Surin Islands · Thailand · Reef · Night
Aow Pakard/Pakkad
Shallow coral-block reef the dive tables list as a night dive
Area photo: The Cosmonaut · CC BY-SA 2.5
Aow Pakard is a slightly sloping reef of coral blocks and small sand patches, listed in Wikipedia's Surin dive-site table as a night dive with an average depth of 10 m. Scubago rates it a simple, colourful reef for beginners and snorkellers, with good chances of turtles and small fish swarms of snapper and yellowtail barracuda.
Also known as Pak Kaad.
Where it is and how deep
9.3798° N, 97.8796° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The reef slopes slightly away from the bay, built of coral blocks with a few sand areas between them, and Wikipedia's dive-site table gives it an average depth of 10 m. That shape makes the dive a slow wander from block to block rather than a route with a fixed direction — you work the coral heads, cross a patch of sand, and pick up the next set, with plenty of gas left because there is no depth to spend.
Turtles are a good chance here, and small fish swarms — snapper, yellowtail barracuda — hold over the coral. On the sand and the block margins the interest is smaller: starfish and nudibranchs. The same dive-site table lists Pak Kaad as a night dive, and the shallow, sheltered profile is what makes it one; ground that reads as a simple daylight reef changes character after dark.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Reef fish swarms
- Barracuda
- Nudibranchs
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Good | Prime |
Season follows Surin Islands: The national park closes mid-May to mid-October for the south-west monsoon; Feb–Apr is the peak of the open season.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Aow Pakard?+
Wikipedia's Surin dive-site table gives an average depth of 10 m. It is a slightly sloping reef of coral blocks and a few sand areas, shallow enough that snorkellers see much of what the divers do.
Can you night dive at Aow Pakard?+
Yes — Wikipedia's Surin dive-site table lists Pak Kaad as a night dive, and the shallow, sheltered reef is the reason. Turtles, snapper, yellowtail barracuda, starfish and nudibranchs are the usual sightings.
Sources
- Aow Pakard/Pakkad — Scubago
- Surin Islands — Wikipedia
More dive sites in Surin Islands
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Scattered boulders on sand, with overhangs holding the fish life
Pinnacle
A current-swept pinnacle from 30 m to within 5 m of the surface
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Shallow hard-coral shelf that works for snorkellers and divers alike
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