Boulder City
Boulder City is a chain of stacked granite boulders in open water off Ko Payan (island 3), a few hundred metres south-east of Sharkfin Reef. Because it is exposed, currents can be strong, and the many cleaning stations attract big fish such as giant barracuda, dogtooth tuna and trevally. Leopard sharks and Kuhl's stingrays rest on the sand around the deeper rocks, and golden sea fans and whip corals grow in the cracks. It is often the last dive of a southbound liveaboard trip.
Facts
- Region: Thailand – Similan & Surin
- Area: Similan South (islands 1–4)
- Depth: 5–35 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: strong
- Type: pinnacle, drift
- Coordinates: 8.5055, 97.6722
- Highlights: granite boulders, leopard shark, whitetip reef shark, Napoleon wrasse, giant barracuda, dogtooth tuna, cleaning stations, sea fans, moray eel, Kuhl's stingray
- Tips: Start deep and work shallower; finish around the central, shallowest outcrop to stay out of the current. Use the mooring lines when available.