Ko Lanta is a fairly unusual island in this area, in that it does not have a coral reef around the island. Here in Kantiang Bay, in the South of Ko Lanta, we are one of the only beaches in Ko Lanta to have any coral reef growth.

We have conducted some exploratory dives on these reefs and have observed some extremely interesting macro life. There are colonies of nudibranches that we have never seen on other dive sites in the area, as well as many species of juvenile fish, small rays and anemones. There are even some small Gorgonian Sea Fans and Table Corals.

One of our projects for 2007-08 is to effectively map this area and identify as many of the species that inhabit it, as we can.

What is ‘MacroLife’?

Macrolife is really just a term for small fish and other marine life. By focusing on the small things you can often ’see’ far more of the life that inhabits just a small area of a reef.

Nudibranches are a small animal that divers often get excited about. These sea slugs (or soft-bodied snails) belong to the suborder Nudibranchia, the largest suborder of the order Opisthobranchia. There are more than 3,000 described species, among which are some of the most colourful creatures on earth. It is believed that these bright colours have evolved for both camouflage and defense.

We have already identified over 7 different species of Nudibranch on our House Reef, and look forward to finding more interesting life!

Species found on House Reef:

Coming soon - a list of species we have spotted on out House Reef.

If you’re not a diver yet, but you’re interested in marine biology and want to participate in one of our programs, - no problem! Arrive a few days early and you can be certified as a Open Water Diver in just 3-4 days.

If you want to participate in the ReefCheck EcoAction and contribute to their global survey of Reef Health, we also offer Discover ReefCheck and ReefCheck EcoDiver courses, for an introduction to, and certification in, reef monitoring and surveying techniques.