Similan Dive Sites – North Point

Part of our ongoing series of site descriptions from the encyclopedic Similans.net.

North Point is one of our favorite dive sites and we try to hit this site once a week on our our daytrips, and occasionally on our Overnight trips. It is also done by a few liveaboards.

Marked by a red buoy which drops down to around 20 meters at the north of the dive site. Characterised by large rocks interspersed with sand and dead corals. Whip corals reach up from the sea bed, while gorgonian fan corals often with feather stars hanging from them protrude from the side of the rocks.

Reef sharks can often be seen around the outer edges of the site, as can larger pelagic fish. The northern tip of the site is often characterised by a strong current which may necessitate staying close to the rocks and zig zaging through the many small swim throughs back to the shallows in the southern side of the dive site.

A high and long channel rounds from north to south, with the bottom sitting around 18 meters. Look on the walls of the rock for nudibranches and check the top of the rock for larger fish. Barracuda have been seen sitting in wait.

As you work back towards the south of the dive site staghorn corals become more prominent until they cover the dive site at around 12 meters running from east to west. In the shallows towards the end of the dive it is not uncommon to see a large school of chevron barracuda or longfin batfish above you, and on most occasions at least one of the resident hawksbill sea turtles is scouring the reef for food. Follow the current during the safety stop.

Diving Depth runs from 10-35 meters (30-120 feet) with the time spent at the divers chosen depth with great features throughout visibility depends on the overall conditions but tends towards 25-30 meters. Currents can be present.

This is the Northenmost point of the Similans and the tidal currents do tend to round this point. Experience level ranges from intermediate to advanced. While shallow, beginning dives can be done along the reef, it is best to avoid as currents can be present and intimidating to the novice.