Trang's Islands

Phuket and Krabi get most of the attention from the beach-going crowd, but in-the-know travelers are wise to the crystal-clear waters in the southern province of Trang. Gorgeous islands with way less crowd noise. Our pick of the surrounding islands is Koh Kradan, a tiny mound of near-perfectly white beaches, lush greens and turquoise water—prime for kayaking, snorkeling and a proper dive or two. A trip to this region would be a waste without visiting the Emerald Cave on nearby Koh Mook—a beautiful large rock face funneling to an eerie cave that’s been the star of an Instagram snap or two. 

Koh Racha

Koh Racha, a pair of twin Islands on the southeastern side of Phuket, is a popular destination for day-trips to snorkel and dive. They’re home to a large variety of marine life; it’s where you’ll see many colorful coral reefs and sea creatures like leopard sharks and manta rays. On the west side, there is a long U-shaped bay known as Patok beach with beautiful white sand and turquoise water that makes for an excellent calm swim spot.

Koh Tao

Arguably the most famous dive site in the country, Koh Tao sits north of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. The island is home to one of the largest diving communities in the country, mostly because of the large masses of protected coral reefs and astoundingly clean water. It’s the epicenter of marine conservation in Thailand, so you won’t have problems finding a dive shop anywhere. Koh Tao's rich supply of long beaches means you can clock some comfortable chill time as well.  

Koh Lipe

Known for its long white beaches and clear, shallow water, Koh Lipe is one of the best dive spots for adventurous scuba fans. It’s surrounded by the 20-island-strong Butong Archipelago, and is a great launch pad to a bunch of neat underwater finds in the area, including the Yong Hua Shipwreck—a 1996 fish factory boat that sunk near the west end of the island. It’s one of the most popular places to dive near the island, but the currents are strong so be prepared for a bumpy ride. A less intimidating option is Jabung, which requires only a two-to-three-meter dive to enjoy its beautiful coral cascades. 

Cocks Comb Island (Myanmar)

Dubbed “The Emerald Heart” after the stunning coral-filled lagoon at the center of the island, Cocks Comb is one of the region’s most sought-after dive sites. It’s a little over an hour away from Ranong by speedboat. The island is barren, though, so don’t expect a wild holiday. You’ll be traveling here to get to the hidden lagoon in the center, but it’s little more than a short swim from the nearest edge of the island. Don’t expect to find any hidden treasures like shipwrecks or pirate’s loot, but the calm waters and stunning scenery are worth it.   

Two new Seiko watches perfect for diving in Thai waters

Japanese mechanical watch brand Seiko has a hard-earned reputation for well-built, affordable timepieces. Its range of dive watches is renowned among seasoned collectors, and the brand is showing off three new members of that family this week at the Siam Paragon Watch Expo 2017—running until Aug 15.

Seiko Prospex Zimbe Limited Edition

This is the fourth edition of the Zimbe, and one of the most popular Seiko watches at this year’s show. Borrowing inspiration from whale sharks, the timepiece comes with a black stainless-steel bracelet and case with a purple bezel and blue illuminated dial. It’s a somewhat mysterious-looking watch, and should work just as well for formal occasions as it does in diving situations.

 Seiko Prospex SBDC031 “Black Sumo”

Inspired by the strength of Japanese sumo wrestlers, the Prospex “Black Sumo” has been one of Seiko’s most popular watch lines for years now. The timepiece comes with a stainless-steel case and bracelet, black bezel and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The mechanical movement inside lasts 50 hours before you need to wind the watch, so you can set it and forget it. 

Check out more of Seiko's exclusive limited edition watches at the Siam Paragon Watch Expo 2017. The event is happening now until Aug 15. 

#SeikoProspex #ExploretheUnexpected

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