Diving Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock: Travel Report

A year ago, on January 21, 2011, Thailand decided to close 18 dive sites, among the most popular: Similan, Koh Phi Phi, etc.

As a result of the warming waters produced by this damn Nino, the bleaching affected nearly half of the 15 000 hectares of coral reefs.

Having already plunged my fins to the Similan Islands a few years ago, I was a little apprehensive to be disappointed by this new cruise dive in the Similan Islands.

After contacting Dive and Cruise, met on Scuba People, Nico offers me 4 days on the Sea of ​​Fantasy, a boat run by German Sea Sheperd fans.

Passed the disappointment to learn that the compressor Nitrox had farted a hose the previous month, and the absence of underwater scooters contrary to what the description touted, I appreciated the cabins (double or single depending on your situation ) and the practicality of the boat.

1 year after, some sites have re-opened.

The German-speaking staff have been touring the Similans for several years and know the spots inside out. Above all, he manages to avoid diving at the same time as the other boats that ply the area.

Diving level, some spots like the famous East of Eden have remained closed, but others have reopened. As often in Thailand, the water is loaded and greener than blue. I have not rediscovered the beauty of the Similans as I had encountered them 5 years ago. On the other hand, I stayed more than an hour on Richelieu Rock, the famous potato discovered by Cousteau, who named it so because of its purple dress of coral and anemones. Richelieu is always so breathtaking!

Wildlife level, we were the only one to have the muss (submarine metaphor obliges), the only ones to have seen a manta ray, ran a ray eagle during 10 minutes, typed the argue with a leopard shark, or participated at a real preliminary session between 2 octopus.

Return of the Similan Islands, half fig, half grape, so.

Similan was told to me: The coral has whitened but Richelieu shines with his purple dress!