Diving Losin and Koh Kra - Relaxing on Koh Samui - July 2013

I did a few days of diving at Losin and Koh Kra and then met up with Mam on Koh Samui for a few days of fun and relaxation.

Good Morning Losin!

Losin is the name of the rock with the lighthouse on top. It doesn't look like much from the surface, but the dive site is huge, with several submerged sea mounts that offer great diving. Almost no one comes here. We had the site all to oursleves.

This Thai fishing boat came to trade fuel for fish.

We had some lovely sashimi.

Koh Kra on the left, Hin Sung on the right with Hin Rue the small rock in front. This is also a rarely-visited, but very nice dive site.

Koh Kra has a nice beach which is a turtle nesting site.

The boat I was on is the Scuba Explorer run by Samui Diving Services. This is the lounge with tour leader Marcie in the blue t-shirt. This is a mainly Japanese operation. I've been out with them three times now. I'm usually the only Western customer.

Panorama of our approach to Koh Samui. This trip departed from Songkhla in Thailand's south and ended at Koh Samui, an island that is very popular with tourists.

Dive Trip Video

 

Losin and Koh Kra - July 2013

This is a brief (7 minute) video of the dive trip.

After the dive trip I met Mam on Koh Samui. We stayed at the Crystal Bay Beach Resort. This is the view from the room.

The hotel is right on the beach at Ao Thong Takien, one of the nicest beaches on Koh Samui. The sand is soft and clean. The water is clear. There are enough corals and fishes to make snorkeling interesting.

The beach is dotted with big boulders like this. The snorkeling is quite nice around these huge rocks.

Panorama of Ao Thong Takien.

That's our hotel, on the right.

Mam

Snorkeling Samui and Ang Thong

Short (3 minute) video of snorkeling on Koh Samui and at Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park.

Here we are!

Lunch at Chomlay Seafood at Lamai Beach.

Samui Sunrise

We took a day trip to Ang Thorng National Marine Park

We snorkeled and kayaked.

Had lunch on the beach.

Tried to find some shade.

And hiked up to see views like this and, 

An inland seawater lagoon.

The park is quite beautiful. Lots of tourists, but it's big enough.

Relaxing after a long climb at the lagoon.

The boat docks here.

One day we rented a car and drove all around Koh Samui. This is Hin Ta and Hin Yai, a popular viewpoint.

We drove up into the mountains to get views of the sea.

This is on Samui's west coast. There are still many undeveloped beach areas.

The sunrise was always beautiful.

Early morning on the beach.

Last sunrise.

Samui Then And Now

I first visited Koh Samui while on an Around the World trip in 1977. Here are some photos to compare then and now:

Me on the beach in 1977

Same beach, same guy, 2013

Looking north toward Chaweng Beach in 1977

2013

Looking south toward Lamai Beach, 1977.

2013