Thailand's World

Mu Ko Similan National Park Ao Phang Nga Province

• Mu Ko Similan National Park is 140 square kilometers of conservation marine and land scape in Khura Buri District Phang Nga Province.
• '' Similan '' is a Malay word meaning '' 9 '', and refers to the 9 Islands which make up the Park. These 9 islands ly in a north south direction and are named, Ko Bon, Ko Ba Ngu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Ha, Ko Miang, Ko Phayan, Ko Pa Yang and Ko Hu Yong.
  
• Mu Ko Similan National Park geography is diverse with Beach Forest vegetation ecosystems and coral ecosystems.
• The marine life is influenced by the Mangrove Forests, the Coral Reefs and the Andaman Sea.
• This archipelago has over 27 mammal species, 50 species of fish, 22 reptile species and 4 amphibians.
  

The main tourist attractions at Mu Ko Similan National Park are;

• Ko Similan Island
• Ko Hu Yong with its long beach
• Ko Si
• Pusa Rock

The Dive Sites at Mu Ko Similan include;

1. Hin Dokmai
2. Ao Kwang En
3. Laem Prapha Khan
4. Ko Bon
5. Christmas Point
6. Fantasea Reef
7. Hin Pusa
8. Hin Sam Kon
9. Ko Hua Miang
10. Suan Pla Lai
11. San Chalam
12. Khamphaeng Mueang Chin

• Mu Ko Similan Marine National Park comprising the nine Similan Islands is located west from the coast of Khao Lak and is approximately 100 kilometres north west of Phuket island. This National Park is considered to be the best Marine Park location for diving in Thailand. The Similan Islands comprise nine granite islands covered with Tropical Rainforest, surrounded by white beaches and surrounded with crystal clear waters.

The Similan Islands are;

• Ko Bangu [ Island numbered number 9 ] which is located to the north of the islands. The dive sites here are North Point and Batfish Bend on the north side, and Breakfast Bend and Snapper Alley on the east side , and Christmas Point and Donald Duck Bay on the west side of the Island
  
• Ko Similan [ Island numbered number 8 ] which is the largest of the nine islands. The dive sites here are Beacon Beach and Beacon Point on the east side and Turtle Rock and Fantasy Reef on the north west side.
  
• [3] Elephant Rock and its dive site
• Ko Pabu [ Island numbered number x ] . The dive sites here are Deep Six on the north side and East of Eden on the south east side of the Island
  
• Ko Payu [ Island numbered number x ]
• Ko Miang [ Island numbered number x ] . On the north west side of this island is the dive site, Stonehenge, on the south east side also south of ajoining Ko Payu Island is the dive site, Hideaway Bay and south of Ko Miang Island is the dive site, Bird Rock.
  
• Ko Payan [ Island numbered number x ]
• Ko Payang [ Island numbered number x ]
• [8]
• Ko Muyong [ Island numbered number 1 ]  at the southern end of the Island chain. The best dive site here is Coral Garden on the north side of the island.
• The Similan Islands are also directly south from Ko Surin to the north. For marine tourists also in the region are the Boonsung Wreck off the coast of Khao Lak, Richelieu Reef off the east side of Ko Surin and Ko Bon and Ko Tachai between Similan Islands and Ko Surin.

The Boonsung Wreck [ Depth of 12 to 20 meters ]

• In 1984 a 60 meter marine tin ore processing vessel was ship wrecked here 20 meters below the surface and has since attracted marine life and soft coral. The Boonsung Wreck is located around 12 nautical miles from Tap Lamu pier at Khao Lak. Often the schools of fish are so dense above the wreck that you'll have trouble spotting it on descent. Here divers will find yellow snapper, trevally, barracuda and batfish all in abundance. On the wreck itself are lionfish, scorpionfish and many types of moray eel, there may also be a large marble stingray hiding beneath the structure. Penetration into the wreck is not possible due to the age of the wreck and the amount of coral growth on it, two dives are recommended to fully explore the site.

Richelieu Rock [ Depth of 10 to 40 meters ]

• This is a world class dive site and probably the best place in Thailand to spot whale sharks, however since the last El Nino their numbers have diminished. Sightings of whale sharks are more common during the March to May season. The splintered rock can just be seen above the surface at low tide around 18 kilometers east of Ko Surin and huge schools of pelagics can be seen on any given day. A wide selection of marine life is in abundance here, octopus and cuttlefish can be spotted along side yellow boxfish, morays and cleaner and mantis shrimps. There are many rock crevaces and cracks for marine life to hide in so take it slow and keep a look out. Also look out into the blue where large schools of snappers, jacks and trevally can be seen circling the rock above the thermoclines. Boat traffic and numbers of divers on the site can be heavy during peak season.