Shark Fin Reef

Phang Nga, Similan Islands, Payang Island, Southern Thailand, Thailandreef35 m maxbeginner

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Conditions & tides

Shark Fin ReefPayang Island · 35 m

Fair · 4/5

conditions visualisation

Fair4/5

Some chop right now — best window today 7 AM–5 PM.

Wind8 kn WNW

Current~0.3 kn SSE · model

Swell

0.7 m · 5s · W

Water

29 °C

Conditions through the day

6 AM6 PM

Calmest current near slack — 03:15 PM & 03:15 AM local

Sunrise 06:17 AM · Sunset 06:24 PM local

Show details

Tide · local

Outlook — select a day for full conditions

On-face swell 0.7 m — the component of the swell aimed at this site’s exposed face. Current is a regional model value (Copernicus, ~9 km grid) — a guide to the area, not a precise reef measurement. Imagery © Esri · not depth or visibility.

Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model

Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.

Dived here today? How were conditions vs. what we showed?

About this site

Shark Fin Reef sits at Similan Island 8, known locally as Ko Payang, in the Mu Ko Similan National Park off the Phang Nga coast of southern Thailand. The site is named for a large granite boulder that breaks the surface in a fin-like shape, part of the boulder-strewn underwater terrain typical of the Similans chain, and the underwater bottom here is rock reaching a maximum depth of around 35 metres. It is rated a beginner dive despite a medium current, and divers should be aware of down and up currents that have been reported around the boulders. Leopard sharks, Napoleon wrasse, parrotfish, scorpionfish, and snapper are regularly encountered here, while divers have also reported barracuda, bumphead parrotfish, fusiliers, lionfish, manta rays, sea turtles, surgeonfish, tiger sharks, tuna, and unicornfish on the reef.

AI overview

Marine life here

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

Sea turtleSea turtleReported here · unconfirmed
ParrotfishParrotfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
SnapperSnapperConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Bumphead parrotfishBumphead parrotfishReported here · unconfirmed
Tiger SharkGaleocerdo cuvierReported here · unconfirmed
Manta rayManta rayReported here · unconfirmed
LionfishLionfishReported here · unconfirmed
TunaTunaReported here · unconfirmed
UnicornfishUnicornfishReported here · unconfirmed
SurgeonfishSurgeonfishReported here · unconfirmed
BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
TriggerfishTriggerfishReported here · unconfirmed
BatfishBatfishReported here · unconfirmed
FusilierFusilierReported here · unconfirmed
Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
Leopard / zebra sharkLeopard / zebra sharkConfirmed present · 3 independent sources
Breviturma dentataReported here · unconfirmed
Greenfish Sea CucumberStichopus chloronotusReported here · unconfirmed
Ophiocoma erinaceusReported here · unconfirmed
Neon FusilierPterocaesio tileReported here · unconfirmed
Black-finned TriggerfishMelichthys indicusReported here · unconfirmed
Spotted BoxfishOstracion meleagrisReported here · unconfirmed
Pineapple Sea CucumberThelenota ananasReported here · unconfirmed
Indian DascyllusDascyllus carneusReported here · unconfirmed
Crimson SoldierfishMyripristis murdjanReported here · unconfirmed
ScorpionfishScorpionfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
Powder Blue TangAcanthurus leucosternonObserved near here · iNaturalist
Blue DragonPteraeolidia semperiObserved near here · iNaturalist
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutusObserved near here · iNaturalist
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicusObserved near here · iNaturalist