Sculptures below the sea for tourists and locals

 

Busselton Jetty is one of the biggest tourism attractions in Western Australia.

It is the longest timber-piled pier in the southern hemisphere at 1.8km long and dates back to 1865.

The jetty features a rail line along its length and an underwater observatory, one of only six natural aquariums in the world, which opened to the public in 2003.

A new observatory, the Australian Underwater Discovery Centre, opens next year.

Now, as part of a major environmental project, Busselton Jetty will gain an Underwater Sculpture Trail and artificial reef.

A total of 13 underwater sculptures, like the one above, will be installed on the seabed, 8 metres below the surface at the northern end of the jetty to provide a new experience for divers, snorkelers, swimmers and marine life to enjoy.

The area surrounding the jetty is a vibrant and diverse habitat for over 300 marine species.

See https://www.busseltonjetty.com.au/

Similan Islands off limits for almost six months

One of the most popular day trip destinations in Thailand will be off limits for six months from next week. 

The Similan Islands will be closed to the public from May 16.

Located in the Andaman Sea, just 120 km northwest of Phuket, the Similan Islands are particularly popular with snorkelers and photographers. The two main islands are Ko Miang and Ko Similan

The archipelago closes for the monsoon season - until October 15 in this case - to aid the restoration of its habitats.

Mu Ko Similan National Park has been attracting about 2,000 visitors daily.

It is a fairly remote chain of 11 islands that attracts a large number of live-aboard dive cruises.

It is also noted for unique rock formations and its delightful beaches.

The numbers of visitors to the islands have been strictly controlled for several years, completely closing down each monsoon season.

There are no permanent lodgings but visitors are allowed to camp on three of the islands.