Similan Islands closure reminder

[aussie dollar]

Similan Islands closure reminder

PHUKET: The Head of the Similan Islands National Park has issued a reminder that the national park remains closed for the monsoon season, after a diveboat chartered for government research sank during a storm.

Witthaya Hongwiangchan said that, as was the case every year, the park is closed from May 15 to November 15.

He explained, “The southwest monsoon causes strong waves and heavy rain. The waves are often between two and four meters high – too high for small boats and tour boats to operate safely. Closing the national park is the way to protect lives and possessions.”

On June 7, a diveboat chartered by the marine national park from a company in Phang Nga as part of a project to protect reefs damaged in the tsunami, sank during a bad storm. One woman on board died. See story here.

Brought to you by:
The Phuket Gazette
12:30 local time (GMT +7)

[wakeboycam]

I wrote an email to Westside Divers to ask if this is thrue. I wanna dive with them the 3e week of oktober on the Similan islands. But they didn't reply it. Does anybody know if this is thrue because it would turn my scedule upside down.

[Mr Floatplane]

Hey Wake Boy - I think you will find it true.
My understanding is that it is always closed there to tourist over the moonson season - which is both a good thing for the ecology (gets a break from tourists) - and for visitors who certainly don't want to be there that time of year...
If you do go - make sure you do go diving and not snorkeling- I am told the diving is world class at the Similans, however the snorkeling certainly is not... I was very dissapointed with that - I guess the good stuff is all down deeper?
I think it was becasue I was dissapointed with the snorkeling that I got on the next boat back to Phuket, despite having payed up for a longer stay. It was odd, it was nice enough there, and fun to stay in a tent right by the beach, but I just really wanted to leave that place, much to the annoyance of my friends, who stayed on. Then next morning the tsunami came. Funny how things go....

[wakeboycam]

Hi Mr F,

I was planning to do a life abroad trip of 4 days diving. Last year i was in Phuket in the beginning of october and they where just starting to do the trips. So i planned (and already bought the ticket) to arrive there this year on 16 october and do the trip in my first week before i would travel back towards BKK. But now this article says it will be closed untill the half of november. Meaning i will be flying home bofore it even opens And thats pretty bad because it is suppose to be the best part of my trip.