This week we had a lot of fun.
Conditions were as good as they have been all season. 30m visibility almost everywhere, calm flat seas and generally no strong currents (obviously not including Koh Tachai, woohoo what a dive that was). However, one thing that struck me most this week was how many secrets there are left to be discovered here.
Knock-knock. “Good morning!!”, and a weak and sleepy “good morning” answers from inside the room number 8. Ok, Alex and Agatha are awaken. Let’s check…room 1…Ok, Kim and Keunyong, 2 of the korean divemasters; knock-knock. “Ileona!!!”, no answer, “Ileona!!”, that means “Wake up!” in korean, maybe doesn’t sound very polite taking into account that we are waking up the guests in our boat, but it was impossible for me to remember the good morning in korean, so the guys gave us this other option, much easier to remember (although probably I’m spelling it completely wrong); some noise comes from inside the room; good.
With the huge changes to the Similan Islands national park this year, and the seemingly last minute implementation of new rules, it became very clear to us that our communication with the Thai authorities was not enough as it should be. So were overjoyed when we were kindly invited to join the ‘Phuket Marine National Park Operation Center 2′ and a group of Thai university students, to help carry out a series of ongoing scientific studies at the Similan Islands.
So with the festive season upon us, we take a look back at the first part of the season.
The cooler waters mentioned in our last blog continued into the start of February. Thermocline’s reading as low as 22 degrees C in places washed through the Similan and Surin National Parks.
As in the 2019-2020 season this Similan Liveaboard season has started with some rather cooler waters around. When we say “cooler” we mean by as low as 19 degrees Celsius in places.
Coral spawning around the Similan Islands is one of nature’s most incredible spectacles. Each year, during the full moons of March and April, corals release eggs and sperm into the sea, ensuring the reefs’ regeneration and supporting the region’s rich marine biodiversity. This synchronized event is vital for the future health of the Similan reef ecosystem.
