Richelieu Rock

9° 21.8′ N · 98° 1.3′ E

A horseshoe-shaped pinnacle in open sea about 10 nm east of Surin Tai, barely awash at low tide and plastered in purple soft coral and anemones. It is Thailand's most celebrated dive, famous for whale sharks and for seahorses, harlequin shrimp and frogfish.

Phuket & Phang Nga Bay Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe Koh Samui & the Gulf of Thailand

Practical

Wikipedia gives 9°21′48″N, 98°1′19″E, which matches the OSM dive-site node and Thai National Parks (9.36277, 98.02194). The pinnacle rises from 30–35 m and its top is just under the surface at high tide, so the rock itself is a hazard to navigation. Anchoring is not possible; dive-boat moorings may be vacant (Southeast Asia Pilot). Otherwise stand off and drop divers from a tender. It gives boats no shelter, and currents follow the tide and can be strong, so experienced divers only in rough conditions (Khao Lak Explorer). Dive range 5–35 m. Surin park fees can be paid to rangers here. Overnight at Surin and come at first light, before the day boats from Khao Lak (about 70 km away) arrive.

Richelieu Rock

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