Laying at the bottom of a reef off the coast of Similan Island Koh Ha lays a Chinese fishing boat. As I float in these turquise waters I think about it's story...
The whole trip is one of exploration and excitement - a liveaboard through the most famous dive sites in Thailand. We are headed off in in Wicked Diving's Similan liveaboard Parinee to get a taste of real diving.
A liveaboard is exactly what it says it is – a boat that you live in and dive from. For many years they were the preserve of hardened divers looking for challenges in very remote locations, but a few years ago liveaboards started catering to divers who were more interested in the serenity of the reefs and observing the marine life without the hassle of returning to shore each day.
We are are guided by Tuk, a Thai diving instructor who has been working the Similan's for a few years. He is very into his fish (as are all the staff), but his passion lies in the smaller critters that we had never even noticed before.
These stunning Islands are barely accessible to the day boats serving Khao Lak and Phuket. To experience the highlights of the area, and escape congestion on some of the sites - a growing number of recreational divers are choosing to do their diving from a liveaboard.
Dive operators were quick to spot the potential of these divers who were short on experience but eager to taste a new experience. There are now some boats that are super-luxurious, some are very budget and - in the case of our trip - even an ecologically friendly boat.
Many liveaboard virgins are worried about boredom when not diving but with up to four dives a day available, most divers are happy to relax on the sundeck between dives and catch some rays.
In my time aboard the Pairnee, I struggled to read one book, write in my journal or even fill out my dive log. I did manage to log some great dives, sleep a lot, make some great new friends and eat some incredible Thai food, though.
At 80 feet, the boat was big enough to give divers the chance to spread out and it felt very stable, even in choppy seas.
A dive guide can make or break any liveaboard trip. The team on the boat was made up of Tuk (Thai), Ricky (Irish), Therese (Swedish) and Filip (Belgian). They more than made the trip - giving in-depth and entertaining briefings, organizing card games and charades after dinner and giving insight into the whole region and dynamic ecosystems.
While no one expected 5 star luxury - there was plenty to make the trip all the more comfortable. Cabins were air-conditioned, the showers were hot and the food was amazing. There were only 11 guests on the trip (maximum 12) and no dive group was bigger than 4 per guide. They supplied towels and sheets (organic cotton!) as well as the shampoo, soap and conditioner (all biodegradeable). I even won a shirt during charades!
On this trip we also had a videographer - Steff (English) - who did a small lecture on fish and marine life in the area. Using the video footage from each day he helped us recognize and understand a lot more about what we were seeing.
“We find that many of our guests are joining us for the first liveaboard experience.” said Wicked Diving's Operations manager Marcel Bruijs.
“The all-inclusive trips, the convenience to Khao Lak and Phuket and our ecologically friendly operation have opened up diving and liveaboards to a whole new class of divers”
That Chinese fishing boat? It turns out that it was illegally fishing in Thai waters and the government confiscated it. After some cajoling from local dive shops, the dangerous and damaging parts (fluids, lead based paint) were removed and she was sunk 3 years ago. Looking up from the depths as the schools of fish swimming past - I can't help but thank the park rangers for sinking this boat!
dive. An instructor teaches someone in a pool. Others jump off a speedboat and some are lucky enough to do their course on a liveaboard. In Thailand the best bang for you Baht is on a liveaboard - more dives and more experience while cruising through paradise.The Similan Islands are home to Thailand's most famous dive sites and are often listed as among the 10 best dive sites in the world. Conveniently located to Khao Lak and the nearby Phuket airport - the diving is very accessible. With the option of Speedboats or liveaboards - many beginning divers chose to do their Similan Liveaboard Open Water course on a 3 day journey through the uninhabited islands. These trips offer the guests their own cabins, meals and many different dive sites.
The calm clear waters, the relaxed atmosphere and the skilled instructors will all contribute to the success of the experience. This is important as SCUBA diving is a lifetime passion - not just a whim.
The courses are easy to take and only require a bit of your time. Much of the academic work can now be completed online (and for free) before you even arrive in Thailand. You can spend your vacation time in the water or on the beaches - no the classroom.
The first day is spent in the pool or on the beach simply getting used to the new equipment and incredible sensation of floating weightless! It's fun and thrilling to realize that gravity no longer exists - it also takes a bit of practice. Diving also requires a few new skills that you are unlikely to have learned before. Your Instructor will go through all the basic skills that will be demonstrated and practiced in the pool. Then you have the opportunity to practice them too!
In the pool or off the beach - the instructor will settle down in front of the student so that they can see all that she is demonstrating. After some breathing exercises and regulator recovery at the surface the instructor will get all the divers to kneel on the bottom of the pool breathing and getting used to being underwater. The instructor, followed by the student will complete each of the skills. The students need to complete mask clearing, regulator recovery and some basic buoyancy control skills. These basic skills are required to ensure the safety of the divers, as well as giving them confidence to truly enjoy the open water. The instructor and student will then swim around at the bottom of the pool getting comfortable with the equipment and used to the feeling of weightlessness and breathing underwater.
Once these basic skills are done and everyone feels comfortable - it's time to head off on an amazing journey through the Similan Islands. The student has the opportunity to do 9 dives with their instructor - gaining more confidence and feeling more and more at ease under the sea.
After the first couple of dives the underwater world will really open up. Passing turtles make the reefs an incredible opportunity to slow down and enjoy the marine life. That shadow over the students head? A Manta Ray - something that brings chills to even the most experienced diver. The chance to glide over the rainbow colored corals and the hundreds of species of reef fish make this a memory of a lifetime.
After the student has completed their first open water scuba dive - they surface with big smiles on their faces. The instructor will debrief them and explain how they may improve their diving knowledge and skills by doing a full certification open water scuba diver course. Only 8 more dives to go!
This is by far the best way to learn to scuba dive.
If you would like to make this story come true...simply join our Similan Liveaboard Open Water course
There are many different ways to learn to scuba dive. AN instructor teaches someone in a pool. Others jump off a speedboat and some are lucky enough to do their course on a liveaboard. In Thailand the best bang for you Baht is on a liveaboard - more dives and more experience while cruising through paradise.
The Similan Islands are home to Thailand's most famous dive sites and are often listed as among the 10 best dive sites in the world. Conveniently located to Khao Lak and the nearby Phuket airport - the diving is very accessible. With the option of Speedboats or liveaboards - many beginning divers chose to do their Similan Liveaboard Open Water course on a 3 day journey through the uninhabited islands. These trips offer the guests their own cabins, meals and many different dive sites.
The calm clear waters, the relaxed atmosphere and the skilled instructors will all contribute to the success of the experience. This is important as SCUBA diving is a lifetime passion - not just a whim.
The courses are easy to take and only require a bit of your time. Much of the academic work can now be completed online (and for free) before you even arrive in Thailand. You can spend your vacation time in the water or on the beaches - no the classroom.
The first day is spent in the pool or on the beach simply getting used to the new equipment and incredible sensation of floating weightless! It's fun and thrilling to realize that gravity no longer exists - it also takes a bit of practice. Diving also requires a few new skills that you are unlikely to have learned before. Your Instructor will go through all the basic skills that will be demonstrated and practiced in the pool. Then you have the opportunity to practice them too!
In the pool or off the beach - the instructor will settle down in front of the student so that they can see all that she is demonstrating. After some breathing exercises and regulator recovery at the surface the instructor will get all the divers to kneel on the bottom of the pool breathing and getting used to being underwater. The instructor, followed by the student will complete each of the skills. The students need to complete mask clearing, regulator recovery and some basic buoyancy control skills. These basic skills are required to ensure the safety of the divers, as well as giving them confidence to truly enjoy the open water. The instructor and student will then swim around at the bottom of the pool getting comfortable with the equipment and used to the feeling of weightlessness and breathing underwater.
Once these basic skills are done and everyone feels comfortable - it's time to head off on an amazing journey through the Similan Islands. The student has the opportunity to do 9 dives with their instructor - gaining more confidence and feeling more and more at ease under the sea.
After the first couple of dives the underwater world will really open up. Passing turtles make the reefs an incredible opportunity to slow down and enjoy the marine life. That shadow over the students head? A Manta Ray - something that brings chills to even the most experienced diver. The chance to glide over the rainbow colored corals and the hundreds of species of reef fish make this a memory of a lifetime.
After the student has completed their first open water scuba dive - they surface with big smiles on their faces. The instructor will debrief them and explain how they may improve their diving knowledge and skills by doing a full certification open water scuba diver course. Only 8 more dives to go!
This is by far the best way to learn to scuba dive.
If you would like to make this story come true...simply join our Similan Liveaboard Open Water course
