Anita's Reef

Anita’s Reef is a gently sloping coral reef and boulder site on the east coast of Similan Island 5, Similan Islands National Park, Phang Nga Province, Thailand. It is one of the most popular check-out and easy dives in the Similans — but as of the most recent operator reports, it is currently closed to diving as part of the park’s coral-protection measures.

Overview

Current status: closed. Multiple 2025–2026 sources (divehappy.com, thailanddiveandsail.com) report Anita’s Reef as one of several signature Similan sites currently closed to allow coral recovery, alongside East of Eden. No source found confirms a reopening date. Divers planning a Similans trip should confirm current site access with their operator before expecting to dive here.

When open, the site is a gentle sandy slope on Island 5’s east coast, mixing coral bommies with scattered granite boulders and table and staghorn coral growth. A large coral bommie on the southeast side is the site’s centrepiece, drawing photographers for its cover of soft and hard corals and large sea fans. Currents are typically mild, which is why it has traditionally been used as a check-out or first dive on liveaboard itineraries.

Site Information

• Location: East coast of Similan Island 5, Similan Islands National Park, Phang Nga Province, Thailand
• Entry Type: liveaboard
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 28 meters
• Typical Visibility: 15–30 meters
• Current: Light to moderate
• Best Time: November to May (site currently closed — confirm access before planning a visit)

Marine Life

Sources describing this site specifically report lionfish, Oriental sweetlips, clown triggerfish, bluefin trevally, and garden eels on the sandy slope, along with Kuhl’s stingrays (similandivingtours.com). No site-specific source confirms turtles, whitetip sharks, cuttlefish, or frogfish at Anita’s Reef by name — those species are commonly reported at nearby Similan sites in general, but attributing them specifically to Anita’s Reef would go beyond what the available sources support.

Dive Profile

A gentle slope dive beginning in shallow sand and working across the bommie field toward the deeper sand base. The large southeast bommie is the focal point of most dive plans and is typically visited mid-dive.

Entry and Exit

Liveaboard access with zodiac, when the site is open. Conditions on this eastern aspect are typically calmer than the archipelago’s west-facing sites.

Tips and Recommendations

• Check with your operator on current park access rules before including this site in a trip plan — it has been reported closed through the 2025–2026 season
• If reopened, the southeast bommie is the site’s signature feature and worth prioritising
• Garden eels retreat into their sand burrows as divers approach — observe from a few metres above to see them extended

Safety Considerations

No site-specific hazard information beyond standard Similan conditions (light to moderate current, sandy slope) was found in available sources. Always carry an SMB and dive within your certification limits.

Photography

The southeast bommie, with its sea fans and coral cover, is the site’s best-documented photographic subject. No further site-specific photography guidance was found in available sources.

Sources: Similan Diving Tours, Dive The World, Dive Happy, Thailand Dive and Sail. Last updated 2026-07-05.