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For many years Mu Ko Surin was an unspoiled group of islands, acting as a refuge for fishing boats during storms and hosting small communities of sea gypsies. Mu Ko Surin National park is situated in the Andaman sea approximately 60 km from the Coast of Phang-Nga Province in the southern peninsula region. The park covers an area of approximately 135 km2. Of the protected area 102 km2 or 76% is sea. The park comprises 5 main islands; Ko Surin Nua, Ko Surin Tai, Ko Ree (or Ko Satok), Ko Glang (or Ko Pachumba) and Ko Khai (or Ko Torinla). Ko Surin Nua and Ko Surin Tai are large islands and are situated on a north-south axis. A few kilometers to the north of the park is the Myanmar border and about 100 kilometers to the south is Mu Ko Similan National Park. Surint Islands comprise of five main islands, including 2 large islands consisting of the northern surint island and southern surint island which located very adjacent like the twin island. They are separated by the 200 meters width shallow sea. In the low tide period, you can walk across to the other island or so-called "cutted channel bay". The other three islands are the rock islands with some dwarf trees. Plants that found here are the rainforest plants. They are one source of the big and best fertile shallow coral reef of Thailand. Mu Ko Surin principle attraction is the fact that it is an unspoiled tropical paradise far from the mainland, with healthy forested islands surrounded by clean water supporting a profusion of coral reef species. The coral reefs are the best, most diverse coral reefs accessible to snorkelers. The coral reefs at Ko Surin do not require the use of scuba equipment to observe them. Being the primary snorkelling spot on Thailand, Mu Ko Surin attracts a lot of tourists each year, many also arrive on pleasure cruises and on some days the number of visitors can be excessive. The islands also attract great research interest, and many scientists visit the islands each year for a variety of reasons ranging from coral reef surveys to bird observation. Sea gypsies The Sea Gypsies or Moken are a nomadic sea people who live in the Mergui archipelago. Their ancestors came from Indonesia. The name Moken is from their own language, which is universal to all sea gypsy groups. The Moken live a very primitive existence and as such have a great respect for nature and the environment. They rely upon their environment for food, clothing and for the materials for boat construction. They live by spear fishing and collecting shellfish. Being nomadic they spend a lot of their time travelling, but they avoid travelling during the monsoon season from May to November. During this time they moor their boats in a sheltered location to form a temporary village of several families. These villages then break up when they start travelling again in December until April. The Moken do not have a written language, but are good at other languages including Thai and Yawi Malaysian. Every year during April an important ceremony occurs on Surin and Sea Gypsies from far away come to attend. They often come from Myanmar and the islands of peninsula Thailand and Malaysia. The festival is called Loi Reua and involves ancestor worship and the asking the spirits to care for and protect the Sea Gypsies. Ao Tao (Tao Bay) Near coral line of Tao Bay located on the eastern part of South Surin Island is a living place of a lot of sea turtles. This beautiful coral is far from headquarters about 2 kilometers. Ao Pak Chak (Pak Chak Bay) Pak Chak Bay located on the southern part of the South Surin Island has a perfect colorful coral line. It's far from headquarters about 5 kilometers. Ko Pachumba (Pachumba Island) Pachumba Island or Mang Kon Island has Mang Kon Beach located on the eastern part of Island . It has not coral and sea fan. It's far from headquarters about 5 kilometers. Ao Mai Ngam (Mai Ngam Bay) Mai Ngam Bay located on the western part of the North Surin Island far from headquarters about 2 kilometers. You can get there by walking through the trail of Mai Ngam Natural Studies or taking a long tailed boat. There is a fresh water and beach suitable for swiming and coral sightseeing. Ko Torinla (Torinla Island) Torinla Island or Khai Island is located on the southern part of the South Surin Island. On the eastern part of this island has a long, perfect and very beautiful coral line which very suitable for snorkelling. This island is far from headquarters about 6 kilometers. Ao Chak (Chak Bay) Chak Bay located on the northern part of North Surin Island has a perfect and beutiful coral line. It's far from headquarters about 10 kilometers. Ao Suthep (Suthep Bay) Suthep Bay llocated on South Surin island is a good place for those who want to do night diving. When low tide, coral reef may expose to the air. It's not far from headquarters. |
