Khao
Lak Marine National Park
sits around ninety kilometres
to the north of Koh Phuket. The Park, established in 1991,
covers an area of 125 sq. kilometres with its highest
point being 1077 metres. The Parks amenities are all liberally
sprinkled along the main road from Koh Phuket in the south
to Ranong and although it has recently undergone renovation,
it still is occasionally narrow with some nasty, tight
bends to add to the challenge of getting there!
In years gone by this area was literally teaming with
now sadly endangered wildlife including black bears, gibbons,
tapirs and even tigers, but as is the case everywhere
in Thailand these animals are now very rarely seen. However,
the skies above are still busy with hornbills, parrots
and woodpeckers. The park is the source of two important
rivers of the province and has a number of towering waterfalls,
the most impressive being Lam Ru, Lam Phraw and Hin Lad.
All in all this is becoming the place to be, not only
for nature lovers, sunbathers and beachcombers but for
scuba divers and snorkellers, drawn in by the variety
and convenience of encountering some of the best conditions
and marine life in the country. It has been reported that
the parks coastal reefs are one of the major sources of
the reef inhabitants and corals found around Mu Koh Similan
Marine National Park.
Nowadays
the once tiny selection
of dive operators has expanded
not only in numbers but services as well, which include
not only the full range of diver education, retail and
local day trips, but also they are responsible for the
introduction of daily dive trips to Mu Koh Similan and
Surin Marine National Parks; a very welcome addition to
the choice of the areas liveaboard excursions.
One thing to bear in mind is that not all of the operators
stay open all year round, so don’t be dissappointed if
some are closed between May and October!
