Last Update : Friday 23 February, 2001 2:41 PM

Mu Koh Similan Marine National Park
Map of Mu Ko Similan Marine National Park Getting to Know Mu Ko Similan Forests of Similan New Friends on Land New Frineds Under the Sea Activities Going into the Forest, Bird Watching Seeing Sunset Snorkeling SCUBA Diving Similan Journey
Your Heart for the Beautiful Sea Possible Dangers form Marine Tourism

Snorkeling

          Almost all of coral reefs in Similan area are deepwater coral reefs without certain edges. The coastal side is sand floor before rapidly sloping into the blue sea. Coral reefs are in-groups, not scattering around like other general coral reefs. In order to make your snorkeling more enjoyable, we would like to suggest these selected areas;

Haad Lek

          It can be reached by walking from the park’s lodgings (the same trail as Hairy Leg Mountain crab observation). It is the beach of clear water with coral reefs spreading in-groups. Beautiful fishes can be found like Red Saddleback anemonefishes, butterflyfishes, and angelfishes. Haad Lek is the suitable place for practicing diving because there is no boat expense and short time is required (walking only 20 minutes). It is safe if you do not swim far away from the shore. Haad Lek is also an exciting snorkeling night diving place (for trained person only).

Ao Keuak

          It is located in the northwest of Ko Similan or Ko Paed. It is a big bay shaped as a horseshoe with beautiful white beach, and Hin Bai (Sailing Rock) or Donald Duck Rock, the symbol of Similan.

          Coral reef in Ao Keuak is in shallow water. You can swim from the shore. Mostly are branching corals. In the past, they are very elegant, but now are in deteriorated condition. However, it is still beautiful enough for somebody to be impressed in underwater world. Especially, for the night-dive SCUBA diving, it is a suitable place with a chance to see many crustaceans such as Spiny lobsters and Slipper lobsters.

          Double-Spined Rock Lobster (Panulirus penicillatus)

          One of five spiny lobsters that can be found by divers, but this species is very rare. It lives in shallow water of about 2-10 meters deep along the rocky shore. It is smaller than most of spiny lobsters. From the diving experiences of our team of more than 2000 dives in Andaman Sea, this species of spiny lobster was found only two times, and the first time was at Ao Keuak.

Ko Hok

          Coral reef at the east of Ko Hok (Payu) is one of the most beautiful shallow-water diving spot. The inside coastal shore is sand floor with some Staghorn coral in-groups, the outside coral reef edge is about 5-8 meters deep with large massive corals. Many corals have a lot of soft corals and sea fans. And it is the only spot in Thai Sea that this soft coral species is found in the shallow water that can be seen from the surface. (Usually it is found at the depth of more than 10 meters.) Our team has ever found a big shark coming in near the shore.

          Comparing to Ao Keuak, Ko Hok has more beautiful coral reef. However, there is no sandy beach for coming up (or have some but difficult to come up), only buoy can be used for diving. Therefore, there are few visitors here.

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