Donald Duck Bay @ Similan Island #8

Donald Duck Bay

Unlike many Similan Island PADI scuba diving locations, Donald Duck Bay is an easy dive site, which is neither deep nor has strong currents. In addition, it is just a few hundred metres from a lovely beach on the north-west coast of Similan Island #8, the largest in the archipelago on Thailand’s Andaman west coast. The location above the water’s surface is probably more famous than below, although what lies beneath the waves is really what those visiting the Similan Islands come to see.



Donald Duck Bay got its name from a group of rocks on top of this, the biggest of the Similan Islands, and home to the national park offices. If viewed from a certain angle, the large granite boulders resemble the Walt Disney cartoon character that we all know and love. However, this alone is no reason to travel all this way out into the Andaman Sea. Similan Island liveaboard diving boats frequently use this bay as a stop-off point for lunch breaks and night-time moorings. During the day, scuba divers and their friends and families can relax on the pristine beach here, explore the inland areas, and climb to the top of the huge granite boulders which overlook the bay. Facing west, it is an ideal spot to view or photograph the sun setting over the Andaman Sea before relaxing for the evening on the boat or preparing for a wonderful night dive.

Under the water, Donald Duck Bay consists of sandy and rubble sea bed with lots of small pinnacles. The maximum depth is no more than twenty metres and being in a protected bay, currents are minimal. These conditions make it ideal for both inexperienced divers and night diving. During the day, all kinds of reef fish can be seen swimming around busily, as well as invertebrates and turtles. Recently, these turtles have started to accept food thrown to them by tourists, and are no longer shy of humans. There are even some reports of them approaching boats and people for food. This practice is wholly inappropriate, as it can cause the animals damage both directly and indirectly. Eating the wrong food can make them sick, while depending on humans for it may cause them to forget how to find food for themselves during the months when the Similan Islands are closed to the public.

While night diving at Donald Duck Bay, scuba divers should also refrain from disturbing sleeping fish with their torches. A good, calm and respectful scuba diver on a night dive at Donald Duck Bay has more chance of seeing a Giant Moray Eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) , Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus) or Nurse Shark (Cheilinus undulates) hunting across this wonderful reef.