ELEPHANT HEAD ROCK – Similan Island
If you’ve ever heard about the Similan Islands, then it’s certain you’ve heard about this site.
Located between Islands 7 and 8, this first thing you will notice before you dive is one massive boulder rising above the surface, and next to it are another three boulders. The site is named for the largest and tallest boulder, which is said to resemble the head of an elephant. You may need to use your imagination as you look.
The site is a massive labyrinth, complete with channels, swim-throughs, and holes at every turn. Lucky for us that our exit point is always up or maybe you would end up lost amongst the towering boulders.
Good luck in the deeper areas with spotting Whitetip Reef Sharks, who tend to reside in the depths.
Also living on this site are Barracuda, Kuhl’s Stingray, Sesamoths, Nudibranch, Octopus, and the Peacock Mantis Shrimp, and schools of Moorish Idols and banner Butterfly fish all over the place.
Watch out for the washing machine currents that sometimes show up. Never try to fight these, as you will not win! Just go with the flow, relax, and ride them out.
Type of Dive: Boulder Depth: 16 – 40 metres diving depth Visibility: 20 – 30 metres Temperature: 27 – 29 degrees C Difficulty: Intermediate / Advanced PAD
