Best Scuba sites are Where ???????

[mrstein 0]

C,mon boys .....

 

I know there are plenty of Divers on this site ....

 

Where is it The best overall beach town for Scuba diving in Thailand ?????????

 

 

Someone out there has the answer........

 

Inputt would be great.

 

Tks

 

Mrstein

[Dennism 3]

mrstein,

 

I've been diving in Thailand for a while, maybe 10 years 2-3 times a year.

 

IMHO without question the best sites are in the Similan Islands. Normally these dives are with a live-aboard company, no one lives on the islands. There are many that provide that service. It is also possible to do a day trip from Patong Beach. Its a long day, up early and a taxi ride to the port then a speed boat out to a live-aboard where you dive for the day (two dives), then the reverse back to Phuket, back for late dinner.

 

Most of my dives have been on Phi Phi. I normally dive with the gang at the Phi Phi Princess resort. Sad to say that the entire resort was washed away. They plan on reopening in December '06. However the owner of the resort, Charlie, had just opened another site a little further south on Koh Mok. Its not as "finished" as the Princess or Charlie resorts on Phi Phi were but its very nice. The famous dive site there is the Emerald Cave, very nice. Also have the odd chance to see a Whale Shark. Check their web site its www.princessdivers.com if you go tell Chay, manager, Dennis said hello.

 

Not all dive operators on Phi Phi were wiped out. As an example the Holiday Inn resort and the Phi Phi Natural resort on the North end of the island are all fine and operating, as I understand, at normal conditions.

 

On the Gulf side there are many dive sites available to you. Again IMHO none of which are worth traveling to LOS for just the diving. There are some nice sites off Koh Samui, one of the most famous being Sail Rock. Let me tell you, its a real hit or miss. Unless a boat has already been out there and radiod back to the other boats you have no idea about visability. On a good day its 30+ meters on a bad day its 3 meters. I've hit both. If you get there and its bad, its a real waste of a day.

 

You can always get trips from Pattaya or the nearby islands, just don't expect anything to special.

 

Feel free to PM me if you have any additional questions about specific dive operators.

[rkt 0]

Dennism as more or less answered every thing you need to know.

 

Whale sharks can be seen in either the Andaman Sea or the South China Sea depending on when you go, from towards the end of March for approx 3 months.

 

 

 

 

[drpaul854 0]

Dennism has it all right - Phuket and the Similans are the place. Similans done on a live aboard is your best diving value for the buck but the live aboard cuts into other activities

[Skytrooper 0]

Phuket is the center for the best diving around Thailand. As drpaul854 mentioned, a live aboard will cut into your other activities, but it's the best choice for a serious diver. I actually prefer the diving around Hin Muang (Purple Rock) than the Similans. Encountering a whale shark is sheer good luck, but I did get to swim alongside one by Hin Muang in 1996. There are some decent day trips to dive sites out of Phuket, but the visibility often isn't too great. I'm not sure what effect, if any, the 2004 tsunami had on some dive sites.

 

If you're going to LOS for diving, it's important to time your visit to coincide with the best weather for the area in which you're diving.

[nidnoyham 30]

Encountering a whale shark is sheer good luck, but I did get to swim alongside one by Hin Muang in 1996.

And you didn't shoot it ?

 

Good Lad, there's hope for you yet !

[rkt 0]

And you didn't shoot it ?

 

Good Lad, there's hope for you yet !

nidnoyham you have'nt answered my question in the OT section, have you won the lottery?

 

Shopping at Holland & Holland!! :

 

chogdee

[Skytrooper 0]

Originally posted by nidnoyham:

And you didn't shoot it ?

 

Good Lad, there's hope for you yet !

 

If I see a lion, Cape buffalo, grizzly bear or even Herb chasing after you, I'll keep your opinion in mind and conserve my ammuntion.

 

Unlike BATF agents, to the best of my knowledge, a whale shark has never betrayed its sworn oath and/or deprived any person of their unalienable individual liberties.

 

Originally posted by raykaytat:

nidnoyham you have'nt answered my question in the OT section, have you won the lottery?

 

Shopping at Holland & Holland!! :

 

Stan is really a stock market tycoon who (probably to confuse U.K. tax officials) just pretends to be a poorly-educated working stiff.

 

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There is no crueler form of tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of law and in the name of justice. — Baron de Montesquieu

[nidnoyham 30]

nidnoyham you have'nt answered my question in the OT section, have you won the lottery?

 

Shopping at Holland & Holland!! :

 

chogdee

Ray,

 

Can you immagine, being at U.S Customs, with a rifle and telling them it's a gift for Mr Sky' ? Shutters would come down, light flash and I would be speadeagled against a wall in no time.

 

No, the poshest sports shop I visited was Hardy's in Granton on Spey. I couldn't afford a fishing rod there, let alone a gun. Nah, I'll stick to a leather thong- (not literally) as a gift.

 

Sky's theory about me being a Stock Market Mogul, are way off. Mind you, that advise I gave recently to sell shares, seems to be good advise for the last week or so- Ford among others issued a profit warning, America had a record trade deficeit in February and consumer spending is down. Good time to buy though.

 

Sky, I am glad you only shoot creatures that have deprived others of their liberties.

I shall be carefull about taking liberties with your wife, unless she askes me to of course.

Edited April 19, 2005 by nidnoyham