Surin Islands make up an awesome archipelago located in the Andaman Sea on the South west coast of Thailand. It is situated a bit further North than another world class diving destination, the Similan islands. Divers often dive both of these amazing locations during a liveaboard cruise where these spots are considered to be some of the best diving in Thailand.
Scuba diving in Surin Island also gives the opportunity to dive one of the best dive sites of the world, Richelieu Rock! This spot is world famous for the encounter with the giant Whale Shark!
The Surin Islands are incredibly scenic with pristine white sandy beaches and lush jungle. The islands are now part of the Mu Ko Surin Marine National Park.
Activities and excursions in Surin Islands
Surin Island is really focused on scuba diving. However for people travelling with kids and non divers, this destination offers easy and super snorkelling with great opportunities to relax and sunbath on the remote white sand beaches.
How to get to Surin Islands?
Getting Around
The only way to get around the Surin Islands is by boat and Liveaboard cruises. There is a cheap national park boat running from the Ban Hin Lat to Surin Island leaving every day at 9 am. Or you could also try to charter a boat.
Best Diving sites in Surin Islands
Scuba diving in the Mu Ko Surin Marine National Park is excellent. The different islands offer good chances to see large marine creatures like sharks and manta rays. Several dive sites are also good for macro life as frogfish, ghost pipefish and seahorse.
Koh Bon and Koh Tachai offer the best chances to spot a Manta ray, blacktip and Whitetip reef sharks. Turtles and leopard sharks are also quite common.
Richelieu Rock is one of the best dive sites in all of Asia. It has been described as a Whale Shark magnet! Even if this is not exactly true, this is definitely an amazing dream site to explore! Richelieu Rock is also very good for critters. Most of the liveaboards plan at least two dives as this magical spot.
Best time to dive in Surin Islands
The Mu Ko Surin Marine National Park is open from 16th of November to the 15th of May but most of the Liveaboard cruises only operate from October to May.
The best diving conditions occur from December to April with dry weather and almost no wind.
The best season to spot Whale Sharks, especially near Richelieu Rock, runs from February to April.
