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Explore Sunken Treasures
 Some
of the world’s most bedazzling spots for scubadiving and snorkelling
are in the archipelagos of the Andaman Sea’s Similan
and Surin
Islands. Below the emerald-green and sapphire-blue surface,
you’ll see manta rays, whale sharks, lionfish, schools of barracuda
and around 75 percent of the coral species in Thailand.
But that’s only rippling the surface, for there’s also
leatherback turtles, squid, octopus and giant Gorgonian sea fans.
For the upscale option, book a liveaboard (which means you sleep
and eat on a boat for several days) from Phuket
to explore the Similan
Islands and their multitude of dive spots, awash with the colours
of what people call the “rainforests of the sea”: coral
reefs teeming with marine life. You’ll sleep in comfort and
wake up to smell the salty breeze and then plunge into the wild
blue yonder beneath the waves.
If you’re not a diver, don’t worry, because you won’t
be left high and dry. Many snorkellers opt to stay on the Surin
Islands in accommodation provided by the National Park service,
or put up their own tents. The park also runs its own daily snorkelling
trips to some fantastically beautiful reefs. Even if you’re
not a strong swimmer, they will provide you with a life jacket so
you can get into the swim of things.
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