Welcome to the western tip of Koh Bangu Island, called Island 9 for simplicity!
The popular dive site Christmas Point is composed of large granite rocks and boulders on a relatively flat sandy seabed.
Features
They are waiting for you at Christmas Point:
- famous tunnels;
- moderate to strong currents;
- bright corals not affected by the 2004 tsunami;
- world class visibility.
The most famous tunnel is located at a depth of 24 m. You need to find it and swim in the first half of the dive. The farther from the island, the less frequent are rocks and boulders, practically disappearing at a depth of about 30 m.
Who can you meet
Shark:
- Zebra shark (Stegostoma flaviatum). Young individuals (up to 70 cm in length) have a zebra black and white color, adults (up to 3 m) have a leopard color.
- Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus). The length usually does not exceed 1.7 m.
- Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus). Not more than 1.6 m in length, has black spots on the fins and tail.
- Shark Guitar (Rhinobatidae). A small funny shark, no more than 1.5 m in length. If you look from above, it looks like an electric guitar, from the side you can clearly see sharp spikes on the back.
These sharks are not dangerous to humans if they are not teased, touched or chased.
Other fish:
- Ribbon eel (Rhinomuraena quaesita). Bright fish of black-yellow or blue-yellow color, the dream of all underwater photographers.
- Chevron barracuda (Sphyraena putnamiae). Long silvery fish with transverse black stripes and an aggressive muzzle, moves in schools.
- Eastern sweet lip (Plectorhinchus vittatus). A funny fish with a longitudinal black and white strip, with a yellow spot on the forehead. Fins and tail are yellow with black spots.
- Big-eyed trevall (Caranx sexfasciatus). Large friendly silvery fish, often in large schools.
- Fiery gobi (Nemateleotris magnifica). Red and white ray-finned fish with a long front fin sticking out at right angles.
A full range of stingrays, cuttlefish, nudibranchs, sea cucumbers and starfish can also be seen.
Big two
Meeting these giants is an unforgettable moment for every diver, so they are worth mentioning separately. They visit Christmas Point from time to time.
- Manta (Manta alfredi). It is also called the giant sea devil. The average span of the lateral fins, moving like wings, is 4.5 m.
Whale shark (Rhincodon typus). The largest fish in the world, feeds on plankton, usually 5.5-10 m in length.
Divers who are careful and don’t try to get too close can often get great photos and videos. Although these fish are very peaceful and absolutely not inclined to eat humans, because of their size it is better not to approach them: they can hurt and never notice.
Who is Christmas Point for?
We are often asked why some dive operators say that anyone can dive at Christmas Point, while others only recommend it to experienced divers. It depends on the specific conditions. The currents can be very strong and, in some cases, diving is not possible at all. We are always aware of the situation and are ready to discuss all the details with you.
Nine pearls of the Similan archipelago
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