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A sea turtle swims near the surface over a reef at the Similan Islands

Similan Islands · Thailand · Reef · Pinnacle

Shark Fin Reef

Boulder run with gorgonians and a large swim-through

Area photo: Reinhard Link · CC BY-SA 2.0

Shark Fin Reef lies about 3 km southeast of Koh Payan, a run of large granite boulders covered with hard coral and gorgonian sea fans with one big swim-through along it. Whitetip and blacktip reef sharks and leopard sharks are all seen here, and there are many stingrays on the sand between the blocks. The current is generally gentle but can sometimes be rough.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Shark Fin Reef: typical dive 10–25 m (33–82 ft), deepest point 40 m (130 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit10 m25 m40 m maxtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 50 m (164 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

8.5103° N, 97.6675° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The normal working depth is 10 to 25 m, with the maximum depth about 40 m, so the dive is planned along the shallower part of the structure and the deeper rock stays optional. You follow the line of boulders, dropping into the gaps between them where the gorgonians are, and the large swim-through partway along is worth going out of the way for. On a gentle day the route works in either direction.

When the water is moving the site is a different dive, and the rough days want divers with some experience behind them rather than someone fresh out of an open water course. The sharks the reef is named for are the reason to put up with that: whitetips, blacktips and leopard sharks all work the boulders, and the sand between the blocks holds rays.

Marine life and season

  • Reef sharks
  • Stingrays
Month-by-month season rating for Shark Fin Reef
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PrimePrimePrimePrimeFairOff-seasonOff-seasonOff-seasonOff-seasonFairGoodPrime

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

  1. Shark Fin Reef — Divezone
  2. Shark Fin Reef — Scubago

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Beacon Point

Longest reef in the Similans, over 300 coral species

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10–25 m · max 40 madvanced

Coral garden

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to 30 mintermediate

Pinnacle

Christmas Point

Granite arches at the exposed north end of the chain

10–40 madvanced

Drift

Deep Six

Strong-current ridge with soft coral gardens and big boulders

10–25 m · max 40 madvanced

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