Thailand - Khao Lak & The Similans in late April

[Sylvie]

Hi

I just found an interesting travel offer for Khoa Lak for the second half of April (Starting Easter Weekend), and was wondering if it's worth considering because of the changing weather conditions. On the one hand, I’ve heard that the weather and underwater visibility & sea conditions can be quite volatile at that time of year, making it less than great for diving. If that's really the case, I'd prefer to go another time. On the other hand, I've also heard that diving can still be excellent till the end of April. Does anyone have any first hand experience? Moreover, can anyone recommend a good diving operator? I am considering Munich based Subaqua, because I had a very positive experience with them in Elaidhoo in the Maldives, and afterwards part staff has gone to Khao Lak. However, given that this is now more or less a last minute deal, I’m also open to other suggestions.

Cheers

Sylvie

 

[neilstewart]

So you've managed to find a flight? I could not get anything to Asia over easter for less than $2500 from the UK so I'm on a package to the Maldives for a week. Anyhow I went to the Similans over Christmas 02, you really can only do it on a liveaboard. Recommend www.thejunk.com I told my uncle about this boat and he's been on it twice since. I have not been in April but understand that this is the turn of the season however the boats don't really stop running to the Similans until mid May you will likely get a good deal at that time as well. I had cloud and rain on 4 days in mid December I guess it can happen at any time. Cheap deal is cheap deal, me I would go and dive, if it rained a bit so be it. I'm getting wet most of the time anyhow. I am at Full Moon, Maldives a 1st class resort, dive shop Swiss Eurodivers, a most excellent outfit. Managed to get a week, breakfast & evening meal, leaving Easter Sunday for Euro900 inc flights without a single occupancy supplement from Kuoni. You could check them out.
Neil

 

[stevenl]

The weather should still be ok all over April. Normally the wind changes in May, so you should still be ok. Basically all liveaboards (both from Phuket and Khao Lak) are still sailing in April, in May it gets less.

If I were you: go and enjoy yourself. Just check out the dive centra once you're there, plenty of choice.

 

[kris_kelvin]

I was in Khao Lak/Similan last year, and spent my nights not in a liveaboard, but in Khao Lak. There are plenty of dive shops which take you in early morning by a speedboat to Similan, and then take you back in the evening after two or three dives. I prefer it this way...

I did my dives with Raya Divers (http://www.rayadivers.com/), and enjoyed it, but there are plenty of others, which may be good as well.

 

[Sylvie]

Hi Guys

Thanks for your replies. The verdict seems to be that Thailand will be fine in late April. I’ve noticed that most of the live-a-boards depart from Phuket, but my deal includes one or two weeks hotel stay in Khoa Lak. I’m looking into making diving trips from Khao Lak during the first week, and then going on a live-a-board. However, if land based diving is really great perhaps it won’t be necessary. I guess it really depends what sites we want to see and what the conditions will be like. I need to do more surfing to get an idea of prices etc. After having been on some fabulous live-a-boards in the Great Barrier Reef (Quicksilver in Port Douglas) my expectations are high, and I don’t want to get disappointed. As suggested, perhaps it’s not a bad idea to look it up when we get there.

I’ve already heard of the old Chinese sailing boat “The Junk” because my regular dive operator SubAqua offers packages on that boat too. However, I’m glad Niel gave me a direct link to the Junk’s home page. Although sailing on such a boat looks like a great adventure, I am convinced that I would not want to go on it for more than a day trip. I’ve had a bad experience sailing and can tell that the rooms on the Junk are too small for me and I’d get clostrophic without windows. I’ve tried sailing on an old wooden ship (the Waltzing Matilda) in Australia’s Whitsunday Islands two years ago. It seemed like a wonderfully romantic idea and the boat looked wonderful in the brochure – with prices to match. However, it turned out to be horrible. The front sail broke just a few hours into the trip, the back sail broke a day or so later. We ended up sailing for days with the smell of gas fumes in our faces. The cabins were small dark and smelt of mould and mildew (and we had the best one). Actually, the whole boat stank. The bathroom was shabby, and kitchen small and to make it worse the food was barely eatable. Thankfully, the captain and skipper were nice and apologetic. At least the scenery was nice and we got to visit Whitehaven beach. What many Australian’s believe to be the most beautiful beach in the world. Arguably, I think they may be right.

Cheers

Sylvie

 

[neilstewart]

Hi Guys

Hi Sylvie. I can tell you that the sails on the junk are pretty much just for show. The boat runs on engines, is etremely stable because of the huge draft. Yes the rooms are a little cramped but in excellent condition, well looked after and pretty much odourless compared with some I've been on, all with private showers. As for the food the chef on that boat is an absolute genius, I ate much better food on that boat, than I've had in most hotels and certainly far,far better than any other liveaboared I've been on. Every meal there is a choice of 8 to 10 different dishes. The crew were terrific and the dive guides second to none. I certainly didn't do it for a romantic trip although I think there are plenty that do. Just to dive and enjoy. I looked into Khao Lak day boat diving to the similans and thought it was extremely expensive, an hours crossing in a small speed boat twice a day I can do without. I hope you have a terrific time, say Hi to the Manta's, Seriously consider a liveaboard so you can get to Koh Bon and Richlieu you will not regret it.

Neil

 

[Sylvie]

Hi Niel

Thanks for your reply. I suspected that the sails might be just for show. They do look great. I am comforted to hear that the boat isn’t smelly, and that the rooms are clean etc. I’m still not convinced about the small rooms though. Funny enough when I was in Australia both the best and the worst food we had were on boats. The best being the quick silver operation from Port Douglas and the worst in Waltzing Maltilda from Airlie beach. I am comforted to know that the food on the Junk is great. I would expect that food in Thailand to be good, as I’ve never had bad food there before. My husband & I love Thai food, it’s part of the reason why we keep returning to Thailand.

Cheers

Sylvie