Diving in Khao Lak
Anyone for Similan Liveaboard Diving?
Like a summer breeze arriving to refresh the Thailand diving scene, Khao Lak has established itself as a firm favourite for knowledgeable divers.
This is becuase the Similan Islands are located directly west across the Andaman Sea and within easy reach of Khao Lak, and those other large attractions of whale sharks and manta rays are just a little further up the coast at Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. Khao Lak also has some pretty interesting local sites of its own too. These can be explored by day trip.
The undeveloped coastline, beaches and jungles of Khao Lak are a convenient and natural location from which to explore Thailand's best liveaboard diving destination, the Similans and up to Richelieu Rock.
A very different scene and experience from the commercialism of Phuket, scuba diving in Khao Lak is ideal for honeymooners, couples, family groups and divers seeking adventure.
Highlights
Boonsung Wreck started her days with her sinking in 1984. The wreck is an old tin ore processor that is 60 metres in length, 12 metres wide and 6 metres high, and lies positioned in a north to south direction, in open sea but quite close to shore. During the 2004 tsunami, the wreck suffered a lot of structural damage and now lies, still easily recognisable but broken into 5 major sections.
Descending from the surface, you'll soon be surrounded by clouds of juvenile yellowtail barracuda and bluefin trevally, and schools of Ehrenberg's snapper and blue-striped snapper, that all use Boonsung as a congregation point. There are dozens of masked and common porcupinefish, parading up and down on top of the wreck. They seem to be waiting in line for a clean from the remora's in attendance. There's are also some loose groups of longfin batfish.
Diving along the sides of the wreck, look closely and you'll see many types of moray eel, such as zebra morays, white-eyed morays, spotted morays, and leopard morays. Spotfin lionfish and bearded scorpionfish lie in wait too.
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How to Dive Khao Lak
The best way to plan your local Khao Lak diving is to join our daily diving day trips. You can stay in one of the popular Khao Lak resorts for the duration of your visit.
If you're interested in diving the sites further offshore in any great depth, such as the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock, then a Thailand liveaboard trip will be your best bet.
Diving Season
You can dive in Khao Lak from October to May, but the best diving conditions exist from November to April.
Reef Summary
Good for: Small animals
Not so good 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
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