the major reefs usually fringe the east coasts of islands,while most of the west coasts of islands harbor only sparse communities of corals.The coastline along the Gulf of Thailand is approximately 1600 km in length.The sea bottom is generally shallower than that of the Andaman Sea.The GoT isi nfluenced by the south west monsoon (May-September) and northeast monsoon (October–February). Coral reefs are mainly found fringing islands.There are two major groups of islands islands in the east part of the GoT
(about 100 islands)