As an inexperienced beginner diver, I boarded a live aboard trip off the coast of Thailand with Khao Lak Scuba Adventures with great expectations. All the tour operators build up your hope with talk of whale sharks and manta rays. Fortunately, this trip did not disappoint. At the Richelieu Rock dive site near the Surin Islands, we had the chance to spend a good ten minutes in the presence of two whale sharks. An absolute awe inspiring end to wonderful trip. No manta rays but a few leopard sharks, a green sea turtle and countless other beautiful fish and abundant coral. The boat, crew, food, and dive leaders were all wonderful. I have a few attached pictures but I was also new to underwater photography.