Until recently, Trang managed to be a well-kept secret, known only to veteran travelers for its pristine beauty. But when she wants the world to know about her existence, she comes out with a big bang. In conjunction with Thai Airways International, Trang managed to capture the world’s attention by hosting the world’s largest underwater wedding ceremony this past Valentine’s Day. Suddenly, Trang’s fame was matching Krabi as being the alternate destination to the bustling Phuket scene.
Trang is full of natural wonders, but none can compare to the marine treasures off its coasts in the Andaman Sea. Trang has a wide variety of islands running from north to south, with most being uninhabited. Diving season on this coast ran from November-May, with visibility being its best during February-April. Though we were only visiting the area for the weekend, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go diving in this wonderland.
After an hour and a half of being in the open sea on a small converted
fishing boat, we anchored at the singular slab of limestone sticking
out of the waters on the Northeastern point of
Koh Mook (Pearl Island).
On this dive, the soft corals and seafans swaying softly in the warm
waters had more than human visitors; leopard sharks and hawkbill
turtles also came to play.
As a reward for surviving our refreshing dive, we were brought to the opening of the passageway leading into the island’s star attraction, Tham Morakot (Emerald Cave) which opens into a lagoon. The only way in to the lagoon was to swim, or dive, a length of 80 meters in total darkness. Switching on the flashlight, we dove excitedly into the emerald-colored water. Nothing but darkness existed within these rock walls, enough to give a taste of claustrophobia. We emerged into daylight in a body of lucid water and sandy beach surrounded by towering cliff faces.
At the neighboring island of Koh Kradan (Board Island), our dive was greeted with more marine life. Due to this island’s growing popularity with tourists, the not so impressive, declining hard corals, at a merely 30 feet, still yielded a vast array of lion fish, moray eels, lobsters, and leopard sharks. This island is famous for staging the world's first underwater group wedding ceremony in 2000, which has continued to be a tradition since. Passing around the island, I noticed a small, deserted cove with huge waves pounding onto the virginal, golden beach, a pure surfer’s paradise.
We headed north pass Koh
Waen (Ring Island), a small, round island.
At Koh Cheuk (Rope Island), a narrow channel separated the two towering
chunks of mountains. Between the rocks were spectacular soft corals
and colorful fishes. As a treat, and test of our true diving skills,
this last dive was a drift dive, requiring few use of muscular energy,
only buoyancy abilities.
True to its reputation, the translucent jade-colored water and pristine preservation of the underwater ecosystem was a pure diving enjoyment. Can’t wait to come back and explore the other hidden treasures this place has to offer.