Surin Islands Information

Wicked Diving is always happy to inform....More information here about the Surin Islands. We do some diving there (but the conditions are usually not as exciting as the Similans) but the best Snorkeling in Thailand is here! We offer Surin Islands snorkel tours for the more intrepid traveler.

Surin Islands

These consist of Ko Surin Nua and Ko Surin Tai which have more than 10 bays.

Mar Khai (Mae Yai Bay) is renowned for its serenity.

Ao Luk (Deep Bay) is famous for its deep dark green waters with beautiful coral reef in the shallows.

The best time to go sightseeing in the Andaman Sea is from the beginning of November to around the end of April.

Mu Ko Surin is the meeting place of two ecosystems:

1. The Tropical Rain Forest on the islands themselves

2. And the largest and most abundant shallow water coral reef in Thailand.

Ko Surin Nuea (North Surin Island)

This island is surrounded by coral reefs in several bays, some more than 300 m. wide. The reef edge contains numerous corals before sloping to a depth of 20-30 m.; for example, Ao Chong Khat, Ao Mai Ngam, Ao Sai En, and Ao Chak.

The coral reefs here suffer little in the way of strong current or wave action and provide a suitable place to snorkel. The nature trail at Hat Mai Ngam links many diverse ecosystems ranging through Evergreen Forest, Beach Forest, and Mangrove Forest to an underwater forest, the large coral reef.

Ko Surin Tai (South Surin Island)

The coral reefs of the South Surin Island are only 100-200 m. wide, but they have more diversity than those of the North Surin Island. Some famous diving sites are Ao Phakkat, and Ko Torinla. Ao Tao is the best site to easily see sea turtles, and has the first underwater nature trail established in Thailand to learn about the marine ecosystem.

Ko Torinla (Ko Khai)

Famous as the most beautiful shallow coral reef in Thailand, it hosts a vast Staghorn Coral reef, the habitat of several marine animals ranging from match-stick length Goby up to 4-meter-wide Manta Rays.

Ao Chong Khat

This bay is located between the North and South Surin Islands, and its narrowest point is about 200 m wide.

It can be swam across during low tide. The water is shallow (1-3 m.), and it is a suitable place for playing, and learning to snorkel. The shallow water coral reef here has scattered 1-meter-high massive corals and also some massive corals.

Marine animals found include Sea anemones, Anemonefish, Giant Clams, Pipefish and Parrotfish.

However, one should be careful when the tide is rising or falling, and also beware of long-tailed boats since this is the route to other bays around the islands.

Ao Mai Ngam

A safe snorkeling and diving site and the nearest. Can be reached by walking along the 2 km. Nature trail starting at the Substation.

The coral reef ranges from 200-800 m. offshore.

In the shallower areas, there are many corals, particularly Foliose, found scattered in large beautiful groups.

Deeper, there are massive corals mixed with Staghorn Corals to a depth of 12 – 15 m. Massive corals are habitats of many strange colored fish like Parrotfish, Wrasse, Butterflyfish, and Anemone fish. You should snorkel during the high tide period to prevent damage to the shallow corals.

Ao Mae Yai

In the past, it was home to one of the largest Staghorn Coral reefs of Thailand. Today, the area is a rehabilitation site with no permission to dive other than in the cape area at the southern tip of the bay site 20 m. below the surface

Ao Chak

A rather remote site due to its distance from the Ranger station (45 min. by longtail boat), and one of the best snorkeling and diving sites of the islands. The coral reef lies at 200-400 m. from the shore, where Staghorn Corals and several other species can be found. The reef gradually drops to a depth of 12-15 m. where a few soft corals and sea fans are found.

Ao Tao

A highlight of the area - Hawksbill Turtles are often found here, as well as Green Turtles and several species of fish such as Butterflyfish and Puffer. The reef here is 100-200 m. wide before sloping to a depth of 20 m. In shallow areas are again found various corals including Staghorn Corals. There is also an "underwater nature trail" set out here, a pilot project set out by the Marine Sciences Department at one of Thailand's universities. The idea was to follow the trail and see the various marine life and be able to follow along on either an underwater map or a descriptive video before and after.

It's just that most of the markers are gone. It's a bad idea to just let people wander around by themselves, a guide is there to assist in both pointing out marine species, but to also prtoect them from bad buoyancy.

Ao Phakkat

The area has a rich diversity of corals. Angelfish are often found here and there are no less than 7 species at this site. In deeper areas are found many small soft corals and sea fans. The coral reef is about 300 m. long and 100 m. wide, before sloping to a depth of about 18 m. A popular snorkeling and diving site.

Ko Torinla (Ko Khai)

In summer, this area is not only the best snorkeling and diving site of Mu Ko Surin but also the best in Thailand. It is located about 1 km. From South Surin Island.

The coral reef is found on the northern side of the island and is about 500 m. long and 100 m. wide before sloping to a depth of 15-20 m. In the shallower areas, one of the largest and densest areas of branching corals are found.

The submerged rocks between Ko Torinla and Ko Surin is an interesting scuba diving site. There are several species of soft corals and sea fans, no less than 242 species of coral reef fish, as well as larger species like Manta Rays (occasionally)

Similan Diving