From relaxing on pristine beaches and swimming in crystal clear waters to spotting a whale shark, there are many reasons why a short boat ride to the Surin and Similan Islands should not be missing from a Thailand diving itinerary!
It´s no secret that Thailand is a mecca for divers and whether you’re a keen amateur or explore the under-water world as a pro, spending time discovering the country´s stunning diving sites is an absolute must when visiting.
Here at The Sarojin we are lucky enough to neighbour the stunning Surin and Similan Islands which each boast Marine National Parks. Accessible from mid-October to early May and known for their underwater beauty, dramatic rocky gorges, hard and soft coral reefs and a laundry list of marine life, we wanted to tell you a little bit more about these world-renowned beauties of the Andaman Sea…
Surin Islands National Park
The five isles of the Surin Islands National Park sit approximately 60km offshore from our beachfront resort and it takes around one hour to get to the archipelago by boat. Once there, snorkellers and divers are in for a real treat with reefs beginning only a few yards from stunning white sand beaches and up to 30 metres of visibility, making it easy to spot marine-life.
The park covers an area of approximately 141km2, of which 76% is sea, and hides one of the Andaman´s premier diving sites, Richelieu Rock. A beautiful horseshoe-shaped reef with Richelieu Rock standing out from around 50 metres of depth, its beautiful crystal-clear waters and healthy purple coral reef attract a huge variety of marine life making it a world class diving site. Whale sharks can also be spotted here so it’s definitely a must-see for divers!
Similan Islands National Park
The nine picturesque Similan Islands, located within the Similan Islands National Park, can be reached by boat within one hour from the hotel´s beach. Fun fact? The word Similan comes from the Malay world semilan which means nine and hence the reason the archipelago is called The Similan Islands!
The nine islands form a line from north to south and are thought to have the clearest sea and finest white sand in Thailand… so get ready to be the reason for some serious Instagram envy! The unique eco system of the Similan Islands is one of the biggest attractions in the area and allows visitors to go on their very own ‘Finding Nemo’ expedition as the notorious clownfish made famous in the film lives in this area.
Getting there
From mid-October to early May, The Sarojin operates a number of scheduled snorkelling trips on board our beautiful Lady Sarojin charter, including a gourmet lunch and relaxation time at the islands’ stunning pristine beaches. The price to join a scheduled group snorkelling trip starts from THB 7,600 per person (min 6 Pax and max 12 Pax). The charter can also be hired for a private snorkelling trip for a maximum of six passengers starting from THB 49,500.
For both the snorkelling , different prices apply during peak season (December 23rd to January 3rd)
