Similan Island 8

Island No. 8, known in Thai as Koh Similan, is the geographical and symbolic heart of the Similan Islands archipelago, part of Mu Ko Similan National Park approximately 84 kilometres northwest of Phuket. The island is perhaps best known for the enormous granite boulder perched dramatically at its northern tip — a formation called Donald Duck Rock, or Hin Pusar — which has become the most photographed image of the Similans. The summit offers sweeping views across the entire island group, with the clarity of the Andaman water below making it one of the most arresting natural panoramas in Thailand. The waters surrounding the island and its neighbours are consistently rated among the top dive sites in the world, with visibility frequently exceeding 30 metres. The park is open from late October to mid-May; it closes during the monsoon season to allow the ecosystem to recover.