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After our 3 days in Singapore, we arrived in Phuket for our liveaboard dive trip. Fran had already experienced a liveaboard in the late 90's, coincidentally a similar trip in THailand, and I had enjoyed one in Australia a biut before we met on the Great Barrier Reef.
Phyllidia varicosa nudibranch at Richeliue Rock 
False Clown Anenome Fish at Richeliue Rock Skunk Anenome Fish and friends at Richeliue Rock Mantis Shrimp Carpet Anenome folding up for the night Black Blotched Porcupinefish at Richeliue Rock, not to be mistaken for a Puffer fish. These fellows are very curious. Nudibranch Skunk Anenome Fish at Richeliue Rock Skunk Anenome Fish at Richeliue Rock Blue Dragon Nudi (Pteraeolidia semperi) spotted in the Andaman Sea, Thailand Phyllidiopsis Burni Nudibranch at Richeliue Rock Phyllidia varicosa nudibranch at Richeliue Rock Blackspotted Puffer on a night dive Spot the octopus, taken on a night dive while the octopus was hunting. An awesome interaction Spot the octopus, taken on a night dive while the octopus was hunting. An awesome interaction an example of the large schools of fish to be seen at Richeliue Rock an example of the large schools of fish to be seen at Richeliue Rock Phi Phi Islands Phyllidiopsis Phyllidiopsis phiphiensisat Richeliue Rock, Thailand Huge Grouper hiding in a cave, Richeliue ROck, Thailand False Clown Anenome Fish in their Carpet Coral home at Richeliue Rock Carpet Anenome, the current is lifting up its skirt so you can see how it is attached to the rock Feather star on a rock Red Saddleback Anenome Fish in the Andaman Sea Carpet Anenome Skunk Anenome Fish in the Andaman Sea Fran getting ready for more photos at Richelieu Rock Spotted Boxfish False Clown Anenome Fish in their Carpet Coral home Miamira sinuata nudibranch Fran Frev with view of the bay in Similan Islands from below Mount Winston Kev, Rich and Tracey on the beach in the Similan Islands Richeliue Rock poking above the water surface, its incredible to think what lies below! Phyllidia Varicosa Nudibranch Party spotted in the Andaman Sea, Thailand View of the bay in Similan Islands from below Mount Winston Kev with Mount WInston in the background Fran enjoying something on her phone at the resort. Frev with the sun setting over the Similan Islands behind Sunset over the Similan ISsands Granite Rocks of the Similan Islands Juvenile Ribbon Sweetlip with a friendly Rock Cod in the Andaman Sea One of the Similan Islands Fran on deck enjoying the sunrise Coral Grouper at Richeliue Rockm no edits to this image, very happy with the raw file False Clown Anenome Fish in their Carpet Coral home at Richeliue Rock Juvenile Ribbon Sweetlip with a friendly Rock Cod in the Andaman Sea Fimbriated Moray Eel in the Andaman Sea, Thailand
After a one night stay at the Eden Beach Khoa Lak Resort (which was very nice) and a leisrurely day kicking around the resort, we arrived at Taplamu Pier to board the Sawasdee Fasai run by West Coast Divers out of Phuket. After a briefing and a bit of mucking around the boat set sail at around 10pm for the Similan Islands.
We woke up having anchored in the islands and were getting ready for our first dive at around 7am. Four dives in this day including a night dive fopr Kev as the others didn't fancy this. The night dive was good thanks to the hunting octopus.
On the 2nd dive of the second day I had an excruciating sinus headache underway and so decided not to dive for the rest of the day to maximise the chance that I would be good for Richelieu Rock the next day. I'm glad I did this as I was able to dive Richelieu but still had a bit of discomfort.
Day 3 was Richelieu Rock day where we had 4 dives. It was without question the best diving of the trip. There were huge schools of big pelagic fish swimming around. Jacks, barracuda, giant trevally and probably others.
What did we think? Richelieu Rock was spectacular with oodles of fish everywhere and very clear water. Large schools of Giant Trevally, Amber Jacks, occasional Mackerel and very big lone Barracuda. The rock was gushing with life, and if course, other divers. It was good that the dive boat arrived there very early to allow us to be in the water by 645am. The other sites at Similan Islands, Koh Bon were good, but not spectacular. We did see good stuff at those sites though. The hunting octopus on the first day night dive in the Similan Islands was mesmerising.
It was noticeable that we didn’t see any sharks of any description and no Manta Rays or Whale Sharks. The trip would have been complete for me had we seen either of these two creatures.
There were lots of Nudibranchs which seemed to be bigger on average than the ones we typically see in the Pacific.
Richelieu Rock was unquestionably spectacular, and the Similan Islands were good, but I think Fiji is generally better.
After returning to Taplamu pier we were dropped off for a 2 night stay at the Kalima Resort and Villas Khao Lak which was very nice and relaxing, again lots of smoking Europeans everywhere.
