At Wicked Diving many people ask us :
"When is the best time to visit the Similan Islands?"
The weather makes diving and visiting the Similan Islands unsafe from Late May through Late October.
For this reason: The Similan Island National Park is closed from May 15th to November 1st of each year. It is illegal to visit the park at other times.
"Why is the best time to visit the Similan Islands November through May?"
The Similan Islands are deeply intertwined with the monsoon season. This weather pattern brings the monsoonal winds and storms from the South West (from the Indian Ocean). The monsoons start in May and last until Ocotber. This also means during Novemebr through May that the weather is not affected by these patterns and conditions are good - bordering on great!
From November through May the winds, generally, come from the North East and East. We are protected by the small mountains to the East and the Similan Islands are very nice. In Early November we still get a few puffs of weather or wind from ofshore, and there can be a day or two where it gets rough. But the days are generally 3o-32 outside (high 80's) and the evenings are perfect at 27 (high 70's). The gentle winds make it sucha nice time to visit.
It is also winter for everyone in Europe and America! No better way to vacation?
From January until April the weather gets calmer and calmer until the sea is like a mirror and the days getting hotter and hotter. By April we can get days of 36-37 (high 90's), but it always cools down at night. In fact the mountains provide air-conditioning! Yes, in the afternoons or evening the cooling action can cause sudden cloud bursts and we will get 5-10 minutes of rain that drops the temperature!
Due to the currents and plankton blooms, Febraury and March are the best times to dive the Similan Islands. The waters are calm, the visibility is great and we have lots of passing pelagics (Manta Rays!), while the reef fish are starting their mating!
Visiting the Similan Islands In July?
Sorry, bad idea!
As the Similan Islands are directly in the path of the monsoon weather pattern, it can be extremely dangerous to visit. Large waves, winds, sudden squalls and major storms roll in very fast. Several dive companies have lost their boats (not to mention untold fishing boats) when they have foolishly decided to go out.
Here in Khao Lak, on the mainland, it is wet. We get great waves for surfing and it is also a great time to enjoy to solitude of 40 kilometers of empty beaches. Great hotel bargains too!
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