Manta Queen 3 Trip Number 190
We left the harbour of Khao Lak not only accompanied by a full moon, but it was also the enchanting day of Loi Krathong, when Thai people and their guests give thanks to the water goddess by floating beautiful flower arrangements with incense and candles over the water.
Day 1 saw us wake up to a check-out dive at Three Trees and a first encounter with the Similans’ boulders at Northpoint. Then our buoyancy was tested in the maze of swim-thrus at Turtle Rock before our only night dive of the trip. On day 2 we first encountered the currents the Similans can be famous for. After our first dive – sharks! - at Elephant Head Rock we took the opportunity for a few steps on land to visit the viewpoint in Donald Duck Bay. At Christmas Point we saw more sharks, and the Green Monster, an upwelling of nourishment-rich water from the deepest parts of the Andaman sea made a chilly appearance. We dived Koh Bon’s West Ridge twice, saying hello to the resident Napoleon Wrasse before driving further north to Koh Tachai, where we spent the night.
After a truly refreshing early morning dive on Tachai’s Pinnacle – “Hello again, Green Monster!” - we finally made our way to Richelieu Rock. Although we did three dives there, we could’ve stayed even longer to see yet more sea horses, frogfish and cuttlefish. Even the dive pros who were on holiday on the boat didn’t want to leave. We spent our last day diving Hin Luang, a pinnacle off Koh Bon, and the island’s North Ridge, before finishing the trip at Boonsung Wreck with its amazing schools of baby fish.
There were quite a few courses conducted on board, too. Congratulations go to Greg for becoming a PADI Open Water diver with your instructor Judith. “Well done!” to Anja, Carmen, Jan, TC, Marcel and Caroline on becoming PADI Advanced Open Water divers, with your instructors Anja, Chris and Alex. Ofer and Dunn successfully finished the PADI Enriched Air Diver course and Lucas, Madlene and Sebastian became PADI Deep Diving Specialists - both courses run by instructor Joe. Hope to see you again soon in the Similan Islands!
