Dive· Koh Payu (#7)· Thailand
West of Eden
8° 35.4′ N · 97° 38.1′ E · approximate
The wilder, western face of Koh Payu: giant granite boulders forming canyons, walls draped in soft coral and sea fans, and a fringing reef in the shallows.
Practical
Approx: placed off the west shore of Koh Payu from the Wikivoyage island position. Island numbers here follow the dive-operator convention (Koh Payu = #7); the Wikipedia/DNP list calls Koh Payu #6 and Koh Hin Pousar #7. Depth 12–35 m; current moderate (Khao Lak Explorer). Local guides favour it because it combines the Similans' two dive styles, reef and boulder, in one dive. Look for ribbon eels, frogfish, ghost pipefish and seamoths. West-side sites can get swell late in the season.
Best for
Boulders and reef in one dive
Season
Mid-October to mid-May