| Islands Boast A Bountiful Supply of Inspiring Dive Sites | |||
| UPDATE : 22 June 2010 | |||
The pier at Pak Bara in Satun province's La-Ngu district provides visitors with easy access to a wealth of amazing islands that form part of the Tarutao National Park. Located within the Andaman Sea, this archipelago includes 51 islands, which provide visitors to the area with an array of stunningly picturesque views. Among these islands are several of Thailand's leading dive sites, including Mu Koh Adang-Rawi (the Adang-Rawi island group), Koh Khai, as well as Koh Lipe, which is probably the best known. A Convenient Base Probably the most practical solution is to begin your journey at Mu Koh Adang-Rawi. Koh Adang and Koh Rawi are two of the largest three islands within the group and they benefit from possessing white, sandy beaches and impressive mountainous terrain, featuring heavily forested areas. These islands are ideal for those who wish to prepare for a snorkeling or scuba diving trip. There's terrain here that's ideal for skin diving and it's suitable for both adult amateurs or children. Although it's quite shallow (about knee height), I spotted plenty of colorful fish swimming around me!
Resist Temptation Before heading off to any other dive sites, it's first worth stopping off at Koh Hin Ngam ('island of beautiful rocks') to experience a unique natural attraction. Located just 2.5 kilometers from Koh Adang-Rawi, Koh Hin Ngam is covered in millions of black, shiny and smooth pebbles that feature fascinating patterns. Somehow, this mysterious attraction is even more attractive in areas where the stones are wet, since the water makes them appear even brighter. You'll probably notice a number of piles of pebbles around since many visitors to the island have a kind of competition to see who can build the highest. Nevertheless, visitors to the island should refrain from taking any of the pebbles off the island. As well as posing a threat to a protected area, legend has it that anyone who takes one of the pebbles home will suffer a disaster due to the presence on the island of the 'ghost of Koh Hin Ngam'.
After experiencing Koh Hin Ngam's unique, natural charm, I would recommend you head for the islands of Koh Yang and Koh Jabang. Although it is a rather small island, Koh Yang is nevertheless an excellent source of impressive hard forms of coral, such as brain coral, leaf coral, sea anemones and staghorn coral. Koh Yang is just a short journey from Koh Adang. If you're not a strong swimmer, don't worry too much since help is at hand. Local operators will be happy to supply you with a buoyancy ring and then personally guide you to the most interesting coral sites. Meanwhile, Koh Jabang, which is about 20 minutes by boat from Koh Adang, is renowned for the Jabang water channel, which is home to some excellent skin diving sites. The channel came about due to a large number of rocks, which are located about 15-30 meters below the surface. It's home to several colorful forms of soft coral, sea anemones and schools of colorful fish. Since the undercurrent at the Jabang water channel is strong enough to drown you, local tour or boat operators typically encircle the area using ropes tied up to boats and floats. In such cases, visitors can enjoy the view in complete safety by holding on to the ropes while snorkeling. An Overnight Option Located just 2 km from Koh Adang, Koh Lipe is home to a group of Urak Lawoi, often referred to as chao leh ('sea gypsies') in Thai. This island boasts an unspoiled stretch of beach and clear waters, which often leads the island to be described as 'Thailand's Maldives'. There are plenty of soft coral reefs located around the island so it's an ideal place for snorkeling or diving. If you find that the sun is beginning to set, don't worry too much as it's possible to stay overnight on the island. However, if you're on a budget, check in advance to avoid disappointment and to secure an affordable accommodation option. Another option is to visit the island of Koh Khai, which is about 26 km from Pak Bara Pier. Koh Khai is located between Koh Adang and Koh Tarutao and in some ways it can be considered to be a 'symbol' of Tarutao National Park. It's not that its natural attractions are generally more impressive than the other islands, but the presence of a heart-shaped stone archway that reminds many visitors of the shape of the archipelago itself. A number of travel agents and speedboat operators provide services to the islands from Pak Bara Pier throughout the day. Transport Connections: Car: From Bangkok, take Highway 4 and drive through the provinces of Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon. Once you pass through Chumphon, get onto Highway 41, which will take you through the provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung. From Phatthalung, get back onto Highway 4 and drive through to Songkhla province's Rattaphum district. Turn right and follow Highway 406 to Satun. The journey covers 973 km in total. Train: Take a train south from Hualamphong Station, Bangkok's main railway station, to Hat Yai. Take a tuk tuk ('auto rickshaw') from Hat Yai station to the Agricultural Market (fare about 10 baht). Passenger van services operate hourly between the market and Pak Bara Pier from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm. | |||
วันอังคารที่ 22 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2553
Islands Boast A Bountiful Supply of Inspiring Dive Sites
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