DIVE SITE
ELEPHANT HEAD ROCK

The Similan Islands offers many wonderful dive sites for the experienced scuba diver, especially during the season when the waters are calmer and the marine life is in full abundance. One of the most impressive areas for scuba diving is the famed Elephant Head Rock.
Getting its name from its appearance of an elephant partially submerged under water, Elephant Head Rock is located between Islands #6 and #7 of the Similan Islands. Because of the very large granite boulders, there are a myriad of mazes, tunnels and caverns in this dive area. The site itself goes to depth of over 45 meters (150 feet), but for most divers 27 to 30 meters (90 to 100 feet) is deep enough to see all of the sites it has to offer.
The numerous swim-through areas and channels allow you to look underneath ledges and outcroppings and see many wondrous sites. For the most part, you will need a torch to light up the areas that are in the shadows so that you can full see the marine life that is part of the rocks.

The Marine Life of Elephant Head Rock:
There are a number of sharks that inhabit this area, including the whitetip reef and leopard sharks which roam about the rock. However, there are also rarer species such as the McCosker’s dwarf wrasse and the fire gobies that are purple and enjoy the deep waters. For those who stay in the shallower end, you will get a chance to see the Similan Islands jawfish. In addition, there are waves of trevally that swim about in the area as well.
Amid the boulders are numerous species including the black egg cowries, spider crabs, cuttlefish and mantis shrimps as well as hawksbill turtles which can be found among the hard coral areas. You can also find nurse sharks underneath the ledges as well as bi-color parrotfish, blue-ringed angelfish, Andaman sweet-lips and titan triggerfish as well. At the deeper levels, you will see snappers and yellow goldfish swimming along with lionfish and groupers. On the southern end of the dive site is a more open area with a small group of pinnacles that attract whale sharks and manta rays. There is certainly a wealth of marine life that you can find in this area.

You will need a torch to see all the wonders of Elephant Head Rock which has many darkened areas. The coral really comes to life when you see it lit up properly by a torch. While the currents are not too challenging at times, the strong surge and numerous boulders make this one of the most challenging dive sites in the Similan Islands and therefore it is only recommended for advanced divers.
For those with the diving experience, Elephant Head Rock is one of the best dive sites you can find in the Similan Islands which are part of Thailand. It certainly provides an unforgettable experience for those who want to see plentiful marine life in this part of the world.