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Dive sites in Thailand
 Diving overview
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Dive sites in Thailand
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The island has developed a reputation as a quieter and less developed alternative to Koh Samui, and still has many deserted beaches. The live coral formations around the island make snorkeling perennially popular, and scuba diving trips to some of the best sports in the Gulf depart from the island is main beach, Hat Rin.
Koh Tao
The tiny, undeveloped gem of Koh Tao or Turtle Island is just 21 square kilometers, yet it is the beating hear of diving in the Gulf of Thailand and home to an incredible 20 diving schools and more than 100 professional instructors.
Koh Tao's proximity to "under water classrooms" makes it ideal for beginners. There are dive sites just one kilometer from the island where you can see pelagic, large schools of great barracudas, big eyed jacks, tuna and giant travelers. There are also clown fish, shark whales and swordfish. Koh ao's is also a departure point for trips to the Mu Koh Ang Thong National Park, and its coral makes it great for snorkeling as well as diving.
Koh Nang Yuan
Just one kilometre north of Koh Tao is the beautiful island of Koh Nang Yuan, the only place in the world where three islands are joined together by a sandbar. The island is worth exploring by foot, but is also home to variety of great dive sites. If you are diving at White Rock, look out for a local personality, Trevor the Terrible Trigger Fish. Trevor vigorously guards its nest and its favourite trick is to ambush unsuspecting divers from behind a rock.
Mu Koh Ang Thong National Park
Koh Tao, Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan are all offer tours to the 40 spectacular islands of the Mu Koh Ang Thong Marine National Park. The islands are stunning; white sand beaches, hidden lagoons, dense jungle and sheer limestone cliffs.
Day trips typically feature snorkelling and swimming in an enclused lagoon on the Ang Thong Golden Jar - island that gives the park its name. Most visitors trek up to the island's hightest point to get a view of the whole group. There is also a cave, Tham Bua Bok, which has weird stone formations in the shape of lotuses.
For the adventurous, sea canoeing trops to the Ang Thong park can be organised from Chaweng Beach on Samui, as well as many different diving excursions. Some of the most popular sites are Koh Wao and Hin Yipon, renowned for shallow caves and colourful soft corals.
Surat Thani
Surat Thani, meaning "City of the decent people", is known to many visitors as an embarkation point to the famous islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phan Ngan and Koh Tao. But the mainland town, and the eponymous province boast some unforgettable attractions of there own.
Khao Tha Phet Wildlife and Nature Education Centre is just six kilometres from the provincial capital. From the summit of Khao Tha Phet, there are fantastic vies of the Tapi River and the town of Surat Thani. The park also has a well-managed zoo.
To the west of Surat Thani Province is Khao Sok National Park, boasting more than 100 islands in its vast Cheo Lan Reservoir. The park shelters a huge variety of wildlife; from leopards to wild elephants, tigers and the Malayan sun bear. Khao Sok is also home to the biggest flower in the world, the wild lotus, whose bloom can be up to 80 centimeters in diameter. Hiking trails in the park lead to many waterfalls.
Koh Chang
Koh Chang in Trat Province near the Cambodian border is the largest island in Thailand after Phuket. But although it is big, beautiful and only 400 kilometers from Bangkohk, it remains serene and undeveloped. Almost 70 percent of Koh Chang is undisturbed inland rainforest, some of the best preserved in Thailand. Its pristine beaches and unhurried way of life make it the perfect destination for those looking for an idyllic tropical island getaway.
Because of its unspoiled interior, waling is one of Koh Chang's most popular activities, with trails all over the island for any level of skill and ambition. These routes can also be traveled by mountain bike, available at Hat Kaibai and hat Sai Khao beaches.
Koh Chang is becoming increasingly popular as a water sports centre, with dive shops on Hat Kaibai and Hat Sai Khao and excellent diving and snorkeling sites all over the island. The area's topography is also perfect for sea-canoeing, and these, as well as sail boats can be rented from many guesthouse and hotels.
Mu Koh Chang National Park
The Koh Chang National Marine Park comprises 46 islands apart from Koh Chang itself: 192 square kilometters of land in 450 square kilometres of sea. The park offers some fantastic diving and snorkelling, as wll as pristine islands, beautiful seascapes and idyllic beaches and coves that can be visited by boat or sea-conoe from Koh Chang.
Koh Kut and Koh Mak are the larges after Koh Chang, with simple accommodation. On Koh Mak you can rent jeeps and motorbikes to explore the island's wild interior and organise diving trips to uninhabited islands. The small islands of Koh Rang and Koh Rayang near Koh Kut are renowned for there colourful Koh Kut are renowned for their colorful coral. Fo perhaps the smaller islands of Koh Wai and Koh Lao-ya.
Pattaya
Pattaya is a vibrant coastal city with all modern conveniences, excellent shopping and spectacular nightlife. The city, less than two hours southeast of Bangkohk by road, was the first place in Thailand to become developed as a tourist destination.
Every imaginable kind of water sport and seaside activity is available here. Water-skiing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, sailing, windsurfing, fishing and parasailing are easily organised. Back on land, why not try go-carting, golf, bowling, archery, target shooting, tennis or horse riding?
Pattaya was also the birthplace of the diving industry in Thailand and there are dozens of dive shops offering course and tours to any level and in any language.
Pattaya islands - Koh Laan
Koh Laan is the most popular offshore island, with quiet picturesque beaches and its own accommodation. This, together with Koh Sak and Koh Krok are the most popular dive sites for beginners. Further from the mainland, Koh Rin and Koh Man Wichai have better visibility and stronger currents suitable for more experienced divers. Further southeast are the wreck diving sites that Pattaya is most famous for.
Koh Samet
This small island, off Rayong on the southeastern sea board, is one of the seven national marine parks in Thailand. It is a favourite of Thai visitors, although far fewer foreign visitors have discovered it, and famous for its soft white sands. Favourite activities on Koh Samet - apart from relaxing on the beach - include windsurfing and diving. Several of the guesthouses on the island arrange boat trips for swimming and snorkeling and exploring nearby uninhabited islands.
Chumphon
The town of Chumphon is the gateway to the golden South. Many visitors know it as the departure port for the dive haven of Koh Tao, two-and-a-half hours away by speedboat. But in fact Chumphon has more than a few attractions of its own. It too has a thriving diving industry, thanks to the picturesque islands in the Chumphon sea, and some beautiful beaches along its 222 kilometers coastline. The most famous of these is Hat Thung Wua Laen; extremely attractive and boasting a wide range of tourist facilities plus an annual windsurfing competition in Mach or April. South of Chumphon is Hat Arunothai, a six kilometer, palm-fringed beach that houses the shrine of HRH prince Chumphon, the father of the Thai Navy.
Chumphon Sea Islands
Koh Mattra is a large island with spectacular rocks, a coral reef and a rare crab called Poo Kai - or chicken crap - which climbs trees and cheeps like a chick. Koh Raet also has an extensive and colorful coral reef. Great diving and snorkeling sports are to be found around the islands of Koh Ngam Yai, Koh Ngam Noi, Koh Samet, Koh Rang Kachiu, Koh Maphrao and Koh Chorakhe. The undersea landscape of the Chumphon isles is remarkably varied, with caves, rock piles and large coral colonies. Look out in particular for the famous black coral with shades of white, gold and yellow, and several species of marine flower.
Pattani Province
This province is well off the beaten tourist tract-although there are bungalows and guesthouse for rent - Pattani is ripe for those ready to explore.
Pattani's status as Thailand's second larges fishing port, and its location in the deep south of the country guarantees it a wide cultural diversity. The influence of the Muslim Malays is the strongest 75 percent of the population speak Malay- and Malaysian flavours are clearly seen in the customs, architecture and cuisine. There is also a large Chinese community.
In the town itself, the 200 year old ruins of Kre Se Mosque stand next to the Chiness Chao Mae Lim Koh Nieo shrine, reflecting the religious and ethnic diversity of the province.
Perhaps the most popular activity is simply to promenade through the picturesque town, by the river, along to the harbor where you will see dozens of brightly painted koh lae fishing boats for which the province is famous.
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