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Hua Hin is near Cha-Am, 2 hours South of BKK (Bangkok) and although it is a hidden treasure as a get-away, unfortunately there is no diving worth mentioning. Great Sandbars, but no reefs to speak of. You gotta go down to Chumphon or Surat Thani, possibly out to Koh Tao or Samui for diving...

Thank you

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I've been in May before and had great weather, plus you can get big discounts on "Standby" trips

Better diving is further North or further out in the Coral Sea

Make sure you dive Richielieu Rock It is a pinnacle that rises up and crests the surface - you can find lots there from dense small stuff to Giant Mantas (after Jan) and Whale Sharks I've been on several Liveaboards; including Similan Islands and all the way up to Burma on a 10 day trip -...

Sounds like you got the good trip to QLD, could add a couple of suggestions, but then there might not be a reason to return. I found Aussies to be absolutely wonderful people and look forward to visiting the Great Southern Land again!

Dec to March is the Monsoon season in Queensland. We went WW rafting there and was told Mount Tully (near Mission Beach) gets the most rain in all of Australia

Oh yeah, Just read the post again and there may be a conflict - it will be difficult to dive on a travel day. For example, Menjangen island trips leave at 8-9am from the town of Lovina and you must book them the day before. If you are travelling there it will be a rush if you are diving...

Absolutely fantastic!

daodiver, I've found that Internet rates in Bali are higher than you can get by just showing up and negotiating last-minute rates. Since the bombing, Bali has had many vacancies. Diving is very good in Bali

I went to Aus 2 years ago and thought it was fantastic and better than other places I've been including PNG. One post on this board a while back mentioned the coral bleaching in the Coral Sea was so prolific that they aborted diving at Flinders reef to move North into the GBR. Any word on...

Koh Tao is not "off the beaten track" but I'm not sure what you are looking for - that is you may still find it very nice Getting there will be either very cheap or very pricey (for Thailand). If you take the train from BKK (Bangkok) to Surat Thani and get on a ferry it will be cheap. If...

I think your budget of $60 USD/night for accomodations should be more than adequate. In 1997, on another Bali trip, I met a gentleman on the airplane who had a picky wife that had found a suitable Five Star hotel in Ubud for $50 USD per night - marble floors, staff members that greeted you by...

Sounds easy to do, but I would consider doing it in reverse order - Kuta, Tulamben, then Menjengan. First of all Kuta/Sanur is closest to the airport and since your lodging will probably be minutes from there it would allow you to rest and get situated if you have arrived after a long flight...

PS - what nationality was the drug crazed operator? I'll bet not Thai!

I have heard the drug YaaBaa (derivative of Thai word YaaMaa - crazy horse) is widespread in Thailand but in 11 trips I've never seen it or the effects on people. Just read about it in the newspaper. Was the Dive shop owner a Yaa Baa freak?

I went in 1996 and 1997 and the owner Mathew Hedrick was skipper - it was a great operation. He has since expanded. In 2001, I found one of his older boats, the M/V Sai Mai, was now rented out to the PrivateDive.com dive operator and I went with them. There were problems (A/C, electrical...

PS - The Great Barrier Reef is in Queensland

Queensland is great, I've been there during this time of year. The monsoon season is usually around December to March.