Take a Richelieu Rock 2 Dive day trip to depart on Tuesdays & Sundays with a good chance of seeing manta rays and whale sharks.

Discover Thailand’s best Marine National Park! Reach for Richelieu Rock if staying in Phuket, for the best scuba diving in Thailand. Scuba divers who visit are fascinated by this underwater paradise. dive the gently eroded large granite rock formations, and the glistening, white sandy beach not to be seen anywhere else in Thailand. The picturesque Honeymoon Bay surrounded by huge tropical coconut and palm trees makes time stand still.

Richelieu Rock is among the top 10 best destinations in the world the crystal blue warm waters make this one of the best places to snorkel in the Andaman Sea, and among the best snorkel spots in Thailand and Asia.

Richelieu Rock – The Crown Jewel of Thailand Diving

Richelieu Rock is one of the most famous dive sites in Thailand and a highlight of any Similan or Surin liveaboard itinerary. This iconic limestone pinnacle was named by Jacques Cousteau, who thought its vibrant purple corals resembled the flowing scarlet cape of Cardinal Richelieu from The Three Musketeers.

At low tide, the horseshoe-shaped reef just breaks the surface before plunging steeply down to sandy bottoms at depths of 18–35 meters (60–120 ft). Draped in purple soft corals, carpets of sea anemones, and thriving hard coral formations, Richelieu Rock is as stunning as it is diverse. Thanks to its structure and sheltered sides, it offers excellent multi-level diving and safe havens from strong currents.

Marine Life at Richelieu Rock

Despite being relatively small and isolated, Richelieu Rock bursts with life. It is considered one of the best places in Thailand for Advanced divers to encounter whale sharks and manta rays, particularly during the peak season. But even without the big visitors, the reef offers incredible biodiversity:

Pelagic Encounters: Whale sharks, manta rays, Spanish mackerel, and barracuda.
Reef Residents: Pharaoh cuttlefish, giant octopus, Napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, frogfish, and five species of anemonefish found in the Andaman Sea.
Macro Highlights: Ornate ghost pipefish, tiger-tail seahorses, harlequin shrimps, mantis shrimps, nudibranchs, and ribbon eels.
Schooling Fish: Snappers, trevally, barramundi, and batfish moving in large numbers across the reef.
Other Favorites: Turtles, leopard sharks, moray eels, angelfish, and triggerfish.

With its mix of vibrant coral gardens, fascinating macro critters, and the chance of encountering giants of the ocean, Richelieu Rock is truly the crown jewel of diving in Thailand.

Important Pre-Trip Information

Before joining your Similan liveaboard adventure, please take note of a few important recommendations:

Flying After Diving
We strongly advise reading our detailed Flying After Diving guide. As a rule, you must wait at least 24 hours after your final dive before boarding a flight to ensure your safety.
Trying Out New Equipment
If you’ve recently purchased new scuba gear and would like to test it before your trip, you’re welcome to visit our private training resort at Kata Beach. Even if you don’t need a refresher, you can enjoy a free pool dive to check your equipment and get comfortable before heading out to the liveaboard.
Refresher Course Recommendation
If you haven’t dived for six months or more, we strongly recommend completing a refresher session, as outlined by your certification agency under Safe Diving Practices. This short pool session at our Kata Beach dive center allows you to check your equipment, fine-tune buoyancy, and regain confidence in the water before your trip.
Pick-Up Information
Local Phuket hotel pick-ups for liveaboard departures begin at 6:00 AM. Please be ready on time to ensure a smooth transfer.

2 Dive Day Trip Richelieu

06:00　Pick up guests at Phuket Hotels
08:00　Pick up guests at Khao lak Hotels
08:30　Speedboat Departure
10:00　Arrive Embark on Liveaboard vessel
11:00　Dive 1
12:00　Lunch / Relax Time
13:00　Dive 2
14:30　Relax Time
15:00　Speedboat Departure
16:30　Arrive at Tapulamu Pier
17:00　Arrive at Khaolak Hotels
18:30　Arrive at Phuket Hotels

Price: 5600 ฿ (2 Dives) The Non-Diver price is 3600 ฿/Person

2 Dive Day Trip Richelieu Rock – What’s Include:

Free transfer (Kata, Karon, Patong, and Khao Lak Only) from your Phuket / Khao Lak hotel to the liveaboard boats and return transfers back to the point of Pick up
Twin-share accommodation & all meals, fruits, drinking water, coffee, tea, and soft drinks
Tank and Weights, Professional divemaster
Dive Torches for the night dive.
Insurance (500,000 Baht maximum)

2 Dive Day Trip – What’s not included:

Surin National Park Fee is 700 Baht for entry into the Surin marine park (divers and non-divers)
Please note that the National Park Fee is set by the National Park and is subject to change without notice please bring towels with you if you need one as we do not provide towels on-board

Extra charge items to be pre-ordered.

Private Dive Guide charged at 3,000 Baht per day
Equipment Rental: Full Set special package price: 500 Baht per set per day individual parts if you don’t need a full set
BCD: 200 Baht / day
Regulators: 200 Baht / day
Wetsuit: 100 Baht / day
Mask & Snorkel: 50 Baht / day
Fins: 50 Baht / day
15-liter tanks available for 300 Baht per day.per day
250 Baht/day for a dive computer per day
Nitrox is not blended on the boat, but if you want to use Nitrox you can order in advance, at a price of 350 Baht per 12-liter fill. Tanks have to be carried to the boat from the mainland by speedboat.
SSI Enriched Air (Nitrox) course is 8,500 Baht.

Additional transfer fees

We can still transfer you if you stay in the following areas, but there will be a surcharge per person transfer fees.
Cape Panwa – 500 Baht
Phuket Town – 500 Baht
Naiharn Beach – 300 Baht
Rawai Beach – 300 Baht
Andaman White Beach – Minimum 1,500 Baht
Surin Beach – 500 Baht
Sheraton Grand Laguna – 500 Baht
Kamala Beach – 300 Baht
Bang Tao Beach – 500 Baht
J.W. Marriot – – Minimum 1,500 Baht
On completion of your liveaboard bookings, we will advise you on the approximate pick-up time when you let us know where you’ll be staying.
Please note that everybody in the same area is given the same pick-up times. You might be the first pick-up at the given time or the last pick-up a little bit later, but please be ready at the pick-up point at the given time. Please don’t panic if the driver is 10 or 15 minutes “late”.

If you stay outside of any of these areas or you’re not sure, please contact us and we’ll advise you of any potential

What to take on the Dive Trip

Personal dive equipment Swimming suit, Shorts & a light T-Shirt Beach towel, Sun cream protection, Sun cap, Sunglasses Small bag, Camera, Some money,

Please read this important safety concern which highlights matters of personal safety

This speed boat trip is suitable for ages 4 years up to 60 years. However, this trip is not available for a child under 1 year, pregnant women, or women who may be trying to become pregnant.

This trip is not suitable for any person with spinal, back, or neck problems.

The highlights of the trip are Snorkeling and swimming and we must recommend that you were a life jacket at all times while you are in the water, the trip also involves walking on the island and sightseeing.

The tour itineraries can be changed depending on the local weather condition. It’s will be decided by the tour leader and boat captain on your trip.

Richelieu Rock 2 Dive Day Trip