General information: This cluster of submerged boulders is located on the north that continues underwater Similan island 7 (Koh Pa-Yu). Deep six is an extension of the mail island that continues underwater, with a maximum depth of 35 to 40 meters. There are many outcrops throughout the area, along with scattered rocks with soft corals and sea fans on the outer part. At the big boulder in the center, a pile of smaller rocks form swim-throughs, at a depth of between 12 and 22 meters. In addition, there are sheer walls covered with dense soft coral. Shallow patch corals and rocks surround the island at a depth of 10 to 15 meters. Current: Moderate, sometimes strong current, particularly at the pointed end of the reef, where the current can often make you drift off the boulders. The current flows in a southeast to northwest direction and vice versa. Marine life: You may see white tip reef sharks off the boulders, and Kuhl’s stingrays are common on the sandy areas. You will find black and white snapper, giant trevallies and tuna swimming among the boulders, as well as schools of neon fusiliers, bluefin trevallies and yellow snapper. When passing the swim-throughs, you may encounter big snappers, oriental sweetlips or harlequin sweetlips, and if you are lucky, you’ll spot ghost pipefish and frogfish camouflaged among the pinnacles. The lush corals are home to various small marine critters such as red fire gobies, blennies and nudibranchs.
At the shallow coral garden, turtles are a common sight. Lastly,
take a look into the blue, as sometimes you can see manta rays passing by. Dive tip: Near the pointed end of the ridge is an area with strong current, so beware of drifting out.
There is a mooring close to a big boulder on the west side of this site. Use this as an entry point, then turn to the edge of the rocks and cross to the shallow coral area, or return to the buoy.
Be careful in the swim-throughs, as many areas are covered with stinging hydroids,
whose venomous spines can give you a burning sensation if you get stung.
PADI 5 Star National Geographic Instructor Development Center. 198/12 Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong, Phuket, Thailand. Phone: (+66) 076292052 Fax: (+66) 076293034
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