Seasons in Thailand

[Louie]

Please set the record straight once and for all! Some of us are confused.

I was under the impression that it is high season(good weather, clear visibility) now in the Gulf of Thailand and that it was monsoon season on the Andaman side.

I have heard reports that I've in fact got it backwards.

So who's right?

 

[Batfish]

Please set the record straight once and for all! Some of us are confused.

I was under the impression that it is high season(good weather, clear visibility) now in the Gulf of Thailand and that it was monsoon season on the Andaman side.

I have heard reports that I've in fact got it backwards.

So who's right?

Here we go again..

In really really general terms.
Andaman Sea - November - April is the best time
Gulf - May - October is best

Date today? May 19th. Weather in Phuket? Really hot and sunny..perfect diving conditions. Customers in the door..zero.

The westerly wind has just started blowing in the last week, so the weather is changing over from hot season (especially March/April) to the South West Monsoon season. Now the word Monsoon is what confuses people. You hear it and think "hurricanes, typhoons, rain all the time, dark, gloomy, mudslides". Actually the word refers to wind and not rain. The months from May to October in this area (Phuket) are wetter than November to April. But there is still more good weather than bad. Just don't expect calm seas and sunburn every day. :mostlysun

Same goes on the Gulf side during the "North East Monsoon", can be cr*p or can be quite nice. We can only generalise and then argue about it.

A good read :


www.siamdivers.com/sites/summer.htm

(and yes that's a web site from one of our competitors! Mind you, John Williams co wrote the Lonely Planet book on diving in Thailand, so it's worth reading)

General weather forecast, try the BBC :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=2502

Gee, I hope that helps you and un confuses you.

 

[DORSETBOY]

Please set the record straight once and for all! Some of us are confused.

I was under the impression that it is high season(good weather, clear visibility) now in the Gulf of Thailand and that it was monsoon season on the Andaman side.

I have heard reports that I've in fact got it backwards.

So who's right?

you're right, best conditions (weather wise) east coast at the moment, it can get confused though cos it's not unknown for the east coast islands to get a short period of relatively bad weather around June/July time, last year it lasted for nearly 4 weks which was unusual as it is normally only a couple of weeks.

 

[stevenl]

In addition to the other posts:
Even though it is the high season now in the Gulf Area and the low season here at the Andaman Coast, I still prefer the diving here. I think it has much more to offer, and is worth the risk of an occasional rain shower or not as calm seas as sometimes in high season.