Mu Ko Surin National Marine Park is a superb marine park which protects five jungle cropped granite islands and their fringing coral reefs. It is famous for it’s gorgeous, diverse and prolific shallow-water corals, and is popular with liveaboard diving tours.
It is an island paradise with numerous beautiful coves and bays, and dense jungle, and covers an area of 135 sq. kms of which 75 percent covers the sea area, and stretches to within 15km of the maritime border with neighbouring Myanmar (Burma). The coral colonies surrounding the islands are the most well developed in Thailand, and are also considered some of the most beautiful. Some of the reefs surrounding the five islands slope relatively gently to the seabed, and are at shallow depths, thus providing excellent snorkelling.
By far the two largest islands are Ko Surin Nua (north island) and Ko Surin Tai (south island) and at one point these two islands lie just across a small bay from each other. Some of the best diving to be had is in the channel between these two islands. Ko Chi, Ko Pachumba and Ko Torinla are the other islands.
Ko Surin Tai is home to a small village of Sea Gypsies of the Morgan tribe, who have managed to preserve their way of life and language; they hold a three day ancestral worship ceremony on the full moon night of the 3rd lunar month.
The park office and visitor’s center are at Ao Mae Yai on the north island (south west side). Basic accomodation is available in the form of park longhouses, bungalows, and camping grounds. The Park operates long-tailed boats to the main snorkelling sites and rents out equipment.
Surin Island Marine Life
The coral and environs provide habitat to over 800 species of fish such as puffer fish, lion fish, butterfly fish, angel fish, barracuda, sailfish, rock lobsters and other crustaceans, and Moray eels to name just a few. Four species of turtle (the Leatherback, the Green, the Olive Ridley and the Hawksbill) are to be found. Stranger species such as the frog fish and ghost pipe fish have also been sighted around the waters of Ko Surin.
Surin Island Animal Life
In addition to the superb marine attractions, the evergreen forests on Ko Surin are considered true rainforests and are popular for hiking and trekking. The north island supports the most nature trails. Animals such as flying foxes, flying lemur, monitor lizards, reticulated pythons, pig-tailed macaques, and the lesser mouse deer are to be found.
Bird species in the forest include the rare Nicobar pigeon. The Peregrine Falcon, Brahminy Kite, white-bellied Sea Eagle and Chinese Goshawk are examples of the 80 bird species recorded in the National Park.
Surin Island Weather
The best months to visit the Surin Islands are from December to April, when the weather is dry and pleasant, and the seas are calm. March is the hottest month with temperatures reaching a maximum of 34 C. September is usually the wettest month, and November the coolest (24 C). In fact the Park currently closes from mid-May to mid-November due to the rough seas caused by the southwest monsoon.
Day Trips area available, as well as Overnight snorkeling Trips! The serious diver will opt for a liveaboard heading for the world-class dive sites at Ko Bon, Ko Tachai and Richelieu Rock
Ko Surin National Park maintains a peninsular mainland office at the fishing village of Ban Hin Lat (close to the mouth of the Nang Yon canal area, also known as Thun Nang Dam Canal), 6km north of Kuraburi and 110km south of Ranong on Route 4. It is sometimes merely generalized to Kuraburi pier. There is a dirt road heading to the fishing pier off route 4 at Ban Hin Lat school.
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