Similans Diving

Donald Duck Bay

Easily the most recognisable and photographed landmark in the Similans, Donald Duck Bay is named after a rock on the north side of the bay that resembles the cartoon character - not the most prominent large boulder that balances precariously at a seemingly impossible angle, but another rock in front and slightly further out of the bay.

Similan Island No. 8 has a national park camping area and Donald Duck Bay on the north west corner is the most popular mooring spot for day trippers and Similans liveaboard diving boats alike. Consequently, a lot of food makes its way into the bay and so the molluscs, gastropods, crustaceans, and cephalopods are particularly well fed and large-sized here. This makes for fascinating night diving.

Scurrying across the rubble bottom are huge bull crabs, red octopus and cuttlefish, all hunting for scraps and tasty morsels. The most interesting section of the dive site are the boulders running out of the bay on the northern edge. These form several swim-throughs, and house emporer shrimps, red round crabs, decorator crabs, triton shells and cone shells.

Donald Duck Bay also has several friendly, large green turtles and you are more than likely to come across them even on a night dive. Unfortunately, they have developed a taste for bananas and one wonders how long it will be before they swallow something else that will not sit so well on their stomachs. Please, when you are on a dive trip in the Similan Islands, do not throw anything overboard or try to feed the fish with leftover food.

Donald Duck Bay Reef Basics: Shallow bay with boulders
Depth: 5 - 18m
Visibility: 5 - 20m
Currents: Easy
Surface conditions: Calm
Water temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience level: Easy
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving season: October to May
Distance: ~90 km northwest of Phuket, 65 km west of Khao Lak
Access: Liveaboards and daytrips

• Koh Similan tourist information

View a map of:
• Similan and Surin Islands  -  Thailand

• Scuba diving vacation enquiries

Back to diving in Similan index