Live Onboard Diving Experience at the Similans 2007

What an awesome trip! Thailand is truly a heck of a jewel for all avid divers out there! What more could one ask for? The marine life out there was truly spectacular. Leopard sharks are common at the ridge on the sandy flats below the wall, and white tip sharks can be seen roaming the depths off the edge of the reef. Not to fret for those non divers. These marine animals are most likely to speed off the moment they spot your bubbles!

There best part about most of the dives are the wall itself. It has plenty of critters to keep you interested including various types of moray eels or an army of dancing shrimps in the cracks of the wall which they call it home.

Our first trip was towards a small island 13 miles north of Similan call Ko Bon Island. The island lies an hour or so north of the Similan Islands. It has a 33 metre wall on its south side, facing a small cove, with a stepped ridge pointing west and down to over 40m. It is at the edge of this ridge that we spotted the first sight of a manta ray. I was elated seeing this majestic creature flapping its wings effortlessly in the water like a huge spaceship in the outer space.

Here are some of the pictures for you to enjoy and spot the lovely boat that we had hop on. Check out their websites at www.whitemantas.com

Check out our 'romantic' cabin......

The next stop, Richelieu Rock rates as one of the best places in the world to dive with whale sharks. However, it's a REAL SHAME that we didnt' get the chance to see it.

This place is not the only Thailand dive destination where whale sharks are seen but Richelieu Rock certainly attracts more than its fair share. With no whale sharks in sight, we were still treated with many marine life out there.

The limestone rocks are covered with anemones, sea fans, barrel sponges and soft corals of all kinds. From angle fishes, yellow boxfish, white-eyed moray eels, octopus and mantis shrimps, groupers and chevron barracuda, there's always plenty of life to grab my attention on this dive so I won't be too disappointed that there are no whales sharks in sight.

There are also hot steamy moments in the marine world as we approached 3 cuttlefishes at the top of the reef. One pair was making out while the other was trying his luck! Hahahahh! Such isn't so passionate as we humans are in bed! :) In another dive, I got the chance to rub a Mummy cuttlefish's back as she was busy depositing her eggs in the reefs. What a treat! She was silky smooth and soft to touch.

Check out this picture and take a closer look at the position of the rock that sit on top. It is almost as if God had carefully place it there for us to enjoy the wonders of nature!