Live-aboard Similan Islands, Thailand Day 57, 58, 59 (March 27, 28, 29)
Its an early morning transport to the harbor, and we enjoy breakfast onboard, heading towards the Similan Islands National Park. Similan means nine, as there are nine islands. The boat is small but comfortable. All 16 guests chill out in the upstairs eating area, small sun deck, or the shared sleeping cabin. There isn’t much else on the boat besides two shared bathrooms, a small kitchen, rear deck, and captain’s cockpit.
Over the next several days, we work our way from Island 9 to Island 4 (1-3 are closed for turtle nesting), stopping in sheltered bays for the evening. Over these days we see; tons of fish, jellyfish, flying fish, glowing-in-the-dark fish, dolphin, turtle, octopus, sea snake, moral eel, and ray shark.
We see more variety of fish on this trip than any other diving we’ve experienced. I was really happy to see clown fish, sea snake, and lion fish. Octopus is always fun to watch, and I shot a video with an octopus rapidly changing colors.
In most places, the coral is not very impressive, but there are a few places with very colorful soft and hard corals. There are several places with heavily damaged reef. No good, because reefs produce the majority of the earth’s oxygen.
The live-aboard is really sweet because there is tons of time in the water, and you can see different fish in the early mornings and late evenings. The food was really good.
Spotted Shovelnose Ray – largest guitarfish. Usually swim in pairs at the bottom. Male smaller than female. The two small fish next to them are Cobia. They protect the Ray. I think the Rays are making babies right now…shhhh…
I swam into a wall of jellyfish. Ouch!
the water is clear, you can see the turtle swim around the boat. we quickly jump into the water
They try to look mean, but they are so cute!
They were playing with us for about half an hour. We are so luck!
CLICK HERE to see more underwater pictures and videos.