Thailand info?

[Travelnsj]

I looked into Thailand diving about 3 years ago. I was looking at Phuket and Krabi. I had posted a thread on another board seeking information. Being I dive primarily the Indonesia, Pacific and South Pacific regions I asked for comparisons. I was told unless I was going on a Liveaboard to the Similan Islands to pass. I understand I can take day boats out but it is a 2 to 3 hour journey each way…I don’t mind doing the 1 hour rides in Palau but 2 to 3 hours is a bit much.

I know the best way to see is a liveaboard but I do not like cramped quarters and I do get seasick…so my preference is land.

So my questions are….

Are there resorts in the Similan Islands or Richelieu Rock?

Best time of the year to go for calm waters?

What is the vis in that area?

Water temps?

If I was to do a liveaboard which one?

Info is appreciated

[Quero]

Hmm. There's just so much to answer in here that I think I'll split this into several responses.

Originally Posted by Travelnsj

[font=Times New Roman][size=3]I looked into Thailand diving about 3 years ago. I was looking at Phuket and Krabi. I had posted a thread on another board seeking information. Being I dive primarily the Indobesia, Pacific and South Pacific regions I asked for comparisons. I was told unless I was going on a Liveaboard to the Similan Islands to pass.

Okay, for this first part. I totally disagree that ONLY the Similans is worth diving here. I know you've seen CompuDude's trip report for the three days of daytrip diving he did right from Phuket (not even the Similans!) to get an idea of whether a diver should just "pass" on Phuket!

Now, our daytrip sites do, in fact, pale in comparison to the Similans, but IMO that's like comparing a four-star and a five-star hotel.

It's also true that one can get very spoiled at certain parts of Indonesia at certain times of year. The Similans ranks up there with the best of the best. Phuket ranks a bit lower.

Finally, there are a couple of sites much further south from Phuket that rival the Similans, but there are only the two of them. These sites are called Hin Daeng (Red Rock) and Hin Muang (Purple Rock), named for the color of the profuse soft corals that cover each of them.

[Quero]

I understand I can take day boats out but it is a 2 to 3 hour journey each way…I don’t mind doing the 1 hour rides in Palau but 2 to 3 hours is a bit much.
I know the best way to see is a liveaboard but I do not like cramped quarters and I do get seasick…so my preference is land.

First of all, those are the travel times for Phuket daytrips on slow boats. Daytrips to the Similans are best done not from Phuket but instead from Khao Lak, a town a couple hours drive north, on the mainland. If you stay at Khao Lak you save yourself the travel time up and back every day.

First, just for completeness' sake, let me explain about daytrips from Phuket. It's true that the rides for daytrips are between one and three hours on slow boats. If you want shorter rides, the thing would be to get on speedboats! A three-hour trip to Phi Phi from Phuket on a slow boat does take 3 hours, but on a speedboat the time is cut down to an hour or less. Besides that, the chances of feeling seasick are greater on the big boats as they roll and pitch more. We always have seasick prophylactics on every boat and we recommend that our divers take them if they have any tendency to getting sick.

Of course, the drawback is that speedboat trips do cost about 50% more.

From Khao Lak, however, the norm for daytrip diving is travel to the dive sites on a speedboat. I have five different Khao Lak companies on file who do speedboat daytrips to the Similans, and just one that does trips from a slow boat. It's a matter of economics, but I won't get into that here and now. A speedboat trip to the Similans can take from an hour to an hour and a half.

If you choose to do daytrip diving from Khao Lak, expect at most two dives a day. On a LOB you will get 4 dives.

[Quero]

Originally Posted by Travelnsj

So my questions are….
Are there resorts in the Similan Islands or Richelieu Rock?

No, there are no real resorts in the Similans. There are some beach huts and a campground, both run by the national park, but the lodging doesn't cater to divers. There's no dive shop, for example, to get air at. Richelieu Rock is just a pinnacle that sticks out of the water at low tide, so the only way to visit is by boat.

Best time of the year to go for calm waters?

January, February are the least windy months, so the sea is flattest then.

What is the vis in that area?

Depends on the time of the year. In spring (March onwards) we begin getting plankton coming in, which we are happy for as the whale sharks follow

Of course, substantial amounts of plankton reduces viz.

Water temps?

Typically about 85°F. Very occasionally a thermocline will bring in some cold water. But you can just swim out of it.

If I was to do a liveaboard which one?

Depends on a lot of factors: budget, need for Nitrox, luxe level, length of trip.... There are literally dozens and dozens to choose from.

Info is appreciated

How's that for a start?

[Travelnsj]

Originally Posted by Quero

January, February are the least windy months, so the sea is flattest then.

What is March like?

Depends on the time of the year. In spring (March onwards) we begin getting plankton coming in, which we are happy for as the whale sharks follow

Of course, substantial amounts of plankton reduces viz.

What type of Vis are you talking about 20m 40m? and what is it usually?

Liveaboard?

Depends on a lot of factors: budget, need for Nitrox, luxe level, length of trip.... There are literally dozens and dozens to choose from.

I have done the Galapagos aggressor and Mike Ball before. The Aggressor was nice and the Mike Ball-Super Sport should of been mothballed (I think it is now...LOL).....So looking for a nice boat that has Nitrox, good DM's something on the level of the Spirit of Freedom in OZ....do not need a 5 star but a 4 star will do...Your thoughts?...I hope to do the new Antares in 09 that is starting up in Raja.

How's that for a start?

Great Marcia....thanks....Now the Big Question.....if you had a choice of Palau in March or the Similian's...where would you go?

[Travelnsj]

Originally Posted by Quero

Finally, there are a couple of sites much further south from Phuket that rival the Similans, but there are only the two of them. These sites are called Hin Daeng (Red Rock) and Hin Muang (Purple Rock), named for the color of the profuse soft corals that cover each of them.

Do you reach these sites from Phuket? and how lond does it take?

[Travelnsj]

Originally Posted by Quero

First of all, those are the travel times for Phuket daytrips on slow boats. Daytrips to the Similans are best done not from Phuket but instead from Khao Lak, a town a couple hours drive north, on the mainland. If you stay at Khao Lak you save yourself the travel time up and back every day.

If I were to decide to stay in Khao Lak....

are there nice dive/resorts there?

and how long are the boat rides out to the Similan's?

easy transportation to Phuket if I wanted to do the southern dive sites?

[Quero]

Originally Posted by Travelnsj

What is March like?

Seas are usually still pretty flat, plankton is coming in. This is typically the best time of year for whale sharks and manta rays.

Depends on the time of the year. In spring (March onwards) we begin getting plankton coming in, which we are happy for as the whale sharks follow

Of course, substantial amounts of plankton reduces viz.

What type of Vis are you talking about 20m 40m? and what is it usually? [/quote]
Viz during the best of times is about 30 m. Last December/January/February it was about 25 m. I haven't been out there this month, but expect it's about 15-20 m.

Last year (2006/7 season) though, saw a huge plankton bloom all season here together with a naturally-occurring red tide (not a pollution-linked one, but a natural one due to unusual upwellings from the Andaman Trench that brought cool, plankton-rich water). We had REALLY reduced viz (10 to 15 meters, sometimes less). OTOH, we had whale sharks and mantas on virtually every trip up to Richelieu and Koh Bon the entire season. This year, in contrast, they were late in arriving, the water was clear for so long.

Liveaboard?

I have done the Galapagos aggressor and Mike Ball before. The Aggressor was nice and the Mike Ball-Super Sport should of been mothballed (I think it is now...LOL).....So looking for a nice boat that has Nitrox, good DM's something on the level of the Spirit of Freedom in OZ....do not need a 5 star but a 4 star will do...Your thoughts?...I hope to do the new Antares in 09 that is starting up in Raja.

Well, Spirit of Freedom is a fine-looking boat, judging by the way she's presented in the website. She looks to me like a 5-star vessel. I have never seen a boat here with televisions in the rooms, for example, so I'd say that the bulk of our boats here are going to be quite a lot less luxurious. Boats that might be able to compete in terms of creature comforts like Spirit of Freedom offers would cost in the range of USD $2000 for a six night trip to the Similans, and if you wanted to combine that with a two night trip south to Hin Daeng, there are ops that offer combos. The cost would run about $2500. There are lots and lots of boats in lower price ranges, though. Every creature comfort you give up (private bathroom is a biggie; lots of space in the cabin is another) lowers the price. This season I had a female diver who paid a hefty single-supplement to get more space for herself on a 6-day trip north + south.

How's that for a start?

I've never been to Palau, so I would probably choose that, simply for the first-hand experience of something new. I'm not big on "bragging rights" sorts of trips. For example, I'm going to Bonaire in May, and I expect the diving to be less spectacular than the Similans, but I'm still excited about it! And I'm sure I'm going to love every minute, even if there aren't as many fish/kinds of fish as I'm used to seeing. At the same time, every time I go to the Similans (several times a season, always with students), I'm thrilled.

Maybe I'm just easy to please???

[Quero]

Originally Posted by Travelnsj

Do you reach these sites from Phuket? and how lond does it take?

The easiest and best way to visit these from Phuket is on a 2d/2n LOB. There's also a speedboat that goes out once a week from Phuket if they can achieve the minimum passenger load--the ride is maybe 1.5 hours, each way. I'm planning a trip down there next month, but I'll stay on the island of Koh Lanta and do daytrip diving.

[Quero]

Originally Posted by Travelnsj

If I were to decide to stay in Khao Lak....

are there nice dive/resorts there?

and how long are the boat rides out to the Similan's?

easy transportation to Phuket if I wanted to do the southern dive sites?

On the Andaman side of Thailand we don't really have dive resorts as such. We have resorts, and we have diving, and then we just mix it up. All the charter ops will pick up divers from all the resorts; there's no exclusivity. However, there are some ops that offer backpacker accommodations like beach shacks together with their dive services. This is not something I'd book for you, though.

There are very nice full-service resorts, however. Khao Lak is rather more quiet than Phuket, so the vibe definitely offers less of a party atmosphere and more of a beach-and-relaxation, family-oriented sort of stay.

Transfer times by speedboat from Khao Lak to the Similans average about 1.5 hours.

If you want to dive both north and south, either you will want to move during your stay or use Phuket as a base. Dive ops from Phuket don't pick up from Khao Lak, but Khao Lak ops will pick up from Phuket, generally for an additional surcharge.