malaysia or thailand diving in Jan

Yes, the best diving will be from a liveaboard, plus it is relaxed as well.

Check out this website for more information on the Similans, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock, the best diving Thailand has to offer.

Ha! When I came over here in 1999, I had only dived in the Caribbean (I was an instructor in Utila for a while). My first dives were at the King Cruiser Wreck and Shark Point - about halfway between Phuket and Phi Phi. I told the DM "I want to see a lionfish"... we descended down the line onto the wreck and there were about 7 lionfish hanging around the bottom of the line. Cool! I also wanted to see clownfish - and sure enough found them on Shark Point. What also struck me was the volume of fish life compared to Utila. And when I got on my first liveaboard to the Similan Islands, that was it. Sold. Still here 8 years later.

To answer your question in regard to choosing between Malaysia and Thailand.

If you go to Malaysia in January, you will want to go to Sipadan off the coast of Borneo (east Malaysia). There you will be doing shore-based diving. The diving is excellent, and while January is not the peak season, you will still have plenty to see that you will never see in the Caribbean.

If you come to Thailand, plan on doing a liveaboard that includes Richelieu Rock as well as the Similans. There are literally dozens of liveaboard boats of all price categories and comfort levels with trips scheduled to the Similans. You are sure to find something that suits you!

I dived Similans end of Dec/beginning of Jan and saw Manta Ray which was very special for me. Leopard Shark, Lion Fish, Reef Shark and even Sea Snake were abundant. I dived with Pro-Similandivers.com (through www.a-seadivers.com) it was a great company, fantastic service and dived where no other boat was which on looking at all the boats out there was a great bonus)

Have a great time,

Boerloy

Similans is the best diving in Thailand can see anthing there .. Lots of boats to chose from , 4 days 4 nights was good for me ..

Small point quero, Sipadan itself is pretty much day boat diving since they removed the resorts from the island itself.

Looking forward to a spot of diving in Thailand myself in late december, early jan. I'm looking at a few days shore diving followed by a Similian Islands liveaboard.

Bicycle Bill--thanks for pointing out an area where a lot of people get confused still.

Around here, when we refer to 'Sipadan' as a destination, we are generally not talking about the island itself, but rather the locale. Sipadan as a locale in local parlance includes the dive sites at Sipadan Island as well as those at Kapalai and Mabul islands, where the resorts are now all located after the island of Sipadan was vacated (much in the same way that a trip to the 'Similans' in Thailand very often also encompasses divesites outside the marine park). And while I perhaps should have said 'land-based' rather than 'shore-based' diving to avoid confusion, yes, there are boats involved in diving at Sipadan (though I would personally not call resort diving from a boat 'day boat diving' since these are dedicated dive resorts). What I was hoping to communicate is that the resorts are fixed buildings as opposed to a liveaboard. The OP expressed an interest in an LOB, and with Sipadan as a destination, the resort options are the principal ones.

As for your own upcoming Similans LOB trip, do try to find a boat that goes to Richelieu Rock as well as to the islands in the Similans Marine Park, as the diving up there at Richelieu and viscinity is superb!

Thanks for clearing up any confusion I may have caused quero! Got to admit when I dived there I went with Scuba Junkie based in Semporna rather than the resorts, although it doesn't really matter at the end of the day.

And ta muchly for the advice on making sure Richelieu rock is included on my intinerary! I'll make sure it is.

The Similans and Surin Islands. That's the beginning of our really great diving.

From Khao Lak you can do liveaboards, overnight camping trips to the islands and daytrips. And plenty of great deals on the trips too...