Khao Lak Diving
Similan Liveaboards?
Arriving like a refreshing summer breeze on the Thailand diving scene, Khao Lak is now firmly establishing itself as a favourite destination for discerning divers.
With the Similan Islands located directly across the Andaman Sea and within easy reach of Khao Lak, and those other monster attractions of whale sharks and manta rays just a little further up the coast, who could blame them?
Khao Lak's undeveloped coastline, beaches and forests are a natural and convenient springboard to explore Thailand's ultimate liveaboard diving destination - the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.
Closer to home there are some local Khao Lak dive sites worthy of exploring, just 30 minutes boat ride from shore. The most regularly visited site in Khao Lak is the Boonsung Wreck, a well-established artificial reef where you can see juvenile barracuda and snappers, trevallies and moray eels. More recently the Premchai tin dredger sunk in 2001 in 21 metres of water, making an ideal alternative dive. This site is often silty but has some wonderful soft corals, scorpionfish and morays.
The Sea Chart I, a boat sunk in 40 metres, is ideal for advanced and technical divers that are diving in Khao Lak. This wreck is regularly visited by schools of batfish and rainbow runners, and is home to lionfish, nudibranchs and octopus, as well as more unusual frogfish and ghost pipefish.
Khao Lak has a couple of nearby coral reefs too. Khao Naa Yak is a shallow 12 metre dive, ideal as a relaxing warm up to the Similan Islands. Thai Muang Reef is a reef ecosystem a litle further from Khao Lak. It is one of the largest and healthiest reef strustures in Thailand and is another great dive option.
A world away from the commercialism of Phuket, Khao Lak scuba diving is ideal for honeymooners, families, couples and adventurous divers.
• Khao Lak tourist information
• Map of Khao Lak
Diving Season
You can dive in Khao Lak from October to May, but the best diving conditions exist from November to April.
Similan liveaboard season runs from early October to mid May, but there are a limited number of cruises to the Similans all year round.
Khao Lak Reef Basics
Great for: Small animals
Not so Great for: Beginner divers, visibility and snorkelling
Depth: 12 - 18m
Visibility: 2 - 15m
Currents: Moderate
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 26 - 30°C
Experience Level: Intermediate
Number of dive sites: 5
Distance: ~90 km north of Phuket (1½ hours)
Access: Similan liveaboard and diving day trips
Recommended length of stay: 1 - 2 days, or 1 week to dive all destinations that are accessible from here
Dive Sites
More detailed information on the Khao Lak dive sites:
Other dive sites that can be dived on Similan liveaboards from Khao Lak:
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