News

Closed every year from mid-May till early November, the Similan Islands National Park is now open again to the public, much to the delight of divers and snorkelers. Considered the jewel in the crown of Thailand diving, the Similan and Surin Islands boast thriving reefs with over 200 species of soft and hard corals and impressive sea fans, as well as a huge variety of marine life. The bigger species include sea turtles, Napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, leopard sharks, and manta rays—but the whale sharks are the biggest stars of the show.

The Junk liveaboard has already reported seeing whale sharks on her first trip in November, despite the fact that the animals tend to be seen from January to March. One of the main dive sites for seeing whale sharks is Richelieu Rock, a limestone pinnacle covered with soft corals that slopes steeply to a sandy bottom at around 120 feet. The surrounding deep waters of this pinnacle bring up nutrient-rich currents, providing the whale sharks with a ready supply of plankton.

With the early arrival of the whale sharks, liveaboard operators are expecting a bumper season ahead.
 

If you’re interested in getting up close with the planet’s largest fish species in the Similan Islands, visit www.thejunk.com or drop an email to thailand@wwdas.com.