Phuket Thailand

oneday · #1 26-07-2006, 23:34

Hi,

I am almost retired; never been to Thailand; read lots about Pattaya and BKK here and on a couple other boards.

I am a diver so Phuket has always been a place I wanted to visit for years. I have been to the Philippines on a live-a-board out of Palawan, a live-a-board out of Biak (Indonesia), resorts in Palau and Fiji three times. So besides the obvious, checking out the bar scene, I would like to make a few dives and other side trips (waterfalls and speed boat to Phang Nga), . For those divers out there, can you recommendation a dive operator and dive sights. I am interested in a couple of two dive days. I enjoy macro subjects more than pelagic, unless I can be guaranteed a Whale Shark or Manta Ray then point me in that direction. I know; can't guarantee that. The only place I know Manta Rays can be guaranteed is on the island of Yap.

Besides being a serious amateur photographer for about 30 years, I am also a tennis fanatic. Anyone play tennis and is there somewhere pick up a game in Phuket while I am there? In the USTA rating system I am a strong 3.5 and 4.0 on good days.

Here is my one contribution (I know I risk this is already somewhere else on this board): For anyone contemplating coming to Thailand for the women (bar girls) I can highly recommend a book by Stephen Leather called "Private Dancer". It provides a tremendous amount of insight into Thai culture, bar girls and the mistakes Farang make.

Oneday - I will be there, and then I will need a new handle. I am looking at April 2007. I have already settled on the Summerbreeze hotel based on recommendations on this board.

IRISH JONNY · #2 26-07-2006, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneday

. I .

Here is my one contribution (I know I risk this is already somewhere else on this board): For anyone contemplating coming to Thailand for the women (bar girls) I can highly recommend a book by Stephen Leather called "Private Dancer". It provides a tremendous amount of insight into Thai culture, bar girls and the mistakes Farang make.

.

hello and welcome to the board./
http://www.stephenleather.com/private-dancer.pdf
IJ

Insomniac · #3 26-07-2006, 23:55

Hey and welcome to the board.

Check out the Dive asia company here in Phuket. A dive sight, well i'm not a diver but one of my good friends is/used to be a dive instructor here (left due to low season) apparently the (spelling might be/ probably is wrong) Similan islands is good for diving.

oneday · #4 26-07-2006, 23:56

Sorry, I should have posted this the first time.

That’s 43 pages of the 220 page book. Prior to getting it published he posted the entire book and seems to have forgotten it is there. Here is the web site where the entire book can be downloaded.

http://www.pattayapages.com/girls/im...ate-dancer.pdf

seafox · #5 27-07-2006, 00:14

Hi oneday,

The best diving in Phuket out of Phuket is in the Similan Islands but there is some good diving south of Phuket also. The only way to do 1 day of diving in the Similans is by speed boat and it is a full day trip as the islands are 40-60 miles away from Phuket. Another way to dive there is to do a speedboat out there and then stay on a liveaboard for a night or 2. Some boats are used like a floating dock, the speedboat takes you out to the liveaboard wherever it is in the Similans and then drops you off and you stay on the boat for a night, or more and dive from it as it moves around the Similans(some go to Koh Bon and Koh Tachai also). Another way is to do a liveaboard straight out of Phuket but this is usually a minimum of 4 nights.

I am actually going on the Mermaid II liveaboard with a group on April 9-13, 2007 and we are doing the Similans, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, and Richilieu Rock. Did the same trip this year in April and we had mantas on 2 dives at Richilieu Rock and 2 dives at Koh Bon.

Good daytrips down south to Racha Yai and Racha Noi and Phi Phi Island if you want an easier trip on a bigger boat.

And there are a lot more places than just Yap for guaranteed manta rays.

and some places for guaranteed whale sharks also.

seafox · #6 27-07-2006, 00:43

I also did a tour report on my dive trip this April. Some pictures in there that I took with a Nikon 7900 coolpix point and shoot digital.

oneday · #7 27-07-2006, 00:44

Thanks.

My information is a little out of date. I have not been reading scuba magazines for about 8 years. At that time I don't remember reading about a guaranteed Whale shark dive. Is one perhaps somewhere off Austrailia in open water? I think I remember hearing or reading something about regular appearances.

What is it about the Similan islands that make them the best in the area?

M & M · #8 27-07-2006, 00:46

Welcome to the board Oneday...

I'm sure you won't be disappointed with Phuket...don't know a person who is!!!!

Marcia

seafox · #9 27-07-2006, 01:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneday

Thanks.

My information is a little out of date. I have not been reading scuba magazines for about 8 years. At that time I don't remember reading about a guaranteed Whale shark dive. Is one perhaps somewhere off Austrailia in open water? I think I remember hearing or reading something about regular appearances.

What is it about the Similan islands that make them the best in the area?

Galapagos from June to October at Darwin Island. Liveaboards only but pretty much guaranteed to see one. Know friends who saw 12 different whale sharks in 2 days of diving.

Ningaloo Reef in Northwestern Australia near Perth. In March the reef has a huge coral spawn and it brings in lots of whale sharks. Snorkeling only though.

Also Belize near Dangriga and Utila in Roatan are doing pretty well lately during certain times of year.

And Isla Holbox near Cancun in Mexico.

Similans are beautiful above water, like BVI's, and not as many divers there so reefs are in better shape. Southern sites can have 10 boats with 30 divers on each boat per day during high season.

I was very happy with my trip this year as I saw a lot more fish than I did in October 2001.

oneday · #10 27-07-2006, 12:53

Thank again Seafox. I think I will try a two day trip to Similan by speed boat. That sounds about right. Back to more research and looking forward to the day I arrive.

jimbulljag · #11 27-07-2006, 22:45

hi Randy and welcome to the board. Seafox knows his stuff about diving and won't steer you wrong. If you are going to LOS in April try to make sure you see at least part of songkran. I totally enjoyed the thai new year and you might want to plan your dive trip around those dates. Where in so cal are you?
Jim

slinggalin · #12 28-07-2006, 06:35

Welcome to the board my fellow Cali person. any set dates in April 07?

ding · #13 28-07-2006, 08:02

Welcome to a fellow So.Cal diver. Doing my first trip to LOS in Nov. Sure does seem like a long time away. Doing the same liveaboard Seafox has planned for April, will send a trip report when I get back. Hope you make and have a great time.

oneday · #14 28-07-2006, 12:28

Hi Jimbulljag,

I have 14 years of diving under my belt throughout the Carribean and South Pacific, but "seafox's" reply to my last question left no doubts about his experience which far exceed mine. I would be broke going to all the places he has been.

Is songkran a city or an event on Phuket? As to your last question, I am in the San Bernardino area.

To slingalin,
No set dates yet. Depending on my research, best pricing, available diving it could even be late March.

oneday · #15 28-07-2006, 12:45

PS: My avatar was taken in Kadavu, Fiji in 1992 using a Nikonos V with a wireframer. It was an incrediblely lucky shot for a wireframer.

seafox · #16 28-07-2006, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneday

Hi Jimbulljag,

I have 14 years of diving under my belt throughout the Carribean and South Pacific, but "seafox's" reply to my last question left no doubts about his experience which far exceed mine. I would be broke going to all the places he has been.

Is songkran a city or an event on Phuket? As to your last question, I am in the San Bernardino area.

To slingalin,
No set dates yet. Depending on my research, best pricing, available diving it could even be late March.

Songkran is Thai New Year, happens in the middle of April, I think April 13-15 in 2007.

Big water fight, people on the street with buckets of water and huge super soakers trying to drown each other. Some people love it, some don't. I had fun.

slinggalin · #17 28-07-2006, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneday

Hi Jimbulljag,

I To slingalin,
No set dates yet. Depending on my research, best pricing, available diving it could even be late March.

Not sure on my dates yet either. it is usually in late March early April as well. It all depends on when I can slip away