Koh Bon West Ridge & Cove Similan Islands

The photos here are both from the West Ridge and the Cove, and at the bottom of this page is a compilation of video shot at the two sites.

Underwater the ridge becomes a large, diagonal saw-tooth ridge covered in soft coral and sponge and teeming with blennies, hawkfish and anthias. Moving towards the cove the slope gives way to large lettuce coral sheets and finally a sand and broken coral base terrain punctuated by coral stacks, like every increasingly sized mushrooms. Every surface that isn’t hard coral is encrusted with soft coral and sponges.

There are lots of mid-sized reef fish attracted by the growth.

Some fish, like these Golden Rabbitfish, always travel in pair, and never take more than a quick bite before moving on.

The Emperor spends too much time on his appearance.

Whilst the local humphead wrasse keep their distance; unlike other sites where they have practically become domesticated.

When you find it, the Acropora is in good condition.

Both on top and underneath.

We saw at least one, if not several Bearded Scorpionfish on every dive in the Andaman Sea. Only this one was yawning.

There are patches out of the current stream where you’ll find quite large soft corals too.

Also hiding out of the current you’ll find: bannerfish,

angelfish and the very common (here at least) White Collar Butterflies,

black tailed angelfish,

A female spotted boxfish,

And a cornetfish wondering …

On many of the upper surfaces you will find blennies,

And with them dwarf and pixy hawkfish,

Or sometimes just hawkfish.

Also something I didn’t see at any other site were shoaling Yellow Tail Sergeants

Probably the most prolific fish were the butterflies, indian red-fins,

And White Collared.

And finally, a short video showing the terrain and massive morays, sea snakes and zillions of tiny juvs.