Similan Islands · Thailand · Pinnacle · Wall · Cave & cavern
Christmas Point
Granite arches at the exposed north end of the chain
Photo: Bernd · CC BY-SA 2.0
Christmas Point sits off Ko Bangu, Similan Island No. 9, where a submerged granite ridge is sculpted into tall boulders with deep crevices, arches and swim-throughs between them. It is a deep, unprotected site dived between 10 and 40 m with most of the work at 24 to 30 m, and the open water off the end of the ridge is where the large animals turn up.
Where it is and how deep
8.6802° N, 97.6379° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The site is a submerged granite ridge off Ko Bangu, at the north end of the nine islands, cut into tall boulders with deep crevices, arches and swim-throughs running between them. Depths cover 10 to 40 m, but most of the dive happens between 24 and 30 m, along walls carrying soft corals, sea fans and giant gorgonians on the rock.
At about 28 m the ridge gives out into open water, and that is the part of the dive worth saving gas for: nothing shelters this corner of the chain, so pelagic fish move past in the blue and manta rays turn up on a lucky day. Sharks, turtles, dolphins and whales are all listed for the site, none of them on a schedule. Current runs moderate to strong and peaks around the full and new moon, and visibility of 15 to 30 m is at its clearest from December through April.
Marine life and season
- Manta rays
- Sea turtles
| 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.
Know before you go
- Deep and unprotected on every side, with current running moderate to strong and peaking around the full and new moon; ascents often finish in blue water with no reference.
- Most of the dive sits at 24 to 30 m under a 40 m floor, so no-decompression limits rather than gas usually decide when it ends.
Dive videos
Diving Christmas Point, Similan Islands, Thailand · Rems Production on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is Christmas Point?+
Depths run from 10 to 40 m, with the main activity between 24 and 30 m. The ridge at 28 m is where divers watch open water for pelagic fish.
When is visibility best at Christmas Point?+
Visibility is quoted at 15 to 30 m and is at its clearest from December through April, which is also the calmer half of the Similan season.
Sources
- Diving in Thailand — Wikivoyage
- Christmas Point dive site — PADI
Photo credits
- Gold-saddle rabbitfish close up against the reef at Christmas Point by Bernd, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In The Logbook
- Where to dive in DecemberTrip planning · 10 min read
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Coral garden
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Drift
Strong-current ridge with soft coral gardens and big boulders
Reef
Shallow bay under the duck-shaped rock, with no current
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