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Trip Report
Hi guys.
I did end up trying Similan Scuba in Khao Lak last April. It was OK but not fantastic.
I discovered the hard way that the mini-bus return ticket to-from Khao Lak (for which I paid 1200 baht) was a scam. The mini-bus was pure fantasy and it ended up that I paid 1200 baht to be taken from Patong to the bus terminal in Phuket Town. At the bus station the scam-artists put me on the public bus and paid the 100 baht ticket to Khao Lak. The return trip from Khao Lak was the same deal, just outrageous lies from the Patong booking agent about the fantasy mini-bus, so I cut my losses and jumped on the public bus. The public bus was actually very comfortable and I highly recommend it as the best way to get to and from Khao Lak.
It was great to pack 18 Nitrox dives into 5 days, and the Similans are spectacular for sea life. It was certainly a cost-effective way to get a lot of quality dives in. I really like diving with Nitrox when I'm doing successive 4 dive days - it is much kinder on the body and affords a real safety margin.
The speedboat ride from Khao Lak to the dive boat was a rather uncomfortable experience and one of the outboard motors on our speedboat seized half-way out - obviously not their fault but nevertheless a p.i.t.a.. We were eventually picked up by their second speedboat after a radio call to shore. Because we were running late, we were rushed onto the dive boat and got diving straight away. It was fantastic to be back underwater at the Similans but it was a fairly short dive because we had some heavy breathers in a group of six plus guide.
The dive boat Angel One is a bit old and run-down. The dive platform is uncovered and this results in you standing around in scuba gear in the blazing sun waiting for the boat to get to the drop point. There is no air-con at all on the boat and the dormitory sleeping area was very claustrophic and stuffy at night. I tried sleeping outdoors on the top deck but was woken each time by rain. The food was average and the beer was expensive - 100 baht. The diving from Angel One is only on the Similans - though the company operates weekly speedboat day-trips from Khao Lak to Richelieu and Koh Bon. It is a very German-oriented operation with dive briefings in German followed by a shorter English version. Most Germans speak good English and quite a lot of them were friendly and nice. However, most of the conversations on the boat were in German and it took a bit of effort to start up conversations in English. The dive boat becomes very quiet and relaxed when the crowd of day-trippers leaves on the speedboat after dive #3 each day. I really enjoyed the twilight dives where it was often one guide per customer. As usual, I skipped the night dives in favour of a tinnie or six.
I found Khao Lak was mostly populated with German and other European families staying in expensive hotels. There is no nightlife to speak of, but quite a good choice of restaurants with excellent food. The township is dominated by a busy highway running through the middle. I stayed in a nice little guest house for 500 baht near the Similan Scuba dive shop on the main highway. I was happy to get out of Khao Lak and back to Patong.
I subsequently discovered that Scuba Cat in Patong have a similar setup. They pick you up from your hotel and take you by speedboat from Phuket to their Scuba Cat dive boat on the Similans, where you can stay onboard any number of days. When you have had enough, they take you back to Phuket by speedboat and transfer you to your hotel. The price appears identical to Similan Scuba except that Nitrox is an extra 300 baht per tank. I don't know what the Scuba Cat dive boat is like, but it could be a good option for someone who wants to avoid Khao Lak.
I will be back in Patong for my next holiday from 6 November to 1 December 2007 - Yay!!!. My leave is approved and locked-in. I just have to sort out flight details with the travel agent.
\Mike
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