Just an update for some of you considering diving in Phuket... very nice dive destination recovered from the tsunami. it is a real convenient spot for most of us here in Singapore, being an inexpensive budget flight away and no fuss getting a boat to the various dive sites 2-3 hours away.
My one sore spot is that most of the dive spots are doing the usual same places. Its rare for an op to do something different or exploratory diving, can't understand why not, since there must be so many undiscovered spots in the Andaman Sea. I mean how often can u dive in Bungalow Bay in Racha Yai without getting jaded?
Sat 29/04 Racha Noi
- Was going to go to Hin Daeng/Hin Muang via speedboat but trip was cancelled due to strong swell. SteveNL booked me instead with Sea Fun at the Le Meredien going to Racha Noi. (Dankje Steve!!)
- Sea Fun is a top notch operation. The dive boat was spanking new and appears to designed to be a dive boat with nice spacious dive deck, air-con saloon, great food and santastic dive guide. It is their policy not to carry more than 20 divers so lots of space to set up.
- I dived with A who took pains to show us tons of macro stuff, lionfish, shrimp and the usual reef fish. Nice relaxed dive... but missed out on the eagle rays tho... *sigh*
- Banana Bay is quite calm, but we hit a thermocline at 18m that brought bad vis and some current.
Sun 30/4 SharksPoint/Anemone Reef/Koh Doc Mai
- Went with West Coast Divers this time on their wooden boat with barely 10 divers. They seem pretty popular with a full boat to Phi Phi on Sat. Thankfully, sundays are a lot more peaceful.
- Dive sites generally were marred by poor vis and currents at 1 knots. The fish made up for it tho. Jellyfish season now.. *ouch*
- Koh Doc Mai - fantastic wall diving with macro, shrimp, morays, stonefish, scorpionfish, sea snakes. Vis was very good at 5-8m.
- Anemone Reef - Lovely submerged reef covered with anemones (and anemonefish). 3xLeopard shark at seabed (27m!), yellow moray eel (do they come in yellow?), even more cleaner shrimps.
- Sharks Point - contrary to popular belief, there ARE sharks in sharks point!!! 1x leopard shark at seabed (25.2m!). The usual lionfish and other reef fish. Vis by now dropped to 5m and real bad current at submerged reef #2.
Day 3 tomorrow, will post more details and photos. So far so good.. if only the rays will appear for Racha Yai!
My one sore spot is that most of the dive spots are doing the usual same places. Its rare for an op to do something different or exploratory diving, can't understand why not, since there must be so many undiscovered spots in the Andaman Sea. I mean how often can u dive in Bungalow Bay in Racha Yai without getting jaded?
Sat 29/04 Racha Noi
- Was going to go to Hin Daeng/Hin Muang via speedboat but trip was cancelled due to strong swell. SteveNL booked me instead with Sea Fun at the Le Meredien going to Racha Noi. (Dankje Steve!!)
- Sea Fun is a top notch operation. The dive boat was spanking new and appears to designed to be a dive boat with nice spacious dive deck, air-con saloon, great food and santastic dive guide. It is their policy not to carry more than 20 divers so lots of space to set up.
- I dived with A who took pains to show us tons of macro stuff, lionfish, shrimp and the usual reef fish. Nice relaxed dive... but missed out on the eagle rays tho... *sigh*
- Banana Bay is quite calm, but we hit a thermocline at 18m that brought bad vis and some current.
Sun 30/4 SharksPoint/Anemone Reef/Koh Doc Mai
- Went with West Coast Divers this time on their wooden boat with barely 10 divers. They seem pretty popular with a full boat to Phi Phi on Sat. Thankfully, sundays are a lot more peaceful.
- Dive sites generally were marred by poor vis and currents at 1 knots. The fish made up for it tho. Jellyfish season now.. *ouch*
- Koh Doc Mai - fantastic wall diving with macro, shrimp, morays, stonefish, scorpionfish, sea snakes. Vis was very good at 5-8m.
- Anemone Reef - Lovely submerged reef covered with anemones (and anemonefish). 3xLeopard shark at seabed (27m!), yellow moray eel (do they come in yellow?), even more cleaner shrimps.
- Sharks Point - contrary to popular belief, there ARE sharks in sharks point!!! 1x leopard shark at seabed (25.2m!). The usual lionfish and other reef fish. Vis by now dropped to 5m and real bad current at submerged reef #2.
Day 3 tomorrow, will post more details and photos. So far so good.. if only the rays will appear for Racha Yai!
