Richelieu Rock is Thailand's best dive site. It is very popular and people dive there from early November until late April.
It's possible to go there on a day trip from Khao Lak, but much better to visit on a liveaboard diving safari. Richelieu Rock liveaboard diving is the best you can get in Thailand, for two main reasons.
These are that you can get in the water before the day trips arrive, and therefore be first to see the fish before the shy species are scared away on busy days. You can also do a late-afternoon dive there aswell, after the day trip boats have gone back.
The second reason for liveaboard diving Richelieu Rock is that you can spend all day there and slowly enjoy the whole dive site, including at high and low tides. There's no rush to race around this large pinnacle if you're at Richelieu Rock on a liveaboard cruise.
Now, although the dive site is famous for large species, such as Whale Sharks & Manta Rays, and for great visibility, you can also enjoy a dive there without these species, and on a rainy day.
Here in our video you can follow our group on a rainy day in October. Visiblity is ok, but not special. They didn't see any huge or special pelagic species, but just look at how many fish they did see.
Richelieu Rock is always teeming with life, and called 'Fish Soup' by many who have been lucky enough to dive there.
To enjoy Richelieu Rock liveaboard diving is the best way, and remember that although it's officially open from mid-October to mid-May, we advise going from late November to late April.
No Troubles Just Bubbles
https://www.notroublesjustbubbles.com/diving-destinations/thailand/richelieu-rock
