Koh Mak Divers

Spotted gliding across the sand today a Jenkins whipray doing what it does best: looking effortlessly cool while we all lose our minds underwater 🐠✨

That’s a wrap on this season though! We’re closing up shop for the monsoon 🌧️ but don’t be a stranger send us a message and we’ll get you booked in for next season. The rays (and we) will be waiting 🤿

📩 DM us to lock in your spot for next season!

🐠 What an incredible find the Saddleback Clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus), and it never gets old spotting one.

Unlike most clownfish that hang out in coral. This one lives out on the open sand flats. Sheltering in a host anemone that’s basically its only protection from predators. It’s fiercely territorial too small as it is it’ll chase off much bigger fish to defend its home. Not a species you run into on every dive. Which makes moments like this one even better.

🌧️ A quick note: we’re currently closed for the rainy season. But if you want to see fish like this one for yourself. Send us a message to book your spot for next season, we’d love to have you 🤿

🐠 Most protective fish on the planet? Correct.

This little guy will absolutely throw hands over a sea anemone.

The Saddleback Clownfish (Amphiprion polymnus) lives in a symbiotic relationship with its host anemone and it takes protecting my home way too seriously. It’ll aggressively chase off fish twice its size to guard the anemone. even though that same anemone can retract deeper into the sand when disturbed, while the clownfish is left to face the intruder on its own. Moved into a house with no foundation and still fighting for the neighborhood watch.
Not a fish you see on every single dive keep your eyes on the sand flats not just the reef.

Want to spot one yourself? Send us a message to book a snorkeling or diving trip 🤿

Snake like movements, showing their teeth… its easy to think eels are a danger underwater! But despite looking a little scary this is a common misconception!

Lets break it down:
Eels snake like body is an adaptation to their environment and hunting techniques (not for divers). Their streamlined body helps them weave between the reef to hide or find food such as small crustaceans and fish. Their lack of fins unlike many other fish allows them to swim continuously with less drag.

As for their teeth this is not a show of aggression, it is simply how they breathe! Eels are different from other fish as they need to open and close their mouth to pump water over their gills in order to get oxygen.

Like all marine creature we spot on our dives if you show them respect they will not bother us. That means no touching or chasing, the same goes for eels!

BONUS FACT: Some eels copy the patterns of snakes to protect themselves as they appear venomous! This puts predators off attacking them.

Join our snorkel or dive trips to witness the white eyed moray eel - now you know all the facts!

Who knows this fish? 🐠

To meet this famous fish join our snorkel and dive tours! We know where to find the coolest reef residents! 🪸

Just a dive below the surface and a whole new world opens up! 🤿🌍

To join our snorkel and dive tours send us a message to find out more!

Have you ever spotted one of these on the reef? This is a crown of thorns starfish and it is one of the biggest predators of coral! 🪸🍴

They have been known to eat a dinner plate sized patch of coral in a day! 🍽️

Seeing one or two of these on a dive is okay as they are a natural part of the ecosystem. However due to climate change and human impacts their numbers can increase quickly.

🌡️ Warmer oceans means they can reproduce and develop faster
🎣 Overfishing can reduce their predators
🌾 Nutrient run off from agriculture or sewage can create an abundance of food for juvenile crown of thorns starfish

What can we do? There are projects around the world that are helping to tackle outbreaks of crown of thorns

What to do if you see one on a dive? DON’T touch them! They are covered in spikes which cause a lot of pain and they have toxins which can cause further issues.
It is also important not to break them as they can regenerate if they are cut in pieces meaning the population will increase more!

The ocean is full of wonderful and wild creatures such as these! And despite eating our lovely reefs crown of thorns do have a role to play in nature and can be quite cool to look at!

To learn and find out more about the underwater world follow

We do love our turtles here at Koh Mak Divers! 😆

The Koh Rang National Marine Park is home for hawksbill sea turtles which we often spot on our trips both snorkelling and diving!

Want to see these gorgeous, beautiful turtles under the surface? Send us a message to book your underwater trip!

Can anyone guess the name of these?! Comment wha you think below!

To explore the unique underwater world of Koh Rang National Marine Park send us a message! 🤩📧