Page 33 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Phuket

Similan Islands National Park ❮❮ 31

79
Richelieu Rock
Beacon Reef
5 4 Ko Bangu 9
Well known for
The longest reef
in the Similan Islands, 2 its exotic marine life,
Beacon Reef also marks Ko Similan Richelieu Rock has
the place where the been renowned as a
Atlantis X sank, with no 6 5 diving site since whale
casualties, in 2002. Today, sharks and manta rays
the sunken vessel, now were spotted here.
resting on a sloping coral Ko Payu 0
wall, is one of the reef’s
most popular under­ Ko Miang Ko Ha 1 DIVING
water attrac tions and 8 PRECAUTIONS
provides home to a wide Similan Islands Scuba diving is very safe
variety of marine life. National Park when done correctly, but
it can be dangerous –
even deadly – for the
untrained diver. Reliable
dive companies require
all participants to have
a PADI (Professional
Association of Diving
Instructors) certification.
A number of companies
on Phuket are licensed
to provide courses and
certification. The PADI
course for beginners
is called “Open Water
Diver” and can be
completed in a few
days. Visit www.padi.
com for a list of PADI
dive centers in Thailand.
East of Eden
Ko Bon
7 0
Located in a
A brilliantly
protected bay and feat­ colorful reef, East of
uring one of Thailand’s Eden is one of the most
only vertical dive walls, popular dive sites in the
this site, off Ko Bon, Similan Islands. Teeming
provides marvelous with fish, it offers a wide
opportunities to see diver sity of marine life –
leopard sharks and coral, sea fans, and more.
manta rays (left).
Elephant
Ko Miang
6 8
Head Rock
Home to the
The largest pinnacle in national park head­
the Similan Islands juts quarters, Ko Miang
above the water in a (right) is the second
peculiar shape that lends biggest island in the
this dive site its name. Similans. Visitors will
With its underwater find campsites and basic
caverns, tunnels, and bunga lows (some with
swim­throughs, this site air­conditioned rooms).
is home to numerous A large tent can be
fish, including small, rented here for around
black­tip reef sharks. B450 a night.

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