60km out in the Andaman Sea lie the Similan Islands, originally 9 but 2 further north were added to the National Park, which closes to tourists for 6 months of the year to protect the wildlife and coral. Some trips visit several islands, snorkel and swim from the boat, but seeing little point in spending the day on a boat we went to Tachai, the northernmost, as you can go onto the beach. An hour and a quarter by bucking bronco speedboat, sea-sick tablets and plates of fruit handed out, sick bags offered with a big Thai smile and a board held up with felt-tipped announcements as nothing can be heard over the roar of 4 huge Honda motors.
I had forgotten how exciting snorkelling can be, the last couple of times years ago in Oz chased out by jellyfish and in Florida much of the coral dead or too deep, I bounced around in heavy swells with big grey barracuda and Martin slept thru it all in the boat after all the anti-sick tablets. This time was perfect, warm clear water, live coral and lots of beautiful fish close up and a first as I swam over a turtle for a while until it lost me, very lucky it seems as they are rarely seen now, possibly with increased tourism.
A short walk inland showed hairy-legged chicken crabs, altho I didnt get close enough to look for the hairs, and hermit crabs, also plentiful on the perfect beach, sand like sieved flour, crystal clear water in shades of turquoise, snorkelling with silver fish but no jellyfish. Got a bit burnt and bruised my knee tripping over a rock, but a small price to pay for a piece of paradise.
A longer boat ride back as the heavens opened and those sitting on the sides who had changed into dry clothes got drenched by spray and rain, but we were now savvy, stayed in our swimsuits, sat in the middle, had big plastic sacks for our bags, umbrellas for the dash to the taxis and towels, very snug and smug.
The heavy rain meant dinner in the hotel again, but thankfully the chef was having a much better day. Oddly the staff were in Hawaian shirts and young Thais put on a display of Maori and polynesian dances with the full grass skirts and hula works, for a moment I wasn't sure where in the world we were.