Sea Conditions in Thailand during the first half of the month.

[ahplee]

Hi,

I heading off to do a livaboard out of Phuket to the Adaman Sea during the first 2 weeks of April. I wanted to know what the sea conditions are normally like at this time of year? What are they like when leaving Phuket and what they are like at the divesites like Similan island, Richeliue, Phi PHi Islands? Is the weather unbearable in Phuket and at the dive sites or does the water provide some type of cooing aroung the area? What type of visability is expected at these site during this type of year? Are there any areas know for down currents?
One other non related question.
Has anyone ever gotten sick from eating raw vegtables like salads on these boats or fruit that was not peeled.

Thanks in advance for your replys!

 

[Ikaros]

Down currents??
Sounds nasty, better not tell my wife!!

 

[stevenl]

Don't worry about the food, on basically all boats it is good, on some excellent and a wide choice.

The currents: at Similans there can be quite strong current, but nothing strange like up- or downward currents. If your guide and tourleader are any good you will dive with the current, so that should be no problem. Only at Richelieu Rock the currents can be strong and coming from all directions, so that can be tricky, but even if things go wrong there, the worst that will happen is you will miss the reef or spend most of the dive fighting against the current.

The visibility is ok at the moment, something like 25-30 meters. At some places like Koh Bon there is lots of plankton in the water, so the vis is limited there, but the chances of meeting a couple of Manta rays are excellent.

Have fun.

 

[ahplee]

Down currents??
Sounds nasty, better not tell my wife!!

http://www.scubaboard.com/t48956.html I read about down currents here. It does sound nasty.

 

[Batfish]

Just reading that thread you reference...nothing like that in the Similan area. Sure there can be some currents and not all dives are a walk in the park, but nothing like I just read, currents ripping your mask off etc..!

In answer to your original question. First half of April should be very calm and very hot. As for currents, well, full moon is 5th, so the least currenty days will be later, like 11th - 15th, or the first couple of days of the month.

Phuket Tide Tables