What Makes Phuket the Only Place to Learn to Scuba Dive

There are many locations around the world to learn to scuba dive but what makes one location better than the next. Well to be honest thats easy. If you are not in phuket scuba diving then you are in the wrong place. The island of phuket thailand has been a mecca for scuba diving ever since Jaques Cousteau began exploring the oceans back in the 60s and 70s  

The main issues when learning to dive understanding the instructor and what they are trying to get you to do. The cold water  and nerves. So when diving in phuket solves all these issues in one easy step. Firstly the diving in phuket is so good that instructors from all over the world have made phuket thailand their home. This is key as no matter where you come from in the world then their will be an instructor here that will be from your country so there will be no communication issues.  Thailand Divers as do others have instructors from over the world. This also being such an international place that all instructors that have been here for any amount of time have learned the skills needed to be able to teach in most languages.

Next the water here is always warm 28 - 31 degrees all year round in the ocean even at 40 meters. When in the pool as long as the pool is open air and not under cover then you can spend all the time in the pool you need to perfect all the skills you need. If you were not doing a diving course then there is a good chance then you will be in the pool or in the sea anyway.  By spending the time in the pool not shivering you learn much faster and actually want to be there rather than just thinking when can I get and have a hot shower that happens other places.

By enjoying a day in the pool means you have already mastered the skills you need in the ocean. You already know what you are doing for each skill so the nerves have gone if they were ever there. This now means that you can spend most of the time in the ocean exploring with your instructor. As you are exploring the instructor can just you to do the skills as you are going along. Diving in phuket has so much life at all depths that you are too busy looking around to even think about being worried.

The fish and other animals are so many and colourful that you are just looking in awe at all around you. Phuket thailand is as amazing below the waves as it is above them.  So as you can see that to get your Open Water license all the main issues that people have all vanish just by doing it in phuket thailand.  This is why that no matter what scuba diving course you are thinking of doing just by diving in phuket you have all ready massively increased your chances of passing in flying colours.  So when thinking about going scuba diving or doing a course no matter what level then if you are not in phuket scuba diving then you are in the wrong place.

What Makes Phuket Thailand the best Place to Get Your Scuba Diving Certifications.

What Makes Phuket the Only Place to Learn to Scuba Dive.

There are many locations around the world to learn to scuba dive but what makes one location better than the next. Well to be honest thats easy. If you are not in phuket scuba diving then you are in the wrong place. The island of phuket thailand has been a mecca for scuba diving ever since Jaques Cousteau began exploring the oceans back in the 60s and 70s  
          .
The main issues when learning to dive understanding the instructor and what they are trying to get you to do. The cold water  and nerves. So when diving in phuket solves all these issues in one easy step. Firstly the diving in phuket is so good that instructors from all over the world have made phuket thailand their home. This is key as no matter where you come from in the world then their will be an instructor here that will be from your country so there will be no communication issues.  Thailand Divers as do others have instructors from over the world. This also being such an international place that all instructors that have been here for any amount of time have learned the skills needed to be able to teach in most languages.

Next the water here is always warm 28 - 31 degrees all year round in the ocean even at 40 meters. When in the pool as long as the pool is open air and not under cover then you can spend all the time in the pool you need to perfect all the skills you need. If you were not doing a diving course then there is a good chance then you will be in the pool or in the sea anyway.  By spending the time in the pool not shivering you learn much faster and actually want to be there rather than just thinking when can I get and have a hot shower that happens other places.

By enjoying a day in the pool means you have already mastered the skills you need in the ocean. You already know what you are doing for each skill so the nerves have gone if they were ever there. This now means that you can spend most of the time in the ocean exploring with your instructor. As you are exploring the instructor can just you to do the skills as you are going along. Diving in phuket has so much life at all depths that you are too busy looking around to even think about being worried.

 
The fish and other animals are so many and colourful that you are just looking in awe at all around you. Phuket thailandis as amazing below the waves as it is above them.  So as you can see that to get your Open Water license all the main issues that people have all vanish just by doing it in phuket thailand.  This is why that no matter what scuba diving course you are thinking of doing just by diving in phuket you have all ready massively increased your chances of passing in flying colours.  So when thinking about going scuba diving or doing a course no matter what level then if you are not in phuket scuba diving then you are in the wrong place.

Amazing Thailand. From Phukets Beaches to Chang Rai's Mountains and Snow.

Amazing Thailand. Phukets Beaches to Chang Rai's Mountains and Snow

To the millions of people who visit Thailand each year "The Land of Smiles" means something totally different. From those who come to phuket scuba diving or to the similan islands. So many flock to the warm sunny beaches that surround the south and western side of the country. There are the thousands of tropical islands all with warm waters all year round, white sandy beaches and palm trees swaying in the light breezes. To be fair most people do come to places like phuket thailand for the sun and beaches , to dive with people like Thailand Divers and the dozens of other dive centers in the tropics, to get away from the winters back home. Places like bamboo island thailand have huge numbers in high season then become almost ghost towns in the monsoon season. The scuba diving in phuket is all year round and towns like Patong are busy all year round but there is far more to Thailand than the beach and the ocean.

Head inland and you will see vast green plains and farms streching as far as the eye can see. There are several mountain ranges too and from the tops of these the views are stunning. Large jungle covered mountains where in some ares of Thailand there can still be found wild tigers, elephants and monkeys. The further north you head the weather changes too. This is not just the differing times of the monsoon season but in phuket thailand during January it is very hot and sunny compared with places like Chang Mai where long trousers, sweat shirts and coats are needed.

These areas are stunning places to go. Miles from any beach, where internet is hit and miss and moblie phone signal comes and goes as you move about. Places where the nearest food market is 20 mins or more drive. Vast rice paddy fields and rubber trees male up most of the local industry. Places where ox carts are still a great way to get around the farms as soon as you get off the main road. 

More and more people are visiting these areas each year now so the can see the real Thailand. However the weather patterens are changing here too. There are very few people that will think of Thailand and think of snow. There are very few Thai people that have seen snow either. It wont be long now as last year Vietnam had snow and this year snow fell on the Thai / Laos boarder.

The cold winds from the north have swept right from Siberia accoross China and into South East Asia. For those who are in Phuket thailand and the south its great as it makes these evenings cooler and easy for westerners to sleep at night. For the expats its great as windows can be left open as the air is cool at night and the air con can remain off. The locals are closing doors and wrapping up warm at nights now. Trousers, jackets and even a hat or two.

There are many people who work in places like phuket thailand who have families in the north and to see photos with frost on the ground and even light flurries of snow due to the huge storms right now in the south and east meeting the cold from the north. 

So next time you are planning your next trip scuba diving in phuket in January just think that in the next few years it may be possible to do a drysuit course or even ice diving if you travel to a lake in the north during December or January. Thailand is such a long country from the southern coast right up to the northern mountains. So if you are looking for something other than a beach holiday then try heading further north. You still get the same great food, same welcoming people and happy smiles but you get the cooler air which are great for walking in the hills and jungles of the north or fishing in the lakes and rivers.

The beaches and tropical islands like the similan islands are not all Thailand has to offer. Phuket scuba diving is one of the best locations on earth but its also worth a few days up north too. Somewhere like phuket thailand is a great place for a base as its central and easy access to all other regions of the country. So on your next trip why not have a few days in the mountains of the north exploring the great jungles, lakes and mountains before heading south to phuket scuba diving.

Whale Watching in Phuket?? Is This the New Place to go ??

Whale Watching in Phuket?? Could this be the newest Place to Go?

phuket thailand has always been known for some of the best diving locations of anywhere on Earth. The year round warm waters and great vizability makes it popular location for all levels of diver. Scuba diving in phuket means 20 meter vizability is the average and in high season then 30 - 40 meters is more what you can expect on many dive sites. The diving on the local day trips to places like Anemonae reef and shark point have great soft corals, large sea fans and such a diverse array of sea creatures all year round. From Tigertail sea horses, ornate ghost pipe fish, frog fish, leopard (zebra) sharks and if lucky the massive Whale shark. When in phuket scuba diving there is such a wide choice if you have the time. Liveaboards to the Southern Islands of Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Haa which offers diving as good as the more well known Similan islands but without the people. Phi phi slands with are a great all year round location to dive with hawks Bill Turtles and Black Tip reef sharks. Then Racha Noi with its 30 meter plus vizalility most of the year. From December till May then south tip of racha Noi is a popular spot to look for the giant oceanic Manta Ray, reef manta and the Whale shark. The Whale shark population has exploded in teh last few years from 2-3 sightings a year to several per week and now are spotted at all phuket scuba diving sites. Scuba diving in phukethas never been so good with so many spieces makeing a come back in numbers.

Phuket Thailand has also seen an increase of other creatures too. There is now and has been for almost 2 years now a large (and still growing) pod of Dolphins living off the east coast of Phuket and some more out be Phi Phi too. The bottle nose dolphin was a regular sight here for many years than about 8 years ago they all but vanished and nothing was seen of them for years. Then all of a sudden when diving off an island to the east of phuket named Mai Thon they were seen again. May be they were hiding there all along as very few boats went there but all of a sudden they have left the shelter of Mai Thon and spread all over the area.

The other rare but not unknown sightings are of the odd Minke Whale or two per year. These were seen more often to the south of Phuket between Racha Noi and Racha Yai or out to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang to the South of Phi Phi. Again not often seen in the busier areas but they were still around. Now they are seen in pairs or small pods both around phuket and in the Similan islands. Many people now when diving in phuket have seen then. They are seen not by divers under the water but from the dive boats between dives. Now when scuba diving in phuket we can see great things without even getting in the water.

The minke whales are the second smallest baleen whale; only the pygmy right whale is smaller. Upon reaching sexual maturity (6–8 years of age), males measure an average of 6.9 m (23 ft) and females 8 m (26 ft) in length, respectively. Reported maximum lengths vary from 9.1 to 10.7 m (30 to 35 ft) for females and 8.8 to 9.8 m (29 to 32 ft) for males. Both sexes typically weigh 4–5 t (3.9–4.9 long tons; 4.4–5.5 short tons) at sexual maturity, and the maximum weight may be as much as 10 t (9.8 long tons; 11 short tons).

The minke whale is a black/gray/purple color. Common minke whales (Northern Hemisphere variety) are distinguished from other whales by a white band on each flipper. The body is usually black or dark-gray above and white underneath. Minke whales have between 240 and 360 baleen plates on each side of their mouths. Most of the length of the back, including dorsal fin and blowholes, appears at once when the whale surfaces to breathe.

Minke whales typically live for 30–50 years; in some cases they may live for up to 60 years.

The whale breathes three to five times at short intervals before 'deep-diving' for two to 20 minutes. Deep dives are preceded by a pronounced arching of the back. The maximum swimming speed of minkes has been estimated at 38 km/h (24 mph).

A slightly less common type of whale known as the Brydes whale. This is a warm water whale that only stays in warm tropical waters. Not too much is known of this whale and there seems to be severl differnt types or sub species. The whale breathes three to five times at short intervals before 'deep-diving' for two to 20 minutes. Deep dives are preceded by a pronounced arching of the back. The maximum swimming speed of minkes has been estimated at 38 km/h (24 mph).

Appearance:

The Bryde's whale has three parallel ridges on the top of its head. It has between 40 and 70 throat pleats which allow its mouth to expand when feeding. As with some of the other baleen whales, the Bryde's whale primarily eats schooling fish and sometimes krill and other planktonic crustaceans. The Bryde's whale has a slender body which is smoky blue-grey in colour with a sickle-shaped dorsal fin. The body is often mottled with some scars caused by parasites and/or cookie-cutter sharks. The flippers are slender, pointed and relatively short - approximately one tenth of their body length. The broad, distinctive tail flukes are rarely seen above the surface.

Behaviour:

The Bryde's whale usually feeds alone, though mothers and calves often feed together. It is known to make sudden changes of direction when feeding both on the surface and underwater. Sometimes inquisitive, the Bryde's whale can be seen approaching or swimming alongside boats. It has irregular breathing patterns, and will often blow four to seven thin, hazy spouts, followed by a dive, usually about two minutes long, although it is capable of staying below the surface for longer. They have also been see to blow or exhale whilst underwater. When surfacing between dives, the Bryde's whale rarely shows more than the top of its head.

These have been seen again around Racha Noi and again out in the Similans and up to the Surin islands and richelieu rock. They are quite fast swimmers but still a great sight to see.

The latest guest to make an appearance in the warm tropical waters off phuket thiland is the Orca killer whale. This is really a member of the Dolphin family and some say gets its name of killer whale from the killer of whales. These huge animals have been seen in the past but not for many years. Then last December in the waters just off Koh Bon which lies just north of the Similan islands as the sun sank into the sea they made their first appearance in many years. A pod of four whales. Two young, a mother and another may be the male or an older larger calf. They picked their moment to show themselves perfectly. As the sun sank into the sea they started playing on the surface between then boat and the sunset making for stunning photos.

Then when December came round again people were on the look out to see if last year was a one off or may be just passing through. Nothing. Not a single sighting at any location anywhere around the Similan islands. Then in the busiest beach on the island on the busiest week of the year a huge Orca makes an appearance in the party town of Patong. Right in Patong bay with jet skis and longtails buzzing around swimming around quite happy. This to me was amazing as all the noise did not upset it or confuse it. Clearly seen from the Freedom beach and many people fishing. this really does look like the Orca's are here to stay.

Then to a totally new whale for me. One I had never even heard of An omura’s whale, or dwarf fin whale, believed to be between 18-20 metres long was spotted off Freedom Beach in the same location as the Orca just a few days before, right in the middle of Patong bay.

Omura's whales appear to be restricted to the shelf and deep waters of tropical and subtropical regions, with records from the eastern Indian Ocean which includes Thailand's ocean.

Kongkiet Kittiwattanawong of the Marine Endangered Species Unit said after seeing the photos, “This whale is an omura whale. One was seen previously off Koh Racha, but I am not sure whether its the same one or not. If the photo was clearer I would be able to tell,” he said.

“This species can be seen in the Andaman Sea and South China Sea, and there has been 33 recordings of sightings of omura whales in the Andaman and Gulf of Thailand.

Behaviour:

Next to nothing is known about the behaviour of Omura's whales although from the few confirmed sightings they are thought to be found as solitary individuals or in pairs. From the presence of throat grooves it is known that like other rorquals, Omura's whales are lunge feeders and probably feed predominantly on schooling fish.

Then the other neww player in the seas around phuket thailand that we must all keep an eye out for when scuba diving in phket is Cuviers beaked whale. Again this was a new one to me also. But I have been shown by a customer an awesome photo of one breaching the surface.

Appearance:

Cuvier's beaked whales although similar in appearance to many other beaked whale species, can be identified from their robust shape, short beak and unique colouration. Body colour is dark grey to light rusty brown whilst the head is substantially paler, almost white. There is also a distinct 'dip' between the melon and the body. Older males tend to lighten in colour and become more heavily scarred with age and some animals can be seen with a light orange-coloured sheen to their skin, thought to be caused by diatoms. Adult males also have one pair of small teeth visible at the front of their lower jaws; these teeth do not erupt in females or calves. All animals have a curved mouthline, giving the appearance of a ‘smile'. Flippers are small and rounded and tucked into the ‘flipper pockets' when the animal is diving. The small dorsal fin is set two-thirds of the way back along its body. As with other beaked whales, there is no notch on the fluke.

Behaviour:

Cuvier's beaked whale is a deep diver, regularly diving to depths of 2,000 metres or more where they hunt and feed on squid, some fish and crustaceans. Group sizes are small (perhaps 2-7 animals), but lone animals are often seen. Little is known about the animal's social habits. Cuvier's do not bowride but will occasionally breach.

So as we can see that in the last year or two the waters off phuket thailand have seen a huge increase in amazing creatures both in numbers and in types. Scuba diving in phuket has always been amazing but now can we see the birth of whale watching too? I am no expert but I can not imagine that there are too many other locations where you can see 5 types of whale and even see Orca's from your hotel balconay or beachside bar. The key to this will be to keep the jet ski and other speed boats away to keep the noise down. Once these whales get settled they will produce a huge income from the tourists who travel the world whale watching. Hotels, guest houese all along Patong bay will gain custom as will the longtail boats who can all go whale watching. it wont be just scuba diving in phuket that will benefit but the whole tourist insustry. So much can be gained if these animals can be allowed to stay and the key to this is the noise from the jet ski and the other speed boats. This time the whole area can add a new attraction to activities to whats available with oit anyone spending a penny. Can phuket thailand be the new whale watching mecca?

Diving in Phuket has Taken a Whole New Amazing Turn. Shark cage Diving is for Wimps.

 Diving in phuket just got a whole load better if not a little bit more scary.

  

For many divers who come to phuket thailand for their holiday like the clear warm waters and stunning underwater locations. Where to most people scuba diving in phuket is a place for coral reefs,

turtles, harmless reef sharks and the most aggressive thing you will encounter is the odd trigger fish. Phuket scuba diving to all the adrenaline junkies has always been quite tame.

People who like to dive with sharks to get that buzz tend to go to places in Australia or South Africa so they can jump in cage and see a Great White.  Other locations too boasts Tiger sharks, Bull sharks or Hammerheads. Yes thats all very well except Phuket Thailand has just got a whole load better.

For many years now Phuket thailand has been a good base for dive trips around the Andaman ocean, out to Phi Phi and live aboard trips to the similan islands and Surin islands and the world famous Richelieu Rock. These places offer 30 meter plus viz, Hawksbill turtles, sea horses Black and White tip reef sharks. There are also many dive sites that we can find leopard (or Zebra) sharks. For the last few years the Whale shark population has grown massively too. From day trip locations from Phuket itself from 3-4 sightings a season 6 years ago to 3-4 per week now sometimes even more. Out in the Similan Islands too the population of Manta Ray and Whale Shark seems to have risen in the last few years too. The great thing here in phuket thailand we can quite happily dive with whale sharks where in other locations you are restricted to snorkeling.



Still for the real adrenalin junkie diving in phuket does not quite hit the spot. Being in 5 meters of water with ten black tips swimming round you is fun and great for photos as we all know they are totally harmless. Then last December for the first time in many years there was the first sign that the oceans off phuket thailand were changing. Sitting on the sun deck on a live aboard in the similan islands just off the island of Koh Bon one evening thinking what a great day was had with three manta rays that day. A quick glance out over the water towards the sunset changed the whole trip totally. At first it looked like a Dolphin breached the surface then a second and third. This is not unusual in these waters but what was odd was the size of the shapes we could see against the sun. They were huge. it looked like a family of four or five. As they got nearer we could see clearly the white underside. A pod of Orca's. There were two adults and two or three young. They were just relaxing in the evening sun and one even started jumping clear of the water.  All of a sudden there was a new animal in the dive sites that had not been around for years and now a family quite at home.

This in itself is rare and a one off sighting on a trip out in the ocean between two islands only really visited by liveaboards heading north to richelieu rock. That year there were the other odd sighting here and another there. This along with sightings of other whales of different types kept the season interesting. Then come November 2015 and talk began as to if the Orca family will return. Do they live here? were they just passing through? were they put off last year by the boats and divers? will they return? December came and went with nothing. Oh well.  Then come the new year and then right in the middle of Patong bay which is the busiest beach on the island. In the middle of the day on the main beach of the big party town with long tails, jet skis, swimmers and parasailing boats everywhere up rises a huge black and white shape. Yes the Orca's were back. This time not out in the ocean but in the islands biggest party town beach right in the center of all the noise.

To me the thought of diving with a Great White when I am in a cage is ok something different. But to come face to face with an Orca in open water is not only the biggest thrill to see such an awesome creature but to know it can kill you with one bite or one flick of its tail to me os far  more scary than any great white. Orca's are after all dolphins and they are super smart. They think, plan, work together and learn very fast.

Now scuba diving in phuket is a place for all types of diver. People who like exotic creatures, or macro. There are dolphins, turtles and all manner of reef life and harmless sharks. Now phuket scuba diving can be listed as a place for a real chance to see something awesome and will get even the bravest diver a real buzz and without the cage. The Orca's look like they are here to stay, as for them to be seen in the noisiest beach on the island and to be quite happy there seem to me like they are here to stay.  This will be a huge boost for the tourism industry as anywhere you can get a chance to see whales is always a big draw but to see then from the beach or small boat or even snorkeling or when scuba diving in phuket must be a great thing for the island of  Phuket.

Why Diver Instructors in Phuket Have Long Lives and Stay Looking Young.

DID YOU EVER WONDER WHY PHUKET SCUBA DIVING INSTRUCTORS LOOKS YOUNG AND STAY YOUNG. THE ANSWER IS IN THE WATER

.

Here on phuket thailand you will find many of the instructor took up diving at quite a young age and then after diving in various location found that Phuket was a great place to dive. They then discovered that by becoming a phuket scuba diving instructor means that they can live an work onphuket thailand quite happily. The side effects of diving everyday are a nice tan, a stress free (well almost) life, no need for shoes or ties or suits, the best open plan office in the world and yes the ability to stay young. scuba diving in phuket has so many advantages.

There are several reasons for not aging. lack of stress, being surrounded by happy people all day and the fact that we look forward to going to work in the mornings.  The one other thing is the effect spending underwater has on us. We need the water to age perfectly like a fine wine or in this case beer.

                                                       

Diver Jon Crouse was scuba diving in the Northwest Arm near Halifax in late November when he discovered the corked bottle of Alexander Keith brand beer, which was almost full.The diver used markings on the bottom of the bottle to trace its origins to a company that imported bottles to Canada from England between 1872 and 1890.The diver had reportedly planned to leave the bottle corked, but when a local brewer, Chris Reynolds, heard about the discovery, he asked Crouse to save the brew for testing. A scientist from the local Dalhousie University then volunteered to test the contents – which were confirmed to be beer.On tasting the centenarian brew Reynolds found that it tasted of “tree fruit, cherry and rotten eggs”.“We were all verygiddy. There was a lot of energy in the lab – we were really excited,” Reynolds told CBC News.“And then once we got to a stage where we were pretty sure there was a good amount of alcohol and a low enough pH that there wasn’t going to be anything in there that would necessarily kill us, we had a little toast.”“It tasted, actually, just how it smelled, which I was surprised by,” he added. “We got like a little tree fruit note, a cherry note in there somehow – certainly a lot of sulphur, kind of rotten egg stuff going on.”

The cool, stable temperatures at the bottom of large bodies of water have been recognised for providing ideal conditions for the ageingof wines, and both beers and wines have extreme age have been recovered from seas and oceans and been found to taste perfectly palatable. Indeed some wineries have had clear success from deliberately ageing their wines under water.

This is the same thing that happens tophuket scuba diving instructors apart from the  rotten eggs part. They get to go scuba diving in phuket everyday in a great places all year round .  Live on a tropical island in the Andaman ocean and be lucky enough to call it home. The fountain of youth is available to all who venture under the waves as the sea keeps you young but to all of us here then the secret to eternal youth is called phuket thailand.