James Bond island

 James Bond Island is located in Khao Phing Kan area off the coast of Phang Na Province in Thailand’s Andaman Sea. (8.274591°N 98.501151°E) It earned the moniker James Bond Island after the James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed in this locale in the early 1970s. It is also referred to as Ko Tapu sometimes. It’s a volcanic rock and patches of shrub forest cling to the rock making for a mesmerising seascape.

 Located in shallow waters in a reef the James Bond Island is best viewed from an isthmus between the twin (mountain) Islands of Khao Phing Kan. James Bond Island in the Khao Phing Kan area of Andaman Sea can be reached by long boat or high speed boat from Krabi, Phuket or Phang Na. The area is meant only for day visits and there is no accommodation nearby to stay. 

 These mountains that jut out of the sea are actually fault lines that are visible above sea level. The forests and green over above the sea (on these faultlines) are matched by marine diversity like corals undersea… justifying the epithet that the corals and marine diversity are the Rainforests of the Deep. 

 A tropical paradise, the contrasting colours of the seascape around James Bond Island make for a great filming location. Different times of a sunny day yield different colours of the seascape. The inspiration makes one extremely curious about the roots of this massive 40 metres rock on the sea floor. 

 The shallow waters around the James Bond Island are rich in nutrients as the rivers draining off mainland Thailand drain through Mangroves in the Phang Na Mangrove National Park. This nutrient richness supports marine zoology including “26 species of reptiles, 24 species of fish, 14 species of shrimp, 15 species of crab, and 16 species of manta rays, sharks, and game fish. Most fishes are typical of coral reefs, such as butterflyfish. Other common inhabitants are blue crab, swimming crab, mudskipper, humpback shrimp, mud lobster, pomfret, sole, anchovy, scad, rock cod, rainbow cuttlefish, soft cuttlefish, musk crab, mackerel, moray eel, puffer fish, rabbitfish, groupers, black sea cucumber, brain coral, staghorn coral and flowerlike soft coral. Amphibians include Fejervarya raja, cricket frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) and the common tree frog. Aquatic plants are represented by red algae, Halimeda, seagrass, and plant plankton. There are more than 100 species of birds in the area such as the striated heron, Pacific reef heron, little egret and others” according to the Wikipedia link James Bond Island

 Oyster nests are found nearer the coastal rocky middens in Khao Phing Kan. The rocky outcrop hosts other avifauna like vultures, serpent eagle, other birds of prey like eagles, kites, hawks, sea gulls, sea eagles etc. Reptiles like pythons Boa constrictors kraits and king cobras occur in tropical Thailand. Estuarine crocodiles find ideal homes near these rocky middens in coastal areas and mangrove forests.  Mammals like civet cats and lynx cats are found in the forested rocks in the far foreground. Different types of bats throng the cave ecosystem in these rocky mountains.  Some of these mountains above the sea level have sea water gushing through the caves at the bottom of these rocky outgrowths. Adventure seeking tourists kayak through these caves in sea water inlets. 

 These rocky outcrops are actually a geological showcase as they clearly reveal the rise and fall of sea level through the ages. Just above the sea water level at the bottom of these rocks you will see clear markings of rise and fall of sea water. These are called middens and present a picture of how volcanic rock is withered by sea water … to eventually become coralline. Scrubland forest cover on these rocky outcrops support native wildlife like venomous and non-venomous snakes, estuarine crocodile (near the mangroves), amphibians like frogs and turtles, birds of prey, bats, monkeys, Asian primates like the black faced silver haired monkey. Shallow reef ecosystem supports a very wide variety of fishes, dolphins, reef sharks, mudskippers, crabs, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sea horses, and among the marine biodiversity one can count on sea grass, algae sea weed, and plankton.  

 The Muslim Village gets its name from the floating mosque enroute to the James Bond Island. The indigenous fishers who belong to the Islamic faith offer a pit stop with restaurants, and shopping hubs for tourists.

A cross section view of the markets in the Muslim Village. Tropical fruits, vegetables, rice, noodles, spicy Thai curries, fish, oysters, prawns, and lots of fresh sea food, and chicken are the staple fare  in the restaurants where we stop for lunch (no red meat like pork) flea markets, seductive Thai textiles, or irresistible cotton garments, cheap pearl necklaces, fake perfumes are stocked aplenty in the market sections. Toilets are in usable condition as per tourist standards...  

 Undersea caving, kayaking in the sea water inlets in the rocky outcrop are part of extreme adventure for adrenaline junkies. Other water sports like diving (the water depth is approximately 16 metres according to USGS) snorkeling, kayaking in the caves – with sea water ingress – swimming, rafting are sought after activities in the area. 

 Imagine the day and age in the geological history of Planet Earth when violent volcanic eruptions ruled the day spewing lava into the atmosphere which condensed to become such inspiring rock. Its fertility is rationalised by the presence of greenery, bio and zoo diversity even on such volcanic rock in the middle of a shallow sea! Rock climbers have a field day climbing up James Bond Island.

 Although a very short distance from the shore, locals claim the sea below the rock is very deep. However NOAA estimates on Google Earth suggests it is around 22 metres deep here.

It is surprising how these rocky middens support so many life forms. They offer a peak into the geological history of Planet Earth: The rise and fall of sea levels in the past as also the volcanological perspective of Climate Change. 

A visit to the James bond Island makes for an ideal day's outing. One can go from Krabi, Phuket or Phang na. Day tours from these three places cost anything from $30 - 70 and include pick up, transfers, refreshments, entrance tickets, culture sensitive lunch with vegetarian options and water. It helps to travel light because of the tardy hopping in and out of boats. Kitsch shops appeal to the tourist all over.   

Pictures: Pixabay,

Text Malini Shankar