Diving in the Surin Islands

Thailand's Best Hard Coral Reefs?

The extensive reefs of the Koh Surin have the greatest hard coral diversity in Thailand. Though the soft corals and fish diversity are not quite as good as some of the other Andaman Sea destinations in Thailand, you will find fish species here that you won't see in the Similan Islands, such as Napoleon wrasse, yellow-masked angelfish, bumphead parrotfish, tomato anemonefish and barramundi, as well as lots of turtles.

Not many liveaboard boats visit these islands, not because the diving in Koh Surin is inferior to other Thai destinations, but rather due to its geographic remoteness. The short 4 night schedules of the more popular Thailand dive safaris do not allow enough time to take in both the Similans and Surin. So when you do visit here, you'll find that there's still a beautiful corner of Thailand that you are able enjoy without sharing it with the tourist hordes.

The island group was designated as Mu Koh Surin National Marine Park in 1981 and it is located just 7 km south of the Myanmar border and 68 km north of the Similan Islands. There are 2 main islands - Surin Nua ('North') and Surin Tai ('South') - plus 3 smaller islets and 2 rocky outcrops. The islands are uninhabited except for the park camp and a Mokken sea gypsy village. Thailand's world famous Richelieu Rock dive site lies 15 km to the east.

Many visitors claim that the fantastic topside scenery of Surin, with its verdant evergreen forests, laced with mangroves and small beaches, surpasses even that of the picturesque Similan Islands. If you take a walk through the forests you might find crab-eating macaques, deer and flying foxes. The islands also appeal to birders, who can enjoy sightings of hornbills, Nicobar pigeons, drongos, collared kingfishers and babblers, as well as birds of prey such as sea-eagles and kites. Turtles still follow their age-old calling to come ashore and lay their eggs here. The hatchlings enter the Andaman Sea and those lucky to survive the many perils, swim as far as the Nicobar Islands and the east coast of the Malay Peninsula.

Highlights

At the South East Point of Koh Surin Tai, 2 parallel jumbles of boulders run out perpendicular from the shallow reef into deeper water, where strong currents can attract reef sharks. Harlequin ghostpipefish and robust ghost pipefish shelter in the refuges provided by these rocks on the soft corals and fans. Cowrie shells and ribbon eels also inhabit the rubble floor and crevices.

Back on the reef slope you can regain your breath and tick off sightings of Andaman rabbitfish, Indian sailfin tang and the Andaman sweetlips. If you've been scuba diving in Thailand before you'll know that it has some particularly attentive titan triggerfish, acting like over-zealous guardians of their unborn young. Koh Surin is no different in this respect.

On the east coast of Koh Torinla, a large coral plateau of staghorn corals and massive porites corals breaks the water's surface at low tide. This is home to a large proliferation of cardinalfish, humpnose bigeye bream, twin-spot and 5-lined snappers. Just off the coast lies a long rocky ridge that draws in fish life. Batfish and pickhandle barracuda are common in the depths of 30 metres, and Spanish mackerel and grey reef sharks often pay fleeting visits. White tip reef sharks can be spotted cruising the ridge top at 7 to 25 metres or resting on the surrounding sands.

To get back to the reef slope from this ridge you'll need to swim over an expanse of sand, where eagle and shovelnose rays occasionally pass. This area hosts mantis shrimps and the endemic blue-spotted Andaman jawfish. This most colourful jawfish family member often hovers above its rubble burrow. Or if it is parenting, it peers broodily out of its burrow, replete with a mouthful of finely balanced eggs.

One of the Surin Islands' major attractions is snorkelling. This is because many of the reefs here grow right up to just below the water's surface, bringing the marine life closer to the snorkeller. This is so at Koh Torinla in the south and Koh Chi in the north, where the reefs are very healthy and black-tip reef sharks, absent at the Similan Islands, are regular visitors. This means that liveaboard trips to Surin are ideal for non-divers and divers alike.

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How to Koh Surin

There are not many Thailand liveaboards that visit the Surin Islands but as for ones that do, you find them in our Thailand liveaboard diving section.

Diving Season

The Surin liveaboard diving season runs from mid October to early May, though the best time for a visit is from December to April. Outside of these months it can be wet and windy.

Reef Summary

Great for: Reef life and health, snorkelling, small animals and beginner divers
Not so Great for: Wrecks
Depth: 5 - >30m
Visibility: 5 - 20m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface conditions: Calm
Water temperature: 26 - 29°C
Experience level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: >10
Distance: ~205 km north northwest of Phuket (10 hours)
Access: Similan liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 5 - 6 days as part of a Thailand liveaboard charter

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