DIVING AMONG CORALS

Genesis Stock Photo

You wouldn’t think skeletons could be attractive, would you? Yet people come from all over the world to dive on marine exo-skeletons (that’s a skeleton built up outside the body, like a lobster) in the Gulf of Thailand. Actually, these skeletons are usually called coral. Unless you decide to snorkel or have your own scuba equipment, you may want to start at Pattaya where most of the dive shops are. They have the gear and the expertise and they knowwhere the best coral is. Just follow them. But if you are on your own, here is a good tip: Go as far away as possible. In Thailand’s central region that means Ko Chang National Park in Trat province down by the Cambodian border or Khao Laem Ko Samet National Park in Rayong province. It takes most of one day to get to Ko Chang, about half a day only to reach Ko Samet. Either way, if you have the time, it is worth it. Diving or snorkeling amongst the coral at either place is stupendous fun. Ko Chang National Park is of course better. It consists of about 50 islands scattered over about 650 square kilometers. Dive shops can be found across Ko Chang itself. Spectacular dive sites on the west of the islands are just 20 minutes away while Ko Wai, Ko Hradat and Ko Mak are all good. If you know your way around the sea, try to get out to some of the smaller islands. Then settle down for some serious enjoyment. The amazing range of colours and shapes you will see delight you, both hard and soft corals being found here. Shifting in and out of the coral in the filtered sunlight, you will also find little schools of brightly coloured tropical fish. It won’t take long to dazzle you, dumbfound you, turn you into an exo-skeleton freak. Happily these ones, by their outgoing nature, don’t lurk in cupboards.