Surin Islands

The Surin Islands are beautiful protected islands 60 km west of the Northern Andaman Coast. Understand Mu Ko Surin National Park is situated in the Andaman sea approximately 60 km from the coast of Phang Nga Province in the southern peninsula region. The park covers an area of approximately 135 km. Of the protected area, 102 sq km or 76% is sea. The park comprises 5 main islands; Ko Surin Nua, Ko Surin Tai, Ko Ree (Ko Stok), Ko Pachumba, and Ko Kai (Ko Torinla). A few kilometers to the north of the park is the Myanmar border and about 100 km to the south are the Similan Islands. Richelieu Rock (called Hin Plo Naam in Thai) is part of the Mu Koh Surin marine park although being about 18 km east of Surin island. The rock surfaces only a few meters with low tide and is practically invisible from the surface during high tide. These stunningly beautiful islands are open to visitors from 16 November to 15 May. The picture postcard beaches and excellent snorkelling are a big draw. The main activity enjoyed by visitors is snorkelling, closely followed by scuba diving. Accommodation takes the form of bungalows and tents. There are two campsites on Ko Surin Nua. The islands were declared a national park on 9 July 1981 in recognition of the islands unique beauty and to protect the fragile marine habitat. Green and hawksbill turtles are frequent visitors to the islands. They come to nest on the island beaches. In the 1990s some rare Olive Ridley turtles were also laying their eggs here. Diving is not allowed in certain areas of the park where conservation initiatives are taking place. Get in You can only dive in the national marine park with an accredited dive company from Khao Lak, Phuket, or Ranong during the dive season which runs from November to May. To dive the Surin Islands and/or Richelieu Rock you will have to pay a National Marine Park fee, normally included in the price of the diving expedition. Get around Richelieu Rock Although the dive site is huge, you will be able to see most of the landscape of the whole site on one dive. But because there is so much too see here. you can easily make hundreds of dives here and still have the feeling that you want to return. See Do Diving and Snorkelling From Takua Pa near Khao Lak Blue Guru Diving, Ko Phra Thong, Phang Nga 82150 Thailand, ☎ +66 80 144 0551 (info@blue-guru.org.com), [1]. Day trips & multi day adventures to Surin Islands from Khuraburi or Ko Phra Thong. Scuba diving at Richelieu Rock with overnight stays on Surin. Only dive centre in area with PADI Green Star Award for environmental awareness. Geo Expedition Similan Dive Center, 13/61 Moo 7 Khao Lak (Bang La On) (opposite Bangkok Bank in the centre of Khao Lak), ☎ +66 76 485 792 (info@geo-expedition.com), [2]. Daily snorkelling trips to the Surin Islands departing from Khao Lak. Wicked Diving, 4/14 Moo 7, Khuk Khak, ☎ +66 76 485 868 (info@wickeddiving.com, fax: +66 76 485 878), [3]. Overnight snorkelling expeditions to the Surin Islands and 5 day liveaboard adventures through the Similan and Surin Islands aboard the only liveaboard operated to environmentally aware standards. From Ranong, Ko Chang (Southern Thailand) and Ko Phayam Aladdin Dive Safari, Offices at Ranong, Ko Chang and Ko Payam, ☎ +66 872 786 908 and +66 872 747 601, [4]. Fully inclusive dive tours to Ko Surin, Ko Similan, Ko Lanta, Krabi, Phang Nga, Mergui Archipelago in Burma/Myanmar. Prices starting at 14,000 baht. Buy Eat Drink Sleep Contact Get out This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!