Beacon Point is the rocky southern tip of Similan Island 8, where the granite landscape continues beneath the surface. It offers a different picture from the long eastern reef: large boulders, sand and deeper scenery rather than one uninterrupted shallow coral garden. The nearby reef has a reported closure, so a trip needs a clearly identified, permitted site—not just the name Beacon on an itinerary.
Dive dates appear when the writer supplied them. Earlier stories keep their original words and have no newly assigned ratings.
Point and reef are different parts of the coast
Sunrise Divers places the Point at Island 8’s southern tip, below a surface rock whose shape gives the Thai name Na Ling, or monkey face. Its description locates large submerged boulders around 20–35 metres; the reef continues north along the eastern shore. Some boat guides group Point and Reef together.
Depth and current shape the choice
The rocky sector is not a blanket recommendation for beginners. Published site descriptions differ in their depth ranges and current assessments, and the old promise of a relaxing dive with no current is too broad. The actual entry, planned depth and conditions determine whether the dive suits a particular group.
Access needs a precise answer
Access information reviewed 13 November 2026: published accounts of neighbouring Beacon Reef conflict. Indepth retains a closure notice referring to 2011, while Siam Dive’s article dated 10 October 2026 describes Beacon Reef as part of the operating dive rotation. Neither resolves the exact Point sector for a particular departure. A boat booking needs a named-site permission check rather than an assumption based on the word “Beacon”.
Life among the boulders
The older Divezone account highlights rays, reef sharks, leopard sharks and smaller reef subjects. Those encounters are possibilities, not a reason to promise a sighting or a current abundance. The change from granite to coral and sand is part of the site’s interest even without a large animal passing through.
Choosing a boat day
An itinerary mentioning only Beacon is not specific enough to resolve the Point–Reef distinction. The useful details are the intended sector, current park permission and the boat’s alternative if it cannot be visited. Non-divers also need a separate answer about supervised activities; a deeper rocky dive does not establish a suitable snorkelling stop.
Questions about Beacon Point
Where is Beacon Point?
At the southern tip of Similan Island 8. The rocky Point leads towards the reef along the island’s eastern side.
Is it the same as Beacon Beach?
The names are sometimes grouped, but Beacon Point describes the southern rocky sector while Beacon Beach or Beacon Reef describes the eastern reef.
Is Beacon Point confirmed open?
The sources reviewed here do not settle current permission for the exact Point sector. They also disagree over neighbouring Beacon Reef. The boat and park need to confirm the named stop for the intended visit; this is not a confirmed closure notice for Beacon Point.
Is the dive always calm?
No. A previous generalisation about absent current should not guide trip planning. The boat’s assessment and the planned depth matter for each visit.
Updated 13 November 2026. Sources: Sunrise Divers: southern-tip terrain; Indepth: historical Beacon Reef closure notice; Siam Dive: October 2026 Beacon Reef account.
Best time to dive: the ideal period to plan holidays here is October to November. Access: Boat. See the map of Beacon Point on the right for the exact location.
Fishes you may spot while diving Beacon Point
-
Surgeonfish
Photos
-
Clown fishes waiting in front of their blue anemone housePhoto by Jihye Lee -
Blacktip Shark patrolling the crystal clear water... EPIC photo!Photo by Yann Hubert -
Huge Hammerhead Shark patrolling the reef in French PolynesiaPhoto by Yann Hubert -
Beautiful & Colorful Mandarin FishPhoto by Rich Guest -
Yellow Seahorse in Lembeh StraitPhoto by Agnes Tjandranegara -
Lion Fish swimming in crystal clear waterPhoto by Agnes Tjandranegara -
Surreal LifePhoto by Jihye Lee -
Crab On Coral ReefPhoto by Jihye Lee -
LeopardPhoto by Jihye Lee -
Frogfish On ReefPhoto by Rich Guest
Diving Reviews for this region
Similan Islands
Granite boulder dives, reef photography and northern Andaman liveaboards. Day boats also visit the Similans; route choice, current and park access determine the right trip.
Liveaboard Reviews in Similan Islands
South Siam 4
Thailand · Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock · Updated 9 November 2026
Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant makes room for both halves of Thailand’s Andaman Sea. Her four-night cruises concentrate on the Similans and northern pinnacles; selected six-night journeys continue south to Koh Haa and Hin Daeng–Hin Muang. That longer trip is the interes
The Junk
Three masts, a wooden hull and a history that began with charcoal rather than scuba tanks: The Junk brings a little romance to a Thai diving holiday. The appeal goes well beyond a photogenic silhouette. Eighteen guests share six ensuite cabins, and the
Sawasdee Fasai
Sawasdee Fasai is a good boat for divers who like a full day underwater and room to spread out afterwards. Four nights carry the trip from the Similans’ granite scenery to the northern pinnacles, with Richelieu Rock given a full day in the sample progr
MV Smiling Seahorse
Photos: Smiling Seahorse operator gallery via LiveAboard.com.
Thailand Master (The Phinisi)
Photos: Thailand Master operator gallery via LiveAboard.com.
Andaman Tritan
Andaman Tritan images from Sunrise Divers’ identified boat gallery. Undated photographs of the documented configuration.
MV Pawara
Pawara photo gallery: operator imagery supplied through LiveAboard.com. Photos are undated; the confirmed cabin allocation governs your booking.
MV Oktavia
Historical Oktavia images supplied through LiveAboard.com. They do not depict a verified current Orca Oktavia configuration.
South Siam 3
The 30 meters South Siam 3, also called Somboon 3, is a liveaboard operating in Thailand. Indeed, the dive boat offers flexible itineraries including the best dive sites of Thailand such as the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Tachai, Surin and Richelieu Rock