Bon Island - an overview of Phuket's most deserted island

Koh Bon, also known as Koh Bon West Ridge is an uninhabited island located 10 km from Phuket Island. Bon Island is a small rocky island, only 200 m in diameter.

This is the perfect place for those who just want a break from civilization, to merge with the pristine nature of Thailand. The island is a great place for deep-sea diving, all that is interesting in its vicinity is hidden under the surface of the water.

The above-water part of Ko Bon is notable for its steep limestone slopes, broken shoreline, rocks, shrubs and trees.

Bon Island on the map

On the coast of the island there are several small beaches, the only hotel Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa. But unfortunately there is no accommodation on the island. Of available accommodation can be settled in the area of Rawai Beach, for example in Coconut Paradise Villas.

On the island's waterfront is a small tourist restaurant, Bon Island Restaurant, which caters to day visitors to the island. The establishment is open from 12:00 to sunset, daily.

How to get there

There are two ways to get to the island:

1. Book a tour at any travel company, about 5000 baht for a one-day visit;
2. Rent a boat on your own at one of the piers.

The latter method is expensive for a small company. But if there are 5-7 people, then the price for the trip will be acceptable. From Rawai Beach or Laem Ka can be reached in 10-15 minutes. Hire a boat is not difficult - on the waterfront, there are many shops providing this service. The only thing is that boaters do not speak English, so you should discuss the price and rental time with the owner of the transport in advance.

A couple of hour visit to the island will cost 1000 baht, the boatman will be waiting for you on the shore. If you plan to stay on the island longer, the price will be from 1400 baht - in which case the boatman sails to the mainland and returns for you at the agreed time. Also on the island there is a communication, if you decide to return in advance you can tell the boatman about the time of departure.

Remember that with the Thais need to haggle always, even out of season.

Attractions

Ko Bon is one of the popular diving spots. A special feature is the underwater ridge in the west of the island, steeply descending to a depth of 35-40 meters. While diving, you are guaranteed to see mantas (sea devils). These are the largest stingrays in the world, they are up to 5 meters long and weigh almost 1.5 tons. They slowly circle or stand motionless in the water, often in groups of 4-5.

During a boat ride around the island, you can see the mantu right from the surface of the water.

Out of season you can watch whale sharks, giant moray eels, octopuses and other exotics. Suffice it to say that of the 400 species of fish and 200 species of coral in the Andaman Sea, most can be found only on Ko Bon.

The large coral reef, which survived the tsunami in 2004, is also worthy of tourists. On the west side of the ridge is another dive site Koh Bon Pinnacle. Divers are dropped off right above the top of the cliff, where you must dive quickly to avoid being swept away by the current. The minimum depth (top of the cliff) - 18 m. Maximum - up to 50 m. And deeper. The cliff is completely covered with yellow soft corals, and this is its distinctive feature.

There is a small cove on Ko Bon which presents an opportunity for night diving. It is worth bearing in mind that at many of the dive sites of Ko Bon there are often strong currents. So, it is important to follow the signals of the underwater guide.

Information for divers

Depth: 10-50 m
Visibility: 10-40 m
Water Temperature: 24-30 С

The best time to dive is from January to April. The rainy season is from May to October. At this time of year, visits to the islands for tourists may be limited.

Remember, diving is one of the most dangerous sports. The Thai authorities, recommend that diving tourists take out special insurance.