The Sun Is Returning To Phuket Thailand. The Cold Is Returning To Europe. Time For Some Winter Sun??

The sun is coming back to Phuket - and the cold is starting to set in Europe.... Time for a winter holiday? Phuket Thailand has so much to do for the whole family.  James bond island and the scuba diving Phuket is worth a trip on its own.

Come and have a look at the new Thailand Divers website for the 2016 - 2017 season. Full of new things to do in Phuket and trips for all the family.

We have kept the same prices as last year so amazing value if you are looking to learn to dive Thailand and do your PADI open water course similans or phuket is the place to do it. May be continue your diving experience with the PADI Advanced open water or PADI Specialties or any PADI dive courses phuket for that matter.

If you have never tried then why not Discover scuba diving phuket has some amazing things to see in the warm shallow reefs for even the most nervous beginner.

The amazing Similan Islands, Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock are all located in the National Marine Park of Thailand - the National Marine Park opened its doors to another high season of amazing scuba diving (15th November) and it will be open until May 2017. The similans offer some of the best scuba diving Thailand has and that means some of the best in the world.

We have a great selection of Similan islands liveaboard trips from the beautiful MV Halleujah or Deep Andaman Queen which is perfect for people looking for a romantic diving trip or Honeymooners. Better still those who will like to experience the best diving in style. This VIP trip is what diving in Thailand is all about.

The Similan island national park is not just for scuba divers but also for snorkelers and sightseeing - we run a fantastic Similan trip which visits 4 of the 9 islands in one day. A similan thailand trip will be the high point in any tropical island holiday.

Then as all good divers know that you need to be well rested and relaxed to make the most of any dive trip. When you have the best diving in the world on your door step, the best boats and best instructors then it stands to reason then you should have a place to stay that matches. Here at Thailand Divers we have got together a few Patong beach hotel and a few Patong guesthouse that our customers have said are really great quality. 

 There are many guest house patong but what we are looking for are the hidden ones. The ones that are hidden oasis in the middle of Patong. Our selection of hotel patong are all of a standard well above their price. We have from Hostels right up to 5 star beach front villas. All with good reports from OUR customers. All close to the town centre but all hidden away from the crowds to offer peace and quiet so you can get a  great patong hotel, a good nights sleep before a good days diving for a great price too. 

Now take all of the above factors into account and you should get a perfect day (weather permitting) as this something we still can not control but with a bit of thought the weather should not impact too much on the day if you have the right boat.  Scuba diving Phuket is what many people work all year to save up for. It is the duty of the dive center to provide the best possible diving Phuket can offer on every single day. 

We look forward to seeing you in Phuket soon.

Thailand Divers.

Great Low Season Discounts for All Thailand Diving, Snorkeling and Tours.

Welcome to Phuket Thailand. Here at Thailand Divers we are always doing our best to give everyone the ultimate holiday here in sunny Phuket. This year we have decided to extend or low season / summer season specials to both divers and non divers alike. Now no one will be stuck thinking what to do in Phuket as we are offering 10% off all tours, snorkeling and diving includung PADI courses.

For anyone wanting to try scuba diving Phuket is the perfect place. Clear blue water, white sandy bays, shallow coral reefs and so many amazing things to see.  For those wanting to learn to scuba dive Phuket again has it all.  We have the PADI  Discover Scuba diving day trip for those who just will like to give it a try.  Then Get your PADI open water license too in only three days. Then also we can do your advanced course or many specialist courses too our Phuket dive shop can get you diving and for August and September 10% off all courses.

Then on top of that we have more tours all other Phuket dive centers.  We have tours for snorkeling, sightseeing both on and off the water. Elephant trecking, white water rafting, ATVs, Sunset dinner cruises, horse riding, Safari tours as well and the more common phi Phi Bamboo or James Bond island tour. Yet again all at 10% discount.

Then just as we are a dive center we thought we better do something for those people who want to go diving in Phuket. So again 10% off all dive tours too for the certified divers. The trips still include the first class standards you come to expect with Thailand Divers.

 Our discount price still includes hotel transfers, breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, plus all equipment and of course a top guide to help you make the most of the amazing diving we have here in Phuket Thailand.

Learn to Scuba Dive in Phuket Thailand

Phuket Thailand is a dream destination for anyone who has ever wanted to experience scuba diving at its best. The warm tropical waters make it perfect conditions for coral to thrive and as a result anyone wanting to experience scuba diving Phuket has it all.

For those wanting to learn to scuba dive phuket has many options. The most common choice is the PADI discover scuba diving trip. This is a one day trip out on a dive boat where you will be able to discover scuba diving phuket style. Phuket is lucky as there are so many shallow reefs within easy reach so the discover scuba diving program san be done directly in the shallow protected bays rather than a pool. This has two great benefits. The first is that in a swimming pool the only thing you can see is a tiled wall and a few swimmers. Where in the ocean there is a huge amount to see. The second is that it will be a great day out to see the surrounding islands, the coral reefs and you will experience scuba diving as it should be.

The dive boats all give a good cooked breakfast on the way out. Then while relaxing with a cup of tea or coffee the instructor will run through all the safety briefings, teach you about the equipment and what it does. Then they will teach you a few safety skills to be sure you will be safe underwater. The instructor will also run through a small bit of theory with you so you know why as well as how certain things are done. Then on arrival at the first dive site you will be taking to a nice sandy bay where you will drop down onto a nice calm sandy area. here the instructor will demonstrate  the skills again. This time you will watch and then copy them. This takes 5-10 minutes.  Then when you and the instructor are happy you will set off to explore the under water world. Each dive is for a maximum of 50 minutes or till your air runs low. Then back to the boat for lunch and a relax on the sun deck while the boat moves to the second location.  This is how phuket diving differs from many other places around the world as the diving location are suitable for all levels of diving. Then after lunch we go for a second dive. This time as you have already completed the skills you can just drop in with you instructor and explore. During the day the instructor will be with you at all times. The discover scuba diving is not a license course so you do not even need to be able to swim as the instructor will do that for both of you. Then depending on the trip you are on after the second dive you may head back to Phuket or from a good dive shop phuket has some very good long estabilished ones you can get a third dive. On the three dive trips you will end up diving on two different islands and then on the way back the chef normally does some nice snacks for afternoon tea like pancakes with fruit or chocolate sauce. This is why a day in phuket diving is far more than just a "try dive".

Then we have the PADI open water course. This is for people  who want to learn to scuba dive in phuket and get certified. For this you do need to be able to swim 200 meters and float for 10 minutes. For those wanting this dive course phuket is one of the best locations to choose. The open water course is a three day course. Day 1. is in the classroom learning theory in the morning and then learning all the skills in the pool that you will need in the ocean. Then day 2 and day three are out doing three dives a day on the best sits in Thailand.  People who learn to dive phuket get a really good deal as not only do they get the world wide license but also they get to dive in some of the best locations in the world. When diving in phuket it means that your open water course will take you to the clear waters of Racha Noi and Racha Yai but also to Phi Phi where the movie the beach was filmed. Then for those who are wanting a real dream location then the open water course is also possible on a three day  liveaboard trip to the world famous Similan islands.

Then for the certified diver,  why not do the advanced course Phuket has many locations to do this and if you are going to do two days diving then you will be doing all thats required anyway.  Phuket also has the dive sites to complete many speciality courses too like wreck diving, underwater photography and a very useful one like search and recovery. Also in Phuket there is always space for one of the most fun courses and thats the rescue course.

For all course and diving for that matter the key when learning to dive in phuket or thinking about discover scuba diving phuket is which of the Thailand dive centers you choose.  many are new centers with a few years or less behind them. These centers tend to have many back packers and gap year students as their instructors as they travel around asia. The long established centers tend to have the experienced instructors as they need a center that will not be gone in a year or two. The best instructors are in the centers that have been here over 10 years as they know they are high quality centers. So when booking look for a dive shop Phuket  thats been around for many years as then you will be sure to have the best instruction. From the first breath underwater right through to becoming an instructor then Phuket Thailand has got to be one of the best locations there is. 28 degree water and 20 meter viz as the norm and in high season 30 - 40 meter plus viz. Diving does not get better.

Is phuket scuba diving about to have two great new divesites  

   Even in some of the most popular holiday destinations there are still amazing things to be seen just off shore. Take phuket thailand for example. On the island of phuket scuba diving companies have been running for years. All divers know about King Cruiser which lies half way between PhiPhi and Phuket. 

This sank in 1997 after hitting anemone reef on its normal run from Phuket to Phi Phi. Then there is the cargo ship just ff Phi Phi Lay that was put there for the divers. Again on Racha Yai to the south of Phuket there is the Huruby which was an old snorkel boat again put there for divers. Next to this lies an old wooden speed boat and now the bow section of another cargo ship tht was put there after sinking Koh Yao Yai this year. These are wrecks that people dive on all year round. 

However when scuba diving in phuket there are some lesser known ones around too. There is a small wreck on the western edge of the  southern bay on Coral island. There is Marla's Mystery again place for diving on the east side of Racha Yai. This is set at a depth of around 35 meters so just out of reach of most recreational divers unless they have their deep specialty. 

 Again of Racha Noi which is very popular spot  Off the southern point is a nice drift dive along some spectacular scenery as you find yourself on top of a large rock formation surrounded by deep water. On the southwest side there is a wooden ship-wreck that draws a lot of interesting reef fish. There also a few other wrecks around at depth only available to tech divers so not know by most people. 

Again these although not so well known there are many instructors who know where they are and can get you to them. What are the real mysteries are the wrecks that no one knows about. Ones that show up on sonar and depth sounders only. Ones that know one knows what they were, when they sank or even if anyone has even listed them missing..... Even these are not as shocking as some images that have come from the new wreck finding tool of the world Google Earth. If Google maps is right then scuba diving in phuket will change forever. Right in the middle of patong bay are not one but two massive wrecks. This is the mystery. They look like modern passenger liners that no one remembers sinking or no one reports missing. Again even this can happen. 

Then where are the 20,000 plus people that would have suddenly arrive din Phukets busiest town out of the sea? Did these ships sink miles away and then on boxing day 2004 did the tsunami bring them into the bay?  Is Google Earth messing about? Who knows.  Take a look for yourself.

What ever your thoughts there are thousands of undiscovered wrecks around the worlds coast lines. All it takes is one person to decide to jump in the sea at that location. Who knows what you will find. Scuba diving in phuket as one of the top locations of the world and a great place to learn. So many courses can be done here including wreck specialty. Next time you are in phuket scuba diving or just on holiday why not think about a days diving.  Its a great place to learn as well and who knows you may be the first person to discover something new or even find these two mystery ships.

Totally new type of shark discovered.

Pocket shark discovery is only the second ever seen

I came across this story and thought it was so interesting I thought I had to share it. Every day we dive and I bet most of us just look at the big and colorful. Who knows what we have missed through just simply not looking. This opened my eyes and got me thinking. Swim slow and watch everything.  Thailand and the dive sites around Phuket are so diverse who knows what we have missed. Next time you are in Phuket scuba diving think about looking for everything not just the big. There are many specialities that can be done to help you improve your skills and awareness of the places you are diving. 

image: http://cdn.grindtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/pocket-shark-1a.jpg

The second-ever pocket shark was collected off Louisiana. It sort of looks like a tiny whale. Photo: courtesy of FishWatch.gov

A pocket shark—the rarest of sharks with only one specimen ever seen before—has been discovered by scientists, and in the most unusual way.

A male pocket shark measuring 5.5 inches long was collected during a 2010 midwater trawl survey 190 miles south of Louisiana by NOAA/NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center while studying prey of sperm whales.

The dead specimen was collected with other sea creatures, bagged up and stored in a giant freezer at NOAA’s lab in Pascagoula, Mississippi, until they could be identified, according to the Associated Press.

NOAA fisheries biologist Mark Grace, lead author on a just released study, has spent more than 30 years going through bags of fish to identify them. It took him three years before coming across the pocket shark.

Associated Press called it a small miracle that the pocket shark hadn’t been tossed out after NOAA’s freezer lost power a couple of times.

image: http://cdn.grindtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/pocket-shark-.jpg

The pocket shark measured 5.5 inches. Photo: courtesy of FishWatch.gov

“I wasn’t really sure what it was,” Grace told the Associated Press. “That pocket over on the pectoral fin, I had never seen anything like that on a shark.”

Grace recruited Michael Doosey and Henry Bart, Tulane University researchers, and NOAA Ocean Service genetics expert Gavin Naylor to help him study the rare sea creature, the results of which were published Wednesday in Zootaxa.

“It’s cute,” Doosey told the Associated Press. “It almost looks like a little whale.”

image: http://cdn.grindtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/pocket-shark-5-.jpg

Pocket shark was collected in 2010 but not discovered in the lab until three years ago. Photo: courtesy of FishWatch.gov

The specimen, determined to have just been born, was identified and subsequently sent to New York and France for high-tech examinations.

The first pocket shark was found 36 years ago on the Naska Submarine Ridge in 1,083 feet of water in the southeast Pacific Ocean off Peru. The female specimen is 17 inches long and is currently housed in a Russian museum.

The latest pocket shark will be part of the Royal D. Suttkus Fish Collection at Tulane University’s Biodiversity Research Institute in Belle Chasse, Louisiana.

“Discovering him has us thinking about where mom and dad may be, and how they got to the Gulf [of Mexico],” Grace said in a statement on NOAA’s site.  “The only other known specimen was found very far away, off Peru…

“There’s others,” he added via Associated Press. “We just haven’t caught them yet.”

Read more at http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/pocket-shark-discovery-is-only-the-second-ever-seen/#SUJqz6pTY6DqAsHE.99


Things like this is why diving is so much fun. So much of the ocean is un explored. You never know what you can see that has never been seen before as long as you look. Thailand has so many isolated reefs and micro eco systems who knows what is there. next time you go diving think about a Speciality course in Fish identification, Underwater naturalist as you never know it may be you that discovers the next new creature. Even better underwater photography or videography course so you can record the things that you see. This also means you can get some great photos to show all the non divers what they are missing. There are so many other specialities to choose from so take a look and see what inspires you. 

Thailand Divers in Phuket offers so many different courses to suit all tastes. As long as you love diving there is fun to be had and a speciality course for you. A chance to learn more with an instructor who loves the same things as you..