Similan Islands · Thailand · Coral garden · Reef · Night
Breakfast Bend
Morning light on a shallow coral garden off Ko Bangu
Area photo: Reinhard Link · CC BY-SA 2.0
Breakfast Bend runs along the east side of Ko Bangu and takes its name from the time of day it is dived, with the morning sun on the reef. A shallow coral garden slopes down to about 18 m of sand where leopard sharks rest, then steepens to 30-35 m below that. Light current and a shallow profile make it a straightforward first dive of a trip, and a relaxed night dive.
Where it is and how deep
8.6774° N, 97.6550° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The site is a long stretch of reef on the east side of Ko Bangu, dived in the morning: the name comes from having the sun with breakfast before the dive, and on this side of the island it lives up to it. The top of the reef is a shallow coral garden, in good shape despite the 2004 tsunami, and it slopes away gradually rather than dropping off.
At about 18 m the coral gives way to sand, which is where leopard sharks are found resting on the bottom. Past it a second, steeper slope runs down to 30-35 m, though the normal profile turns back before then and stays inside 25 m. Groupers and trevallies are around in numbers, turtles are a good bet, and with little or no current and visibility past 30 m the dive goes as slowly as you want it to. The same conditions are why the site is also used after dark.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Groupers
- Trevally & jacks
| 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.
Dive videos
Scuba Diving - Breakfast Bend, Similan Islands · Kevin Roberts on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is Breakfast Bend suitable for beginners?+
Yes. The reef starts as a shallow coral garden, current is light or absent and the normal profile stays inside 25 m, which is why boats use it as a welcoming first dive of a Similan trip.
Can you dive Breakfast Bend at night?+
It is used as a night dive. The features that make it an easy day dive, a shallow coral garden on a gentle slope with little current, make it a relaxed dive after dark as well.
Sources
- Diving in Thailand — Wikivoyage
- Breakfast Bend dive site — Divezone
In The Logbook
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