Koh Tarutao Marine Park Report

[escapedia]

Hi everyone,

In the end of April 2006, after a liveabord to the Similans, I took a trip to the Koh Tarutao marine park in the south of Thailand, near the border with Malaysia.
I was looking for some info about the diving there but I didn't find any.
So I thought that a proper report about the area and the diving there could be very helpful to someone who may consider going there or to anyone who might find it intersting.
You could read the reoprt and see pictures at my website:
http://www.escapedia.com/english/koh_tarutao.html

Enjoy!
Erez

 

[dive_lover88]

Very Impressive!! Looks very nice. How did you get there? Did you get there from malaysia or thailand?

 

[malaysia-islands]

I don't know much about Ko Turatao, but one can easily see this huge island from Langkawi. I've heard about really good diving in Butang Islands, near Turatao I suppose.

Nice pics!

 

[escapedia]

Dive lover88: I got there from Thailand. We took an SUV from Samui to Satun (it tokk us lots of time but it can be done in 6 hours).

Malaysia islands: Yes, we passed by Langkawi, and actually all of the dives were in the Butang area. The marine park is called Tarutao because in the biggest island in the marine park.
I wish one day I could come to one of Malaysia islands..unfortunatly that won't happen soon..

 

[buksida]

I was looking for some info about the diving there but I didn't find any.

Theres plenty of dive site information on the area here:

Koh Lipe and Tarutao dive sites

 

[escapedia]

Thanks buksida.
Yep, there is some info on the web, but I was looking for a first hand info, from someone who has been there.
Unfortunately, I can't believe anymore to a commercial or semi-commercial information about diving sites, since to my opinion, it is over the top with the description of the dive site (not in particular the link you posted, it's a world wide phenomena).
Since I don't want to be disappointed, I keep my expectations low, very low, everytime, everywhere.
Yes, I've read about whale sharks in 8 mile rock. It's good on paper..
Anyway, thanks for the link, it's a good one, could come handy to put it in my site's links!

 

[dive_lover88]

do you know if any LOB does runs to that area?

 

[escapedia]

do you know if any LOB does runs to that area?

A proper LOB? Not on a regular basis.. only if you can arrange enough pax to charter a boat.
Or you can do it the 'rustic' way on the boat I was on, or if you are a DM you can volunteer on the boat for 3 month helping reefwatch worldwide

 

[OnTheSpot]

No regular liveaboards. A couple of scheduled trips on the Colona VI and Nautica liveaboards next year. I'd like to do one myself and see something different.

 

[lanun]

thanks for posting about your experience there, Erez. i am tentatively scheduled to go to Koh Lipe over the Christmas weekend. nice to get a diver's perspective. and the leopard shark ... astounding photo !

one of these days i hope to visit your country too. a close fried is from there but we only get to meet in Europe or in the US .