Last Update : Friday 23 February, 2001 2:41 PM
Last Update : Friday 23 February, 2001 2:41 PM |
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SCUBA Diving
Ko Hok
Diving can be done around the island. The north is Deep Six rock. The west is rocky line switching with small corals. The large massive corals usually are in the deep area. The east is the most suitable spot for diving. The coral reef steep slopes down. At the depth of about 25-35 meters, there are large massive corals with very beautiful soft corals and sea fans. Along the shallow edge of 5-10 meters deep, there are also massive corals and soft corals. A lot of fishes can be found in the area. It is one of the most beautiful spots of the park.
Ko Haa
Here is the diving spot that appropriate for the review dive. The sand floor is about 5-10 meters deep. The current is not so strong. There are massive corals scattering in small groups with sea fans and soft corals living in. At the end of the west is Hin Muan Diaw, the large rock with plenty of soft corals and sea fans. The surrounding sand floor is eel garden found a lot of garden eels living in. Beyond that area is coral jungle where a Harlequin Ghost pipefish is found.
Christmas Point
It is the underwater rock at the north of Ko Kao (Ba-Ngu) with the depth of 15-30 meters. Below are complex rocks similar to Fantasy Reef. There are a lot of fishes and nudibranchs.
Hin Ka Lok (Ko Jed, Hin Pusa)
It is a small exposed rock surrounded by seawater of 20-50 meters deep. Sometimes there is strong current, it should be very careful. There is a Model Window, a hole that can push your face forward for taking a photo. In the area often found sea turtles and Mantis shrimps. There is also a report of a frogfish in the area.
Harlequin Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus)
A Harlequin Ghost pipefish is an excellent camouflage. It usually lives in a pair near corals, soft corals, sea fans, and feather stars. Female is bigger than male and hatch eggs in pelvic fin porch. It is different from a seahorse and pipefish which male has a brood porch instead. (Seahorse has no pelvic fin.)
Hin San Chalarm (Shark Fin Rock)
Nearly exposed rocks near Ko Payan (Ko Sarm). Large animals can be found especially various kinds of sharks such as Leopard sharks, Silvertip sharks, and Reef Whitetip sharks. There are some soft corals and sea fans. The water depth is about 20-40 meters with occasionally strong current.
Frogfish (Antennarius sp.)
A Frogfish is extremely well-camouflage and usually stays still like a stone or sponge. This fish family develops its dorsal fin spine into long fishing rod tipped with a tassel. Frogfish will lift its spine up and down to lure other fishes as a shrimp or seaweed. When other fishes come in, the frogfish will attack very rapidly. Its mouth can open widely and its stomach can enlarge a lot. Sometimes, frogfish can swallow its prey as large as itself.
Holiday Rock
Located near Shark Fin Rock and be in similar form. Large sea fans and pelagic fishes like trevallys, barracudas, and mackerels are found. On the sea floor may found Leopard sharks and whip rays taking a rest.
Silvertip Shark (Carcharhinus)
A Silvertip shark is a fast active swimmer, and feeds on other animals like cuttlefishes and pelagic fishes. Its territory is about 2-5 square kilometers. It is a sound-activated shark. When a boat moors nearby, it may swim in to see. It is not dangerous unless be disturbed. This kind of shark is often found at Shark Fin Rock, particularly at the steep slope rock line.
Ko Born
Located in the northwest of Similan islands about 1-2 hours boat-taking. It is the diving spot that large animals are often found, especially a Manta Ray, which usually swims around at the west of the island. The shore is steep rock ending at the depth of 20-30 meters. Corals are found below but in deteriorated condition. On the sand floor usually live Decorated dartfishes.
Decorated Dartfish (Nemateleotris decora)
Live in a pair near the sand floor, usually go upward from the floor at about 30 cm., turn the face confront the current to feed on zooplankton. When we approach at the distance 2-3 meters, it will rhythmically lift its dorsal fin to give dangerous signal. If the invaders do not stop coming in, it will rapidly flee into its hole. The fish is not often found in Thai Sea, but Ko Born is the easiest spot to face them.
Ko Ta Chai
At present, it is added to be a part of the national park, located at the north of the park with about 3-4 hours boat-taking. The popular spot is the underwater rocks at the south of the depth of about 20-40 meters with strong current (please be careful). Soft corals and sea fans are scattering found. There are also many animals like frogfishes and some pelagic fishes, such as batfishes and Giant barracudas. A Whale shark is also usual passerby.
Next to the shore are located another underwater rocks where it is a nursery place of Manta rays. Sometimes, they are found lying still and letting cleaner wrasses feed on parasites on their bodies. Moreover, along the rocky shore of Ko Ta Chai is also the good night-dive Scuba diving site because there are various uncommon animals like gastropods and Sea Fan shrimps.
Manta Ray (Manta birostris)
The largest ray of the world with more than 6-7 meters in width and 1,600 kg. in weight. Feed on zooplankton underwater by using its flaps sweep the water passing through its gills in order to filtering food and breathing. When it is not on feeding, the flaps will roll up. It has no spine. Since it has large size and swims fast, there is scarcely natural enemy.
It swims like a bird rhythmically flapping its wings, but it can’t swim backwards. When it turns left or right, it will flap the wings differently. Sometimes it swims in circle or circling. It is smart and kind. It is not afraid of divers and likes to swimming around. It is one of the animals that divers would life to see the most.
This ray incubates 13 months and gives birth in the sea 1-2 babies a time. It always lives in the deep sea, but sometimes, it approaches coral reefs to let cleaner wrasses nibble parasites. The well-known Manta ray’s nursery place is Ko Ta Chai. However, at Ko Born, the current is strong so it usually comes in swimming around. There was a report of encountering more than ten small Manta rays swimming around together in this area.
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