A purple pinnacle and whale-shark roulette.
The dive
A horseshoe pinnacle draped in purple soft coral — world-class macro on the wall and a real shot at whale sharks circling the blue.
When to go
The Andaman season runs roughly mid-October to April; February–April carries the best whale-shark odds.
Readiness
Advanced-level site — suits Advanced Open Water divers and up. Typical requirements:
Not sure you're ready? Read our readiness guide or check yourself in the planner.
Logistics
| Getting there | International flight + multi-day liveaboard. Fly to Phuket (HKT) or Khao Lak, then join a Similan/Surin liveaboard that includes Richelieu Rock. |
|---|---|
| Where to stay | Liveaboard. Liveaboard from Khao Lak; Richelieu is the prized last stop of most northern Andaman itineraries. |
| Operator to look for | Reviewed Khao Lak liveaboards with the range to include Richelieu and the Surin reefs. |
Sources
Links checked 29 September 2026. They cover the site's location, protection status and background. Costs, difficulty and season windows are ScubaRogue's editorial estimates, so confirm them with your operator before you book. How we research
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