Koh Phangnan is the hangout for backpackers who have moved on from Koh Samui now that it has succumbed to mass tourism. As developers look for the next island to exploit, more Phangnan land is being bought up and more fancy resorts are popping up. For now though it is still a travellers hang out more famous for it's full moon parties on the beach than for it's scuba diving.
From Phangnan island divers can access the southern Koh Tao dive sites and Sail Rock. They can also access the Ang Thong Marine National Park. Diving facilities and boats tend to be more basic on Koh Phangnan. Boats are converted Thai fishing boats are are slow. Cheap dive courses are available on the island. Most people dop not book in advance but just turn up, diving is a very chilled out affair here.
Marine life is ok but nothing spectacular and divers are unlikely to see larger pelagics here. Turtles are occasionally seen as are small black tip reef sharks. One advantage of Koh Phangnan dive sites is that they are a lot less crowded with divers than Koh Tao.
Koh Ma: A small islet just of the north west coast of Koh Phangnan, this is a boulder and reef dive site that drops down to 30m. Visibility varies from 5-20m, currents are weak. This is the best Phangnan dive site with many small schools of fish and some healthy hard corals including brain corals. Continued >>
|
