Surin Islands National Marine Park

The Surin Islands National Marine Park is a pristine diving destination in the northern Andaman Sea, a group of five islands near the Thai-Myanmar maritime boundary that offers some of the most unspoiled coral reef environments in all of Thailand. The park's remote location, strict protection, and limited visitor numbers combine to preserve marine ecosystems of exceptional health and beauty that serve as a benchmark for what tropical reefs can look like when properly managed. The Surin Islands are home to one of the healthiest hard coral reef systems in the Andaman Sea. The shallow reef flats around the islands support coral gardens of staggering diversity, with hundreds of species creating a living mosaic that stretches from the surface down to the reef slope. Table corals extend broad platforms that shelter fish beneath them, staghorn thickets form dense forests, and massive Porites colonies that may be centuries old anchor the reef framework. Marine life in the park is abundant and relatively unafraid of divers, having experienced limited hunting pressure within the protected boundaries. Reef fish are present in impressive numbers and sizes, with species including Napoleon wrasse, groupers, and sweetlips reaching dimensions rarely seen at more heavily visited sites. Hawksbill and green turtles are regular encounters, feeding on the reef with an unhurried confidence that allows extended observation. The Surin Islands sit close to Richelieu Rock, and many liveaboard itineraries combine the two destinations. While Richelieu offers the dramatic pinnacle diving and whale shark potential, the Surins provide the complementary experience of extensive shallow reef diving among pristine coral gardens. The contrast between the two sites showcases the full range of Andaman Sea diving within a compact area. The park's cultural significance adds another dimension. The Moken people, sometimes called sea gypsies, have traditionally inhabited these waters, and their sustainable relationship with the marine environment offers a model for conservation. Visiting the Surin Islands connects divers not just to the natural world but to a way of life that has coexisted with the ocean for generations. The Surin Islands National Marine Park represents what Thai diving can be at its very best. The combination of pristine reef health, abundant marine life, remote beauty, and the cultural richness of the Moken heritage creates a destination that transcends ordinary diving and delivers a complete marine wilderness experience.