Scuba Diving in Thailand

Scuba Diving

2011-10-12T07:25:00.001-07:00

Scuba Diving

Scuba diving by definition is the use of self contained, underwater breathing apparatus and as such the name of scuba diving was named by the uses of this equipment. When an individual going underwater for long periods of time it is essential that you have equipment to breath. Sometimes scuba diving takes place very deep under the sea and it wouldn't be practical or even feasible to come up for air every half minute when you've run out of oxygen in your lungs. The diver wears all this equipment on his back and swims underwater with fins on the feet for easier mobility in the water much like a fish has fins.

The History of Scuba Diving

Scuba diving has been around for a long time already and was mainly designed and created to have purpose in the world wars or to be utilized in battle. The soldiers in those times used something similar to scuba diving equipment however it was called a frogman. A doctor developed this in the era of WWII by the name of Christian Lambertsen and although scuba diving is used for many reasons today, it is becoming even more popular with the advancements that it is making in the recent decades.

Risks Associated with Scuba Diving

There are many risks associated with scuba diving that may seem that they are not risks however changes in air pressure is probably the most dangerous risk facing scuba diving with the exception of getting eaten by a shark. Changes in pressure in the water can cause such extreme pressure that it can rupture an eardrum or do damage that is even less desirable. Every part of your body is required to be equalized by the pressure surrounding you depending on the depth of water you are in and if you are changing water depths. Another common known scuba diving problem is called oxygen toxicity, which is especially dangerous, and life threatening in that it can cause seizures and has often resulted in the diver drowning. However like any other accident, this is a completely preventable issue by following diving instructions properly and safely. Nitrogen narcosis can affect a diver when he gets to sixty-six feet and generally dissipates immediately as the diver sinks lower than this depth. There are many dangers that face a diver and it is wise to get professional guidance when scuba diving.

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By Trevor Albinez

Scuba Diving or Snorkeling - What's Right for You?

2011-10-12T07:24:00.001-07:00

Scuba Diving or Snorkeling - What's Right for You?

Let's look at the basic differences between scuba diving and snorkeling so you can make the best informed decision about which to choose. There are differences in physical fitness ability, training, and equipment, as well as psychological implications you should consider when making a choice.

Beginning with your purpose, is this a recreational activity to observe fish, algae and reefs, with few waves? If you can float comfortably on your stomach with your face and nose in the water, (with a diving mask and snorkel tube it is easy to breathe in and out) bobbling along in the gentle surf, then snorkeling is your best option. Occasionally the tube can get filled with water, or if you hold your breath and dive, so all you have to do is forcibly blow the water out of the tube. It is common to wear swim fins which adds power to your leg push when you skim over shallow reefs or need extra power to dive a short distance.

If your choice is snorkeling, there is no need for specific training, and you don't necessarily have to know how to swim but have access to a safety vest that allows for simple paddling in shallow areas. Psychologically, if you aren't very familiar with swimming or have had little access to water, prepare by sitting near the shore and then float in shallow water with your safety vest. It is important to learn how to hold your breath under water for short periods of time, and then you are off, into the magical world of fish, sea turtles, and shells.

Another word about safety when you are snorkeling; your greatest danger is not being seen by water craft and jet skis because all that can be seen is your tube sticking out of water. A reflective snorkel tube or patches attached to the safety vest can help others see you in the water. A general rule of thumb is to leave coral and shells where they are in the water. Coming into contact with the wrong one can cause a poisonous reaction and is a snorkeling and scuba diving general warning.

Scuba (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) diving is a different method of observing or working underwater. Scuba diving includes recreational activities such as: cave and shipwreck diving, ice diving and cenote-to-cenote trips. A big difference between scuba diving and snorkeling is the amount of training and level of physical fitness. Just like learning to drive a car, not only will you need a PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructors) certificate proving you know what you are doing, but you must be able to psychologically handle staying under water for extended periods of time while wearing a full face mask in which your nose and eyes are covered. You will inhale and exhale through a regulator mouthpiece connected to the oxygen tank on your back. Many dive shops and destination dive trips can provide three day performance based courses and include spectacular dive experiences as you learn. Prices will vary so do your homework ahead of time to make sure you get what you pay for and instructors are licensed themselves.

Safety and health effects of scuba diving are specifically addressed during your training and should not be taken lightly. The effects of breathing compressed air can cause decompression sickness, nitrogen narcosis, oxygen toxicity, refraction and problems with vision. Don't let this deter you from scuba diving but be sensible and proactive in assuring your safety and well-being.

A major difference between scuba diving and snorkeling is the cost. Simple snorkeling only requires a facemask and air tube, with swim fins optional but very helpful. Often in areas where water sports are a big draw, you will be able to cheaply rent equipment for the day or inexpensively purchase at a local sporting goods store.

PADI courses that include open water and check-out dives can cost up to $400 depending on where you go, but it is always possible to rent equipment instead of purchasing the scuba gear.

Whether you choose snorkeling or scuba diving, the relaxation and fun you will have is an opportunity into the undersea world of magic and enchantment. Take into consideration how much you would like to spend, your level of experience and physical ability, and the extent to which you want to invest time and money.

Looking for help with Scuba or Snorkeling?

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By Steve Roberts

Scuba Diving Safety

2011-10-12T07:21:00.001-07:00

Scuba Diving Safety

There are four pieces of scuba diving gear that I think are essential for your scuba diving safety. I make a point of having them with me on every single Asia dive trip and liveaboard dive adventure that I do. My experience in the water has shown me the importance of these potentially life saving diver tools, for you and you dive buddies.

Safety Sausage, this surface marker is the cheapest piece of dive equipment you can buy besides a whistle, which is also a good thing to have, but today they are almost always standard equipment on many "BCD'S". The safety sausage can be seen even in choppy seas from a long way off with the unaided eye. Today there are brands that also include a strip of night reflectors that will light up very brightly when it is hit with any kind of light.

A dive light, preferably a LED light as the burn times is so long. At night if you are drifting, you can catch the attention of passing boats, helicopters or airplanes. Certainly if a search is being made for you at night, you really increase the odds of being seen. I keep one in my pocket all the time as I like to look in holes for small critters on dives, so I get a lot of use out of my pocket light, always knowing in the back of my mind that I have it should I drift off and go missing into the night.

Knife I can remember one time in Cambodia I was diving with a group, and I was looking at something and got separated, as I was heading to the pick up spot, I very nearly swam into a large, nearly invisible, Phantom net! It would be very easy to have gotten entangled and with out a knife I would have had a very hard time to get out of it.

I have a friend that works with nets fishing Hawaii shore lines, and when he does this at night, he swims naked to decrease the chance of having anything hang up on the net and drowning him, which does happen to this type of fisherman.

Dive computer, today they are very inexpensive and they last for years. Why rely on the old analog gauges with tables and charts, when you can have this very essential piece of dive gear for, roughly calculated for most divers, less than a dollar a dive. The bends is something that you don't want to mess around with, having a dive computer lets you know right there on your wrist or dive console, exactly where you are at as far as you nitrogen loading and dive time, which will also will tell you how much of a decompression stop you should make if you accidentally exceed the safe limits on your planned dive profile.

Let's review

Dive with a safety sausage, inexpensive and very easy to see on the open ocean, if you can get with light reflector, even better.

Dive light to use as a signal at night to attract attention from boats, helicopters and search planes.

Dive Knife used to cut fishing line and fishing nets that you might accidentally run into.

A Dive Computer keeps you from accidentally getting decompression illness (DCI)

Remember to plan your dive, and dive your plan, and be prepared with the right dive equipment.

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By Fred Tittle

Scuba Diving - Overview

2011-10-12T07:19:00.001-07:00

Scuba Diving - Overview

Scuba diving offers people the opportunity to observe life below the water's surface in oceans and lakes. Scuba is an acronym that stands for self contained underwater breathing apparatus. Scuba divers carry a tank filled with compressed air on their backs. This allows them to breathe underwater.

In the early years of diving, the divers relied on air being pumped from the surface to them. Being able to a carry their own air tank gives the diver greater freedom underwater. Scuba diving equipment lets the diver stay underwater longer than with breath-holding techniques. Between 1942 and 1946, Emile Gagnan and Jacques-Yves Cousteau developed the Aqua Lung. It was the first commercial scuba set.

The Aqua Lung was a open circuit unit. Compressed air is inhaled from a tank and then exhaled into the water. This device used pressure valves to deliver the air supply to the diver. There are numerous reasons why people scuba dive. In the 1980's and 1990's scuba diving became a very popular recreational sport. Some types of recreational diving are cave diving, wreck diving, ice diving and deep diving. If you are new to scuba diving, it is highly recommended that you take scuba classes.

Diving classes are designed to familiarize students with the the world below the water and to practice techniques that are required to be an efficient diver. A good diving class should give students plenty of opportunities to ask questions and to practice new skills. There will be classroom work, pool work and open water work. At the end of the course, be prepared for an open water test. Diving can be a relaxing experience so if you are a thrill seeker, diving may not be for you. To be a great diver, you need to have focus, organization and clear thinking.

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By David E Le Cornu

Learning Scuba Diving With PADI Dive Centre

2011-10-12T07:16:00.001-07:00

Learning Scuba Diving With PADI Dive Centre

Scuba diving is an extremely popular past time all over the world, and people young and old enjoy this incredible sport. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors or PADI as it is better known is the organization which provides the correct qualification that you will need to dive. Although you can scuba dive all over the world, you will need to learn how to do it safely and professionally. Once you have the correct qualifications and certifications, you can scuba dive in some incredible locations.

The history of scuba diving is very long and intricate, dating back many years as people have been performing a style of diving for centuries. Free diving was often used to catch fish and find treasures along the sea bed. The ancient Greeks were very well known for free diving to search for sponges within the water. People progressed to using hollow reeds to allow them to breathe whilst diving deeper.

Diving bells were another popular attempt at allowing divers to go deeper in the water, and these were highly effective for many years. However, very few techniques resembled what we know today as scuba diving. The first diving suits were extremely primitive and did not allow a vast deal of movement for the divers. It was very late into the 19th century when the technology was created to enable divers to go to the depths they can today.

Scuba diving is often considered as an extreme sport due to the dangers that are involved; however, this does not stop millions of people enjoying the underwater world every year. There is a basic course that everyone has to undertake before they are allowed to dive with any diving institution. You will also need to be a minimum of 10 year old and in good health. There are basic training courses for children, to ensure they can join in with the fun.

There are three main elements to the PADI qualification that you will need to achieve to enable you to be allowed to dive. You will need to learn the basic safety rules and get familiar with the dive equipment. There is an element of classroom theory before you even reach the water, which will ensure that you understand the basics of the sport. The second phase of the course will involve basic water skills.

Often these water skills are performed in a controlled environment such as a pool, or on a training platform in the water. You will have hands on experience of the equipment, and perform tasks to ensure that you understand the different elements of scuba diving. The third phase is the exciting part of training, and you will be taken on a dive with an instructor. You will be assessed, and it is decided if you are confident and capable of diving in open water.

Once you have passed this basic PADI qualification, you will be able to perform other dives all over the world. Many people choose to perform the PADI training whilst on vacation in an exotic location; this is an excellent way to experience the stunning underwater world. You can continue to perform different qualifications and courses, ensuring that you remain the best in the sport.

Patrick Cumiskey is a contributor to the new activity centre magazine style website and also the chiegc instructor at Krav Maga Dublin.

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By Patrick Cumiskey

A Few Words About Scuba Diving

2011-10-12T07:15:00.001-07:00

A Few Words About Scuba Diving

People have long been besieged by the desire to dive into the depths of the sea and know the world quite different to that in which they live in. The sea has also been a source of food (fishing), exploration (searching sunken treasures), and battle (wars waged on and under the surface).

History of diving is as long as the history of mankind and pictures of divers are found at many archaeological remains.

Without doubt, recreational scuba diving is one of the finest and most effective forms of recreation worldwide. Staying under water not only mobilizes the natural resources, but also promotes both mental and physical calm and relaxation.

It's an alien environment, akin to being in space and it enhances our enjoyment of physical activity and movement; underwater humans are almost weightless. Scuba diving is, for those who partake, an exciting and adventurous sport. It demands high level of physical fitness and quality equipment.

The required equipment for scuba diving is: self contained underwater breathing apparatus with related equipment-mask, fins, diving lead, wet or dry suit, bottle with a valve group and regulator, compensator, diving knife and a diving computer. Since scuba diving allows for extended stay below the surface there are additional hazards that must be considered and rules that must be followed when diving with autonomous diving equipment. Namely, decompression sickness.

Short description of basic scuba diving equipment:

· A diving cylinder, scuba tank or diving tank is a gas cylinder used to store and transport high pressure breathing gas. It provides gas to the diver through the demand valve of a regulator.

· Buoyancy compensator is the form of jacket or vest, inflatable and serves to achieve neutral buoyancy under water, floating on the surface and swim to the surface.

· A diving suit is a garment or a device designed to protect the diver from the underwater environment.

· Diving fins are artificial extensions of our feet that allow our legs to be used to their full potential underwater.

· A diving mask is an item of diving equipment that allows diver to see clearly underwater.

. A dive knife is a general tool and safety device. In the latter case, you use it in the unlikely, but possible,

situation that you're entangled and need to free yourself. It is not a weapon.

· Computer for scuba diving consisting of, at a minimum, a processor and a manometer, both housed within a sheath. Said manometer being connected to one or more bottles containing compressed air.

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By Davor Crnjak

Diving in Koh Samui - Thailand

2011-06-22T06:48:00.001-07:00

Koh Samui is the 3rd biggest island in Thailand island, littered with coconut trees, forests and rough rocks of granite inching into the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Siam. Samui is 21km long and 25km wide.

Today Koh Samui is a favored spot for divers searching for advanced western amenities in the Gulf than what is found on Koh Tao, the primary diving place in this region.

5 Star hotels and luxury villa accommodation is easily available all over the island. 4 international hospitals and golf course are also found along with lots of Spa cures from conventional Thai massages to curing fast and hot stone remedies. Many hotels hire international renowned chefs and the choice of international dishes is vast as well as tasty. All leading fast food chains are available here.

Diving in Samui is varied; basically boat diving and nearly possible all year round. The time taken to reach the dive sites lies between 45 mins (Speedboat to Sail Rock) to 3.5 hrs (slower displacement boats/tour boat) according to the destination and boat type, whether speed or tour boat.

Depths lie between low reefs between 10-18m to deeper Pinnacles 40m deep. But majority of the dives are not conducted deeper than 30m and depending on diver's experience.

The majority of dive trips offer two or three dives which are more or less daytrips based on to the destination and travel time.

One of the undoubtedly most famous dive sites in the Koh Samui Archipelago is SAIL ROCK, situated 45 kms to the north of Samui, in the middle of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. This rock summit has an ice-berg shape that comes up from 40m to 15 m over the surface of the ocean. Sail Rock has big trails of pelagic's precipitous walls, rock arrangement enveloped by corals and a stunning "chimney", a swim through situated towards its northwest. The chimney begins from 18m down and ends at 6m where the natural light entering from above makes it a stunning sight to see. Once you come out on the top, you are enveloped by exotic stretches of vibrant anemones, filled with colorful anemone fish. At 12m, there is a hole that takes you to -"The window", another exit from the chimney into the ocean.

Besides the large trails pf fishes that are seen throughout the year, you are likely to see whale sharks or manta rays crossing your path during their feed in season. There are lots of hotels in Samui, but Park Samui Hotel is the best.

By Max Dan
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Get Scuba Diving Qualified While Holidaying In Thailand

2011-06-22T06:46:00.001-07:00

So, you've finally booked that exotic holiday to Thailand and now you're thinking about doing something really different? Why not get your PADI Open Water certification? It takes just a few days and will open up a whole new underwater world to you.

You'll find PADI is the most widely available certification with just a handful of shops offering NAUI and SSI certifications. There are dive shops all over Thailand, in places like Phuket, Khao Lak, Chumpon, Hua Hin, Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Koh Phangnan, Koh Chang, Koh Samet, Pattaya, Phi Phi, Krabi and more.

Some dive shops are tied to resorts while many are their own businesses. You can do your PADI Open Water paperwork in your home country before you arrive and do your checkout dives in Thailand, or do the whole course in Thailand. You also have the choice of doing your checkout dives by daytrip or from a liveaboard vessel.

Where you go to take your course depends on what your preferences are. Each location has its own attractions and if you plan to spend more time above the water than below it, you might want to choose your destination for its other offerings. Likewise, not all dive shops or instructors are of the same quality.

You'll want to visit several dive shops where you are staying and meet the instructor that you would have if you did your Open Water course there. If English is not your native language, you may find a dive shop with an instructor speaking Dutch, French, Italian, etc. Dive shops in the more popular diving areas provide instruction and exams in several languages.

Equipment standards vary between shops as well. You'll want to make sure that the equipment is not too old and that it has been well maintained and stored, as well as cleaned properly. For instance, regulators go in your mouth and they should be well cleaned between users. Additionally, most people urinate in their wetsuits and these should be cleaned after each dive. All equipment must be cleaned of salt water or the crystallization can damage it.

Poorly maintained regulator, BCDs and dive computers can malfunction and cause a serious accident that may even lead to your death. Likewise, a poorly trained dive instructor or one who does not take his or her job seriously can get you killed too.

One of the most popular places to take PADI courses in Thailand is Koh Tao, known for its cheap diving and abundance of dive shops, and within easy reach of Samui. You'll have plenty of choices here and would be wise to take your time and visit as many shops as possible. Koh Tao is a good place to learn how to dive and to proceed through Advanced, Rescue Diver, Divemaster/Master Scuba Diver, and Instructor courses.

However, this island is not recommended for fun, recreational dives as the visibility and quality of the reefs is relatively poor. Koh Tao is most popular with young backpackers, although there are a few resorts for those who do not enjoy this scene. Phi Phi offers a similar scene on a smaller scale with better diving.

For quality diving, it's best to go to Phuket or Khao Lak, where you have easy access to the Similan Islands. These nine islands are part of Phang Nga province and located within a marine national park. They are pristine and rich with wildlife above and below the water. The beaches here are some of the most beautiful in the world and the dive spots are some of the best in the world. Colourful reefs and boulder formations are a plus, with a variety of coral and marine life. Visibility is also good, varying from 30 to 50m.

The best way to see the Similans is by liveaboard, and most dive operators will allow you to do your Open Water dives from the boat if you've completed the paper and pool work ashore beforehand, usually with diving courses on Phuket. Note that in mind that the Similans are closed during the low season due to unfavourable boating and diving conditions. Additionally, sites have depths well past the recreational limit of 40m and some may have currents. It's advisable that you take courses past Open Water to become a stronger diver and be permitted to dive to the limit.

There are diving courses on Samui as well, and plenty of dive operators offering all levels of diving courses on Phuket, even a few in Krabi. In fact you'll find scuba courses in Pattaya, Koh Chang and other places, but with less choice of date flexibility.

By Andrew Bond
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Scuba Dive The Similans, Andaman Sea, Thailand

2011-06-22T06:45:00.001-07:00

The Similan Islands in Thailand are commonly rated as one of the top 10 dive destinations in the world. Comprising of nine granite islands covered in a tropical jungle, washed by a clear blue tropical ocean the Similan Islands (also referred to simply as the Similans) provide some of the most beautiful and diverse dive destinations in Thailand. The Similans lie in a 25 km long north-south chain of islands, 65 km offshore from Phang Nga Province in the Andaman Sea, about 100km from Thailand's main tourist city, Phuket.

The eastern fringes of the Similans feature pretty hard coral gardens in the shallows and sloping reef banks down to thirty metres. At some dive sites such as East of Eden, large bommies (coral heads) rise from the sea bed and are blanketed with soft corals, fan corals, and swarms of smaller tropical fish. East coast Similan Islands diving is relatively easy-going, allowing you plenty of time to explore the sites at your own leisurely pace.

The western side of the Similans along with the north and south points can offer more exciting diving as currents swirl around huge sunken granite boulders, which form a series of arches, tunnels and swim-throughs at sites such as Christmas Point and Elephant Head Rock. Growing on, and between, these enormous rocks you find a tapestry of colourful soft corals. In the channels between the boulders, sea fans can grow to some three metres across, and in such numbers that you cannot possibly swim through. The contrast between the east and west coasts and the variety of underwater topography is one of the reasons the Similan Islands are so popular - every dive offers you something different.

For underwater photographers and lovers of marine life, then diving in the Similan Islands is difficult to surpass for variety and abundance of tropical fish. Leopard sharks make appearances on a regular basis and you'll also see white-tip reef sharks. It's not a 'big fish' paradise, but it's consistently great for sheer diversity of marine life. You may find anything from tiny ghost pipefish to turtles and giant bumphead parrotfish.

Although the tsunami of 2004 did affect a few of the reefs here, most are in excellent condition and many divers in the last seasons have commented to us that they could not see any reef damage.

Liveaboards leaving from Phuket are typically 4 day tours, and visit both the Similans and Surin Islands including Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. Some shorter tours (2 or 3 day) visit the Similan Islands only. Day trips for diving and snorkeling are now becoming more common from Phuket.

For more of the world's greatest diving destinations including The Great Barrier Reef, Grand Cayman, the Red Sea, Micronesia, Thailand etc visit Great Dive Destinations Of the World

By Colin Lim
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Water Sports Holidays In Thailand

2011-06-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

You get treasures of ethnic, scenic, gastronomic, and oceanic pleasures in Siam. Thailand certainly is the fascinating and exotic land of lovely people known for their fantastic culture, cuisine, and overall lifestyle. The land, of course, is well known for its beautiful beaches and pelagic pleasures. It is a wonderful destination for water sports in Southeast Asia.

Thailand definitely is the best pick, if you are looking to have fun & adventure packed water sports holidays. You can really have great holiday, beaching, playing beach volleyball & other beach sports, and enjoying numerous water sports activities, such as swimming, rafting, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, and scuba diving in Thailand. Some famous destinations for water sports destinations in Thailand are - Mae Hong Son, Hua Hin, Phuket, Chumpon, Ko Chang, and Koh Tao.

Mae Hong Son, located near the border of Myanmar along the banks of the river Pai, is a wonderful town in the North West Thailand. The town offers you a nice opportunity to enjoy rafting the Pai River. You can join one of the rafting expeditions that are commonly organized in the heart of Mae Hong Son. Mae Hong Son can be accessed by car or bus from Chiang Mai via the Mae Hong Son loop. The town is also served by the Mae Hong Son Airport.

Hua Hin, in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some 200 km south of Bangkok, is a celebrated beach resort town in Thailand. It is best known for kitesurfing. You can hire your kitesurfing equipment, have kitesurfing instructions from experts, and enjoy kitesurfing. You can also joint kitesurfing lessons & courses for beginners. You can also enjoy numerous other beach and water sport on the beach resort, with an area around 86.36 km². You can also enjoy swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, and rowing.

Phuket, the largest island and the southern province of Thailand, is best known for its beaches. It is popular destinations for beach & water sports. You can enjoy numerous beach & water sports activities, such as swimming, kitesurfing, yachting, windsurfing, wave surfing, rowing, snorkeling, diving, scuba diving, etc. in Phuket. Famous Phuket beaches include Bang Tao, Surin Beach, Laem Singh Beach, Kamala Beach, Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Yai Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Ao Chalong, and Rawai Beach.

Chumphon or Chumpon, the capital of the Chumphon Province at the shore of the Gulf of Thailand, is a fantastic town in southern Thailand. Located about 463 kilometers away from Bangkok, Chumpon is famous for kitesurfing or kiteboarding, and other water sports activities. You can enjoy numerous beach & water sports activities, such as swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, snorkeling, diving, fishing, and rowing. The town can be accessed by bus or by ferries.

Ko Chang, located on the Thai east coast 310 km away from Bangkok near the border to Cambodia in the Gulf of Thailand, is the second largest island of Thailand. It is famous for sailing and scuba diving. However, you can also enjoy several other beach & water sports activities, such as swimming, windsurfing, wave surfing, snorkeling, diving, and rowing in Ko Chang. The island can be accessed by ferries operating from Laem Ngop.

Ko Tao, an island located near the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand, is widely famous for scuba diving. Diving in Ko Tao is easy and full of fun. Often, you have encounters with turtles, stingrays, barracudas, lots of small fish, and reef sharks. The island is a great place for divers. It is a great place to learn diving, as there are hardly any currents. You can also enjoy several other water related activities, such as wake boarding, water skiing, sumo tube, wind surfing, and sailing. Ko Tao can be accessed catching ferries from Surat Thani, or Ko Samui, or Ko Pha Ngan.

By James Burrows
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Worlds Best Dive Sites, Number 2 - Richelieu Rock in Thailand

2011-06-22T06:42:00.000-07:00

Whilst scuba diving in Thailand undoubtedly offers plentiful opportunities for both novice and more experienced scuba divers, one site stands alone, and is widely considered to be the best dive site in Thailand.

Richelieu Rock is a small series of limestone outcrops which are located in the Surin Islands, just a short distance from the Myanmar border. Acknowledged as by far the best dive in Thailand for whale sharks, Richelieu Rock also offers a wide array of forna which forms a rich tapestry of marine life on the walls of these famous rocks. Large colonies of sea anenomes adorn the rocks in a wide variety of different colours, ensuring that the fans of diving with the whale sharks are not the only ones to fully appreciate the majesty that is the Richelieu Rock dive site.

A huge amount of marine life has made its home at Richelieu Rock, and yellow boxfish, white eyed morays, nurse sharks can also be seen here. Richelieu Rock is also a good dive site for manta rays, and there are a decent number of manta sightings here on a regular basis.

Richelieu Rock is an advanced dive, and visibility can often be limited. As the rock is located in the open sea, currents here can often be very strong, and surface conditions quite choppy.

The diving season at Richelieu Rock is from November through to April, although if you are hoping to dive with the whale sharks at Richelieu Rocks, then it would be advisable to concentrate your diving between February and May.

Richelieu Rock fully justifies its position as one of the worlds best dive sites, and every year, large numbers of divers make the long journey out to these small limestone outcrops.

Mark Burns is Director of Scubaworld.tv, a large scuba diving site specializing in scuba diving in Thailand and a leading provider of information on Scuba diving in Phuket.

By Mark J Burns
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_J_Burns
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/686769

Scuba Diving in Phuket - The Pearl of the Andaman

2011-06-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

Located on the western coast of the Thailand Peninsula, with its shores on the warm waters of the Andaman Sea lies the beautiful island of Phuket. The largest island off the coast of Thailand, the island of Phuket covers an area of just over 300 square miles, and is connected to mainland Thailand via a bridge at the north of the island.

For the past 25 years, the island of Phuket has catered for a large number of tourists from all over the world, a large percentage of whom are scuba divers looking to dive on some Asia's finest dive sites. Today, scuba diving in Phuket is big business, and the island has a large number of excellent dive centres offering a number of diving services ranging from leisure dives through to the most advanced courses.

The Racha Islands, located off the Southern tip of Thailand are one of Phuket's best dive sites, and the two islands offer excellent diving in crystal clear waters as well as the opportunity for big animal encounters. In particular, the smaller island, Racha Noi, offers some breathtaking underwater scenery, and is renowned for both whale shark and manta ray encounters.

The dive sites off Ao Phang-Nga, including the famous Shark Point and King Cruiser Wrecks, are widely acknowledged as being the best dive sites in the Phuket region. The waters around in and around Ao Phang-Nga are notable for the profusion of marine life, offering divers access to a range of marine life and coral which is unrivalled elsewhere in Phuket.

Phuket is also home to one of the worlds most developed liveaboard industries, with a large number of liveaboards offering diving in destinations such as the Similan Islands, the Mergui Archipelago and the Burma Banks. For scuba divers wishing to dive these more remote destinations, a Phuket liveaboard is the only realistic option for access. As such, the liveaboard industry in Phuket is a thriving and competitive business, with an increasing number of liveaboards operating from Phuket.

Further east lie the islands of Ko Phi Phi Don, and Ko Phi Phi Lae, a region characterised by the stunning topography of the amazing limestone cliffs. These islands are fringed with a number of hard coral gardens, as well as some excellent examples of soft corals, orange sea fans, sea whips and black coral.

Phuket is well deserving of its title as the 'Pearl of the Andaman,' and undoubtedly the region boasts some of Thailand's best dive sites. As environmental issues such as marine conservation slowly work their way up Thailand's political agenda, the future for scuba diving in Phuket looks a healthy one.

Mark Burns is Director of Scubaworld.tv, a large scuba diving site specialising in scuba diving in Thailand and a leading provider of information on Scuba diving in Phuket.

By Mark J Burns
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_J_Burns
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1166594

Phuket - A World Class Diving Destination

2011-06-22T06:37:00.001-07:00

Phuket which is located in Thailand is rated as one of the top ten scuba diving locations in the world. Not only the diving is good, but they have an amazing life above the water too. They have wonderful food, exotic culture to name a few of the most sees and try while in Phuket. Therefore the ingredients of Phuket make it an ideal place for your next holiday. With the breath taking reefs and the rock formations that tower out the ocean it creates some excellent opportunities for any level of diver.

The range of diving excursions are unlimited from live on boards that go out for days at a time to just day trips or even a one off shore dive. Courses are also available from open water to instructor level.

Live on boards will travel much further out than any day trips and you will get a chance to see the more less dived sites in the region. Boats will leave from Phuket and go to such locations as Similan islands, Richelieu Rock, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang.

Phi Phi and Phuket as mentioned are among the top ten dive sites in the world and boosts beautiful crystal clear waters. The water temperature is around 82 degrees and have a wide range of both soft corals and rock formations to amaze anyone. Along with these formations comes plenty of marine fish and other sea creatures with many of the more popular and must sea wildlife.

For those who must see the big stuff such as whale sharks and manta rays they are commonly sighted within Phuket waters. With the diving comes some picturesque island destinations that lie within a day trip from the mainland and be seen on day trips and live on boards alike. AS the temperatures of the water are good the diving can be all year round.

The accommodation and food is relatively cheap, so look forward to having great food and cheap prices. As the area has quality diving you will not find a problem getting a good dive centre as they are a many. Course that will be covered range from basic open water right up to instructor level.

So you clearly see that with the wide range of options of dive centres offering everything from live on board to day trips and every course that you will ever need, add this to the world class diving locations you will not regret diving in Phuket Thailand.

Visit us at scuba diving Asia for the latest scuba diving shirts.

By Simon Hemmings
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Simon_Hemmings
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4306488

Ko Phi Phi Scuba Diving

2011-06-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

The tropical island of Koh Phi Phi can be found in the south of Thailand and has long been one of the most popular scuba diving Thailand destinations. Blessed with plenty of sunshine as well as a rich range of marine life and colourful coral, people travel here from all over the world in order to explore the area's watery underworld.

The area that is generally referred to as Phi Phi is comprised of the islands of Koh PhiPhi Don and Koh PhiPhi Leh. While most people choose to stay in the area of Koh PhiPhi Don, which offers abundant resort options as well as an extremely active and diverse nightlife scene, much of Phi Leh has managed to resist the pressures of development and has retained its intense natural beauty. Boat trips from Ko Phi Phi Leh offer visitors the chance to explore the area and the waters here are a popular diving Phi Phi site.

The clear waters, stunning violet tinged coral and colourful fish all contribute to making the waters around Koh Phi Phi an excellent place for scuba diving and snorkeling. Boat trips from the mainland generally last for at least six hours and are extremely popular. These trips are often combined with the chance to snorkel and explore the pretty and virtually undeveloped island.

The waters around the island are known for their gentle currents and divers and snorkellers will have the chance to swim amongst octopus, stingrays, reef sharks, shoals of multi-coloured fish and giant barracuda as they cavort in the cool, clear waters. Diving Phi Phi is an unforgettable experience and it should come as no surprise to find that many people return here year after year to repeat the experience.

Enrolling in diving lessons is simple as a large number of companies can be found on Koh P P Don. Most courses are run in English by experienced Western divers and this is also an excellent place to earn scuba certification. A full course will cost somewhere in the region of 15,000 baht, which is an excellent price.

After spending a day or two diving, visitors will want to take the time to explore this fascinating part of the world on foot. The main tourist hub here is Koh P P Don, and this is where the majority of the area's accommodation as well as the biggest bars and restaurants can be found. However, many other parts of Phi Phi remain mostly undeveloped. In order to get a real feel for the area, visitors should follow the steep winding path that leads up 1,000 feet through the jungle to Viewpoint. Although not for the faint of heart, those who make it to the top will be treated to stunning views of the entire island and the surrounding waters.

The Adventure Club are the most popular dive school on Koh Phi Phi and experts in Diving Phi Phi

For more information related to diving Thailand check out divingthailand.co.uk

By Jacques W Cousteau
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacques_W_Cousteau
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Thailand Holidays - Learning to Scuba Dive on a Budget

2011-06-22T06:33:00.001-07:00

Thailand has so much to offer holidaymakers of all types. From the hustle, bustle and culture rich streets of Bangkok to the tranquil waters and picturesque beaches of the Phi Phi Islands, Thailand is a fabulous holiday destination. What most people might not have known is that it is also one of the best scuba diving locations in the world - especially for those on a tight budget.

Historically, the British pound has been very strong against the Thai baht and this has made Thailand a very affordable holiday destination. The pound has taken a dip over the past year, but it is slowly climbing back up against the baht and this is making a big difference to the cost of Thailand holidays.

The recent political unrest has also had an understandable impact on Thailand's tourism numbers and the knock-on effect of this has meant cheaper flights and hotels for travellers who are willing to make the trip to Thailand's exotic shores. The combination of cheaper holidays and a strengthening pound has meant that there isn't a better time than now to visit Thailand and get yourself PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certified while you are there.

With crystal clear, warm waters and an abundance of exotic marine life, including whale sharks, turtles and beautiful coral reefs, Thailand is a scuba diver's paradise. You can often pay up to £500 in the UK the PADI Open Water Diver course, which runs for about four days and is the most popular dive programme in the world. In Thailand this same course can cost around £170 and with average sea temperatures of about 28oC - much better than around 16oC on the UK's south coast.

Once you have your PADI Open Water Diver qualification, you can go for more advanced qualifications or just go scuba diving for fun. Again, Thailand has some of the cheapest fun diving and liveaboards in the world. You can find fun dives around the island of Koh Tao for as little as £12 per tank or £10 if you bring your own equipment.

Liveaboards can be found for all budgets and can last from two days to two weeks. Staying on a boat and diving each day is definitely a good way to expand your diving skills and get a wide variety of dives in during your holiday. A typical four day/four night liveabord trip in Thailand starts at around £400 and will often include multiple destination dives, accommodation and diving equipment.

There are many different dive locations around mainland Thailand and its islands, such as Phuket, Koh Samui and Phi Phi. One of the most recognised is the Similan Islands National Park, a group of small islands in the Phang Nga Province of southern Thailand. There are plenty of spectacular dive sites in this region, with sightings of whale sharks not uncommon. Visibility is around 30 to 40 metres in good weather conditions and the sheer abundance of marine life makes diving there something very special.

Thailand holidays are usually associated with relaxing on a beach or hunting a bargain in a busy Bangkok market, but learning to dive in Thailand is something that will make you holiday even more memorable. Scuba diving is a fun experience and will give you skills and memories that will last a lifetime and have a huge impact on where you will want to spend your holidays in the future.

Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

By Victoria Cochrane
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victoria_Cochrane
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2618227

Diving in Thailand - Koh Samui

2011-06-22T06:31:00.001-07:00

Koh Samui is Thailand's third largest island. It is still covered with coconut trees, jungle and rugged rocks of granite sloping into the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Siam. Samui measures 21km in its length and is 25km wide.

Nowadays Koh Samui is a preferred destination for divers who are looking for an up-market western infrastructure in the Gulf of when compared to what is available on Koh Tao the main diving destination in this area.

5 Star resorts and luxury villa accommodation is easily found on all parts of the island. Four international hospitals are available as well as a golf course, plenty of Spa treatments from traditional Thai massages to healing fast and hot stone therapies. Many restaurants employ international high class chefs and the variety of international cuisine is enormous with no doubt -delicious. All the major fast food chains will be found as well.

Diving from Samui is varied, mainly boat diving and virtually possible all year round. The journey to the dive sites differs between 45 mins (Speedboat to Sail Rock) and 3.5 hrs (slower displacement boats/tourboat) depending on the destination and boat type, which means Speed- or Tourboat.

Depths range from shallow reefs between 10-18m and deeper Pinnacles down to 40m. However most of the dives are not conducted deeper than 30m and depending on diver's experience.

The majority of dive trips offer two or three dives which are more or less daytrips due to the destination and travel time.

One of the undoubtedly most famous dive sites in the Koh Samui Archipelago is SAIL ROCK located 45 km north of Samui midway between Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. This rock pinnacle is, shaped like an ice-berg emerges from 40m to 15 m above the oceans surface. Sail Rock provides large schools of pelagic's steep walls, rock formation covered with corals and an awesome "chimney", a swimthrough located on its northwest side. The chimney starts at 18m down and exits at 6m where the natural light penetrating the top makes it fantastically picturesque. At its exit on the top you will find yourself surrounded by magnificent carpets of colourful anemones full of vibrant anemone fish. At 12m you will spot a hole that opens up. -"The window" is another opportunity to exit the chimney into the open water.

Apart from the big schools of fishes you see here all year round you have a good chance to spot whale sharks or manta rays passing by on their feed in season.

For further information or to receive a monthly e-newsletter full of articles and scuba related advice, please visit our online dive store. We also supply a vast range of scuba diving equipment as well as overseas property investments [http://www.kitproperty.co.uk] & dive holidays.

Abbey Vallance works with Kit Scuba one of the UK's leading online scuba stores, She is a dive enthusiast and loves to share dive experiences with others. for further scuba diving articles, please visit our blog.

By Abbey Vallance
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abbey_Vallance
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/563009

Technical Diving in Thailand - Take the Ultimate Deep Diving Challenge

2011-06-22T06:29:00.000-07:00

Technical diving training is not a new thing to Thailand but the discovery of world class ship wreck sites has made Thailand an even more attractive place to study. Koh Tao, a small island off the east coast of Thailand, is the jump off point for all of the most recently discovered wrecks. The waters in this area have always been and still remain an important shipping route and the ocean floor is littered with the carcasses of lost ships. Within the last three years deep water explorers have located over 20 previously unexplored ships lying in the depths. These artificial reefs include a fully intact WWII US Submarine, 2 drill ships, huge cargo and POW ships and ancient junks. Many more sites remain unexplored making this area a wreck diving paradise.

Diving conditions are excellent and perfect for training and enjoying the experience. Warm, clear water with virtually no current and mostly calm seas make for relaxed and pleasurable diving. Your training begins in the shallow water, diving the same sites that recreational divers use, meaning you have the chance to see turtles, sharks, whale sharks and a selection of hard and soft corals with an abundance of tropical reef fish. Once this training is complete most regions can only offer completion of your course going deeper on these same recreational sites. This is the big difference that Koh Tao offers as you will progress to some amazing and hardly visited wreck sites.

Koh Tao revolves around diving and the after dive social scene is vibrant. Restaurants and bars are available to suit every taste and pocket. Non divers will enjoy the island too, the beaches are long and tranquil with many deserted coves to explore, there's mini golf, 10 pin bowling and many spas and massage parlours to relax in too.

Ayesha Cantrell is an experienced Technical Diving Instructor based on Koh Tao, Thailand. Read more about how you can become a technical diver or join tech diving deep wreck liveaboards at her site Thailand Technical Diving

By Ayesha Cantrell
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ayesha_Cantrell
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1692866

Scuba Diving For the First Time in Thailand

2011-06-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

There are a few experiences in your life you will never forget - scuba diving for the first time will undoubtedly be one of them. The sensation of floating weightless, surrounded by an abundance of colorful marine life will forever become part of your consciousness. You may even find yourself arranging your next holiday with scuba diving in mind.

For many people, just the mention of the word "scuba diving" arouses feelings of curiosity, trepidation, anticipation, fear, amazement, apprehension and excitement, to name just a few. I know you've heard the stories and watched the movies about all the things that can happen in the water - but let's talk honestly - what you see on TV is significantly exaggerated from reality; in case you weren't already aware. Here's a fact - scuba diving is one of the safest recreational activities that humans can do - even safer than driving your car to work every day.

In the past, breathing underwater was something very few people in the world ever experienced due largely in part to the aura of danger that surrounded the activity; but with today's modern recreational diving equipment nearly everyone can safely take the "plunge" into liquid space.

Koh Samui is one of the best (and safest) places in the world to begin your scuba diving adventure. The shallow ocean depths and warm, inviting waters offer ideal learning conditions for all beginners - aged 10 to 100. Certified courses are readily available to accommodate your holiday schedule, including private lessons to help maximize your safety, comfort level and enjoyment.

Slipping below the surface, you will experience the warm salty sea embrace your entire body as all terrestrial sounds change into the harmony of the sea. Submerged colors ceaselessly dance all around you, flickering as the sunlight dives through the waves rapidly losing its brilliance the deeper it penetrates.

As you begin to explore this wet new universe; gazing upon the beauty that lies just beneath the waves, you will feel the real world drifting away; leaving all your troubles and worries behind you. Before long you realize that you are surrounded by friendly tropical fish, casually moving in to get a better inspection of you, but always remaining just out of reach. A pair of Blue-Ringed Angel Fish silently welcome you to their world as they pass, turning slowly to reflect sunlight off their brilliant neon blue markings.

Soaring gracefully above the vivacious coral reefs, teeming with life, you may even find yourself feeling the world is suddenly closer to you than you than ever before. As you begin to discover more, what once seemed like random chaos becomes evident there is actually order and structure all around; The many schools of small reef fish that move as a single unit to try and distract predators; the cleaning station where different species of fish queue up to remove unwanted cargo, like parasites and dead scales; the protective anemone fish swimming tirelessly around its home chasing away would be intruders.

The experience of scuba diving for the first time in Thailand has changed many lives; opened new doors for people who never knew another world existed. It is not uncommon for people to quit their jobs and return to Thailand seeking to become professional scuba diving guides and instructors after only their first diving course. Looking for adventure and a career? What's bubbling in your future?

If you are ready to have an unforgettable life experience, while on Koh Samui, there is no better time than now. Become one of the few in the world that knows, "It's Better to be Wet!". Contact Absolute Diving Addicts (info@divingaddicts.com) for Private Lessons.

By P M Carter
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=P_M_Carter
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2472538

Thailand Scuba Diving - When And Where To Go

2011-06-22T00:13:00.001-07:00

Thailand is famous for its scuba diving, where warm, calm waters and an abundance of incredible marine life makes for spectacular dives. Thailand's diving is also very cheap compared to diving in Europe and the Caribbean, although for safety's sake care must be taken to use a reputable dive operator.

To get the most out of diving in Thailand, you need to know when and where to go. Not all of Thailand's dive sites are available all year round, so it pays to do a bit of planning.

Similan Islands

The Similan Islands are widely regarded as one of the Top 10 Dive Destinations. They are a small group of uninhabited islands in the Andaman Sea, just off the western Thai coast. The Similans are usually visited by liveaboard boats from Phuket and Khao Lak, where divers eat sleep and dive on the boat for several days. Usually the liveaboard lasts 4 days / 4 nights and lets the divers get 14 dives.

The Similans are an ideal place to learn to dive, as taking a liveaboard trip will let a new diver be able to have lots of practice by doing so many dives. It's important to be taught by a reputable liveaboard operator with full PADI certification and experienced instructors. Be sure to ask your operator about the newness of their scuba equipment and their staff qualifications.

The Similan Islands are only open to divers from October to May each year. The monsoon season arrives during June to September and makes the seas too rough for safe diving.

Hin Daeng / Koh Bida / Phi Phi / Koh Ha

This is a group of dive sites further south in the Andaman Sea from the Similan Islands and accessible from Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Lanta. They are usually visited on daytrips from these destinations, although there a couple of liveaboards who visit them. Koh Lanta in particular is a beautiful Thai island that is not as busy or expensive as Koh Phi Phi.

Hin Daeng and Koh Ha are also only open from October to May each year. Koh Bida and Phi Phi have a few reefs that are open all year round if you are visiting Koh Phi Phi.

Koh Tao

Koh Tao is a tiny island on the other, eastern coast of Thailand, above Koh Phangan, home of the Full Moon Parties. Koh Tao is a four hour ferry ride from Surat Thani on the mainland. Koh Tao is a burgeoning island for divers and also for chilled out escape - while popular, Koh Tao remains quite uncrowded.

There are lots of dive shops here that offer diving daytrips - there are very few scheduled liveaboards, although they do occasionally happen. The diving around Koh Tao is not considered as good as the Similans or Hin Daeng, but on its day it can be fantastic.

Koh Tao is also the most popular place to learn to dive in all of Asia Pacific, except for Cairns in Australia. If you want to learn to dive but don't want to commit to doing a liveaboard, Koh Tao is a great place to learn and also enjoy the laid back party scene as well.

Koh Tao's monsoon season lasts from September to December - it's still possible to dive during this time but the weather can be pretty rough.

Best Times Of The Year To Dive Thailand

Similan Islands and Hin Daeng / Koh Ha -- October to May
Koh Tao - January to September

Planning Your Thailand Diving Trip
When choosing your Thailand diving trip, think about what time of year you can go and then decide if you want to do a liveaboard trip or if you'd prefer to do daytrips and return to a hotel each evening. Then ask Thailand dive operators about what trips and dive packages are available - sometimes you can get real bargains. The dive operator can also give you the best advice of how to get from Bangkok to your preferred dive destination.

Chris Mitchell is a scuba diving journalist based in Bangkok, Thailand. He manages the Thailand diving websites Phuket-Diving-Safaris.com, AmazingLanta.com and Divehappy.com

By Chris Mitchell
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Mitchell
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1199216

Liveaboard Diving Thailand - Scuba at Your Pace

2011-06-21T23:42:00.001-07:00

Liveaboard diving in Thailand is something you have to do, if you have been searching for a memorable diving vacation. You will not only experience the tastes and culture of Thailand, but you will also explore some of the most thrilling diving spots on the whole earth, all while in the comfort of your chartered dive vessel.

For those of you who are new to liveaboard diving, the dive boat becomes your hotel and entertainment spot, as well as your transportation to and from your dive sites. It's like crossing scuba diving with cruising, and provides an experience that no other adventure holiday can.

Just think of being pampered while staying on a liveaboard diving Thailand yacht, it will be a cozy and personalized experience for a lifetime. The mid-sized state of the art yachts tend to carry 12 to 24 passengers, so you can meet and get to know interesting people who love diving as much as you do.

The dive yachts offer both budget, medium and deluxe accommodations. The budget cabins will usually be below deck, but will otherwise be well appointed, with television, dvd players, ensuite bathrooms, air conditioning and other amenities. Deluxe cabins provide beautiful views of the sea from their above deck position.

A great place to try out liveaboard diving in Thailand is on the Phuket island. Phuket is an island that has an international airport and has become an international hot spot. On the island there are many night clubs, and there are also tons of great scuba locations to try out.

The yachts that offer liveaboards Phuket include all the services you require for a fantastic dive including a wide stern dive platform, several exit ladders and showers that use fresh water. A camera rinse tank is provided for photographers and there is plenty of space allowed for assembling and taking apart your equipment.

Following an unforgettable dive you can take pleasure in the boat's evening offerings like delectable meals served in both the local Thai and western style, communal rooms with libraries and musical entertainment and movies. Or you can simply unwind on deck and relate the day's experiences to your cohorts.

Real life diving in Thailand is an adventure like nothing else. It's perfect for someone who loves to scuba dive and travel, but who feels like they've already seen it all. Go there in style on board a luxury liveaboard dive cruise.

By Sveinung Skoglund
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sveinung_Skoglund
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1214822

Scuba Diving In Thailand

2011-06-21T23:29:00.000-07:00

The diving possibilities in Thailand are nearly endless. Thailand is listed as one of the top ten sites for scuba diving and it is not surprising why when one sees the world class scuba diving sites, clean white sandy beaches and crystal clear water. In fact, Thailand is the perfect place for it.

This beautiful country is full of history and culture. The Thais are friendly and hospitable while accommodation possibilities vary from budget to luxurious. There over 50 scuba diving centers located in towns and islands along the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea.

Thailand offers a varied diving environment which ranges from deep underwater mountains to sheer rock formations rising above the sea, from coral gardens located in shallow warm waters to undersea formations created by granite boulders; and from limestone walls plunging deep into the sea to numerous dark caverns.

Thailand is blessed with both hard and soft corals. While diving one can often see large pelagic fish, whale sharks, silver tip sharks and manta rays. Thailand's scuba diving sites never fail to impress the most seasoned diver with its variety and species of tropical fish.

Scuba diving in Thailand takes place all year round. However, the best time of the year for diving in Andaman Sea and other diving sites is from October to June. During this period, the sea is calm and one can travel quite far into the sea in boats to enjoy the unique diving experience that Thailand has to offer.

Diving usually takes place in three areas across Thailand. One is Pattaya, which is quite close to Bangkok; the second place is the islands off the Gulf of Thailand. This includes the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Tao. The last place popular with scuba divers is the west coast of Thailand. Here Phuket, Ko Phi Phi and Krabi offer the best experience in the Andaman Sea.

By Pauline Go
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pauline_Go
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/911521

Diving in Thailand and the Amazing Marine Life You Will See - Frogfish

2011-06-21T23:15:00.000-07:00

One of the things I like best about diving in Thailand is that you can be completely surrounded by amazing life. If you walk in the jungle or go on a safari, you might be lucky to catch a glimpse of a rare animal in the trees or far a way from you. But anyone who has made a dive knows how much life there is underwater. Things might look boring when you are on the surface, but as soon as you put a mask on and pop your head under water, you find an amazing new world, rich in life.

This is particularly true when you dive coral reefs. There are so many different species in such a small area and they come in all shapes, colors and sizes. In Thailand the highest concentration of fish life can be found on the Similan Islands. You can find anything here, from tiny Gobies to massive Manta Rays or Whale Sharks. I would like to introduce you to one of the most amazing species that can be seen here - Frogfish.

On the first place comes the elusive Frogfish (family Antennariidae), also called Anglerfish. They have the amazing ability to get dive guides extremely excited when they find one. I have seen adult dive guides cheer like a child in his regulator. I remember a dive on Koh Tachai, where we found 2 Frogfish very well hidden deep in a piece of staghorn coral. All divemasters all got very excited, started to hug each other and slap each other on the shoulders. It took a bit longer for the customers to find out what got them so excited.

When you see a picture of a Frogfish, you might think "that's a nice fish, but why the excitement?". Well, the fact that they are so well camouflaged and so difficult to spot, make it a challenge for every dive guide to find one. And when do find one and take a closer look, you will find out that Frogfish are amazing animals. They can sit motionless for a long time and are able to blend in completely with their surroundings.

Sometimes they hide but even when one sits smack on top of a coral head, most divers will pass it without ever knowing. They often stay in the same place for months, but even when you know in which area it hangs out, they are always difficult to spot. And when you point one out to divers, it often takes a while before they realize that you are not pointing to a rock or piece of coral, but actually a fish.

Currently there are 45 species known in 12 genera. They vary in size between a few up to 30 centimeters. One very interesting fact is the way they catch their prey: The first dorsal spine is modified as a fishing lure to attract prey. The lure consists of the illicium (the spine) and the esca (the bait), and may resemble a worm, crustacean, or small fish. This lure is dangled, flicked and moved around in front of the Frogfish's head.

If a fish wants to catch this make-believe prey it becomes prey itself - fast as lightning the Frogfish greatly expands its mouth thus creating suction pressure and engulfs the animal. This behavior is called aggressive mimicry. Frogfishes do not swim in the conventional way; instead, they "walk" on their pectoral fins or use 'jet propulsion' (forcefully expelling water from the small opercular opening generally behind and below the pectoral fins).

They are mostly bottom-dwelling fish, typically living amongst coral, at up to 100 metres (330 ft) depth, where they lie in wait for prey. They are able to change their color to match the background with high precision, and their camouflage is further aided by numerous warts and filaments on their skin, giving them an appearance similar to rough coral, a sponge or even a piece of drifting weed.

Typical dive sites in the Similan Islands to see one are Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Elephant Head, West of Eden, East of Eden and the Boonsung Wreck but I am sure they hang out everywhere, the problem is just finding them.

So next time you are on a dive and all of a sudden your guide starts to get excited, gives a lot of funny hand signals and points at something that looks exactly like a piece of ordinary coral, chances are he has found you a Frogfish.

Paul Land - A diving instructor and fish nerd based in Khao Lak, Thailand. Fortunate enough to dive the Similan Islands almost every day. http://wickeddiving.com

By Paul Land
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Scuba Diving Destination Koh Samui in Thailand Has it All

2011-06-21T22:39:00.001-07:00

One of Thailand's best loved islands, Koh Samui's charms are evident as soon as you arrive at its award-winning thatch-roofed airport. When you stay on the island of Samui you will not only enjoy the excellent beaches and wonderful nightlife, but you will also have access to the best diving in this part of Thailand. Most of these sites are found around Koh Tao and can be dived via daytrips from Samui.

Dive sites that can be visited from Samui, including the famous Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock, are characterised by submerged pinnacles, large rocky seamounts, colourful corals and reefs with plenty of marine life for you to enjoy, including good chances to see whale sharks. Because the Gulf of Thailand is a large sheltered bay, the seas tend to be calm and provide excellent conditions for Koh Samui diving throughout the year.

Highlights

Chumphon Pinnacle -- If you have come to "find Nemo" you won't be disappointed since there are numerous anemones dotted around, each with their resident anemonefish. While sightings of plenty of batfish, jacks and barracudas are likely, whale sharks are the number 1 attraction here, particularly between February and April. You won't forget an encounter with this gentle giant, the biggest fish in the world. Generally considered the best dive site in this part of Thailand.

Sail Rock -- This is another pinnacle and a real highlight of Samui scuba diving because whale sharks are commonly sighted here. Whether you are on the surface or below you will be amazed at how long these sharks stay around seemingly enjoying the presence of divers. Catfish, trevallies and reef sharks also call Sail Rock home. In terms of topography, 'The Chimney' will probably stay long in your memory. You can enter the rock through a hole at around 20 metres and exit either at 15 metres or 10 metres having checked out the masses of glass fish, boxer shrimps, moray eels and other inhabitants of the chimney which makes a lovely swim-through.

How to Dive Samui

The dive sites can be visited by daytrip boats from Samui Island. Large powerful speedboats depart every morning, normally in quite small groups. You will normally return at 5:00 pm in time to return to your resort and relax for the evening. You can book daytrips only, or combine your diving with accommodation in one of our recommended Samui resorts.

Diving Season

The dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand around Koh Samui and Koh Tao can be dived throughout the year. However the peak season, which sees the optimum conditions, runs from March to August.

There may be a reduction in visibility during the September to November period when monsoon winds and swells can be present. However these are rarely sufficient to interfere with diving trips, except maybe for making the speedboat journey a little bumpier. If you are planning a dive trip between November and February, Samui is not the best bet since rain and wind can visit the Gulf at this time of the year.

Reef Summary

Good for: Small animals, beginner divers, dive value-for-money, snorkelling and non-diving activities
Not so good for: Wrecks and drift dives
Depth: 5 -- 40m
Visibility: 5 -- 25m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface conditions: Calm to choppy
Water temperature: 27 -- 29°C
Experience level: Beginner -- advanced
Number of dive sites: about 10
Access: Samui speedboat day trips
Recommended length of stay: 5 days

With some excellent hotels and resorts, great beaches, the spectacular Ang Thong National Marine Park, and a mix of nightlife and quiet retreats, Samui Island caters to all sorts of tourists including young independent travellers, families and couples seeking a romantic beach break. When Phuket and the west coast are in low season, many consider that Koh Samui is the perfect destination for sun, sand and scuba diving.

Gavin Macaulay is Marketing Director of Dive The World which aims to help divers find the perfect scuba diving holiday in some of the world's most exciting dive destinations. He offers opinions and advice on diving related topics based on his own experiences.

By Gavin Macaulay
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gavin_Macaulay
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The Best Diving in Thailand

2011-06-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

Much like the landscape, the underwater world in Thailand is rich in natural beauty and diversity. Claiming one of the top ten dive areas in the world and split geographically between two seas, Thailand's waters are also home to some of the worlds' largest pelagic creatures such as manta rays and whale sharks. Choosing the best dive sites, however, is not just a simple case of creating a list. Strong currents and deep waters mean that some of the most spectacular and memorable dives are reserved only for advanced divers with the right experience under their weight belts. With this in mind I have written this article from the perspective of a complete beginner and the order in which I would suggest tackling the various underwater wonders on offer.

First you have to learn to dive (assuming you are not already certified). Since on completion of your Open Water Diver course you are only qualified to dive in conditions equivalent to or better than those in which you learnt, it's probably advisable not to do your course in completely idyllic conditions as these will then be difficult to replicate. This makes the Northern Gulf of Thailand a perfect place to start. The visibility is generally not as good as the south and experience of tidal current can be introduced gradually under controlled conditions, although in terms of marine life there is still plenty to see.

As a newly certified Open Water Diver I would suggest that your next port of call be Koh Tao. The easiness of the dive sites here combined with the relatively good visibility and quality of the reef make it an ideal place to further your experience. There are over 30 dive sites all within a maximum distance of 45 minutes by boat. Twin Peaks and Green Rock are notable starter sites with plenty of variety in coral, sponges and tropical fish and minimal current to boot. As your underwater ability increases you will want to try more adventurous dives such as the renowned Chumphon Pinnacle where you may be lucky enough to encounter grey reef sharks bigger than you (although quite harmless) and Sail Rock with its underwater chimney rising from 18m all the way to the surface. Both of these sites are regularly visited by whale sharks and are a must see.

As we move further south it may be a good idea to consider an Advanced Open Water certification (again assuming you are not already there) in order to fully appreciate the exciting new spots. From Phuket you can reach many of the best places including multiple sites around Racha Yai, Racha Noi, Phi Phi and various other outcrops and islands. Shark Point; Anemone Reef and Koh Ma number among the more gentle dives and they are blessed with an amazing array of underwater flora and fauna, whilst King Cruiser makes for an unforgettable wreck dive. Leopard sharks and turtles are common here as are stingrays and the more discerning can spot seahorses and frogfish and all different kinds of moray eel. For the really large pelagic encounters you cannot miss

South Pinnacle (Raya Noi) and Hin Daeng & Hin Muang. These are not for the faint hearted and I would recommend an absolute minimum of 20 dives before attempting them. On my first dive at the Pinnacle I saw absolutely nothing (apart from huge manta rays) and I breathed my tank dry in 27 minutes (I have been diving for 20 years). This is how strong the current can be. The two Hins (Hin Daeng & Hin Muang - red and purple) are so called because of the colour of the soft corals that adorn them and are considered the jewels of the South Andaman. Whale Sharks and Manta rays love these places almost as much as divers do. It's not difficult to see why. Even when the gentle giants are absent the spectacular drop offs, amazing visibility and sheer volume of marine life tantalize the senses. Again these places are not to be missed, but require a certain skill in order to be fully appreciated.

Now you are ready for the Similan Islands and Surin, the ultimate in Thailand's diving inventory. Although there are many dive sites here suitable for novice divers, as usual the best ones tend to be deep and subject to strong current. Big fish, I'm afraid, just love strong current and once you get used to it so will you. The best way to see them is on a three to five day liveaboard cruise, and it would be a shame to shell out the money for this if you cannot enjoy it to the max.

In the Similans, Christmas Point is a dramatic series of underwater pinnacles and canyons. Here you'll find an explosion of life in the soft coral gardens; parrotfish, lionfish, wrasse and groupers are all common. There are often big jacks on the hunt here and you may glimpse white tip sharks prowling. Elephant rock is unsurprisingly named after the bulbous looking rock formation. This dive site is one of the best around. Below the surface it offers gigantic stacked boulders and a labyrinth of swimthroughs, arches and caverns. Marine life is abundant and huge schools of yellow goatfish and snappers can be found around the deeper levels. Turtle Rock is an impressive series of submerged boulders and swimthroughs in typical Similan fashion. Surrounded by coral and marine life this is one of the better places to spot turtles. Encounters with eagle rays are not uncommon.

Moving towards Surin, Koh Bon features one of the only vertical walls in Thailand with depths of over 40 metres. Leopard sharks are common on the ridge and on the sandy flats below the. The soft corals here are radically different and include shades of turquoise, yellow and blue, besides the more common pinks and purples. Koh Bon is one of the better places to see manta rays, especially towards the end of the season. Koh Tachai has an offshore underwater ridge that runs perpendicular to the island and is considered to be one of the finest dives in the Kingdom of Thailand. It is famous as a place to see larger animals such as rays, leopard sharks, nurse sharks and hawksbill turtles. Richelieu Rock is Surin's ace card. It is a small submerged rock about 18 km east of Surin and rates as one of the best places in the world for swimming with the whale shark. For some reason, Richelieu Rock attracts more than its fair share of these graceful animals.

If by now you have the impression that manta and whale shark sightings are commonplace please accept my apologies. Such encounters although frequent remain a privilege and an honour and the animals themselves choose when. Also in the world of diving no two days are the same. Keep an open mind and accept that everything is subject to the laws of nature and you will not be disappointed. That said, the more often you dive these places the better chance you have, by the law of averages and the more you dive the better diver you become. So where does it go from here? Well, you may have noticed that Bangkok sits right in the middle of Southeast Asia, which arguably makes it centre of the diving universe. It gets better. Good Diving.

By Andrew Stanford
For more information please go to http://www.go-diving-thailand.com
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Scuba Diving in Thailand - World Famous Diving Location

2011-06-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

Scuba Diving in Thailand - World Famous Diving Location

One of the most diverse sites in the world for marine life is Thailand. There is plenty of diving in Thailand with 4,500 square miles and 300 major reef groups to dive on. Dive sites range from pinnacles to submerged rocks to softer sites with coral gardens and sheer walls. Diving in Thailand has something to offer ever level of diver. With its huge diversity of creatures and wide range of diving locations Thailand has become one of the most popular dive sites in the region and the world.

Thailand has a number of popular diving destinations and these will offer a wide range of well equipped, highly experienced dive centres. The dive centres will offer a wide range of leisure trips from day trips to full live on boards as well as all the training you will require from open water to diving instructor.

Phuket is probably the most famous location in the region which has excellent dive sites which are reachable within a day of Phuket, bust if you really want the best diving in Thailand then a trip further a field is a must. Places such as Similan Islands, Burma Banks and Mergui Archipelago are the finest dive sites in South East Asia and are a must do for any diver. These typically involve a live on board.

On the West side of Thailand in the Western Gulf have a different type of diving and have become very popular as locations to learn to dive. Islands such as Koh Tao have developed an entre tourist business around diving. Other dive locations nearby such as Koh Samui and Ko Pha-Ngan are boh developing an tourist industry a like Koh Tao.

Other world class dive sites though out Thailand are places such as Richelieu Rock, Chumpon Pinnacle, Pattaya, Krabi, Ko Chang. As you can see it is the sheer number of world class dive sites that make Thailand I truly popular and world beating diving destination for any diver.

Today Thailand has become a world class beating dive destination and large numbers of overseas divers from countries such as America, UK, German and others are flocking there every year. The sheer diversity of marine life and terrain as something for all levels of divers ranging from beginners to the more experienced. The wide life also ranges from big whale sharks, mantas to the smaller micro stuff such as nudibranches and sea horses.

By Simon Hemmings
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Simon_Hemmings

Phuket : An Amazing Scuba Diving Location

2009-03-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

Phuket : An Amazing Scuba Diving Location

By Jose Rossello

Phuket is located in Thailand and is very highly rated. In fact, it is among the world's top ten scuba diving locations. Exotic culture, adventure both above and below the surface, unforgettable food, Phuket has all the right ingredients for a perfect diving holiday. There are breath taking reefs and remarkable underwater rock formations in addition to the different types of marine life that are found here that provide some amazing opportunities for divers of all levels and persuasions.

One can go live-aboard diving and there are also daytrips and plenty of dive points, dive centers as well as dive courses available for the scuba diver. Liveaboard diving in Thailand from Phuket and Khao Lak with liveaboard boats to Surin Islands, Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Phi Phi, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, are good examples of where you can go to in this great scuba diving location.

Phuket and Phi Phi Island, which are among the top 10 scuba diving locations in the world boasts of splendid crystal clear water, awesome rock formations as well as an ecosystem that is vibrant and contains a lot of marine life. The water is also warm having average surface temperatures of 82 degrees Fahrenheit and there are hundreds of different varieties of both stony as well as soft corals surrounded by bright colored fish as well as other creatures of the sea which also includes some large reef fish. While stony corals are the life blood of the reef, soft corals are a prominent part of the reef. In some places they look like vast fields of undersea wildflowers.

For those who would like to see big animals there are the Whale Sharks as well as Manta Ray whose sighting is pretty common. In addition, there are also dozens of other picturesque island destinations that lie in close proximity and can be reached by day boats as well as live-aboard cruises, from Phuket. The consistent water temperatures make it possible to go diving throughout the year, right off the coast of Phuket.

For those who desire to visit this beautiful scuba diving location, they can look forward to having great food and under expert supervision they may enjoy their stay where the accommodation too, is very comfortable. And those who wish for Scuba certification, this extraordinary scuba diving location will provide many affordable Dive Shops where beginners may learn the basics and others may try out the master instructor certification.

Besides its outstanding water treasures, there is a whole lot more available right here at this wonderful scuba diving location in the form of beautiful beaches, gourmet restaurants, vivacious night life as well as a number of other attractions all available where and when one wants it. There are also popular dive centers such as Dive Asia, Colona Diving, Similan Diving Safaris, Moskito Diving, Blue Planet Divers, and Sea Bees Diving plus a number of others for those who desire to try out more of this scuba diving location at Phuket.

Please have a look at our scuba-diving articles, products, resources, and additional information located throughout Scuba-Diving Great Resources. Click here to learn more: Scuba-Diving Location

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jose_Rossello

Dive Shops in Thailand

2009-03-19T03:40:00.000-07:00

Dive Shops in Bangkok

- All Star Diving Centre (Tel: 0 2934 6533-4, 0 2934 8386)
- Aquarium Dive Center (Tel: 0 6058 8989)
- BAN’s MTC Diving Network (Tel: 0 2957 6198-9, 0 2982 3300)
- Blue Shark Diver (Tel: 0 2691 4761-2, 0 2691 4763)
- Dive Master (Tel: 02 259-3191, 02 259-3197)
- Dive Supply (Tel: 0 2661 6087-8, 0 2661 6089)
- Dumnam.com (Tel: 0 2639 5577, 0 2233 3970)
- Freedom Dive (Tel: 0 2898 7945, 0 2415 5459)
- High Tide Diving (Tel: 0 2636 6686 Ext 1 (Pct), 08 9107 1636, 0 2636 6500)
- Marine Dive (Tel: 0 2318 5831)
- Master Scuba Divers (Tel: 0 2662 5226-8, 0 2662 5858)
- Oceanic (Tel: 0 2662 6715-6, 0 2662 6717)
- Planet Scuba (Tel: 0 2261 4412-3, 0 2261 4414)
- Professional Divers (Tel: 0 2652 1545, 0 2684 1042)
- Safety Stop (Tel: 0 2392 9475-6)
- Scuba Best (Tel: 0 2261 4015 , 0 1327 0055)
- Scuba Jamboree (Tel: 0 2714 7210, 0 1459 0515)
- Scuba O (Tel: 0 1624 2707, 0 1922 0865)
- Scuba Plus (Tel: 0 2248 2294, 0 2248 2294)
- Scuba Square (Tel: 0 2880 0114, 0 2880 0115)
- Scuba Time (Tel: 0 2720 5951, 0 1318 2258)
- Sport Time (Tel: 0 2747 7460 - 1, 0 1641 7118)
- Wahoo Diving Center (Tel: 0 2260 7901-2, 0 2260 7903)
- Zcuba Tech (Tel: 0 2722 0131, 0 5188 4535)

Dive Shops in Chonburi, Pattaya

- Adventure Scuba (Tel: 0 3841 0469)
- Aquanauts Dive Center (Tel: 0 3836 1724)
- Dave's Divers Den (Tel: 0 3842 0411)
- Dive Sout East Asia (Tel: 0 3871 0900)
- Holiday Diving Club (Tel: 0 3871 6187)
- Ihtiander (Tel: 0 3871 0208)
- Larry's Dive (Tel: 0 2663 4563)
- Mermaid's Scuba Diving Center (Tel: 0 3823 2219)
- Neptune Dive Center (Tel: 0 3871 0131)
- Paradise Scuba Divers (Tel: 0 3871 0567)
- Sam's Dive Shop (Tel: 0 3842 7443)
- Scubamoose Dive Center (Tel: 0 3842 4205)
- Scuba Tek Dive Center (Tel: 0 3836 1616)
- Seafari Diving Center (Tel: 0 3842 9060)

Dive Shops in Rayong

- Dive Guide Thailand Tel: + 66 76 238306 Fax: +66 76 377954, E-mail: info@diveguidethailand.com, http://www.diveguidethailand.com
- High Tide Diving (Tel: 0 2636 6686 Ext 1 (Pct), 08 9886 2206)
- Ray's Divers (Tel: 0 3860 7480)

Dive Shops in Koh Chang

- Divers Dream Top Cliff Resort, 10/21 Mu 4 (Tel: 0 7128 7140)
- Eco-Divers Limited Partnership Banpu Hotel 9/11 Mu 4, White Sand Beach (Tel: 0 3955 1192)
- Koh Chang Dive Point Honley Beach, 103-1 (Tel: 0 7142 2948)
- Seahorse Dive Center 10/8 Mu 4 Kai Bae Beach (Tel: 08 1996 7147)
- The Dive Adventure Bang Bao Beach (Tel: 0 6057 2715, 08 1781 3680, 08 1305 4124)

Dive Shops in Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan

- Abyss (Tel: 0 7742 7720, 08 1677 4251)
- Big blue Diving Mae Haad (Tel: 0 7745 6050), Sairee Resort (Tel: 0 7745 6415), Samui (Tel: 0 7742 2617)
- Blue Planet (Tel: 0 7741 3106)
- Bug Diving (Tel: 0 7723 0079)
- Caption Caveman (Tel: 0 7742 2215)
- Calypso Diving (Tel: 0 7742 2437, 0 7741 3249)
- Coral Grand Divers (Tel: 0 77 45 6431)
- Dave Covery (Tel: 0 7742 7400)
- Discovery Dive Center Amari Palm Reef Resort, Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui (Tel: 0 7741 3196)
- Dive Indeep (Tel: 0 7723 0155-6
- Dive Resort&Watersport Center (Tel: 0 7745 6488)
- Dive Shop (Tel: 0 7723 0232, 08 1476 6168)
- Divers in Paradise (Tel: 0 7724 7408)
- Easy Divers Samui (Tel: 0 7723 1190), Kho Tao (Tel: 0 7745 6010), Nangyuan (Tel: 0 7745 6789)
- Green Turtle dive Center (Tel: 0 7745 6065)
- Island Dive Club Sairee Beach, Mu 1, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan (Tel: 0 7745 6296)
- Koh Tao Cottage International Dive Resort (Tel: 0 7745 6134)
- Mui Divers (Tel: 0 7723 2160, 08 9292 2815)
- Phangan Divers (Tel: 0 7737 5117)
- Phoenix Divers (Tel: 0 7745 6033)
- Pro Divers (Tel: 0 7723 3399, 08 9909 0204)
- Samui Blue Diving (Tel: 0 7742 7218)
- Samui Diving Service (Tel: 0 7723 0053)
- Silent Divers (Tel: 0 7742 2730)
- Travel Solution (Tel: 0 7723 0706, 0 7723 0203)

Dive Shops in Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta

- Dive Guide Thailand Tel: + 66 76 238306 Fax: +66 76 377954, E-mail: info@diveguidethailand.com, http://www.diveguidethailand.com
- Aqua VisionCenter Dive 137 Mu 2, Ao Nang, Muang (Tel: 0 7563 7415)
- Ao Nang Divers (Krabi Seaview) 143 Mu 2, Tambon Ao Nang (Tel: 0 7563 7242-3)
- Aonang Scuba Center (Tel: 0 7569 5039, 08 1810 0276)
- Baracuda Diving Center Ton Sai Bay Main Rd, 52, Phi Phi Island (Tel: 0 7562 0698)
- Go Dive Lanta 116 Mu 1, Saladan, Koh Lanta (Tel: 0 7568 4320)
- Hippo Diving Center Cabana Hotel, Mu 7, T.Ao Nang, Phi Phi Island (Tel: 0 7562 0634, 0 7561 2594-6, 08 1970 3440)
- Isand Divers Dive Center Mu 7, Phi Phi Island, Tambon Ao Nang, Amphoe Muang (Tel: 08 9873 2205)
- Lanta Diver Co Ltd 197/3 Mu 1, Saladan, Koh Lanta (Tel: 0 7568 4208, 0 7568 4057, 08 1271 9050)
- Moskito Diving Center Tonsai Bay, Phi Phi Island (Tel: 0 7561 2092, 08 1229 1361)
- Phi Phi Scuba Diving Center 128 Mu 7, Tambon Ao Nang, Muang, Phi Phi Island (Tel: 0 7561 2665)
- Phranang Divers P.O.Box 54, Amphoe Muang (Tel: 0 7563 7064, 08 1693 0342)
- PPK Diving 129 Mu 7, Phi Phi Island, Tambon Ao Nang, Amphoe Muang (Tel: 08 1230 4273)
- Railay Diving 123 Mu 2, Ao Nang, Amphoe Muang (Tel: 0 7563 7588, 08 1979 2632)
- Scuba Marine Diving Base Tonsai Bay, Phi Phi Island (Tel: 08 1787 5022)
- Sea Fa Diving Co Ltd Unit 11/12 Zone C, Beach Plaza, Nopparat thara Beach, Ao Nang, Amphoe Muang (Tel: 0 7563 7627, 08 1895 7095)
- Sting Ray Divers 202 Mu 2 Ao Nang, Amphoe Muang (Tel: 0 7563 7493, 0 7563 7624)
- Viking Scuba Ton Sai Bay, Ao Nang (Tel: 08 6595 0660)
- Visa Diving 77 Mu 7, Phi Phi Island, Tambon Ao Nang, Amphoe Muang (Tel: 08 1229 2518)
- Wet 'n Wild Dive Center Phi Phi Island, Tambon Ao Nang, Amphoe Muang (Tel: 08 1894 5403)

Dive Shops in Phuket, Khao Lak

- Dive Guide Thailand Tel: + 66 76 238306 Fax: +66 76 377954, E-mail: info@diveguidethailand.com, http://www.diveguidethailand.com
- ALOHA Phuket-Diver Rawai, Muang (Tel: 08191-SNUBA(76822), E-mail: info@Phuket-Diver.com / www.Phuket-Diver.com)
- Andaman Divers 62 Prabaramee Road, Patong beach (Tel: 0 7634 1126)
- Andaman Scubaventure 111/22 Taina Road - Kata Centre (Tel: 0 7633 1006)
- Dive Asia 24 Karon Road, Kata Beach (Tel: 0 7633 0598)
- Marina Divers 45 Karon Road, Karon Beach (Tel: 0 7633 0272)
- Ocean Divers 142/6 Thaweewong Road, Patong Beach (Tel: 0 7634 1273)
- Scuba Cat 94 Thaweewong Road, Patong Beach (Tel: 0 7629 3120)
- Sea King Divers 27/3 Mu 7, Chaofa Road, West Chalong, Muang (Tel: 0 7628 0319)
- Sunrise Diving 198/12 Rat-U-Thit Road, Patong, Phuket, Thailand. (Tel: 0 7629 2052 Fax: 0 7629 3034, E-mail: info@sunrisediving.net, Website: [25])
- West Coast Divers 120/1-3 Rat-u-tit 200 Pee Road. Patong Beach, Kathu (Tel: 0 7634 1673)
- Wicked Divers Tel: + 66 76 485 868 Fax: +66 76 485 878, E-mail: info@wickeddiving.com, http://www.wickeddiving.com

By Wikitravel

Diving in Thailand – The New Technical Frontier

2009-02-19T19:50:00.000-08:00

Diving in Thailand – The New Technical Frontier

Thailand has numerous world-class sites for divers of all standards, making it an underwater adventure paradise. While advanced divers are not restricted to normal recreational depth limits and many other constraints, they can only operate safely with professional support both onshore and offshore.

People have been paddling around Thailand’s numerous shallow coral sites with goggles and snorkels for decades, but it was not until about fifteen years ago that more serious diving with proper underwater breathing apparatus really began to take off. At that time, the majority of dive shops in the kingdom ran businesses teaching basic ‘discover scuba’ and open-water courses.

As time passed, word spread of Thailand’s superb dive sites, and dive shops became increasingly competitive in the support they were able to offer advanced divers. This included offering specialized mixed breathing gases, larger volume diving tanks, double tanks, auxiliary tanks and underwater scooters. As these resources have become more readily available, seasoned divers have been able to open the door on a whole new world of exploration. An intrepid breed, they are often referred to as ‘technical divers.’

Respiration is the over-riding concern in diving. The human body is profoundly affected by the compressed gases breathed underwater. Air normally contains about one-fifth oxygen to four-fifths nitrogen — gases which when breathed at surface level are perfectly normal. But once a diver passes beyond normal recreational dive limits, they become potential killers.

A diver who descends to 100 metres may be breathing in compressed form ten times as much nitrogen and oxygen as normal. Too much nitrogen at depth can cause narcosis — with similar results to drinking alcohol in excess. If a diver comes up too fast, there is the risk of decompression sickness — popularly known as “the bends” — which occurs when the body is not given enough time for the gas to dissipate. This can be extremely painful and result in paralysis or even death.

Oxygen, which is essential for sustaining life, meanwhile becomes toxic beyond 60 metres and this can induce convulsions — and drowning if the regulator used for breathing through the mouth falls out.

Mixed gases are essential to extending the depth and duration of dives. Ordinary recreational divers breathe compressed air, and do not have to stop to allow for decompression on the way up. Technical divers use nitrox and tri-mix gases instead. Nitrox has extra oxygen added to the air during compression, and reduced nitrogen, which helps extend dive times and mitigate the risk of decompression sickness.

Tri-mix incorporates helium into the mix, an inert gas that reduces the risk of both nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity. For deep dives of more than 60 metres, technical divers use tri-mix to go down, and nitrox for decompression when they come back up.

Two of the most popular new activities in Thailand are wreck diving, mostly in the Gulf of Thailand, and cave diving, mostly along the Andaman Sea coastline. The Gulf of Thailand falls well short of being an Asian Bermuda Triangle, but is rich in sunken wrecks resulting from misadventures in trading, piracy and war. Many stories have been lost in the mists of time but, according to one list, there are at least 179 sunken Japanese ships — or marus, as some divers prefer to call them.

Some of the biggest recent discoveries date from the Second World War. In mid-2005, a group of technical divers from Koh Tao came across a US submarine that had been sunk in 72 metres of water by the IJN Hatsutaka, a Japanese minelayer that recorded an anti-submarine action with depth charges at the time.

The Trident, the technical ‘live aboard’ boat supporting this dive, was owned by Jamie MacLeod, a veteran British wreck diver who is one of the first people known to have dived on the old sub. The Trident is equipped with special compressors and storage tanks to allow onboard mixing and filling of dive tanks with the special gas mixes needed by technical divers to reach shipwrecks at such depths.

Using twin tanks and the right mix, MacLeod was able to reach the lost submarine. Special tanks were staged underneath the Trident, and oxygen lines were run down to help the dive team decompress before fully resurfacing. Decompression tanks and gas lines are critical, since it is physically impossible to carry enough decompression gas tanks for the time it takes to get rid of the nitrogen absorbed into the body from such an extended dive.

The wreck turned out to be the remains of USS Lagarto, SS 371, sitting virtually upright on the seabed. The sub was completed in May of 1944 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan — a city today twinned with Kamogawa in Japan. The Lagarto was lost on 3 May 1945, taking down 86 crew. Its exact location remains a secret known to very few. A year after its discovery, however, US Navy divers from the Salvor (ARS-520) were able to confirm that the wreck was indeed the Lagarto. Relatives have been informed, and a memorial plaque and flag erected on the wreck.

Although the USS Lagarto lies well beyond the reach of almost all divers, and is a war grave that like all wrecks in Thai waters must not be disturbed or pillaged, there were at least naval records on both sides to cross reference. For many wrecks, nothing of the kind exists and curious divers often fall back on questioning local fishermen. With their special local knowledge, fishermen may have noticed that schools of fish are more abundant or behave differently in the vicinity of wrecks. Wrecks also sometimes get noticed when they snag nets.

The Gulf of Thailand has many pottery wrecks from sunken merchant vessels, some of which date as far back as 700 years. Siam, as Thailand used to be known, had a more inland capital before Bangkok at Ayutthaya that was readily accessible by boat up the broad and majestic Chao Phraya River.

It was therefore a major trading centre in its day, attracting merchants and adventurers not just from Asia but as far afield as Europe. The waterborne traffic ebbed both ways in ancient Siam, and captains often placed pottery items in the bowels of their vessels for ballast and stability. They could never have envisaged the value such items would acquire in the years to come.

Non-divers can get a good idea of the richness of these underwater artefacts by visiting the Underwater Archaeological Museum at Khai Nern Wong, an 18th century fort built by King Taksin on the outskirts of Chanthaburi on the Gulf of Thailand’s eastern seaboard. The collection, which is open Mondays to Saturdays, includes rare Sawankhalok pottery as well some ancient guns.

The museum provides a rich glimpse of the archeological riches of Thai waters, but it is probably the kingdom’s natural treasures that are proving a greater test of diving skills. Thailand has a growing reputation among cave divers due largely to the limestone caves found all along its western coast in the Andaman Sea.

Divers experienced in the use of tri-mix can enjoy some major challenges here. Indeed two of the largest caves so far discovered in Asia are in the vicinity of Krabi province, on the mainland near the island province of Phuket.

Sre Keow was one of the first to be explored. It is accessed through a pond of about 15 metres in diameter that was once mainly used for washing elephants. A small entrance at a depth of ten metres leads into one of the deepest caves so far discovered in Thailand.

Divers use rebreathers to reduce the tanks required for these dives. Rebreathers are a special type of underwater breathing apparatus that involve relatively small tanks. These filter out poisonous carbon dioxide during exhalation, enabling the diver to ‘rebreathe’ exhaled gas until it is fully depleted.

A small rebreather weighs around 25 kilogrammes and allows a diver to stay underwater for three or four hours. In addition, extra tanks are staged inside the cave at about the 150-metre mark. These facilitate dives to the cave’s bottom at around 240 metres.

The total dive time required for such an expedition is six to eight hours. A large plastic container the size of a children’s paddling pool is inverted and submerged, and then tied off at a depth of about 4.5 metres. This creates an underwater habitat with an air pocket where the divers can decompress in relative comfort. As the nitrogen dissipates, they drink water to rehydrate and eat if they wish.

It is uncertain how many caves suited to diving exist in Thailand since new ones are being discovered all the time in the south, and also in lakes elsewhere. Another spectacular known cave, Song Hong, is shallower than Sre Keow but offers much deeper penetration into the rock formation. It is accessed through a larger 75-metre pond which sinks to a depth of 110 metres. About twelve metres down, a relatively small entrance provides access into a vast cave — so large in fact that a light beam will not reach the cave wall on the other side.

Divers descending into the cave find survey lines fastened securely about every ten metres. They feel their way down along the primary line to a depth of about 120 metres, at which point the passage becomes more horizontal until it reaches a depth of about 140 metres.

The longest penetration of the cave so far from here onwards at the same depth is a remarkable 800 metres. The total dive time for such a feat is about six hours, and it requires a major team effort of typically two or three people. Extra tanks are staged along the route. The bottom diver uses twin rebreathers and a two-man diver propulsion vehicle (DPV) to carry him along.

Support divers are essential to such a dive, and equipment redundancy is a major preoccupation. Two and even three pieces of each type of equipment are often required for such a perilous undertaking. Should a rebreather flood at this depth and penetration, the only way for a diver to survive would be using an open circuit tank that has been specially staged, or a special bailout tank that must actually be carried alongside.

“Breathing the wrong gas at the wrong depth can kill you in a matter of minutes,” comments Henny Beeber, an American businessman resident in Thailand who is also a highly experienced technical diver.

So why do people take such enormous risks in the name of recreation?

“I was the first person to reach a sunken US P-38 bomber in the Gulf, yet thousands of people have been to the top of Everest,” explains Beeber. “I am your average Joe, and the only way I could ever have got up Everest was if three sherpas carried me. Nothing can beat the sense of achievement and adventure diving gives me.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR :

Bruce Konefe works for American Nitrox Divers International (ANDI), and has lived in Thailand for more than 14 years. He is an instructor trainer who now teaches at only the highest levels of technical diving, and has helped design both cave diving courses and hyperbaric chamber medical courses for the agency. His career has taken him around the world, including to Australia, Canada, Dubai and the United States. He has trained military divers in both the Thailand and the Philippines, and was on the team which first dived on the IJN Yamashiro, a 39,000-ton Japanese battleship sunk on 25 October 1944 in the Second World War battle of Surigao Strait.

Tourism Authority of Thailand