Mu Ko Surin National Park, Marine national park in Phang Nga Province, Thailand
Mu Ko Surin National Park is a marine national park in the Andaman Sea, off the coast of Phang Nga province in Thailand, made up of five main islands surrounded by coral reefs. The islands alternate between sandy beaches, dense coastal forest, and rocky coves.
The park was designated a national park in 1981 to protect the coral reefs and marine ecosystems of the area. This protected status restricted fishing and other activities that had put pressure on the local sea life.
The Moken, sometimes called sea nomads, have lived on these islands for generations and spend much of their lives on the water. Visitors can see their stilted settlements and traditional wooden boats along the shore.
The park is open from November to April, when the sea is calm; outside these months it closes due to monsoon conditions. Boats leave from the mainland coast, and the crossing can take several hours, so it helps to plan the trip in advance.
Richelieu Rock, a submerged pinnacle near the park, is one of the few spots in the region where whale sharks are seen with some regularity. This makes it a reference point for divers who travel specifically to encounter these large, slow-moving fish.
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