|
The Surin Islands, although visited by several dive operators from
Phuket, are more appropriately famous for their beautiful coves,
bays and dense jungle than they are for their diving.
Spending a few idyllic days on
a sail boat or other yacht here are the stuff dreams of paradise
are made of yet the serious diver will be bored easily after a few
dives because of the generally poor visibility and lack of fish.
Until recent, Koh Surin's
reefs were subject to much blasting by fishermen. Sport diving,
game fishing and simple nature excursions are now the main attractions.
Even though some of the coral reefs around Koh Surin to all appearances
remain spectacularly healthy. |
|
 |
Tourism Authorities have installed
mooring buoys on some reefs and these have proven effective in reducing
anchor damage to corals. Again, as in other areas of the Andaman
Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, commercial collecting is pushing some
species of shellfish to the brink of local extinction.
 |
|
Koh Surin archipelago
is a 135 square kilometers area lying in the Andaman Sea some 53
kilometers off mainland Ranong Province. The park's five islands
lie just south of the border with Burma.
The two main islands, Koh Surin
Nua and Koh Surin Tai, are separated by a narrow strait, only 200
meters wide, with almost no flat ground beyond small pockets of
mangrove and little beaches which nestle in the many coves.
|
| The 2 islands cover 19 square
kilometers respectively 12 square kilometers with the highest point
on the latter one elevating to 350 meters. The other islands in
the group are only rocky islets, sparsely covered with scrub vegetation. |
|
 |
--> top |