Richelieu Rock |
Richelieu Rock, one of the most popular dive sites in South-East Asia, is part of the Surin National Marine Park, located approximately 18 kilometers east of the islands themselves and just barely exposed at the lowest of tides. Situated 200 kilometers north-west of Phuket and 70 km from Khao Lak, the rock is closer to the Burmese (Myanmar) border than Phuket.
If you want to see whale shark, this is where you are most likely to find them. Though nothing is ever guaranteed, Richelieu Rock is visited regularly by whale sharks and has one of the biggest scores of seeing them in the world. Swimming with such a large animal remain a unique experience for any diver.
It's not the only of the Thailand destinations for divers wanting to view whale sharks, but Richelieu Rock certainly attracts more than its fair share. With nothing else for miles around, the whale sharks are attracted to the rock to feed on the rich plankton bloom that occur here. A liveaboard charter is your best bet for diving here.
Liveaboard boats leave from Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta and Khao Lak for anything from a 3 to 7 day dive excursion at Surin. With the huge bio diversity, it will be worth your while to stick around on a boat conducting several dives and even night dives. Whale sharks are in the habit of visiting their favorite places on a regular schedule. So if you are visiting the Andaman Sea around November, don't miss out on the chance of meeting a whale shark. |
