Scintillating Similan Islands

Similan Islands lie 84 km northwest of the deckchairs and the huge crowds of Patong beach in Phuket. It is a famous group of islands in the Andaman Sea. Its fame rests on the clear blue waters that are part of the islands.

Similan islands are among the top ten diving areas of the world. This famous archipelago is a favorite destination for yachts and boat tours.

Similan is derived from the Malay word ‘sembilan’, which means ‘nine’. Each one of the Similan Islands has a number and name. Koh Ba Ngu is number 9 while Payu is number 7.

During the past, sea levels have fluctuated by nearly 150 m. This is due to the advance and retreat of the polar ice caps. These islands have been battered by storms and have remained underwater. They are predominantly covered by marine growths and have been visited by species that are now extinct.

You can think of the island’s history as you move up the trail up to Sailing Boat Rock. While you move through the crevices and archways, imagine them to be covered with corals, sponges, and algae. Presently, the land inhabited by birds and butterflies was once home to large fish and marine dinosaurs.

The islands have been shaped by many forces. To start with, Similan islands were intrusions. They were upwellings of hot magma that made their way through spots in the Earth’s crust. Nearly 100 to 150 million years ago, they made their way through the thick layers of sedimentary rock. Following this, there were powerful crust movements that converted the granite substratum into blocks. This paved the way for experiments.

Presently, there are tons of stones, some of them as large as houses. They lie as if they are collected and abandoned by some race of beachcombing giants.

The characteristic formation that lies high above the cove on Koh Similan has been shaped in a particular way. Boulders similar to these have spilled on jumbled piles below the sea surface. Here, submarine peaks, canyons, caves and other passageways provide great opportunities for scuba diving. To the west of the islands, sea currents have kept the land formations free from sand. The boulders have been almost buried on the sandy slopes on the east side.

The beach has been a product of dedicated scraping and nibbling by organisms such as the parrot fish. The conditions are ideal for coral growth. The waters are unbelievably clear, and temperature hovers around 28 degree Celsius. There have been more than 200 species of coral associated with this area. Similan Islands has the greatest abundance of reef fish among Thai waters.

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