Stretching 12 kilometres from east to west and 19 kilometres from south to north, Koh Phangan is an island located near Ko Samui in Thailand. With an ideal location that provides convenient access to a myriad of prime dive sites including Anthong National Marine Park and Sail Rock Anthong, the stunning island is mainly mountainous with lush greenery. Bounded by pristine beaches of white sand and turquoise waters, most of this paradisiacal island remains as national parkland. Despite development of upmarket resorts and roads, the island has impressively retained its natural splendour.
The island is popularly known to be an excellent diving and snorkelling place with a multitude of dive sites. Having a professional yet relaxed attitude towards this delightful sport, the island is relatively a very inexpensive place to learn diving. With the availability of colourful coral reefs in its waters, the area is a paradise for divers and snorkelers.
Several open water courses are available at attractive rates for the novice divers to the region. The world of tropical diving in Koh Phangan can be experienced in many ways. All of the ideal dive sites surrounding Koh Phangan are located on the north, west and south west coasts of the island, with the west having the highest concentration of the sites.
An imposing variety of hard corals as well as tropical/pelagic fish can be seen during local dives. Hump coral that offers shelter to various table and staghorn corals, are the main structure of the reefs. The hump coral also offers shelter to leaf and plate corals, some extensive anemone corals, soft and filter corals and large brain corals.
Any dive in one of Koh Phangan’s dive sites will introduce you to a diversity of angelfish, damselfish, parrotfish, wrasse, goatfish and snapper. One is also bound to find big schooling barracuda, stingrays, hunting mackerel, tuna and cuttlefish.
The ideal accommodation option for those in search of Koh Phangan hotels would be Rasananda Phangan Island Resort & Spa, Thailand. Nestled amidst spectacular surroundings, the hotel comprises of luxurious villas that complement the splendour of the environs. Setting itself apart from the rest of the Koh Phangan resorts, this exceptional hotel offers pampering spa treatments as well.
