Sea Dragon Dive Center

Based in Khao Lak, Sea Dragon Dive Center has been a fixture of the Andaman Sea diving scene since 1993. They have established themselves as a specialist in organising expeditions to the highly regarded Similan and Surin Islands, offering both day trips and multi-day liveaboards.

Whether you are looking to explore local wrecks near the coast or embark on a long-range safari to remote pinnacles, the centre operates its own fleet to manage these trips. This allows for a consistent standard of service and logistics across their various itineraries.

As a PADI 5 Star IDC centre, Sea Dragon provides a full spectrum of professional training. The team is equipped to take you from your first Discover Scuba Diving session through to professional levels, including PADI Divemaster and Instructor Development Courses.

Safety is managed through strict ratios, with a maximum of four divers per guide. This ensures close supervision and detailed briefings before every dive, which is essential when navigating the currents or deeper sites found in the national parks.

The training programme covers the entire PADI progression. Beginners can start with Discover Scuba Diving or the PADI Open Water Diver course, moving up to Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver certifications.

For those looking to specialise, the centre offers various PADI Specialty courses, including the PADI Deep Adventure Dive. Professional divers can pursue the Divemaster and Instructor Development Course (IDC) on-site.

The MV Andaman is a 26-metre steel-hulled vessel with a capacity for 20 guests. It is used for liveaboard trips, providing a stable platform for multi-day expeditions. On board, you will find dining tables, benches, freshwater showers, toilets, and dedicated areas for relaxation including hammocks, poufs, and sun mattresses.

The MV Explorer is a 26-metre wooden-hulled vessel designed for 16 guests. This boat is also used for liveaboard cruises, offering a different feel on the water while maintaining the same high standards of catering and safety. Like the Andaman, it features racks for cylinders and comfortable lounge areas.

The MV Nangnuan is a former liveaboard boat that accommodates 16 divers. For shorter excursions or specific local trips, the centre also utilises traditional longtail boats with a capacity of 10 divers. All vessels are equipped with dinghies, first aid kits, oxygen, and life jackets.

The centre offers a comprehensive range of rental kit for those not travelling with their own equipment. This includes BCDs, regulators, wetsuits, masks, snorkels, fins, and dive computers. They specifically provide 15-litre cylinders and X-Deep wings for hire.

Nitrox is available for divers looking to extend their bottom times. For those staying on the liveaboards, the boats are fully equipped with meals, snacks, and refreshments including tea, coffee, and non-alcoholic drinks, with beer and wine also provided.

The marine life in this region is incredibly diverse. On the deeper walls and pinnacles, you can encounter pelagic species such as Manta ray (Mobula alfredi), whale shark (Rhincodon typus), and various sharks including Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus) and Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus). Large schools of fish are common, including tuna (Thunnus), jacks (Carangidae), and barracuda.

The coral reefs are vibrant with hard corals and soft corals, including yellow and pink varieties. You will see a vast array of reef fish such as angelfish (Pomacanthidae), butterflyfish (Chaetodon), parrotfish (Calotomus), and various species of snapper (Lutjanidae). Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and clown triggerfish are also frequently spotted.

For macro enthusiasts, the area is a haven for smaller creatures. You can find a great variety of nudibranchs, including the Maldives sponge nudibranch, alongside seahorses (Hippocampus kuda), ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae), and various species of shrimp and crabs. Look closely for octopus (Octopus vulgaris), cuttlefish (Sepiidae), and scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) amongst the reef structure.

Between January and May, the chances of encountering Manta ray (Mobula alfredi) and whale shark (Rhincodon typus) are at their highest, particularly around Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.

Diving in the Similan and Surin Islands is best planned between late October and early May. During this period, the conditions are most favourable for day trips to the Similan Islands.

While many sites are accessible to all levels, some locations like the Sea Chart 1 Wreck require advanced certification due to depths reaching 40 metres. Other sites, such as the Bangsak Wreck, are suited to advanced divers due to the nature of the wreck and potential currents.