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Koh
Similan is one of the best-known island groups in the
Andaman Sea, largely because of the wonders that wait
beneath the clear blue waters that surround it. This makes it a wonderful place for snorkeling, a fact verified by the islands being generally
counted among the 10 most interesting dive areas in the
world. This little archipelago has slowly become a favorite
destination for holiday makers who want to avoid the busier areas of Southern Thailand. Another
highlight, as the visitor soon discovers, are the white
coral-sand beaches, splendidly picturesque and often
deserted. The most interesting sights, however, are still to be
found beneath the waves. Some of the most spectacular coral
growths in the world can be found here - and the same
boulders that scatter the shores have turned the waters
around the Similan into an adventure playground for snorkeling and diving.
Until
the mid-1980s, the Similan were a frontier known mainly to a
small number of divers and sailors. "I've dived in a
lot of areas that are off the beaten track and... a few
where they've never even heard of the beaten track,"
said Carl Roessler in a 1985 Skindiver article.
"Still, my recent adventures in Thailand's Similan
Islands have redefined remoteness in dive travel."
In the early 1980s, you could spend a whole week out among these islands and encounter no one beyond the occasional long tail boat full of Sea Gypsies. But
the past dozen years have brought changes, which have made the Similans more accessible, while still maintaining that aura of peace and tranquility especially on an over night trip.
What
is it that makes these islands so attractive? The Similan
aren't as dramatically scenic as the limestone islands of
Krabi or Phang Nga Bay which many people have come to
associate with the Andaman Sea. Instead, you find low-lying
formations covered with thick forest.
Ironwood
and gum trees are among the larger trees, while jackfruit,
rattan and bamboo form part of the denser undergrowth. The
islands are home to crab-eating monkeys, dusky langurs,
squirrels, bats, lizards and a good variety of birds (though
the monkeys are shy and rarely seen by the casual observer).
But the most striking feature of these islands, at first
glance, are the huge boulders that litter the western and
southern shores on several of the islands.
Similan
tour click here
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