The Similan Islands - Thailand's most Exclusive Dive Destination?

The Similan Islands

New Regulations Limit the Daily Diver allocation

The Similan Islands have been a major draw for divers of all nations for many years now, but new regulations put in place in October 2018 have now made them some of the most exclusive dive sites in Thailand.

With the intent to protect and preserve the delicate marine & wild life which lives in and around the waters of the Similan National Marine Park, the Thai authorities have placed strong control measures to limit the number of visitors that enter the Park each day.

Previous years had seen the beaches of Koh Miang and Koh Similan reach excessive levels of daily visitors, turning what are some of Thailand's most beautiful stretches of white sand into over-crowded swarms of holiday makers desperate to capture their 'Deserted Island' selfies with little hope of success.

The increase was also seen in the number of Dive Boats and Diving guests received by the Islands each day, causing some dive sites to suffer the same over-crowding issues at certain times of the day.

What has changed?

New procedures to the purchasing of Park Entry Tickets and the introduction of a daily limit of divers allowed within the boundaries of the Marine Park each day has seen an instant improvement to the crowding issue, and has resulted a far better experience for those lucky enough to secure entry to the park.  Key points of the new regulations are:

• A daily limit of no more than 525 Divers allowed in the National Marine Park each day.
• Entry tickets can only be purchased via the Marine Park Office and to a maximum of 60 days prior to the return date of any advertise trip.
• Operators must obtain the customer's full information in order to purchase the ticket - Full Name, Passport No., Date of Birth, Nationality, Dive Certification Level.
• Guest to Dive Guide ratio must not exceed 4:1.

These along with other initiatives, such as the banning of single use plastics with the park, can only be a good thing for the future of this magnificent archipelago.

Can I still dive in the Similan Islands?

The simple answer is YES.  The best way by far to experience these amazing dives sites is to book yourself on a Similan Islands Diving Liveaboard.  Typical trips last 4-5 Days and also include dive sites further to the north, such as Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, and Richelieu Rock.

Oktavia Dive Center and MV Oktavia have always respected the laws governing the National Parks and although these regulation changes have resulted in a few changes to our working practices, our trips to the Similans and beyond have remained largely unaffected.

Weekly departures are available throughout the diving season (October-May), but due to the daily diver limit is now highly recommended to book well in advance in order for us to secure your entry ticket.  However, this should not put you off making enquiries within the 60 Day period, as it only takes us a day to confirm whether Entry Tickets are still available for a trip.

Booking is a simple and friendly process as all enquires are handled personally by our office management.  Watch this short video to gain an idea: