Seriously! Put Mu Koh Similan National Park on Your Bucket List.

The alluring islands of the Mu Koh Similan are nothing short of magnificent! This island archipelago encompasses 11 islands and has some of the best snorkelling and diving you will find in Thailand. Most of the islands in the Similan Islands have a coastline of striking granite boulders which plunge to great depths. Balanced precariously atop these boulders are more granite boulders, giving the Similans a dramatic picturesque both above and below the water. Some islands have beaches of fine white sand, seemingly untouched by human feet… until the tourists arrive!

Located in the Andaman Sea, just 60NM northwest of Phuket, Mu Koh Similan National Park is a popular place for snorkelling and diving. The ranger headquarters are on Koh Miang along with a restaurant, cafe, and accommodation which also includes a campsite. Koh Miang has a few nature trails and lovely beaches. Koh Similan has a restaurant, campground, a couple of nature trails and a beach that is considered one of the best in the park. More on accommodation here. But that aside, what people really come to the Similan Islands for is the snorkelling and diving!

The coral in the Similan Islands did suffer from coral bleaching in 2010 which did kill quite a lot of it. However, the coral is regenerating well, and there are lots to see. The marine life in this national park is quite simply stunning. There is an impressive variety of fish to be found along with turtles, moray eels and much much more. You will find a list of all I could identify at the end of this blog.

The snorkelling and diving are made all the more thrilling, due to the colossal boulders that plunge to vast depths, turning the Similan underwater world into a labyrinth of caves and swim-throughs. Much like an adventure playground.

Cruising

The Similan Islands have become a popular destination for yachties cruising Thailand during the NE monsoon season. There are many moorings buoys available, and if you are after a little peace and quiet you can find it… even if it is only before 10:00 and after 16:00 when the bulk of the tourists leave.

Our first mooring and snorkelling spot was at Koh Bunya. We arrived during the rush hour when tourists are ferried in and out of this popular snorkelling destination. Be aware of all the tourist boats coming and going as you snorkel; they don’t slow down much. The snorkelling – around monolithic boulders – was really very good, as was the massive variety of fish.

We moved on the next morning to Koh Miang to meet up with some fellow sailors – Phil and Helen from SV Meridian. We picked up a mooring but soon moved on as it was a bit rolly. It was only going to get worse as this is one of the main beaches at which the tour boats drop their passengers. With the fast-boats roaring in and out, it can feel like you are in heavy seas!

We grabbed up a mooring at Koh Payu. The mooring was close to the shore, but it was the only one that remained free at this busy snorkelling site. It was a gorgeous spot, and we wanted to stay overnight, so we had to make some sacrifices! For one, we were surrounded by tourist and tour boats. We found ourselves in the hub of all the excitement and then the tour boats began to tie onto our stern. That certainly caused some feelings of apprehension. Those feelings were raised to levels of anxiety – that required a stiff drink – when the tide changed, and we had one of the tour boats raft up to us. Thorfinn’s hull had only recently been painted, and we loathed to have her scratched. But alls well that ends well.

The next morning we went to Koh Similan for a snorkel. It wasn’t the best of snorkels. However, there is still much to see if you are looking for it (I did find a clownfish), but there are so many great spots that I would give this one a miss if I had time restraints.

We spent the rest of the time on a mooring on Koh Miang. We could snorkel directly from our boat, which is always good fun. The snorkelling was excellent, and lots of dive boats came to this area for diving. While moored here, we snorkelled at Koh Ha. We snorkelled around Koh Ha, and it was a fabulous snorkelling site. There is a wreck of a large fishing boat, and it makes for fun exploration, as do the caves and swim-throughs in the area. We also snorkelled the south-east corner of Koh Miang. This is a beautiful area with large boulders with many fish! If you want excellent snorkelling and diving in Thailand, a visit to Koh Similan will be well worth your time.