Scuba Diving Phuket - Similan Islands - Phuket Thailand.: A Typical Day in Phuket Scuba Diving

Scuba Diving Phuket - Similan Islands - Phuket Thailand.: A Typical Day in Phuket Scuba Diving: A Typical Day in Phuket Scuba Diving . A typical Day in Phuket Scuba diving is quite Early starts What Some May Think, Thirty Seven AM. T...

A Typical Day in Phuket Scuba Diving

A Typical Day in Phuket Scuba Diving .

A typical Day in Phuket Scuba diving is quite Early starts What Some May Think, Thirty Seven AM. The dive center will pick you up from your hotel lobby in either an air conditioned mini bus or other style of car or van. Takes the Drive Around 20 - 30 minutes Through the countryside and Other Beach Resorts As You cross the Island of Phuket Thailand . 

A great day for diving in phuket.

Once at the Pier You Find that at First glance it looks like Chaos As there are dozens of Boats and Dive companies, speed Boat Tours and Fishing Boats all over the Place. How Ever it is Really well Organized. As the Bus stops You are met. by the Tour Leader Who has your name and then over to your instructor Hands You Waiting for You Who is there. The Pier in Chalong Quit is a long one so they have several "Pink busses" to take You. to the End where there are Again a Dozen or so Dive Boats tied up. The instructor Waits for everyone to Get Together then Takes You to the Boat. As now we are in Thailand and ITS Rude to Wear shoes in the House they are Boxes to. . Put your shoes in before stepping onto the Boat. Make sure You Put your shoes in the right box or your shoes Will Go to a different Place to You.

phuket scuba diving is a comfortable day.

The Dive Boats themselves Vary in Size and Comfort. My Boats was Nice and Big with Plenty of Space Inside if Needed and a Large shaded Area upstairs with Tea, Coffee, drinking Water and Chocolate. Here we have a Boat briefing by the Tour Leader which. Takes About 5 minutes or so. The Boat has 3 toilets and showers I. AM on to rinse off at the End of the Day plus another 2 More showers to rinse off after Platform on the Dive the Dive. There are bins for Fresh Water Cameras. and another one for other equipment. There is a large sun deck on the top deck. While this is going on my instructor is setting up my equipment for me which was a very nice touch. As the briefing Ends My instructor joins our Group As Guides US round to the Front of the Boat where there is another SET of steps that take US to the Front of the cabin where the breakfast is served. By going to the Front ment we were at. the Front of the line while everyone was trying to Else Climb down the Back Stairs. The breakfast was Great. Eggs, saucages, toast, tomatoes, croissants, fried rice and a chicken rice soup, fruit and fruit juice. Better than many small hotels. Now time for a snooze to let the food go down. 

phuket scuba diving gets you to great locations.

phuket thailand has awesome dive sites

About 30 minutes from our first dive site we are awoken by our instructor and told to get a drink before he does our dive briefing. We get a very good briefing telling us not only background to the site, what we will see, what to look out for and what to be aware of. We are given a full safety briefing and what to do if we get separated. Now another drink. Its funny but as the water we are diving in is so warm 29 - 30 degrees we still sweat underwater so we have to be careful not to get dehydrated. Now down to the dive deck to get kitted up. The divers are split into 2 groups to give everyone space when getting ready. We are in group 1. All the gear is already set up on the tanks in a numbered place on the boat. We sit down and put on the BCD at while we do this the boat crew actually help us with our fins and other bits and pieces and then buddy check. We stay seated till the boat arrives and stops. When in the correct position the Captain sounds a horn and we all get up and move to the back of the boat. When the group is all together with our instructor we get in the water. our instructor gets in first and waits at the back of the boat to make sure we are all ok as we get in. Then move away from the boat when all are ready and in a close group the instructor gives us the sign and down we go. . . .

phuket diving offers some great sights

When diving in Phuket there are several locations that are in easy reach. Today we are diving at Phi Phi and Shark point. The first location is a small island to the south of the main islands. This is a very nice easy dive with huge shoals of yellow snappers everywhere. There is plenty of healthy soft coral, big sea fans and color everywhere. We follow a long ridge covered in coral and life.The instructor leads and points out so much as we go you can tell he dives here several times aweek and loves to dive. As we go he checks our air from time to time. By the time we get down one side of the ridge and back up the other its been around 35 minutes.                                                                                       

diving in phuket can get exciting.

phuket 

 Now we are on a flat rocky area at only around 5 meters in depth. Our instructor just stops and hangs around. I am a bit confused as we all have plenty of air left. He just stays still looking all round us. Then suddenly points and there are 3 black tip sharks heading straight at us. They pass with in only a couple of meters of us. as we look there are more and more of them. We just hang around there drifting with the sharks and taking photos. What a Great Dive and What an instructor. He Knew exactly where to Find everything and He Knew the sharks Will be there and just waited for them. This Will be a Great Day.

phuket scuba diving offers some unusual sights.

phuket th

Diving in Phuket Thailand is Something Special. Its not just the diving but the boat seem to be competing with the food quality. The chefs on the Boat are better than Most Hotels and resturants on the Island. We had a Choice of 4 different dishes plus Soup and Veg. One being a Great SPAG bol. Lunch was in a Setting that Can not be Beaten. Most people know. it or Maya Bay As "The Beach" the Location of the Hollywood movie. This trip so far is worth three times what I paid. After lunch and a suitable time to let another great meal go down we left maya bay and 10 minutes further on we can to a locationknown as Turtle rock set under the huge cliffs if Phi Phi Ley. 

I do not have to Say Too much About this Dive As the name Turtle Rock says it all. Yes Turtles and More Black Tip sharks on top of so many Other Colorful Tropical Fish and Again our instructor managed to Point out so much and helped US in. . positioning ourselves to get great photos with the turtles. After another great 50 minute dive it was back to the boat for an hour and a half ride to Shark Point. Time to top up the tan on the sun deck. Again 20 minutes out a Wake up Call from the instructor for a Dice briefing. This briefing includes How to Get close to the Leopard Shark without spooking it (US spooking it? What About spooking it me?) So we Can Get photos with them. Now I Can not Say How Exciting this is As I know How Great the First. 2 Dives were and this sounds like it Will be better. However we are told this is not a Zoo Wild Nothing is so certain and like all animals Can they be unpredictable. Shark Point is a very Colorful Dive Site. So much coral, big sea fans, anemone's and life.

 We got to see Tiger Tail Sea Horses as well as so much more. Rounding one rocky out crop on the sand we came face to face with the Leopard Shark. Its was resting on the sand. We stayed a good distance away then made our way to its front so he can see us so not to spook it. We sat back and watched the instructor. He can in very low to the floor directly in front of the shark, folded his arms and crept forward till he was no more than 2 foot from it and they just looked at each other. Then just back away without flapping arms or stirring up the bottom. We all moved in one at a time and waited for the other person to move off before going in. How amazing to be no more than a couple of feet away from a big shark. We stayed and watched as another group came. This time they saw the shark and all swam straight at it from all sides and above it. The shark took one look and swam away. This other group had not been briefed by the instructor so did not get the experience we did. 

Wn back on the boat we packed the equipment away and had a nice hot shower. The chef had been busy again and there were pancakes with Banana, Mango and with honey or chocolate sauce and fresh fruit. this was eaten up on the Sun Deck where we looked at each others photos (and compared Ours to the Other Group Who scared the Leopard Shark Away). Ours were so much better and that was Totally down to our Instructors in depth briefings and instructing US. How to Move to the positions and How to Best Dive with these creatures. When diving in Phuket there are many different Some are a few companies but for the sake of a Baht Cheaper $$ Couple of the Experience Will be un comparable. You are in Phuket Thailand and As I said before I had for a Holiday Experience What I paid was worth the Three times. Phuket Scuba diving is Something Special. There may be better boats or better dive sites around the world but for the whole trip I can not see how it can be improved and for such a small price. 4,200 bht for the whole day and wait till you see the photos of the sunset as we came home. Most people can only dream of seeing things like this. 

phuket scuba diving will get you views you will remember for life.

phukethailand is a holiday to remember

Have You Ever Wanted to Work in Thailand Part II

                             Living the dream.

  Scuba diving instructor in Phuket Thailand .

            One of the Most sort after jobs in Thailand for Overseas Workers is becoming a   Phuket Scuba diving instructor. Phuket Thailand Scuba diving is one of the largest if not the Biggest Centers in Thailand. Being the Biggest Needs it the largest Number of Instructors. Phuket itself is a large island on the west coast of Thailand. Pretty much the whole Island is given over to Tourism in one form or another. From the Big party Town Patong to the Small Villages to the South like Rawai and Nai Harn all Support the Tourist Industry in one Way or another. Other Reason is the Scuba. . . diving in Phuket is so varied and so suitable to teach Every level of course. From Discover Scuba Diving right through to instructor and beyond. The other reason its such a great place to work and dive is that the diving is good all year round. 

               During the "High Season" which Runs from Mid October till normally Second week of May to the North West of Phuket lie the Similan and Surin Marine Parks. The Parks are Closed for 6 Months of the year to Protect the Marine Life and Keep the Islands. . . in top condition. These two island groups offer some of the best diving on the planet. Both have exceptionally clear water even at 40 meters and offer a huge variety of marine life from the huge Whale Shark and Manta Ray to the tiny pygmy Sea horse and almost inviable Sea Moth. The Surin islands also includes the world famous Richelieu rock which is rated in the top 10 sites in the world but to us who work here many rate Koh Tachai even higher. 

            For most new instructors just fresh from their IDC all they want to do is teach NOW. However in Thailand its not as simple as that. You need to get a work visa (non B) and a work permit. The 2 most common ways of obtaining a work permit are 1. setting up your own company which is very easy to do. There are many accountants who can do this for you. it takes anything from 6 weeks to two months to do everything. It does cost money but then you know you are safe and legal. The other way is many accountants have set up companies that can have many overseas staff. Again you still need your non B visa and the accountant will need time to get a work permit for you. In the long run both ways are ok. To set up your own company may be a bit more expensive for the first 2 years as the set up costs are more. But once you are up and running the second year is cheaper as you only have to renew your visa and work permit. Your monthly fees and tax are cheaper. To Work on an Accountants Company is Cheaper to Start with As no SET up costs just Getting a Work Permit and visa, but the Monthly fees and Tax is normally Higher. So if your Plan is a year or Two then ITS better to Work under an. . . accountants company but if you wish to stay longer then its best to get your own company. 

           OK thats the Boring Stuff out the Way. As a Phuket diving instructor from the End of November till Mid March if not Longer You Can Work with no Day off diving Everyday. As all Dive Instructors are freelance they Can Work for many different companies. Once. . . . you have your work permit all you do is give your number to all the dive centers you can find and when they have a customer come in they will call you. You get paid per job not as a fixed salary. After a while you will find you do a few jobs for a dive center and they will call you again and again until you are whats known as fixed freelance. You are freelance but one Company Books You Everyday. The good thing As an instructor one Day You Can have a Discover Scuba diving course and the Day after a Dive Master course then off to do a Live aboard for a week or Two. All the Live. . . Need Aboards Instructors and ITS Too Easy to Get You Call one up for 3 days guiding and Staying You End up for Two or More weeks. As long As You Treat it As the Work and Holiday Work Will not Come Thick and a paid. fast. Word gets round fast if there is a good instructor New About the Same goes but the Other Way. Upset one company and the word will go round before you get back to shore that evening. The full time dive community is very close knit as we all know and work together everyday. People come for high season and move on but the ones who are here all year and they must number in the 100 or more are very close. 

       Season Comes then low. For your First Season ITS low long term Instructors Get Tough As the First Called. However if You have all been Loyal High Season and then got in with one Company Will You be fine. If you have been working all over the place then it will be tougher as every dive center has two or three fixed freelance instructors they will call first. Your Goal in the First High Season is to Get to be a fixed freelance for one Dive Center. Ok Spend the First 2 Months going on Live Aboards and checking Everywhere out but Come End of Feb TRY to Get in with one Dive school / Center to. . . Secure Work for low Season. In low Can You Go Three Season Four or Five days with no Work. Thats normal. You just need to be careful in your first high season when money is plentiful to put some away for low season. So many instructors think all is great and then low season can come with no waning. Busy week one next week then 4 days off. If You are not prepared for this then Find out As many Come June or July they are Finished. 

      Scuba diving instructor in being a Phuket Thailand is a Dream Job for many, it Really is. Blue sky, warm clear seas and living on a tropical island. Whats there not to like ?? Being paid to Go Scuba diving in Phuket . It dies not get much better than that. Just remember there are millions of others who also have the same dream too. Being a Phuket Scuba diving instructor Can be achieved if You Want it. This is long Can Dream Job As You Want to be your diving with Whale sharks or include your Manta. 
Rays on a coral reef under blue skies and dont mind living on a tropical island in the Andaman Ocean.

Strange Fish Arrive in Phuket

PHUKET: If You have not Figured it out yet, You Might not be at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, but You sure are not Listening well - phuket scuba diving is amazing all year round, and so are the Night Dives when available.


 Of course, it Feels. a little like bragging about going to a underground Rolling Stones' show after the fact, but for those who will be coming to phuket thailand next high season, make sure to save a couple of nights for  diving. With the Southwest Monsoon Season Blowing in fast - much to Surfers' Delight - the Prime West-coast Dive Location Will be Too Rough to Dive Most days and nights. Luckily, it was possible to Sneak in one More full-on dive to see which beautiful, unusual and delightful creatures could be found. "Often, it's easier to find critters and appreciate their wonderful colors in the more 'pure' focused light of the torches, without the overwhelming blue-green of sunlight.
Colorful feather stars, for instance, are amazing to watch at night, whereas you'd often just swim past them on a day dive, 

Reefs come cracking and popping to life at night, so to sit and watch the heightened activity of life underwater can be an amazing experience. "A heightened appreciation is one thing, but some of the animals that actually show up on the dive are the real. Selling points. For unseasoned divers, there are a lot of 'firsts', even outside of the crustacean world, which rule the. Waters at Night. Cuttlefish, Sting rays, octopi, sleeping Parrot Fish and Various species of moray eels are not Too Uncommon. Even for Divers Who have Far surpassed the Triple-Digit Mark, there Can be a few opportunities for First sightings of Robust ghost. pipefish, ghost pipefish Ornate, Frog Fish Squid and bumblebee, nudibranchs and flatworms As well As unusual. Even the Fish that are exiting More You Can not identify (See Photo above).

This long-chinned Fish was camouflaged against a piece of mooring line out in the Sand.  It resembled Some Strange Mix Robust ghost pipefish and between a shrimp fish. However, what next season will bring will remain a mystery, at least for the next few months.

However, what next season will bring will remain a mystery, at least for the next few months.
The Kata Beach dive site of the 2014-2015 season is different than the site of the season we are wrapping up now.

The seahorses, which were being spotted regularly out in the Sand and the Sea Grass Beds, were mostly gone by the MIDDLE of the Season. In their Place a Number of different Sea creatures, including a Variety of Sea cucumbers, crawled in. "I. would expect pollution levels to subside a little during this 'low season' and hope that more seahorses return at least for a while, until '. high season' tourist numbers cause pollution to increase again.



There are annual patterns anyway, warm and cold water cycles and so on ... so I would expect some new critters [compared to the last year or two]. Whatever it brings, a few nights spent away from the bars of phuket thailand. and enjoy phuket scuba diving will be nights well spent with the kinds of creatures of the night that your significant other might approve of.

Similan, Surin and Richelieu Rock Season 2014 / 2015

similan islands, surin and richelieu rock Season 2014 / 2015.

 

As the Live a Board season comes to a close for the 2014 / 2015 season we can have a look back at some of the great moments. The Live aboard season here in in Phuket starts mid October and runs until the second week in May. 

The Similan islands lie to the north west of Phuket and run in a north south direction. In total there are nine islands with island 1 in the south and nine in the north. The diving here is know as some of the best in the world as the viz here is second to none. its like diving in mineral water. Even down at 30 or 40 meters you can still see off into the distance. The dive sites are easy diving as even if there is current you will just drift along and surface at the other end of the bay. There is  Turtle sanctuary here so many islands have Hawks bill Turtles in abundance. The reef itself is very colorful with a huge variety of fish and other creatures. As well as the turtles there are Black and White tip reef sharks, Ribbon Eels, Napoleon Wrasse, Clown Trigger Fish, Sea Moths, Sea horses, ornate ghost pipe fish and large amounts of Nudi branches. The list is endless.

Just to the north lies the great manta Ray watching island of Koh Bon.  This Island can be reached as a day trip. It is however quite a long day for two dives but it can be two excellent dives as long as the Manta's are in a playful mood.

Just North again lies Koh Tachai, what many instructors and dive guides think is one of the best dive sites on the planet. This offers two great dive sites. Tachai pinnacle and Tachai reef.  The pinnacle site has 2 pinnacles, north and south. The north pinnacle rises to around 18 meters and the southern to around 12 meters in depth. There is a 50 meter swim between them. The site itself is stunning as it has so much color. There are large "gardens" of coral laid out between huge slab like walls one after the other. The only thing to be aware of is the current which is normally quite strong. This is where the experience of the guide will show to dive the site by staying low and in the gardens rather than over the top. here we can see the Manta Rays circling the Pinnacles along with great schools of Barracuda and for the last two years the Whale shark has moved in.

Moving on north we arrive at the Surin islands and the most famous dive site Richelieu Rock. This is listed as one on the top 10 sites of the world. (Even thought many instructors and dive masters rate Tachai over Richelieu rock). One story as to how the site got names was when Jacques Cousteau first went there he said it reminded him of cardinal Richelieu's cape as there is so much purple soft coral. Here again manta rays, Whale sharks, white tips, sea horses and just about very thing else you can want on a tropical dive. You can easily do 4 or 5 dives here and not get bored. here are really several pinnacles here so close they touch and are arranged in a horse shoe shape. The tops vary in depth down to 12 meters with a couple of rocks at both ends of the horseshoe at a depth of 26 meters. The site is so vast it can not be done in one dive and two or three is best to cover the inside and outside of the horseshoe.

To cover the whole area of the Similan and Surin national parks you really need a 5 day 4 night trip. This will mean you leave the boat at the same place as you arrived. Thailand Divers offer something a bit different to most as the boats (2 of them) are doing continual circles for the whole season. Everyday you can join the boat and everyday you can depart. This way you can depart any day you please and return any day you please. You dont need to plan your holiday to fit the live aboard you plan the live aboard to fit your holiday. You can stay for one night or 6 weeks its totally up to you. If you book one night and want to stay another day fine Just pay the tour leader for another night as long as the cabin is free. There are also several fixed date cruises on luxury boats which will be a new offer for the coming season. 

If the next year is anything this year and last year we are in for a great 2015-16 season.  Just hope the pod of Orcas which made a guest appearance very early this year will return again. Along with the several other types of whale spotted this year.  The Similan islands open up again on the 15th October so if you dont want to miss out get in quick as the first few trips are normally awesome as there has been no one there for six months.