Phang-Nga Province
Introduction Phang-Nga province, covering an area of 4,171 square kilometers, is reputed as one of Thailand's top scenic tourist attractions. Blessed with abundant scenic mountainous landscapes on land, the world famous islands such as Surin Islands Marine National Park, Similan Islands Marine National Park and Phang-Nga Bay Marine National Park are in the vicinity of its costal sea. Diving Season The yearly dive season spans from November to April where the sea is calm with clear blue sky. The Southwest monsoon season begins in May and lasts till October. In addition, the Surins and Similans Marine National Parks are off limit to divers and closed to visitors during this monsoon period. Overview
of Dive Sites in Surin Islands Marine National Park Coral growth is healthy especially in the sheltered bays on the eastern sides of the islands. With rich in marine life, islands' seabed covers with hard and soft corals, sea feathers, star fishes, spiny lobsters, giant clams and so on. Fish species found around the reefs are parrot fish, clown fish, black tip shark, lion fish, angel fish, etc. In additional, the Surin Islands is also the habitat of sea gypsies, known as Morgan -- the name Morgan is derived from their language which is universal to all sea gypsy groups. Travel
to Surin Islands National Park Kuraburi Pier - Kuraburi district, Phang-Nga province, Distance- 60 kilometers, Traveling time- 4 hours Thab Lamu Pier - Tai Muang district, along Highway No.4 (Phang-Nga - Takua Pa), Distance- 60 kilometers, Traveling time- 4 hours Kapor District Pier - Ranong province, Traveling time 7 hours Dive Site: Richelieu's Rock The submerged Richelieu's rock is approximately 10 kilometers southwest of Surin Islands Marine National Park and widely regarded as one of Thailand's top dive destinations. For deep diving, the Richelieu's rock offers divers with unmatched marine diversity and beautiful corals. Facing with whale shark makes it very popular among keen divers. -
Geographical characteristic: Huge pinnacles Dive Site: Kor Kai or Torinla Island Torinla, the ultimate dive site of Surin Islands Marine National Park, lies towards the south of Koh Surin Tai. -
GPS Coordinate: Lat. 09 22 582 N. Long. 097 52 258 E. Dive Site: Ao Phakkad Cape The beauty of this reef is no lesser than other top dive spots in the Surin Marine National Park. It is balance of hard corals, soft corals and seafans are a rich feeding ground for large marine fishes. -
GPS Coordinate: Lat. 09 22 706 N. Long. 097 52 801 E. The Similan Islands National Park The Similan Islands Marine National Park, located in Tambol Koh Pra Thong, covers a total of 80,000 rais. This jewel of the Andaman Sea was bestowed with the national marine park status on 1st September 1982. Similan means "nine" in Malay, referring to the nine small islands, which forms the Similan "cluster of islands". The islands are designated as follows; beginning with southernmost Koh Huyong (# 1), follows by Koh Payong (# 2), Koh Payan (# 3), Koh Miang (# 4), Koh Ha (#5), Koh Hok (#6), Koh Payu (# 7), Hin Hua Kra Loak or Hin Pusar, Koh Similan (# 8) and the southernmost Koh Bangu (# 9). In 2001, the Ministry of Agriculture includes Koh Bon and Koh Tachai, which lie northward to the Similan cluster of islands, to the original group and form the Similan Islands Marine National Park. The national park office is located on Koh Miang or Island # 4. The Similans is blessed with majestic beauty on land and diverse marine ecological system in its water. A variety of colorful soft and hard corals beautify the underwater reef landscape which is home to some of the most admirable marine life such as manta ray, whale, dolphin and moray eel. Tourists and divers can visit the Similan Islands Marine National Park from November to April every year. Traveling to the marine park during the monsoon season (May to October) is restricted due to unfavorable sea condition. In addition, the marine park is sealed off to visitors to revitalize the marine ecological system during the monsoon season. Travel
to the Similan Islands National Park Thub Lamu Pier, located in Thai Muang district, is assessable from highway 4 (Phang-Nga- Takua Pa). The pier is only 40 kilometer or 3-4 hours away from the Similan Islands Marine National Park. Visitors can perform inquiries and other related services at the marine park office located within the pier compound. Vessels of all sizes are also available for service. Kuraburi Pier (Kuraburi district, Phang-Nga province) is approximately 40 kilometers away and takes 5 hours. Pathong Beach Pier, situated along Pathong beach in Phuket province is also another popular option among visitors. It is 70 kilometers away from the marine park and takes over 5 hours. For more information, contact local travel agents or private cruise operators. The
marine park offers a variety of accommodations from bungalows to campsites.
Inquiries and booking can be made at Similan Islands Marine National Park's
office. Coastal
office tel: (+66) 7659 5045 Interesting Dive Sites North of the Similans lies Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, the Surin Islands, and Richelieu's Rock. All of these areas offer world-class diving that differs from the Similans Dive Site: Koh Tachai Koh Tachai lies on the northern tip of the Similan Islands Marine National Park. The more popular dive site at Koh Tachai is a submerged rock, with depth of 20-40 meters, and reachable from the southern shore. The rock is covered with a variety of colorful soft coral and seafans. Marine life in the area includes barracuda, batfish, and parrotfish. Manta ray and whale shark are frequently visitors too. -
GPS Coordinate: (Outer) Lat. 09 03 439 N. Long. 097 48 888 E. Dive Site: Koh Bon Koh Bon is located about 20 kilometers on the northeastern edge of Island No.9 of Similan Islans Marine National Park. It features one of the only vertical walls in Thailand. The dive site is on the southwestern point and consists of a 33-meter wall facing the small cove, and a step-down ridge that carries on to depths of over 45 meters. Although the soft corals are not as high-profile as they are in the Similans, the colors of the corals are radically different and include shades of turquoise, yellow and blue, besides the more common pinks and purples. Koh Bon is one of the better places to see manta rays -
GPS Coordinate: Lat. 08 49 660 N. Long. 097 47 881 E. Similan Islans Marine National Parks Similan Islands, designated as a national park in 1982, comprise the group of nine remote islands located 95 km northwest of Phuket. The Similans are some the worlds most beautiful and unspoiled islands and together with the splendor of the rich and varied marine life, and stunning coral reefs they offer a world class underwater paradise for scuba divers. Underwater, the surface the Similans offer a wide variety of underwater scenery and marine life. You can draw a line roughly down the middle of each island in the chain separating them into two parts, with each offering totally different diving environments. On the western side of the islands, huge granite boulders are stacked on top of one another creating magnificent archways, and plunging drop-offs. Most of these granite boulders are so completely covered in colorful soft corals that the rock is no longer visible. Koh Bangu or Island # 9 Koh Bangu is a small island decorated with layers of rocks of different shapes and sizes along the surrounding shoreline. Christmas Point is made up of submerged huge rocky ridge covered with scenic coral reefs, majestic seafans and populated with Groupers, Silvertip Sharks, Mantis Shrimp and the strikingly beautiful Ribbon Eels. Dive Site: Christmas Point, Island No.9 Off the western tip of the Island # 9 is Christmas Point, the most popular site among enthusiastic divers in the Similan islands. There are many swim-through caverns scattered all over this underwater ridge waiting to be explored. Cavern walls are decorated with vivid red, yellow and green corals like 'Christmas Tree' with flatworm and other tiny fascinating marine creatures and floras. Colorful reef fishes such as Emperor angelfished, lovely butterflyfishes, schooling of Banner fishes and hundreds of yellowish oriental sweetlips go about their daily meal on this plentiful underwater feeding ground. - Geographical characteristic: a small bay, located at the north west of island #9. It has a number of hollows as from the collapse of huge stones, in which the divers can dive under such hollows. -
U/W environment: 50 meters away from Island #9, large pinnacles are covered
with soft corals and seafans. Dive Site: New Year Point, Island #9 New Year Point, a small bay, is located at the north of Island #9. -
U/W environment: Large rocks with soft coral and coral growths Dive Site: The Mooring, Island # 9 Locating 300 meters far from the southern shore of Island # 9, there is another well-known dive site called "the Mooring" named after the two orange floating moors planted just above this dive site. -
Geographical characteristic: Two layers of outstanding reefs, one at 18
meters and another at 12 meters. Dive Site: Snapper Alley, Island # 9 Snapper Alley lies just 300 meters to the east of "the Mooring". -
Geographical characteristic The topside is distinguishably covered with
layers of piling rocks reaching out into the sea. The most advisable approach
to Snapper Alley is from the East. From 12 meter depth, hard coral reef
covers the gentle slope all the way to 18 meter seafloor. Dive
Site: Gorilla Bay, Island No.9 Koh Similan or Island # 8 Koh
Similan is the largest island among its siblings in the Similan Islands
Marine National Park. The oval horseshoe-shaped island has a long stretch
of pearl-white sandy beaches interrupted by gigantic pile of rocks. On
top is the iconic "sail rock", a popular scenic spot giving visitors a
bird-eye view of the ocean. In addition to its unique topside beauty,
Koh Similan offers divers with fascinating coral reefs and marine life.
Dive Site: Sail Rock, Island # 8 -
Geographical characteristic: a huge bay with a beautiful underwater environment.
In the north of this bay, there are 3-4 pinnacles with peaks emerged above
water. Dive Site: Turtle Rock, Island # 8 Turtle
Rock is situated in a small bay next to the end of the Sail Rock bay. Dive Site: Fantasy Reef, Island #8 Fantasy
Reefs is the playground of the marine animals among the corals and seafans,
and one of the best coral reefs in the Similans. *** Remarks: Resulting from the La Nina in 1997, the prolonged decreased of sea water temperature caused the death of the soft corals around this site. It has been prohibited to have any recreational diving for 2 years. Dive Site: Waterfall Bay, Island #8 Waterfall
Bay is located at the west of Island #8. The name of the bay was originated
from the gentle flowing of a small river, down from the top of the hill
on the island. Dive Site: Hin Hua Kra Lok or Hin Pusar or Elephant Rock, Island # 8 A
mile off the southwestern shore of Island # 8 is another popular dive
site called the Elephant Rock named after its the gigantic "elephant head"
shaped rock protruding from the water surface. There are several underwater
caverns and walls, beautified with colorful corals and reef fishes which
make the site popular among underwater photographers and divers alike. Dive Site: Beacon Beach, Island #8 -
Geographical characteristic: White sand stretches out 100 m into the sea,
from the depth of 6-9 meters to 30-34 meters, east of Similan Island (Island
# 8). Dive Site: Turtle Gully Reefs, Island #8 The coral reefs lie 2.4 kilometers north of Beacon Beach -
U/W environment: Many kinds of hard corals, sponges, soft corals. Dive Site: Deep Six, Island # 7 Deep
Six, locating at the north of the Island #7, is a landscape of gigantic
underwater rocks covered with a variety of seafans, sea sponges, sea whips,
hard and soft corals. Dive Site: Morning Edge, Island # 7 -
Geographical characteristic: Forest reefs surrounds the sandy sea bed
within a few hundred meters from Island #7 at the depth of 9-12 meters Dive Site: Three Rocks, Island # 7 Three peaks of the emerged rock is where its name, Three Rocks, was derived. This dive site is situated in the northernmost of Island #7. -
U/W environment: Wall dive with soft and bommie corals, seafans and sea
whips. Dive Site: East of Eden, Island #7 -
Geographical characteristic: The overlapped corals created one of the
most famous dive sites of the Similans. Dive
site: Modeling Rock, Island #5 Dive
Site: Eastern Front, Island #5 Dive
Site: Batfish Bend Dive
Site : Koh Miang Cape Dive
Site : Stonehenge Dive Site - Bird Rock, Island #4 -
Geographical characteristic: South of Island #4, the underwater cliff
leads into the depth of 40 meters Dive Site : Great Wall, Island #4 -
Geographical characteristic: Southernmost of Island #4, accompanied with
a beach of 50 meters as a landmark Huyong
Island or Island #1 Dive
Site : Shark Point ·
GPS Coordinate: Topography Phang-Nga, 788
kilometers from Bangkok, is densely covered with tropical rainforest in
the highlands and mountainous areas. The 57% of the area in the province
is still classified as healthy forestland. Pearl-white sandy beaches stretch
along the province's western coast. How to get there By Car By Bus By Train For more information, contact Bangkok's Hua Lumpong Train Terminal at SRT hotline: (+66) 1690, or tel: (+66) 2220 4334, 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit SRT's website at http://www.srt.or.th or http://www.thailandrailway.com By Plane |
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