Video - Leopard Shark at the Similan Islands with Wicked Diving

Sharks are a frequent visitor to our dive sites like Breakfast Bend. These are non-aggressive species and no threat to humans in any way.

-Similan Diving

Khao Lak - our newest dive site

The Divemaster Trainee's spent a day on the newest dive site in the Khao Lak! The Teak Wreck.







This wreck sank about 5 months ago, while transporting a cargo of illegal teak logs in bad weather.






Resting a bit deeper - at 35-25 meters, it is in perfect shape














yet already is hosting plenty of marine life!











































-Similan Islands Diving

Beacon Reef South - Similan Islands Dive Site Description

The Wicked Diving site has many features. One of the large sections that may be overlooked is our Dive site descriptions. With more than 30 dive sites there, and more coming, it is one of the most extensive resources in the region.

The most recent update was to the Beacon Reef South dive site. If you keep coming back you will see that we are updating the pages frequently. With links to marine life, photos, videos and more.

All that AND great diving!


-Similan Diving

Deep Six - Similan Islands Dive Site Description

The Wicked Diving site has many features. One of the large sections that may be overlooked is our Dive site descriptions. With more than 30 dive sites there, and more coming, it is one of the most extensive resources in the region.

The most recent update was to the Deep Six Dive site. If you keep coming back you will see that we are updating the pages frequently. With links to marine life, photos, videos and more.

All that AND great diving!


-Similan Diving

Sharkfin Reef - Dive Site Description

We have been able to fit in a few updates to our site - in between all the courses, diving and preparation.

The Sharkfin Reef Dive Site Description has been updated. Please keep coming back as we add more photos, videos and marine life descriptions for this and our many other dive sites.


-Similan Diving

Koh Tachai - Dive Site description

We have been updating the site, in between our dives and courses!

A recent update to our page on Koh Tachai is now available. We'll be filling in lots more - Pictures, videos and marine life descriptions as time allows!

-Similan Diving

Similan Islands Diving - Similan #9 Dive sites

Similan Dive Sites

If you've never been here (or forgot) we'll be putting together some of the these entries to help orient everyone to the various sites in the region.

Island #9 (Koh Ba-Ngu) is the furthest North of the actual Similan Islands. It has a few very small beaches, So no time lazing about in the sun here! However - under the water this little island packs a punch.

With the great Western boulder/slope site of Christmas Point you can't go too wrong! Frequent sightings of Napolean Wrasse, all manner of sharks (Leopard, Grey Reef, White-tip and Black Tip) Ribbon Eels, Rays and more! Combine the Western slope with the fact this is also the farthest North - and you get lots of passing pelagics, plankton blooms and heaps of interesting life.

Up at the top is North Point (pretty clever name huh?) with the big fans, nice scenery and frequent sightings of Mantas a lot of people get kick out of this site. In the deeper areas you'll find some really gorgeous scenery - but only for the deep-diver trained!

On the Eastern Side comes one of our favorite reef dives in all of Thailand - Breakfast Bend. Great drift dive with lots of the little stuff (Nudi's, Snakes) but also Turtles and Sharks. Best enjoyed early in the morning to maximize the light.

Finally there is Snapper Alley. While this was never a mind-blowing sites, it was one we did a lot because it was perfect academic dive, whether Open Water or Advanced. So we all knew it very well. Past Tense? Yup, due to the Geography of this site, it was the worst hit by the tsunami. All the current was channeled into the narrow passage between Islands 8 & 9 and this site took the brunt of it. At the rate of recovery we should see this site back on it's feet in a few years.

Of course there a lot of variations in names (North Point is also called Rocky Point) and in point of fact most of the sites are actually large enough to be broken into several dives (Christmas Point - deep and shallow are two distinctly different eco-systems). And you get yourself into the middle of an argument about how best to do Breakfast Bend - let alone where it starts and ends!

Similan Diving

Similan Dive Sites...great resource

One of the best places to find out more about the Similan Island dive sites.

Great information, good tips and of course some pretty sweet photography. Look at the maps and stuff!

In addition - each of the dive sites comes in great detail. Shark Fin Reef, Elephant Head Rock, East of Eden are just a few of the sites listed. A very worthy source for all the information you will need to learn about the Similans.

Similan Dive Sites - Sharkfin Reef

As part of our ongoing series of Similan Island Dive sites, Wicked Diving presents:

Sharkfin Reef

Situated roughly 1 kilometer south-east of Island 3, Shark Fin Reef is a 900m long slab of granite, the top of which can be seen at low tide in the form of three small pointed rocks which give the divesite it’s name – a very similar look to a gigantic sharkfin!

Running in a south-east to north-west direction the site is usually sheltered from strong currents and consists of enormous granite boulders tumbling from the surface all the way down to 35m on the southern side and 25-30m on the northern side, with smaller rocks and boulders scattered in between over the main slab itself. In the shallow north-west area some of the boulders look almost man-made with near-perfect right-angled faces.

Leopard Sharks are often seen in the deeper southern areas, blacktip Reef Shark have also been seen. The Sandy patches along the bottom are home to a plethora of kuhl’s rays, Porcupine rays and a few other rays! Look in the holes and cracks for Giant Moray Eels, heaps of trigger fish (non-aggressive). In the north-western section large adult Cube Boxfish are everywhere and enormous schools of Fusiliers travel in and over the top of the reef to stop and quickly be cleaned by the Striped Cleaner Wrasse which wait at the top of the reef.

This is one of the few sites where you can see one or two huge Humphead Parrotfish. These impressive creatures are both harmless and peculiar. Weighing in at 100 kilos plus, they are pretty big too!

Very unusual nudibranchs litter the shallows, but only for the keen eye. Another good deep site for spotting manta rays.

Diving depths range from shallow to 40 meters (0-120 feet) with most diving done in the 15-25 meter (50-75 feet) range. Visibility tends towards the good side, with average being 20 meters (70 feet). Currents can be strong in the shallows, but the steep slope of the rocks protects you, or works in your favor. Experience level is best reserved for intermediate and beyond.

While there are plenty of places to hide from currents, the lack of bottom space in the shallows (cliffs) make this uncomfortable for the beginner.

Similan Diving

Similan Guide

Divemaster Training

Similan Dive Sites - Honeymoon Bay

As part of our ongoing series of Similan Island Dive sites, Wicked Diving presents:

Honeymoon Bay

Honeymoon Bay is located to the east of Island 4. The sheltered location of the bay allows for a very easy and relaxing dive. Due to the shallow sandy areas this is a great place to conduct introductory and refresher dives, as well as the check dives.

The location of the reef parallel to the islands longest sandy beach also means that it is accessible as a beach dive if you are staying on the island. The reef is also a good night dive, although it is a popular mooring spot so be aware of overhead traffic. The reef gently slopes down to a sandy bottom of about 26 meters, and is made up of clusters of hard corals and small rocks.

The current (although it tends to be mild) runs from north to south and the multiple mooring lines means that it is possible to start the dive at any chosen place. At the northern end it is possible to see large Jenkins rays lying on the sandy bottom. Also scan the floor for garden eels. Large schools of fusiliers are often swimming around the shallower parts, as are a range of other reef fish including goat fish, butterfly fish, banner fish and cube box fish.

It is also possible to see some large giant morays hiding under rocks. During a night dive the reef is a great place to search for crustaceans, including crabs and lobsters, as well as flat worms and nudibranchs.

Diving depths run from 0-25 meters (0-85 feet), though most time is spent in the shallows 5-10 meters (15-30 feet).

Currents are minimal due to location.

Visibility tends towards the murky, being this close to shore and beaches. 15 meters (55 feet) is normal.

Divers of all experience levels can dive here.

Similan Diving

Similan Guide

Instructor Training Thailand

Similan Dive Sites - Christmas Point

As part of our ongoing series of Similan Island Dive sites, Wicked Diving presents:

Christmas Point

Situated on the very northwestern point of the Similan islands, you will find one of the most scenic sites in all the Similans.

With massive boulder formation breaching the surface, shelfs dropping to 30, then to 40, and onwards beyond 70 meters with massive gorgonian fans the area can be breathtaking. On these deeper shelves, look for white-tip reef sharks as well as napoleon wrasse. Look closely for ribbon eels in the sandy areas.

Heading back towards the shallows brings you over massive fields of multicolored bush corals to the South or several amazing swim-throughs towards the East. In the shallower areas, you can often encounter more napoleon wrasse, trevallies and huge jacks between the boulders.

While scanning through all the beautiful nudibranchs and flabellinas, don’t forgot to watch the open ocean as we often get “swim-bys” of manta’s here! Safety stop is best done among the boulders, for safety and to avoid currents.

Diving depths range from 10-40 meters with most of the really amazing scenery from 20-30 meters. This is definitely a dive site to bring a camera. Visibility ranges from 20-30 meters, but on good days it seems to be infinite…

Currents can be strong as this location is where the tidal currents wrap around the top of the Islands. Definitely check out the currents before jumping in. There can be both downward and westerly currents here. With both strong currents and depth, this is a site suitable only for more experienced divers.

This dive site is not suitable for beginners.

Similan Diving

Similan Guide

Learn To Dive in Thailand

Similan Dive Sites - Elephant Head Rock

As part of our site development and growth - we have moved these dive site descriptions over to the main site...

Similan Island Dive sites - Elephant Head Rock AKA Hin Pusar

If you have any questions or concerns - please fell free to contact us

Elephant Head Rock is part of the itinerary for our Similan Islands Liveaboard North Tours

The site is named after an unusually shaped rock that juts out of the water just southwest of Koh Similan. The huge boulders that form Elephant Head Rock create daring swim-throughs, arches, caverns, gullies and tunnels – great places to hide, and great places to discover!

Swimming through the tunnels you’ll come across blue-ringed angelfish, triggerfish and bicolour parrotfish. Yellow goatfish and snappers always hang around at the deepest levels, as well as several species of lionfish. Take a look under the overhanging ledges to find several species of the larger snappers, such as one-spot, mangrove and black and white, as well as giant and Andaman sweetlips – an endemic species.

Hang out in the shallows here to off-gas at the end of your dive. Powder blue surgeonfish make their way across the boulder tops, grazing on the algae. Bigeye bream hang out here, seemingly eying you curiously, as large trains of traveling robust fusiliers arrive on the scene from other nearby feeding stations. Keep an eye out for the great barracuda’s that do some serious hunting here. You will often be surprised by the assaults of the huge Jacks that dive into these passing fish too!

The southern most point of the site has a tiny group of submerged pinnacles in very deep water. A great place to observe small reef sharks. There is a possibility of strong surge and current. This makes it one of the more challenging Similan Islands diving sites.

Diving is done from 5 – 35 meters (15-115 feet) with most time spent 15-30 meters (50-100 feet).

Currents can be present but any experienced dive guide will take you to the sheltered spots.

Visibility is often quite good 30 meters+ (100 Feet) but can be affected by prevailing currents.

Divers should be experienced due to depth and currents. Swim-throughs are a hazard to be conscious of as well.

Similan Diving

Similan Islands

Surin Islands

Similan Dive Sites - Turtle Rock

As part of our ongoing series of Similan Island Dive sites, Wicked Diving presents:

Turtle Rock

Turtle shaped rock gives this site it’s name.

A great site for night dives. Generally free of currents, this site is safe for all divers.

While not overly abundant, the coral here is home to some very interesting little critters. nudibranchs, squat lobsters and several other interesting creatures make for some good macro photographs.

Diving depths range from 5-20 meters (15-75 feet) with most of our time spent in the shallows.

Currents are minimal.

Visibility averages 15-20 meters (50-74 feet).

Site is suitable for all divers.

Similan Diving

Similan Guide

Divemaster Training

Similan Dive Sites - North Point

With the recent make-over of our website we have moved our more detailed and in-depth Dive site descriptions to our website

Similan Dive Site - North Point

North Point is on the itinerary for our North Similan Islands Liveaboard trips

Usually marked by a red buoy which drops down to around 20 meters at the north of the dive site. Characterised by large rocks interspersed with sand and dead corals. Whip corals reach up from the sea bed, while gorgonian fan corals often with feather stars hanging from them protrude from the side of the rocks. Reef sharks can often be seen around the outer edges of the site, as can larger pelagic fish.
The northern tip of the site is often characterised by a strong current which may necessitate staying close to the rocks and zig zaging through the many small swim throughs back to the shallows in the southern side of the dive site. A high and long channel rounds from north to south, with the bottom sitting around 18 meters.
Look on the walls of the rock for nudibranches and check the top of the rock for larger fish. Barracuda have been seen sitting in wait. As you work back towards the south of the dive site staghorn corals become more prominent until they cover the dive site at around 12 meters running from east to west.
In the shallows towards the end of the dive it is not uncommon to see a large school of chevron barracuda or longfin batfish above you, and on most occasions at least one of the resident hawksbill sea turtles is scouring the reef for food. Follow the current during the safety stop.

Diving Depth runs from 10-35 meters (30-120 feet) with the time spent at the divers chosen depth with great features throughout visibility depends on the overall conditions but tends towards 25-30 meters. Currents can be present.

This is the Northenmost point of the Similans and the tidal currents do tend to round this point. Experience level ranges from intermediate to advanced.

While shallow, beginning dives can be done along the reef, it is best to avoid as currents can be present and intimidating to the novice.

Similan Diving

Similan Islands

Divemaster Training

Similan Dive Sites - East Of Eden

As part of our new website - we have moved our in-depth dive site descriptions

Similan Islands Dive Sites - East Of Eden

Our Southern Similan Diving Safaris include East of Eden on the Itinerary as do many of our Similan Daytrips

No visit to the Similan Islands would be complete without a dive along perhaps the most famous of all the islands’ divesites. Running along the southeastern corner of Island 7, East of Eden is one of the most colourful and vibrant fringing reefs in Thailand. Featured in National Geographic, Scuba Diver magazine and hundreds of other publications; this is it!

Starting in the shallows at 6m the reef falls quite steeply in the northern section to depths of 35m or more where the sand bottom then levels out. Usually this reef is dived from north-east to south-west and it is here at the start if you head down to the deeper coral pinnacles you will often find a few pairs of purple fire gobies and a massive red frogfish hidden amongst the deeper boulders.

Heading along towards the shallower parts of the reef you will swim over enormous orange and red gorgonians sea fans, beautiful barrel sponges as well as staghorn corals, table corals and pore corals, which are home to many colourful Christmas tree worms. Keep a keen eye open as there are ribbon eels, frogfish and hundreds of other small treats in all these corals.

At the deeper end of the reef, where reef meets sand (25-30 Meters) we often find scores of Kuhl’s Rays and whole fields of Garden Eels. Along the entire reef you will find all the usual reef fish going about their daily business, a myriad of shapes, sizes and colours. hawksbill and green sea turtles are very often seen at the top of the reef plateau.

Just before the main pinnacle is long slope of sand where our friend Emma lives. She’s a Giant Moray eel that has made her home there for several years. A few ignorant dive guides fed her, so they could show off to their customers – until one overzealous videographer tried to get some good footage by holding out some small wieners. Emma took off his thumb. You’ll often see this video on Youtube and Google Videos. Another good reason not to feed fish!

At the southern end of the reef is an enormous coral pinnacle starting at 24 meters and rising to 10 meters. It is definitely worth swimming around slowly at least once. This pinnacle is home to many different large and small sea fans, enormous table corals, endless differently coloured feather star worms and beautiful soft corals and anemones. So many fish are attracted to this pinnacle, but also look for the smaller species such as nudibranchs, cowries and at the right time of year the elusive ornate ghostpipefish. This pinnacle is truly an ecosystem in itself.

At the end of the dive we swim in the shallows where several turtles are often found, as well as clown triggerfish.

Diving Depths range from 4 to 30 eters (12-100 feet) with most time spent at about 16 meters (50 feet) Visibility is often quite good with normal range of 25-30 meters (85-100 feet) Currents are present, but helpful. We ride the currents which most frequently run from North to South. Experience level is from Beginner to Advanced. This site is accessible to all. Please remember that the delicate corals are easily broken by those without real buoyancy skills and overzealous photographers!

Similan Diving

Similan Islands

Thailand - Professional Dive Training

Similan Dive Sites - Deep six

We have moved this article to the main website!

Similan Dive Sites - Deep Six

Below is a brief precis of the articles, but please feel free to visit the site for far more detailed description!

Deep Six - A very nice Boulder site. Exemplifying the West Coast of the Similan Islands - lots of huge boulders, plenty of nooks and some really exciting swim-throughs and overhangs. Located just off the northern tip of Similan Island #7, and just to the South of Elephant Head Rock, this dive site is often done in the morning.
-Great Boulder Site
-Turtles, Rays and Sharks!
-Perfect Nitox Dive

Similan Diving

Similan Islands

Surin islands

Similan Dive Sites - Anita's Reef

As part of our ongoing series of Similan Island Dive sites, Wicked Diving presents:

Anita's Reef

Running from the southern tip of Island 5 to the western side of Island 6, Anita’s Reef is a perfect introduction to diving at the Similan Islands.

The reef consists of a mixture of hard and soft coral pinnacles, white sand areas and in the southern, deeper section, massive granite boulders. When currents are present here they are usually mild, ideal for taking a closer look at some of the coral pinnacles which start at around 5m and are dotted over the white sand to a depth of around 24m. They consist mostly of large pore, table and compact corals and a mixture of beautiful red and pink soft corals and huge sea fans.

Fish life is in abundance, the highlights of this reef being the shimmering schools of glassfish, patrolling bluefin trevally and goatfish, many clownfish and anemone fish and in the sand between and beyond the corals some of the largest fields of spotted garden eels to be seen anywhere at the Similans.

At the southern end the huge granite boulders, adorned in green tree corals fall to depths of 30 meters or more where leopard sharks and stingrays can sometimes be seen lying in the sand gullies.

With an ever-present current, this site also makes for one of the best drift dives around. Starting on the northern side of Island 6, we ride the drift all the way around to the Southern side, completing a half circumnavigation of the island!

Diving depths range from 5-30 meters (15-100 feet) and most of our time is spent at 10-20 meters (30-70 feet)

Currents are actually to be expected and we dive in for a great ride!

Visibility is usually 20 meters (70 feet).

Experience levels – everyone can dive this site. The perfect check dive for a liveaboard.

Similan Diving

Similan Guide

Divemaster Training

Similan Dive Sites - Beacon Reef

As part of our ongoing series of Similan Island Dive sites, Wicked Diving presents:

Beacon Reef

A reef that extends the whole eastern side of Island 8 (Koh Similan). Typical of most of the Similans – this a sloping reef running from 8 meters (25 feet) to 30 meters (100 Feet). Fields of staghorn, brain and bushy corals mark this site. You’ll certainly find moray eels, batfish, Snappers and more. The main attraction at this site is the wreck in the middle! This was a liveaboard that sank in 2002 after a bilge malfunction. All the crew and customers escaped without injury. They tried to save the Liveaboard from sinking, by ramming the reef! Aside from pure stupidity, it also damaged the reef in the shallows and then as it sank toward the deep, it ripped the coral apart. Happily the very same company, after this shining example of brilliance, sank another Liveaboard by hitting Richelieu rock a few years later.

Diving depths range from 8-30 meters (25-100 feet) with the main diving done at 15 Meters (50 feet).

Currents are light, generally helping rather than hindering.

Visibility is pretty good (unless we get thermoclines) – 20 meters (75 feet).

Dive site is accessible to all levels of divers.

Similan Diving

Similan Guide

Thailand Divemaster Training

Similan Dive Sites - Waterfall Bay

As part of our ongoing series of Similan Island Dive sites, Wicked Diving presents:

Waterfall Bay

With an ever-present current, this site also makes for one of the best drift dives around. Starting on the northern side of Island 6, we ride the drift all the way around to the Southern side, completing a half circumnavigation of the island!

Diving depths range from 5-30 meters (15-100 feet) and most of our time is spent at 10-20 meters (30-70 feet)

Currents are actually to be expected and we dive in for a great ride!

Visibility is usually 20 meters (70 feet).

Experience levels – everyone can dive this site. The perfect check dive for a liveaboard.

Similan Diving

Similan Guide

Divemaster Training

Similan Dive Sites - Snapper Alley

As part of our ongoing series of Similan Island Dive sites, Wicked Diving presents:

Snapper Alley

Drop in about a third of the way up the reef from the corner where it got smashed by the tsunami. The direction of the dive depends on the current. If its left hand on the reef then it's a nice quick jaunt up to the top parts where there are nearly always decent numbers of milk fish, barracuda and turtles. If its right hand down the reef then after a short 5 minutes a dogleg out into the blue at about 30m will find you sharing space with Kuhl's rays. A lovely sight when they are "flying" around. There is a reasonable chance of finding a leopard shark on this site as well.

Right hand down they tend to be on the bottom at the 20-30m range whereas left hand down they tend to be lying on the sand slopes between coral banks at about the 8-10m range. The top of this reef has an amazing amount of marine life on it and it is one of the nicest dives in the Similans. You could spend many, many hours on the reef and only see a small part of what's available. Just a shame the tsunami took out the corner but still a hugely enjoyable dive with something for everyone.

Diving depths range from 5-30 meters (15-100 feet) and most of our time is spent at 10-20 meters (30-70 feet)

Currents are actually to be expected and we dive in for a great ride!

Visibility is usually 20 meters (70 feet).

Experience levels – everyone can dive this site. The perfect check dive for a liveaboard.

Similan Diving

Similan Guide

Divemaster Training