Scuba diving in Similan Islands - Thailand

An easy flight over from Singapore and our first night was in the basic Andatel hotel on the main road of Patong Beach. As it had been 15 years since I was last in Phuket, I was not sure what to expect. The roads are lined with massage parlours, bars, restaurants, hotels and shops and then there is an endless stream of cars and motorbikes. We wandered around taking in the atmosphere, walking past outside restaurants with fresh seafood on display and were enticed by large prawns and fresh fish, settling on one restaurant served by a man girl, surrounded by an assortment of tourists. The beer was cold and the food excellent. The area is not “attractive” and we experienced “an assault of the senses” after the orderly clean Singapore. The beach at Patong is lined with beach chairs and umbrellas and waiters serving cold drinks – heaven, and the water warm – double heaven. The area continues to be re-developed with new hotels and apartments. Tsunami warning equipment and evacuation routes the limited evidence of the 2004 tsunami. We were to discover later in the day the plusher parts of Patong with Starbucks, Haagen Daz, Marriot and Holiday Inn! Patong beach is not recommended, but is was only an overnight stay before the start of our liveaboard.
A moment of reflection - glad to have experienced an element of Phuket that majority experience – over and above just being transported from plane to luxury boat/hotel and realize how fortunate we really are.

Shortly before boarding our vessel – MV Mermaid II – we were feeling rather intrepid (worried/scared/….) as we heard of a dive boat capsizing the previous day and 6 people still missing (5 divers and the cook). Based on my previous experience, you can imagine, I was feeling a little tentative about boarding, and there was a magnificent electric thunderstorm that added to the feeling of trepidation. After an inquisition on the safety merits of our boat, we felt better and settled into the comfort of our en-suite cabins. It was a fitful nights sleep as the boat motored overnight to Similan islands.There are 9 granite islands covered in tropical jungle, with clear blue ocean and idyllic beaches. They lie in a 25 km long north-south chain, 65 km offshore from Phang Nga Province in the Andaman Sea, about 100 km from Phuket. There are lovely coral gardens with relatively shallow diving with reef banks down to about 40m, we dived mainly in 20-30m of warm water (29degrees) and variety provided by large granite boulders. Although the tsunami of 2004 did affect a few of the reefs here, most are in excellent condition. We had some great dives (14 in all), at sunset, sunrise, throughout the day with clear water and largely calm waters. The manta rays and whale sharks alluded us, but we saw other big creatures - leopard shark, white tip reef shark, turtle, barracuda, tuna, moray eels, Napoleon wrasse, and great small stuff - forg fish, flatworms, ghost pipe fish, nidbrands, flatworms. We visited Richelieu Rock with about 10 other boats and did several excellent dives and wnet onto one of the islands and walked the adventure trail to the viewpoint - absolutely stunning (await Catherine's photos). We experienced beautiful sunsets, full moon and enjoyed a few beers on the last night with Rut - friendly and professional divemaster - always smiling underwater!

Our last few days in Thailand have been spent at the luxury Indigo Pearl resort at Nai Yang beach, lazing by the pool, enjoying cocktails in the bar and a champagne Sunday brunch - a great send off by Catherine and Oli - and a sad goodbye to my friends! Next stop Cambodia, time to immerse myself in culture, history, eco-tourism and possibly some backpacking!!!