Bleached Coral in shallow areas at Ko Cheuak

Ko Cheuak, which lies in the Hat Chao Mai National Park in Trang province, has been closed by the Department for National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation in Thailand in response to a coral bleaching episode that occurred during April & May of last year.

Ko Cheuak is best known as a snorkeling site and is often visited as part of the popular 4-Island tour from Ko Lanta. There are rumours that neighbouring snorkel-site, Ko Maa, may also be closed if surveys commissioned and undertaken by Thailand’s Department for National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation reveal extensive coral damage at this site.

All Dive Sites and All Other Snorkeling Sites in the Ko Lanta Area Remain Open and All Regular Diving and Snorkeling Trips are Running as Usual

The more popular sites on the 4-Island Tour including; the Emerald Cave, Ko Mook, Ko Ngai and Ko Kradan, all remain open, as do all islands in the Eastern Islands group and all Lanta’s dive sites.

Map of closed dive sites

Sites listed to close lie within just 7 of Thailand’s 148 National Parks and include sites within the National Marine Parks of; Ko Surin, Similan, Phi Phi, Petra, Tarutao, Chumphon and Hat Chao Mai.

Many world-class dive sites are to be found in Thailand’s National Marine Parks – however none of these have been affected by the recent closures, despite the fact the some of the closed sites do lie within famous Marine Parks, like Ko Phi Phi and the Similan Islands.

It’s unclear how individual sites were chosen for closure. Although many of the sites listed are within high-profile marine parks that are famous for attracting large numbers of divers each year, none of the actual sites listed as banned are among the major diving destinations in Thailand. We expect that there will be very little impact on people visit Thailand to dive or snorkel.

The difference between healthy coral and bleached coral

What we hope will have a more lasting impact, is the message that any visitors to a coral reef environment need to be extremely careful and fully aware of the need to cause no impact on the condition of the coral, in order to limit any potential stress to damaged coral as it recovers.

Bleached Hard Coral

The condition of the shallow reef areas at Ko Cheuak show that, in areas above 9m, hard corals have been quite badly affected by the bleaching phenomenon that can occur during prolonged periods of unusually warm sea temperatures. There are areas in which hard coral, especially staghorn and table corals have died.

Clownfish living in bleached anemone

Soft Corals have not been affected and continue to flourish and deeper areas are either untouched or recovering well.

The good news is that the current temperature of the sea actually a degree or two colder than normal for this time of year and many sites such as Ko Haa and Hin Daeng & Hin Muang are positively flourishing at the moment. Divers are seeing an increased number of Manta Rays – there have been multiple Manta sightings every day for almost 2 months and both marine and coral life is positively glowing.

Soft Corals remain healthy and continue to flourish

Many local dive operators in southern Thailand are actively involved in reef monitoring projects in collaboration with Project AWARE, Greenfins and the Phuket Marine Biology Centre in order to study and limit the effects of global warming and coral bleaching.

Please do not hesitate to contact a local diving or snorkeling centre if you have any questions about current diving and snorkeling conditions in our area.

For further information about current dive site conditions around Ko Lanta, take a look at this article: http://www.scuba-dive-lanta.com/news/ko-lanta-dive-sites-unaffected-by-closures.

Got any Questions?

Please feel free to send us a message

sunrise .... setting the boat adrift

Our favorite party in Lanta Old Town!

This Saturday evening, October 23rd is the traditional Chao Ley ceremony “Loy-Rua (Floating Boat Festival)”. The village Chao Ley men will build a symbolic boat and place wooden statues of themselves in it along with nail pairings, hair, popped rice and food. By performing this ritual, they ask for forgiveness from the sea gods and for any offenses they have made to the sea. It is believed that all evil is carried away in the symbolic boat when it is set a drift at dawn.

Traditional Rong-Ngeng Dance & Music and popular Thai music will be played all night. Food, plenty of drink and fun for the kids.

Hua Laem 2 (next to the Ko Lanta Hospital, Lanta Old Town)

A unique opportunity to take part in an islander’s way of life, the Ko Por Cultural Homestay lets you get to know a traditional Thai fisher-family’s way of life in a way that not many other people in the world will ever experience.

Ko Por Cultural Homestay visits can be arranged on request by contacting Mr. Sanae:
Mobile: +66 (0)874 743 247
Email: sanae.yamae [at] yahoo.com

How much does it cost?

• 700 THB per person, per night

this is payable in cash, each evening, to your host family

What’s included in the price?

• Return Longtail boat transfers from Old Town Pier to Ko Por
• 3 meals per day
• Simple accommodation in the host family’s home. (A bed with a mosquito net is usually provided in a private room)
• Daily activities with your host family – usually the normal daily activities they do every day

What’s activities can I expect to take part in

• Cutting and collecting Sap from the Rubber Trees in the Plantation
• Fishing Trips by Longtail boat to catch crabs or prawns
• Digging for Mussels at the beach
• Preparing freshly caught seafood to eat
• Making hand-made curry pastes
• Sight seeing around the Island or Bird Watching

If you decide to stay longer, we can arrange for more activities such as visiting nearby islands or snorkeling trips.

Please note: All activities depend on the Tides and the time of the day. Sea conditions are considered very carefully and trips will only be made if the weather permits.

What do I need to bring with me?

• Sun cream
• Mosquito repellent
• Personal toiletries
• Sarong
• Long sleeved tops and long trousers (for the early evening when mosquitos may be around)
• If you’d like to swim off the beach, you’ll need modest clothing too – bikinis are not allowed (board-shorts and a rash guard is fine – or even shorts and a T-Shirt) and you should try to cover up as much as possible in accordance with the Muslim faith. A short-sleeved T-Shirt and long shorts is acceptable – spaghetti-string tops and hot pants are not!

Please don’t bring alcohol, no gambling, please dress discreetly and kindly respect the Muslim way of life.

Other customs that need to be respected include:

• Alcohols and Drugs are strictly prohibited
• You must sleep in separate bedrooms if you’re not married, due to Muslim Regulations
• All activities depend on the Tides and the time of the day
• Sea conditions are considered very carefully and trips will only be made if the weather permits

Ko Por Cultural Homestay visits can be arranged on request by contacting Mr. Sanae:
Mobile: +66 (0)874 743 247
Email: sanae.yamae [at] yahoo.com

KO LANTA HONORED AS A TOP DESTINATION IN TRIPADVISOR’S 2010 TRAVELERS’ CHOICE DESTINATION AWARDS

Ko Lanta, Thailand, was chosen as a Best Destination in 3 categories, Beach & Sun, Romance, and Relaxation & Spa by TripAdvisor® in the 2010 Travelers’ Choice® Destination Awards, with Lanta Longtail / Sun Island Tours, Kantiang Bay and Lanta Klong Nin Beach being given a special mention in the ‘Don’t Miss’ section of each award.

• Beach & Sun: Ko Lanta – 1st Place in Thailand, 3rd Place in Asia
• Romance: Ko Lanta – 1st Place in Thailand, 4th Place in Asia
• Relaxation & Spa: Ko Lanta – 2nd Place in Thailand, 6th Place in Asia

The TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Destination awards and honours the world’s top destinations, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travelers.

TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners are based on the millions of real reviews and opinions from travelers on TripAdvisor.com™. The top destinations were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor travelers’ favorite places and overall popularity on TripAdvisor.

“Millions of travelers on TripAdvisor have identified the world’s most amazing destinations”

said Christine Petersen, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor.

“From stunningly beautiful locales to spots with outstanding attractions, the 2010 Travelers’ Choice Destination Award winners are truly incredible places that travelers love.”

• For reviews on Koh Lanta, go to Ko Lanta Reviews.
• For the complete 2010 Travelers’ Choice Destination Awards list, go to Travellers’ Choice Destinations.

About TripAdvisor:

TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 34 million monthly visitors*, 15 million registered members and 30 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover more than one million destinations, hotels, restaurants and attractions. TripAdvisor and the TripAdvisor logo are registered trademarks of TripAdvisor LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries.

©2010 TripAdvisor LLC. All rights reserved.

Performances include Shadow Puppet Theater (Nang Talung), Traditional Thai Dance and Sea Gypsy Folk Music (Rong Ngeng) Enjoy great and affordable Thai & Western food, beer, coffee and many local Arts & Crafts exhibits. Get away from the crowds and become a part of a real Thai Fishing and Cultural Community!

December 26 & 27th, 2009

4pm until midnight

The LANTA OLD TOWN ARTIST WALKING STREET will be held on December 26th and 27th, 2009 on the main waterfront street in charming Lanta Old Town. Local and Foreign Artists and their crafts with a fine selection of Jewelry, Batik, Leather, Watercolors, Clothing and much more. Authentic food with an abundant choice of delicious snacks and meals available through out both evenings. Local Bars + Restaurants  will offer dinner and drink specials. Starts nightly at 4pm until 12 midnight.

Thai number for booking booths: 081 970 5972 or 085 884 9459.

Don’t Miss Out!

PADI Dive Courses All Year Round

During the high season (November – April), Scubafish’s boats are moored in Kantiang Bay in the south of Ko Lanta, and during the low season (May – October) the dive boats depart from the pier in Lanta Old Town, making it really convenient if you plan to stay in Lanta Old Town during the summer months.

Ko Lanta is the best place to base yourself if you want to dive some of the top dive sites in Thailand. With spectacular reefs, unmatched marine diversity and great visibility, Ko Lanta offers the convenience of day-diving with the chance to enjoy the relaxed and laid back atmosphere of island life.

PADI 5-Star Dive Centre, Scubafish offers the full range of PADI Dive Courses from complete beginner through to professional Dive Instructor.

Courses start from Bubblemaker – for kids (1 Day Course, Age 8+), Discover Scuba Diving (1 Day Course, Age 10+) or the full PADI Open Water certification (3-4 Day Course, Age 10+) and go right up to a 6-8 week Divemaster Training Course or 2 week Dive Instructor Course (Age 18+).

You can even start your PADI Dive Course on-line to day!

For further information about staying in Lanta Old Town during low season (and why this is actually the best time to come), see Low Season? Not In Old Town.

What 'Low' Season?

The weather is generally fine with blue skies and hot sunshine, shops are open as usual, there are plenty of places to stay and things to do. Boat trips and tours are departing regularly from the pier.

Old Town can be found on the East coast of Ko Lanta and is about a 20 minute drive from Saladan in the north.

Lanta Old Town enjoys the best of the weather in Lanta, all year round. During the high season (the hottest months) there is a gentle breeze rolling in from the east, and during low season (May – October) any wind and rain tends to come from the west, so Old Town is naturally protected by its location on the east coast and the area around the pier forms a natural harbour. Many people choose to moor their boats in Old Town during the low season to take advantage of the calm seas and gentler weather.

Avoid the crowds in low season

This year’s weather and rainfall has been normal, which means that low season (May – October) is much like the ‘high’ season but with a few showers here and there. This pattern should continue until around September when we normally get a bit more rain but for the next few months you can come and experience the culture of Old Town and enjoy some great day trips to the islands, without ever being in a crowd!

If you’re planning a holiday to Ko Lanta during the low season (or even the high season) things to bear in mind about the weather include; the temperature stays around 30+ degrees all year round, if it does rain it usually lasts an hour or so, but occasionally there may be a few days or even a week where it can rain pretty non-stop. The months with the most rainfall are typically May and September, but with changing weather patterns all over the world, the weather is getting harder to predict.

One real bonus of coming to Ko Lanta during the low season is that accommodation prices are much cheaper than during the busier high season months – so you can really treat yourself without breaking the bank.

Saladan is the main arrival point in Lanta. During low season the car ferry runs all day, every day from 6:30am to 10:00pm. There is a regular minibus service from Krabi Town and Trang with minibuses departing every 1 or 2 hours throughout the day. The last minibus from Krabi Town leaves at 6:00pm. During high season there are also passenger ferries that run from Phuket, Phi Phi and Krabi. Other alternatives for getting here during the low season include private transfers by taxi from Phuket, Krabi, AoNang and Trang.

Orange House and Mango House are open for accommodation and tours are available from Tailor Made Marine Tours, Sun Island Tours and Scubafish Dive Centre. Come and enjoy.

lanta longtail

Lanta Old Town’s preferred tour operator Lanta Longtail/Sun Island Tours are pleased to announce their brand new 42 hp turbo motor—and muffler for the 2009 high season. They probably have the quietest long tail boat on Ko Lanta. Outfitted with a lovely new canopy and cushions, it’s a very comfortable ride.

Well-stocked with ice-cold beer and fine Thai cuisine, this is 5 STAR LONGTAIL BOATING!

Open all year round, Lanta Longtail/Sun Island Tours offers authentic longtail boat trips to many Islands off Ko Lanta’s east coast, including Ko BuBu, Ko Talabeng and the famous Emerald Cave / Four Island Tour.

Come see why they are number one!
Call  +66 (0)87-891-6619