Manta Madness

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After a long and very cold (air con) overnight bus trip from Bangkok to Khao Lak, I arranged to go on a Liveabord dive trip into the Similan Islands. The boat left in the evening of the morning I arrived so I was exhausted when we started out but soon reovered. I have never done a Liveaboard before, it was a brilliant way to dive and see the Similan's. I went with Siam Dive Adventure, their boat is very new and comfortable, the package included 14 dives over 4 days and 4 nights around the Similan Islands. I won't bore you with the ins and outs but everything was good, a great bunch of people on the boat, excellent food, great weather and fantastic diving. My highlight definitly has to be swimming with a 4 metre wide Manta Ray, it was amazing, it came out of the blue and I swam with it in big circles flapping my arms like it's wings whilst we both had a look at one another, then it was off to have a look at the rest of the dive group. Following in a close second was seeing a 5 metre Whale Shark just cruise by as we were ending one of our dives. Whale Sharks are indigenous to the Andamen Sea but are rare, only four have been seen this season on our boat, very little is known about them but I was very privelged indeed to see one! I also saw White Tip and Black Tip Reek Sharks hunting, Octopus, Tuna, Leopard Sharks and a whole host of beautifully colloured and shaped coral. On a sadder note it was also possible to see the underwater damage the Tsunami had caused to the reefs, they are however recovering slowly. So to is Khao Lak, 10,000 people died here, the water came in 1 km at some places. The community and tourism is still recovering however there is now no physical evidence of the Tsunami ever hitting here so don't let the Tsunami put you off travelling here, everything is fine.

Underwater photos courtesy of Ric Parker.

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Photos

Whaleshark plus Remora's
6 metres long! I am lucky to have seen this one.

Dive brief
Too early!

Giant Morey Eel
They can grow up to 2 metres in length

Dangerous Fish
The Scorpion or Lion fish (I can't remember which) is so poisonous that it will hospitalise you for up to six months if you get stung!

Whitesand Beach!
This is the only Similan Island that it is possible to go onto

Sunset
The sunsets at sea were always amazing

Comments

[Shafali]

You do not know me, but I saw your pictures and I was really amazed by them...they look great! u're really fortunate to have seen a whale shark and taking a picture of it! This reminds me of my dives in Curacao :D Anyway, have much fun there in Thailand, Best wishes, Manon van Biezen

[Tyrone]

Hi you named the trigger a picasso trigger, it's a clown trigger just ncase u wanted to know

[Ali]

Picasso vs Clown Triggerfish
Both names are valid :)