Koh Yawabon - Similan Islands
Koh Yawabon, tucked away in the Similans, feels a bit like a well-kept secret. While most boats head elsewhere, we often find ourselves drifting past schools of fish so dense they shimmer, completely unfazed by our presence. Keep an eye out for lobsters tucked into the crevices and Kuhl's stingrays gliding along the sandy patches. The big draw here is the swim-through, but it’s a serious commitment: long, dark sections and strong currents mean you’ll need specific training to go beyond the entrance. For many, just exploring the exterior, with its relatively quiet atmosphere and abundant fish life, is reward enough.
- Location
- Similan Islands, Thailand, Southeast Asia
- Coordinates
- 7.950000, 98.733300
Marine Protected Area: Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu ko Phi Phi
Best Time to Dive in Similan Islands
The warmest water temperatures in Similan Islands occur in May, averaging 30.8°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 28.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.6°C
- February: 29.0°C
- March: 29.6°C
- April: 30.6°C
- May: 30.8°C
- June: 29.9°C
- July: 29.6°C
- August: 29.3°C
- September: 29.0°C
- October: 29.0°C
- November: 29.2°C
- December: 28.7°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Similan Islands
- 8 mile rock
- Andaman Scuba
- Anemone Reef (reef)
- Anita s reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Anita's Reef - 10-25m (reef)
- Anti gravity Divers
- Ao Kon Ka Re
- Ao Nui - 17m
- Ao Sane - 5-18m (reef)
- Ayara Bay - 17m (reef)
- Banana Bay - 5-20m (reef)
- Barracuda Rock - 20m (pinnacle)
- Batfish Bend - 10-28m (drift)
- Bay 1 / Ao Ter (reef)
- Beacon Beach
Nearest Dive Centres to Koh Yawabon
- ABC Phuket Diving
- Activity and diving centre
- Adang Sea Divers - SSI
- All 4 Dive - PADI
- All4Diving® Phuket - ["PADI"]
- Amazing Phuket adventures - SSI
Marine Life in Similan Islands
Home to 183 recorded species including 127 reef fish, 38 hard corals, 9 seagrass & algae, 4 sharks & rays, 2 other, 1 octopus & squid.
Notable Species
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora kosurini) - Hard Corals
- sorrah shark (Carcharhinus sorrah) - Sharks & Rays
- Staghorn coral (Acropora indonesia) - Hard Corals
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
- Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor) - Reef Fish
- Moluccan cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus moluccensis) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora hoeksemai) - Hard Corals
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- Herringbone butterflyfish (Chaetodon triangulum) - Reef Fish
- Dollfus's octopus (Amphioctopus aegina) - Octopus & Squid
- Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Blue-scaled wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura) - Reef Fish
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora austera) - Hard Corals
Recommended Packing List for Koh Yawabon
Based on average water temperature of 29.4°C, currents 7 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories