The Andaman Coast has some of the best diving and snorkeling spots in the world. The closest good dive spots are around the Similan Islands which are part of the Mu Ko Similan National Park. Dive boats for the Similan Islands leave from Thap Lamu Pier which is about 45 minutes’ drive from Natai Garden Retreat.
The Similan Islands are excellent for snorkeling too if you are not into scuba diving. The Mu Ko Similan National Park is closed every rainy season (usually reopening in mid-October) to give the coral reefs time to rejuvenate. Expect to see manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, moray eels and a wide range of colourful tropical fish.
Further north, the Surin Islands, offer many diving and snorkeling options too and a similar range of underwater life. The Surin Islands are part of the Mu Ko Surin National Park and as is the case with the Similan Islands, is closed from mid-May to mid-October.
There is no accommodation on the islands to protect the marine environment. Therefore, it’s necessary to either do day trips out to the islands or book a live-aboard package with one of the dive companies based in Khao Lak.
For more advanced divers, many of these live-aboard packages may include islands like Koh Bon and Tachai Island in between the Similan and Surin Islands.
For some fun diving, there are several artificial reefs off the coast of Khao Lak. One is the Premchai Wreck which is an old tin dredger that was deliberately sunk in 2001, and the called the Underwater Museum, which is a collect of army trucks and a naval patrol boat which was sunk in 2014. Both artificial reefs are now home to a wide variety of marine life,
For those who may prefer snorkeling in calmer waters, the islands of Ko Yao Yai and Ko Yai Noi have many snorkeling spots suitable for beginners.