| |
Arrive Mu Ko Similan National Park, rated first
by the U. S. publication Skin Diving of the top ten dive sites in the world. The
Similan Islands in the heart of the Andaman Sea are indeed unparelled in their
exotic beauty. If planning a visit, keep in mind that anytime between December
to April is recommended, with the best month being March, because the monsoons
are over and the water is clear.
The national park is established in 1982
and located in Ko Phrathong Sub-distreict, Khuraburi District, Phang-nga Province
and covers 128 square kilometers, 80,000 rais, of area, 14 square kilometers of
which is land composed of all the islands put together. Located along the western
coastline of the Andaman Sea and in the Indian Ocean, rest these nine exotic granite
islands created by upwellings of hot magma during the Teritiary-Cretaceous Period
some 65 million years ago, then smoothed by glacial ice and the wave action of
the sea.
Similan is really the Malaysian word for nine, as there are nine
islands in the Similan group: Ko Bangu, Ko Similan, Hin Huwagralok, Ko Payu, Ko
Ha, Ko Hok, Ko Miang, Ko Payan, Ko Payang, and Ko Huyong.
Ko Mieng
or Ko Si (Four) is the location of the park's HQ. Here are two white powdered
beaches, the large Haad yai, in 'front' of the island and the small Haad lek,
which is about 20 minutes walk away, through rich evergreen forest, on the other
side. It is home to NICO bar Pigeon, Flying Fox, and Hairy-legged Mountain Crab
('Poo Gai' in Thai, because it cheeps like a baby chicken), as well as much other
wildlife. Facilities include a freshwater source, bungalow, campsites, a restaurant,
a shop and long-tails boat for hire for snorkeling. Ko Similan or Ko Paed
(Eight) is the largest island with a large beautifully curved bay named 'Ao
Kuerk'. The beach here is white like powder. Snorkeling is possible from here.
To the right is found the towering 'Sailing Rock', a symbol of Ko Similan which
can be climbed in order to take in a panoramic view of the bay. Ko Payu
or Ko Jed (Seven) has a very stunning snorkeling and scuba-diving site on
the eastern shore. Many divers prefer this site to any other because there are
both hard and soft corals, sea fans, and many species of schooling fish. A minor
site is found to the west, and another to the north has rocks covered with sea
fans, The island has no beach.Pusa Rocks is a small island shaped, above water,
like a skull. Underwater are holes and crevices, very exciting for divers. Ko
Haa (five), to the west of the island is a large underwater rock full of soft
corals. Nearby, garden Eels can be seen stretching their necks from holes in the
sandy floor. Fantasy Rocks are another scuba-diving site consisting
of several large rocks totally covered with soft corals, sea fans, and many species
of fish. They are located to the west of Ko Similan (Ko Paed), and are one of
the more popular diving sites. Christmas Point Rocks are another scuba
diving site, a complex of rocks full of soft corals and sea fans found to the
northwest of Ko Ba-ngu or Ko kao (Nine). Shark Ridge Rocks are pinnacle
rocks near Ko Payan or Ko Sam (Three). Here, several species of sharks like Silvertip,
Leopard Shark, and Reef White tip can be found. Ko Bon is located between
the Similan Islands and Ko Tachai. There is no beach and the underwater scenery
here is not as beautiful as elsewhere, but scuba divers may often find Manta Rays. Ko
Tachai is located at the northernmost tip of the park. There is a beautiful
white beach on the island but no accommodation. The water is suitable for scuba
diving, and Whale Shark is often found here. |