Nudibranch Photo by Henry and TersiaAnita's Reef is one of the most popular and enjoyable diving sites at the Similan Islands, and for very good reason. It is a similar dive site to East of Eden, in that it offers nice easy reef diving and has a huge bommie which is covered in life. The location is just to the east of Islands 5 & 6, right next to Hideaway Bay (aka. Barracuda Point), which is where the Tuna Wreck is located.
- Mild currents
- Lots and lots of special small creatures
- Huge coral bommie
In this part of The Similan Islands there are quite a few dive sites in a condensed area. Because of this, it's possible to visit two in one dive, and marking them on maps isn't easy. Therefore, there is some confusion about which is which and where. Islands 5 & 6 are on the east side of the larger Island 4 (Koh Miang), and all three are south-central in the Similan Islands archipelago. In the southern areas the dive sites tend to have more reefs, whereas the northern Similan dive sites consist of large granite boulders and deeper water. Anita's reef is able to offer both reef and boulders, while the maximum depth is sufficient for most.
The dive site is made up of lots of coral bommies dotted around on a sandy seabed. There are large boulders scattered too, and these become larger and more frequent as the depth increases. Here there is lots of healthy and colourful marine life right up to within a few metres of the surface. Currents are normally weak or non-existent, and unless there's a strong one coming from the south, divers normally enter the water at the north end of the dive site which is on the southeast edge of Island 6 (Koh Hok). They can explore the smaller boulders and bommies on their way down to the main bommie, and possibly even venture around the corner of Island 5 (Koh Ha), if there's enough time and air.
Bluespotted Stingray (Neotrygon Kuhlii) Photo by Henry and TersiaThe main attraction here at Anita's Reef is the huge coral bommie in the centre of the dive site. It sits on the sandy bottom at a depth of more than 20 metres and extends up to just 12 metres. It is absolutely teeming with life, both large and small, and consisting of invertebrates and bony fish, with occasional visits from marine reptiles. It's difficult to know where to start when listing the life at Anita's Reef, especially this huge bommie. Huge shoals of Glassfish are constantly seen around it. There are larger fish planning to prey on them, and thousands of tiny fish and invertebrates living life in nooks and crannies everywhere.
Out on the sand, divers should keep an eye out for Blue-Spotted Stingray (Neotrygon kuhlii) and Spotted Garden Eels (Heteroconger hassi). While the rays will swim away when approached, the eels will duck down into their holes in the sandy seabed, then reappear a moment or two later. Divers may also notice how gobies and shrimps live and work in pairs, sharing a home in the sand. The goby acts as lookout and the blind shrimp as cleaner and mover. Being a relatively easy dive site with sandy areas, it is often used for the first dive of a liveaboard trip, thus enabling the Divemasters and instructors to evaluate the levels and abilities of the divers.
Getting to Anita's Reef, or any of the Similans dive sites can be done by speedboat on a day trip or liveaboard cruise for 2-8 days. We offer the best prices for all trips, so to either confirm a booking or make an enquiry about diving in the Similans, just click below. Alternatively, go to our dive boats and centres page and follow the buttons to find the perfect package.
