I'm going to Bangkok for about 5 days and wanted to get some diving in as a side trip. Any suggestions for a limited amount of time and easy transport in/out of Bangkok? Where is the best diving in Thailand? Is Phuket still good after the tsunami? What about departing out of Ranong? Is there some place with a fast train in/out of Bangkok? I was thinking about a 2 day liveaboard trip. What is the diving like compared to some place like Cozumel (which I've been to)? Thanks for the suggestions!
Thailand Diving?
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Best place to go diving from now until May is Phuket, though it's diving year round. There are more than 12 flights per day from BKK to the island, Air Asia, Nok Air, Thai Air, Bangkok Air, Phuket Air etc. The Tsunami did not affect diving much at all, and has enhanced many dive sites as they have gotten deserved rest from divers & snorkelers to recooperate. You need about 3-4 days to get a really good liveaboard trip, however there are 2 days 2 nights trips available now. For more updated diving conditions, just let me know. Cheers!
In Phuket, check out Dive the World, they are on Patong. Diego is very knowledgeable about dive sites around the island, and they can book a number of liveaboard or day trips from Patong. Richelieu rock, north of the Similans, can be reached by catamaran on a day trip, and is supposed to be a good spot to see whalesharks. However, last year we were there in April and did not get to see any...
www.dive-the-world.com
Have a good time, and let us know how the dive sites are!
J.
www.dive-the-world.com
Have a good time, and let us know how the dive sites are!
J.
stevenl
Contributor
Lots of options in Thailand, with the best diving definately in the Phuket-Similan area. You could do a 2 day/1 night liveaboard to the Similans, or also to Hin Daeng/Hin Muang and Koh Phi Phi. Phi Phi offers good diving, but especially Hin Daeng and Hin Muang offer excellent diving, with excellent chances of seeing manta rays.
Also the daytrips from Phuket to Racha islands, Shark Point area and Phi Phi are definately worthwhile. And if your timeframe is really restricting you, you can even make daytrips to Similans and Hin Daeng.
The tsunami has affected some of the divesites at the Similans, however, nearly all sites have very little damage, the fishlife is still there, so still excellent diving. The other sites like Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Racha islands, Shark Point area, Bida Nai and Bida Nok were untouched by the tsunami, and offer better diving at the moment than there has been the last couple of years, I think because it is nice and quiet there at the moment.
Also the daytrips from Phuket to Racha islands, Shark Point area and Phi Phi are definately worthwhile. And if your timeframe is really restricting you, you can even make daytrips to Similans and Hin Daeng.
The tsunami has affected some of the divesites at the Similans, however, nearly all sites have very little damage, the fishlife is still there, so still excellent diving. The other sites like Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Racha islands, Shark Point area, Bida Nai and Bida Nok were untouched by the tsunami, and offer better diving at the moment than there has been the last couple of years, I think because it is nice and quiet there at the moment.
From Bangkok, the easiest way to get to Phuket is by flying. If you only have 2 days for diving and need to use land transportation so to avoid the no fly time after diving then Phuket may not be ideal unless you are willing to take overnight bus from Phuket back to Bangkok (about 12 hour, not the most uncomfortable way to travel but not something I would like to do often either).
Otherwise, other dive sites that are close to Bangkok and can be reach easily by car is Pattaya (although viz is poor and coral is pretty dismal but it has a couple of decent wreck dives and some interesting muck diving for critters).
To get to Ranong, you also need to fly. I usually only go there to get on liveaboard to Burma. Going by car to Ranong is a good 10 hours and part of it is quiet hilly so not the most comfortable way to go either.
Alternatively, you can go to Chumporn Cabana (on the coast, kind of the coastal counterpart of Koh Tao/Koh Samui). You can take a train Friday night, get there early Saturday morning, dive Sat-Sun and take evening train back to Bangkok, arriving early Monday morning. Diving is better than Pattaya but not as good as Andaman Sea. It used to be an excellent dive site until about a 10-15 years ago when typhoon Gay pretty much destroyed everything but I heard that they are recovering nicely. I have not been there since around 1987 though. You can check them out here:
http://www.cabana.co.th/
Koh Tao/Koh Samui is not convenient for a quick 2 days trip either as you need to fly or take quite a bit longer to get to via train/bus then ferries so usually it is better for a 3-4 days trip.
Otherwise, other dive sites that are close to Bangkok and can be reach easily by car is Pattaya (although viz is poor and coral is pretty dismal but it has a couple of decent wreck dives and some interesting muck diving for critters).
To get to Ranong, you also need to fly. I usually only go there to get on liveaboard to Burma. Going by car to Ranong is a good 10 hours and part of it is quiet hilly so not the most comfortable way to go either.
Alternatively, you can go to Chumporn Cabana (on the coast, kind of the coastal counterpart of Koh Tao/Koh Samui). You can take a train Friday night, get there early Saturday morning, dive Sat-Sun and take evening train back to Bangkok, arriving early Monday morning. Diving is better than Pattaya but not as good as Andaman Sea. It used to be an excellent dive site until about a 10-15 years ago when typhoon Gay pretty much destroyed everything but I heard that they are recovering nicely. I have not been there since around 1987 though. You can check them out here:
http://www.cabana.co.th/
Koh Tao/Koh Samui is not convenient for a quick 2 days trip either as you need to fly or take quite a bit longer to get to via train/bus then ferries so usually it is better for a 3-4 days trip.
ssra30:
Diving around Pattaya is not that bad, to be honest. Under the pier at Ko Laan, HTMS Kram wreck at Ko Pai and Yucradong/Lormfang, Ko Rin, are all quite decent. Nearby, closer to Sattahip, is the popular Hardeep wreck and a nice site, Shark Fin Rock (Sun Chalarm). On the other hand, Pattaya on land IS pretty dismal.
Helipilot
Registered
Can you tell me who does 2day/1 night liveaboards to the Similans? I have checked around on the web sites and it seems most are for 3 or 4 days. Thanksstevenl:
stevenl
Contributor
Correct, the 'classic' liveaboard in the area is for 4 or 3 days, but you will also find 2 day/1 night trips. I am sure Sunrise, also active on this forum, can help you, and of course I can help you as well.
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