Koh Bon

 
Also called: Koh Bon West Ridge, Koh Talu

Koh Bon is a small isolated granite islet about two hours sail north of the main Similans group. However, Koh Bon is still part of the Similans National Park. Although basically composed of the same rock as the Similans, the landscape above and below the water is very different at Koh Bon. Where the Similans consist of large rounded boulders, Koh Bon is much "sharper". The main dive site, the "West Ridge", is marked by a knife-edge of rock jutting out from the island's western tip. Below the surface, the bottom is littered with giant, almost cubic, boulders.

Currents can be strong here, so this is a good spot for drift diving. But, be careful of your depth, as it's quite easy to go beyond your no decompression limits. Also be sure to check which way the current is running, and make sure your boat will be able to spot you no matter where you surface.

In the various corals, you'll find a wide variety of reef fish, including may kinds of Clownfish, surgeons, Moorish idols and some sweetlips. You will notice a few patches of coral destroyed by dynamite fishing, but this has supposedly stopped, and there's still lots to see.

Manta rays have been known to frequent this area, and it's said that this is the place you're most likely to see them in the Similans. Other large visitors include leopard sharks, whitetip and blacktip reef sharks, as well as nurse sharks.

Koh Bon Pinnacle

Due north of the ridge around 100 meters is a pinnacle that is one of my favorites of the Similans. There are no moorings or other markers on the spot, your boat's captain will have to use his depth-finder to locate the pinnacle, and you'll have to be careful to dive straight down or risk missing it entirely. Given the risks, the pinnacle should only be dived in slack tide. But, there's a very good reward in store for you should you find the rock. It's rather large, although you could conceivably circle it in a single dive. There are several crevices, where you can find fans holding small cowries and ghost pipefish. There are also lots of the ever-friendly batfish around. In a somewhat protected area on top of the pinnacle is a large anemone "garden". There are also almost always some large jacks and trevallies on the hunt as well.

Boats often anchor and spend the night in the relatively protected bay on the southwest side of the island. The bay can make a good night dive, and the snorkeling is even pretty good.

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