June 10-20th - 2008 / Samui/Koh Tao/Phuket

[mak]

Sawasdee khrup!!

Posted an introduction earlier today : http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/in...ob-wanting-explore-marine-world-new-post.html

Great to find a community like this will help in planning my trip/budget for the upcoming visit to LOS

 

[Bowmouth]

You'll have a great time here in Thailand. Plenty of good diving in June both in the Gulf and in Phuket.
Inform the dive shop(s) / DM'rs on the daytrip boats you'll be using of your sinus problem. You may need more time than others to go down and preferably you may want to use a decent line (if available).
Try flushing your sinuses with salt water; it really helps!

 

[mak]

Thanks for the heads up BM

I thought there would be a fresh Tao vs Phuket war here to confuse me even further... whats happening fella's !! 5555

 

[Bowmouth]

Thanks for the heads up BM

I thought there would be a fresh Tao vs Phuket war here to confuse me even further... whats happening fella's !! 5555

The Phuket-Koh Tao bashing thread was started by me just for fun. Both "East" and "West" side pro's have strong opinions about "their" dive sites and need a place to vent off some steam from time to time.
There's good diving on both sides (and believe me, I know because I have dived hundreds of dives in the Gulf as well) but (being a "west sider") I'ld say the diving is in general more diverse and "better" off the West coast than the East Coast...

 

[mak]

The Phuket-Koh Tao bashing thread was started by me just for fun.

I sensed that hence the 5555 in my earlier response

There's good diving on both sides (and believe me, I know because I have dived hundreds of dives in the Gulf as well) but (being a "west sider") I'ld say the diving is in general more diverse and "better" off the West coast than the East Coast...

Hmmm better in the west eh? I wonder...the sun rises in the east BUTTTT sets in the west

Ok so Iv already mentioned my sinusitis condition, will try and work on my breathing and clearing up the passages before I upto LOS.

The other is my eyesight. I use contact lenses... without which Im partially blind. Now Iv spent my fair time in the ocean and have always had em on..without goggles.

Sorry for all the noob questions, just airing my thoughts here. Snorkelling/Diving is a pretty expensive sport and Id like to just tread carefully before jumping in with too much expectation.

Iv probably got a week that I will either spend in Samui/Koh Tao. Everyones suggestions are welcome.

 

[KT Darius]

Hey Mak,

Welcome to Thailand. Just a heads-up, I think that you'll find that everyone is tired of the same old discussion of where to go to do pro-level training. In the past people would have jumped all over this but it's a point that has been beaten to death. If you check through the old threads you'll probably find the answers to all your questions.

My advice is to be very careful in selecting an area with regard to the seasons. There has been a big debate of late over what constitutes a rainy season (duh, Rain!), and it seems some people would even have you believe rainy seasons aren't rainy. Don't be naive...

Have a great time wherever you end up!

 

[Batfish]

and it seems some people would even have you believe rainy seasons aren't rainy

The phrase "rainy season" does not mean constant rain. In my neck of the woods, rainy seasons are not severe. In order to attempt to prove this I started a weather report here in 2004:

Phuket Weather - Current Conditions - Weather Reports - Forecast

Then my own weather blog 2 years ago (see link in signature).

Another guy was doing a weather report from Phuket back in 2002:

Welcome to our Weather Page

Also, please note that rain does not cause a problem for divers. I mean, you're getting wet anyway. The problem is the wind which causes waves. Thus, with the Southwest monsoon winds blowing from May - October, the best diving in Thailand (Similan Islands area) is (more or less) out of bounds, since its 60km offshore (nearest land at Khao Lak).

You're coming in June.. here's the weather from Phuket in June 2007:

Phuket Weather - June 2007

 

[KT Darius]

And there you have it. Not the rain that causes problems, but the wind, that is the monsoon, that makes life miserable- seasonably- for divers all over Thailand at different times of the year. Batfish's Weather blog mentions on May 4th that the wind has prompted a cancellation of the last few liveaboard trips of the season.

Good idea to give the monsoon a miss, Mak, whenever you're coming.

All the best!

 

[Bowmouth]

The other is my eyesight. I use contact lenses... without which Im partially blind. Now Iv spent my fair time in the ocean and have always had em on..without goggles.

Using (soft) contacts while diving is ok. I've been using contacts for 15 years or so while diving and never had a problem. I started off with a prescription mask though and that worked fine as well. Masks with prescription lenses are quite cheap in Thailand (around 5000 Baht/160 US$) and you may want to get one while you're here.

 

[Bowmouth]

Good idea to give the monsoon a miss, Mak, whenever you're coming.

That's GREAT advice!
A post like yours really shows how much you NOT know about the Thai monsoons.