Dive-site story
Richelieu Rock is an isolated limestone pinnacle rising from a sandy seabed in the Andaman Sea, just south of the border with Myanmar. Its horseshoe-shaped formation features steep walls, crevices, and ledges carpeted in vivid purple soft corals and sea anemones. Because it sits far offshore without shelter, open-ocean currents sweep past the rock, drawing massive schools of pelagic predators alongside rare macro critters sheltered in the crevices.
Pelagic encounters including seasonal whale sharks and passing giant trevallies
Spectacular density of purple soft corals and sea anemone colonies
Pinnacle structure offering multi-level circumnavigation in calm pockets
Macro finds such as harlequin shrimp, seahorses, and ornate ghost pipefish
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
The marine park is open only from mid-October through mid-May, with peak pelagic sightings occurring toward the latter half of the season.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whale sharkRhincodon typus | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Harlequin shrimpHymenocera picta | Common | ||||||||||||
| Ornate ghost pipefishSolenostomus paradoxus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Bigeye trevallyCaranx sexfasciatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Chevron barracudaSphyraena qenie | Common | ||||||||||||
| Tigertail seahorseHippocampus comes | Common |
Marine forecast
