Similan Islands · Thailand · Reef · Coral garden
Beacon Point
Longest reef in the Similans, over 300 coral species
Area photo: Reinhard Link · CC BY-SA 2.0
Beacon Point runs along the south of Island 8 and is described as the longest reef in the Similans, with over 300 species of coral recorded on it, the widest range in the park. There is usually no current, which makes it one of the more relaxed dives in the island chain, and the coral holds enough small life to fill a dive without covering much ground.
Where it is and how deep
8.6432° N, 97.6532° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Massive granite boulders stand along the reef and form swim-throughs and canyons, so the dive alternates between open coral ground and passages between blocks. The normal depth range is 10 to 25 m, and the coral runs from shallow water down to about 30 m, which leaves the working level to the group rather than to the site. With no current to fight, the route is yours to pick and the pace is unhurried.
Reef sharks, leopard sharks and stingrays are the larger animals seen along the reef, with barracuda, fusiliers and snappers over it. The small life is the other reason to dive here: nudibranchs, scorpionfish and other critters are numerous across the coral, and a slow pass over one stretch of it returns more than a long swim along the whole reef.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
- Stingrays
- Barracuda
- Nudibranchs
- Macro critters
- Pristine corals
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Similan Islands: The park is closed by law from mid-May to mid-October; December to April is the calm high season.
Sources
- Beacon Point — Divezone
- Beacon Point — Scubago
- Similan Islands dive sites — Dive The World
More dive sites in Similan Islands
Reef
Three huge rocks with coral slopes, quieter than East of Eden
Drift
Strong-current ridge with soft coral gardens and big boulders
Violet and blue corals on the site's main bommie
Pinnacle
Granite tunnels and arches between islands 6 and 7
Wreck
The 27 m liveaboard Atlantis X, bow at 16 m
Reef
Hard-coral slope of staghorn, table and brain corals
Reef
Canyons between the rocks, gorgonians below 20 m
Reef
Shallow bay under the duck-shaped rock, with no current
Similar dives elsewhere
A 40 m drop-off on the west side, with 20 to 30 m of visibility
Swim-throughs behind walls of glassfish, and no current
Stingrays in numbers at Sting Ray Alley, the deepest site here
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Soft-coral outcrops and boulders, mantas in the current