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Introduction
Surat Thani, formerly known as "Chaiya City", is an ancient
city with a long history starting from Sivichaya Empire, in which several
of the prosperous evidences still remain nowadays. "Surat Thani"
literally means "A city of the good people".
Surat Thani is located on the east coast of Southern Thailand,
685 kilometers far from Bangkok. The province occupies 12,891 square kilometers
covering the tropical rainforest zone, which are packed with plants and
wild lives. The area also extends to cover a number of islands and islets
with magnificent scenery, crystal clear water, and continuous white sand
beach. The scenery of each island varies on the location and the natural
environment.
Dive
Site in Surat Thani
Map & Diving Destination
Dive Site: Koh Nang Yuan
This small island sits off the northwest coast of Koh Tao and is famous
for being the only place in the world where three islets are connected
when low tide. This island has a fine sandy beach with crystal clear water.
The profound beauty and serenity of shallow and deep coral reefs here
is what makes Koh Nang Yuan one of the very popular dive sites of the
world. There are resorts on this island.
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Maximum depth: 15 meters
- Marine lives cowfish, blue spotted ray, hard and soft corals
- Underwater visibility 6-9 meters
Koh
Tao
Koh Tao is an island in Koh Pha Ngan district, Surat Thani province. However,
its geographical location is closer to Chumporn province, which is within
74 kilometers distance. Therefore, it is both convenient to go there either
from Surat Thani or Chumporn. Unspoiled and undisturbed by overcrowded
tourists like other places, Koh Tao earns its reputation for underwater
resources, unique beautiful bays, coves and coral garden under crystal
clear water. The island is excellent for water sports and activities especially
snorkeling and scuba diving.
Dive Site: Chumporn Pinnacle
Chumporn
Pinnacle, a huge submerged rock, is the most popular dive site of Koh
Tao. The pinnacle is located at about 11 kilometers northwest of Koh Tao.
The site can be noticed as a huge granite pinnacle surrounded by a series
of smaller ones from the depth of 12-32 meters. These rocks are covered
with sea anemones, black corals, and large schools of fish. You will also
enjoy a sight of carpets of anemones and some pink clownfish, batfish,
trevallies, groupers, as well as fusiliers and rabbit fish patrolling
around the main site.
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GPS Coordinate: Lat. 10 10 333 N. Long. 099 46 743 E.
- Maximum depth: 36 meters; average depth 20 meters
- Marine lives: barracuda, batfish, giant cods, high possibility for mantas
and whale shark sighting
- Underwater visibility: 15 meters
Dive
Site: Southwest Pinnacle
This
pinnacle is another impressive diving destination located at about 13
kilometers southwest of Koh Tao. The site is made up of seven pinnacles,
which form something like an underwater mountain range. The depths range
from 30 meters upwards, with the largest peak rising to within 5 meters
of the surface. Like Chumphon pinnacle, the site offers a view of various
colorful sea anemones on the upper levels and rich layers of whip corals
and seafans along the lower edges. You can also find black corals, which
are exceptionally beautiful, and a numerous schools of fish including
a huge grouper around the main site.
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GPS Coordinate: Lat. 09 59 937 N. Long. 099 46 738 E.
- Maximum depth: 30 meters
- Marine lives: giant grouper, sea anemone, sea whip, gorgonian (seafan)
and hard corals
- Underwater visibility: 10 meters
Dive
Site: White Rock
White Rock features an expansive coral garden that stretches between two
distinct granite pinnacles to the north and south of the site. It comprises
a number of small rocks covering the entire area from the depth of 6-22
meters in the south of Koh Nang Yuan.
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GPS Coordinate: Lat. 10 06 569 N. Long. 099 48 826 E.
- U/W environment: Pinnacle, small caves and coral gardens
- Maximum depth: 26 meters
- Marine lives: There are various colors of soft corals, seafans, whip
corals, and various schools of fish. Some commonly seen ones are the blue
spotted stingray, several species of barracuda and moray eels.
- Underwater visibility: 7 meters
Dive Site: Green Rock
What distinguishes green rock from other dive sites is the landscape -
consisting of varying swim-through and the lunar-like background created
by nesting yellow margin triggerfish. The depth here ranges from 3-30
meters. Along the inside of underwater caverns and the underside of outcropping,
you will spot multi-colored soft corals and sponges.
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Maximum depth : 30 meters
- Marine lives : Triggerfish, soft corals, sew whip and black seafan
- Underwater visibility: 6-8 meters
Dive Site: Hin Wong
Hin Wong is another submerged group of rocks located at the east of Koh
Tao.
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Depth: average 6-25 meters
- Marine lives : Hard corals, goby, reef fish
- Underwater visibility: up to 10 meters (mostly poor visibility)
Dive Site: Sail Rock
Sail Rock is a wall-diving pinnacle with an underwater chimney from 1.8-8
meters situated between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. The dive site around
this area is relatively deep, from the depth of 9-40 meters, decorated
with magnificent swim-through that you will certainly enjoy.
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GPS Coordinate: Lat. 09 56 698 N. Long. 099 59 445 E.
- U/W environment: Chimney/Cave and steep walls
- Depth: average 35 meters
- Marine lives: carpets of pink anemone, large grouper, batfish, large
snapper, giant barracuda, moray eel, reef shark and whale shark.
- Underwater visibility: up to10 meters
Dive Site: Shark Point Rock (Shark Island)
Shark Point Rock or San Cha Larm (called in Thai) is an islet, one of
the richest in terms of the diversity of marine life, located at only
300 meters southeast of Koh Tao. This small, uninhabited granite peak
rises above the water from a sandy bottom from 6 to 20 meters. The main
attractions here include various kinds of corals - soft, hard or encrusted.
There are also whip corals and seafans. In terms of marine life, blue
spotted stingrays, scribbled filefish, harlequin sweetlips, starry pufferfish,
groupers and titan triggerfish can be expected. The "fish junction"
off the northern end of the pinnacle provides a vintage point for photographing.
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U/W environment: small caves and coral garden
- Depth: average 20 meters
- Marine lives: The main attractions here include various kinds of corals
- soft, hard or encrusted. There are also whip corals and seafans. In
terms of marine life, blue spotted stingrays, scribbled filefish, harlequin
sweetlips, starry pufferfish, groupers and titan triggerfish can be expected.
leopard shark, silver tip shark, white tip shark, and manta ray.
- Underwater visibility: 7-10 meters
Ao Muang
This site is a small bay located at the northern tip of the west side
of Koh Tao. Access to the dive site can be done only by boat. It is good
for macro photography.
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Depth 14 meters
- Marine lives : small creatures such as Nudibranch and commensal shrimps
- Underwater visibility 6-8 meters
Koh
Samui
Koh Samui is the world famous tourist destination. The island is the second
largest island of Thailand, next to Phuket. There are accommodations,
entertainments and facilities to satisfy most tourists' requirement. Visitors
may find that there are many dive shops on Samui, however, the dive sites
are located mostly around Koh Tao area.
Koh Kra, Nakorn Sri Thammarat
Koh Kra, about 54 Kilometers from the land, consists of three islets and
one pile of rocks, namely Koh Kra Yai, Koh Kra Klang, Koh Kra Lek, and
Koh Kra Rock. It is under administration of Nakorn Sri Thammarat province.
Dive Site: Koh Kra Rock
Koh Kra Rock is a submerged rock. This site is good for deep diving. Marine
lives that can be found here are Ctenocella seafans, whip corals, seafans,
hard coral, cowrie, as well as a school of red snapper, jacks (trevally),
barracuda, and smooth-tailed trevally.
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GPS Coordinate: Lat. 08 23 000 N. Long. 100 46 000 E.
- Maximum depth 40 meters
- Marine lives Hard corals, cabbage corals, ctenocella seafans, barracuda,
red snappers, sea whip, green turtles, Nudibranch, cowries
- Underwater visibility: up to 8 meters (poor visibility in most time
of the year)
Topography
Almost 40 percent of Surat Thani is covered with mountains and hills.
The "Phuket Mountain" rests along the province from north to
south. Such geographical characteristic, therefore, originates 14 rivers,
which flow steadily to the gulf of Thailand. Among all, the important
rivers are Tapi river, Phum Duang river , Tathong river , Takrajai river,
Chaiya river, and Tachang river.
Climate
Surat Thani is generally warm with high degree of humidity from the effect
of the tropical southwest and northeast monsoons. There are only two seasons
in a year - summer and rainy seasons. The rainy season lasts over nine
months and, on average, rain falls 166 days a year in Surat Thani.
How to get there
By Car
From Bangkok, use the Petchkasem Road or Highway No.4 heading towards
Chumporn via Nakorn Pathom, Rachaburi, Petchburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Then, continue to Highway No.41 until you reach Surat Thani. The total
distance from Bangkok to Surat Thani is 685 Kilometers.
By Bus
From the Southern Bus Terminal at Boromratchchonnani Road, there are frequent
bus services, from both public and private companies, to Surat Thani and
Samui Island. The journey takes approximately 11 hours. For further information
please contact tel. (+66) 2435 1199, 2435 1200 or visit http://www.transport.co.th/
By Train
From Bangkok Train Station (Hua Lum Pong Terminal), there are frequent
trains to the South which pass Surat Thani. Passengers have to get off
at the Surat Thani Station at Poonsin district, and transfer to the city
center by bus or taxi. The distance from trains station to city is 13
kilometers. For further information please contact the State Railway of
Thailand, hotline no. (+66)1690, or tel.no. (+66) 2223 7010, 2223 7020
or the Surat Thani Train Terminal at Poonpin Station, tel.no. (+66) 7731
1213.
By Plane
Daily flights from Bangkok to Surat Thani are available by the Thai Airways
(TG). The journey takes about 1 hour. For further information please contact
Bangkok office at telephone no. (+66) 1566, 2280 0060, 2628 2000, Surat
Thani office at telephone no. (+66) 7727 2610, 7727 3710, or Surat Thani
Airport at Tel. no. (+66) 7725 3500 extension no. 262.
Daily flights from Bangkok directly to Samui island is
also available by Bangkok Airways. The journey takes about 1 hour and
10 minutes. For further information please contact Bangkok Airways office
at telephone no. 0-2229-3456 or Samui office at telephone no. 0-7742-2512-8
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