The Surin Islands are made up of what is officially called Mu Ko Surin National Park, and are home to one of the best diving sites in the world: Richelieu Rock a prime location for Scuba Diving In Phuket. Access to The Surin Islands is controlled by government authorities and only possible for half of the year – November to May – due to sea conditions being unpredictable from June to October.

But there are lots offantastic places to enjoyThailand Scuba Diving on the Surin islands. It has five islands in total; the main two being Koh Surin Nuea (north), Koh Surin Tai (south), with Koh Ri, Koh Kai, and Koh Klang being just islets. The other dive sites are nearer to the islands, whereas Richelieu Rock is just an underwater pinnacle with no land for miles.

The dive sites:

• Boonsung Wreck

A sunken former old tin dredger which sank in 1985, at a location and depth which makes it convenient and easy to dive; it’s neither too deep nor too far to make it anything other than an enjoyable dive site. The dive site lies in 20 m of water and the top of the ship is around 15 m, it is surrounded by schools of fishes and lost trevallies and barracudas patrolling the area and lots of other interesting members of the marine life community. This wreck is perfect for many divers, including inexperienced, those taking part in an Open Water Advanced Course, macro photography enthusiasts, and even night divers.

• Koh Khai

Koh Khai also known as Koh Torinla has several places to dive around this tiny island. Ko Torinla East dive site is located on the East side of Ko Torinla and on the South of Koh Surin Island where there is a vast reef of hard and soft corals which stretches for hundreds of metres.

The thousands of corals are healthy and flourish in much shallower waters than almost every other reef in the country. This makes it an ideal location for snorkellers, it provides home and food for tens of thousands of fish, invertebrates and even reptiles. As the reef becomes further away it's ideal for divers with partners or children who don't dive but want to snorkel in the same place. Sea conditions are generally calm, but care and advice should always be taken, especially at the beginning or end of the diving season. Divers and Snorkellers can expect to see a wide range of marine life here at ranging from the large Manta Ray to the Moray Eel.

• Richelieu Rock

A small submerged rock this huge pinnacle climbing dramatically from the depths of the Andaman Sea is covered soft corals and attracts huge fish like barracudas and groupers ,there is also an incredible array of small fish .A part of the Surin National Marine Park it’s located about 18 kilometers east of the islands themselves. Richelieu Rock is world famous for of being one of the best places in Thailand to see Big Pelagic's like; Whale Sharks and Manta Rays. If you desire some of the best Scuba Diving In Phuket and marine life viewing, Surin Islands is the spot for you. Home to some of most pristine and extensive reefs in all of Thailand, you will find some of the most diverse coral.

• Other sites include: Koh Chi, Chong Khat Bay and many more.