Diving in the Similans

Hideaway

Located off the southern point of island no. 5, Hideaway is sometimes known as Barracuda Point. This is the complete Similan diving site which shows, at a glance, the different topographies that dominate the local seascape.

Starting out in the deeper water to the south of the dive site, you'll find some very spartan, isolated sunken boulders on the sandy sea bed, so common to the Similans. Not much breaks the feeling of isolation here save for a few dark green branching cup corals, clinging grimly to the boulder surfaces, and the occassional burst of action as a blue-spot stingray sparks into life or a blacktip shark is disturbed and darts away. Most of the colour available here is provided by the solitary clown triggerfish, exploring the rocks.

To the north is a section of shallower reef dominated by mozaic and star brain corals and lobed pore corals. These dome colonies provide secluded homes to small families of common lionfish. Orangespine unicornfish and powderblue surgeonfish graze on the coral surfaces. Red fire gobies can often be seen hovering just above the sand.

Knobbly wart corals are obscured by reticulated damselfish swarming around its fingers, black pyramid butterflyfish flit elongantly through the shallows.

Hideaway Reef Basics: Boulders and fringing reef
Depth: 7 - 37m
Visibility: 20 - 40m
Currents: Easy
Surface conditions: Can be rough
Water temperature: 27 - 29°C
Experience level: Beginner - intermediate
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

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