the dragon looking nudi Pteraeolidia inathina. As for our safety stop, we got granted with a third type encounter: a couple of cuttle fish checking us out for the time being. We then moved over to Koh Tachai Island in the Similan to play with the creatures there among the giant boulders.

As I finish writing these last few words, everyone, happily tired after such a day is slowly getting ready to get back to their cabin; the day tomorrow starts at 6:30. What our last 2 dives of the trip hold for us, no one yet knows, but you're sure welcome to come check it out on our next trip.

PS: I was going to end this log entry there, but couldn't after this morning's dive: going up from our deep training with my students, we stop on the way to check out an octopus. So far so good. I then see Sinan, our tour leader on this trip calling my attention and making evocative gestures under the water: we approach and witness two aroused octopuses about to copulate. Anna passes by as well and we all get a chance to observe this exciting moment. But when the couple finally separates, comes along a giant moray who in a swift move chops off one of the octopuses' arms!

Can't wait for our last dive in Koh Bon Reef, the closest to the main land of the Similan Islands...

Wicked Diving Thailand