SKIN-DIVING, SCUBA-DIVING & DEEP-SEA FISHING

The warm waters and colourful coral reefs of the Gulf of Thailand challenge and attract underwater explorers. Curving in a sweeping arc from Trat in the Southeast to the estuary of the Chao Phraya River in the North and thence down the Kra Isthmus to Songkhla in the Southwest, the Gulf coastline is a thousand-mile frontier still awaiting pioneers.

Perhaps the best diving is on Thailand's West coast, from Ranong to Phuket where deep waters, good beaches and all the common fish generally found in the Indian Ocean abound.

This area is sometimes tricky and is most difficult during the Southwest Monsoon Season from May to October.

Underwater visibility is seldom more than 30 feet.

Thailand's main diving area is located around islands off Pattaya and Sattahip, the latter better known as a naval base where diving is necessarily restricted for strategic reasons.

Good sheltered water is found around the islands at all times of the year. Spearfishing is fair to good down to a depth of some 50 feet. Thereafter, coral mostly runs out and gives way to a plain, fairly flat, sandy ocean bottom between 60 and 120 feet.

The reefs are very colourful and picturesque, and provide fertile fields for snorkeling and photography.

Boats are readily available at Pattaya, and all necessary Scuba gear can be hired.

Water temperature is high throughout the year. Wet suits are seldom necessary. They are, however, handy in December and January on the surface when Northeast winds blow.

General underwater visibility throughout the year is seldom less than 20 feet, and seldom more than 30 feet.

Fish most commonly taken are of the Serrinidae (Bass, Grouper, Cod), family which vary from about 2 to 40 pounds with occasional larger specimens.

The Carangidae (Trevailies, Queenfish, Kingfish, Albacore, Pamparo) are well represented, with fish up to 4 feet in length. Lupianidae (Snuffers, sea Perches, Breams, Sweetlips, Grunters) are also found. Among Larger fish, Scombridae and Sphyraenae are occasionally taken.

Heaviest diving and other underwater activity occurs off Pattaya. Barely two hours' drive southeast of Bangkok, Pattaya enjoys growing popularity as a resort, featuring water sport facilities and an active sailing club. Lying sufficiently far from the Chao Phraya's estuary to avoid its silt outflow, Pattaya's nearest islands can be reached from the resort by a half-hour speedboat ride.

Island waters afford good year-round visibility, unless marred by infrequent summer storms, an influx of plankton or unusually strong ocean swells.

Other ideal areas for skin and scuba-diving are in Chumphon and Phuket provinces. Chumphon's coastline stretches for more than 200 kilometers from Amphoe Pathiu in the north to Lamae in the south. There are more than 20 islands, with surrounding Gulf waters offering various attractions. Such islands include Ko Khai, Ko Thalu, Ko Mattra, Ko Raet, Ko Lawa and Ko Ngam.

In Addition, the many islands off Phuket and around Phangnga Bay are also noted for their crystal clear waters and colourful underwater scenery.

The Andaman Sea from northern Ko surin all the way down to ko Tarutao is a complexity of diving paradise. Apart from exotic reefs, the inhabitants are stunning, friendly and varied.

with visibility upto 40 ft and a warm tempurature of 80-85 degrees no wet suit is needed for the usual dive depths of 70 to 80 ft or around 40 metres. Around the similans, this typical condition compliments the natural wonders in making it one of the most ideal dive sites, with wide sheets of delicate corals flourishing among others - the brain coral, plant, pink seafans and others

Other sights include playful clown fish drating amongst anaemone, multi-coloured feather stars and barrel sponges, puffer fish, parrot fish and the thrumpet fish changing its colours according to the environment.

Mu Ko Phi Phi can be reached either from phuket or Krabi. Dive boats daily converge to this spot that has caves, sea walls and an abundant life including moray eels. Depths reach 30 metres with clear visibility up to around 25 metres.

Those interested in water-sport activities may contact the companies listed below for boat rentals, diving equipment, tours and/or instructors.

BANGKOK

DIVE MASTER
110/63 Phahonyothin 18, Latphrao
Tel : 9384216-7, 5121664 Fax : 5124218
Instructors for thai, English

SEA FROG (Thai)
106/9 Sukhumvit 22, Klongloei
Tel : 2597553, 2616737
Instructors for Thai, English, German

SEAT Co., Ltd.
1175 Charoenkrung Rd.
Tel : 2350605-9, 01-8124828 Fax : 2363921
Instructors for Thai, English

SPORT TIME Co., Ltd.
90 Sukhumvit 26
Tel : 6612668-71
Instructors for Thai, English

SEAFAN'S DIVERS
12/555 Bang Na-Trat Rd., Km.5, Near Kurap Building
Tel : 3161231 Fax : 3161230
Instructors for Thai, English

PATTAYA Area Code (038)

DAVE'S DIVER DEN
190/11 Mu 9 Central Pattaya Rd.,
Tel : 221860-1, 420411, 360095 Fax : 221618
Instructors for Thai, English

DIVERS WORLD
219/76 Soi Yamato, South Pattaya
Tel : 426517
Instructors for Thai, English

THE DOLPHIN DIVING CENTRE
183/29 Mu 10 Soi Post Office
Tel : 427185, 01-9440992 Fax : 427158
Instructors for Thai, English, German, French

LUCKY DIVER
437/47 Soi Yodsak, North Pattaya
Instructors for English, German

MAX'S DIVE SHOP
Nova Loge Hotel, 137 Mu 9 Central Pattaya Rd.
Tel : 420016-7 Ext. Max's Dive Shop
Fax : 429959, Tlx : 85903 TH
Instructors for Thai, English, German, Frence, Italian

MERMAID'S DIVE SCHOOL
Mermaid Beach Resort Hotel
75/102 Mu 12, Chomthien Beach
Tel : 232219-20 Fax : 232221
Instructors for Thai , English

REEF DIVE SHOP
C/O Ocean View Hotel, Pattaya City
Tel : 428434, 428084 Ext. Reef Dive Shop Fax : 428551
Instructors for Thai, English

PARADISE DIVERS
Siam Bayview Hotel, 310/2 Mu 10 Beach Rd.
Tel : 423871-8 Ext. Paradise Divers
Fax : 423879, Tlx : 85921 TH
Instructors for Thai, English, German

SEAFARI SPORT CENTER
359/2 Mu 9 Pattaya Soi 5, North Pattaya Rd.
Tel : 361356-7
Instructors for Thai, English

STEVE DIVE SHOP
Soi 4 Beach Rd., Pattaya City
Tel : 428392
Instructors for Thai, English

SUNSHINE DIVER
237/17 Mu 9 Soi Yodsak, North Pattaya
Tel : 429117, 01-9438288 Fax : 429117
Instructors for Thai, English, German

PHUKET Area Code (076)

AQUALAND CO., LTD.
70 Mu 3, Rat-Uthit Rd., Patong Beach, Phuket 83150
Tel : 340666 Ext. 2475 Fax : 341868
Instructors for Thai, English

FANTASEA DIVERS
P.O. BOX 20, Patong Beach, Phuket 83150
Tel : 340088 Fax : 340309
Instructors for Thai, English, French, German, Japanese

HOLIDAY DIVING CLUB
94/102 Patong Beach Hotel, Phuket 83150
Tel : 341235 Fax : 340998
Instructors for Thai, English, German, Japanese

KONTIKI
Green Valley, Karon Beach, Phuket 83100
Tel : 396312 Fax : 396313
Instructors for Thai, English, German, Swedish, Japanese

MARINA COTTAGE INTERNATIONAL DIVING SCHOOL
Marina Cottage, Kata-Karon Beach, Phuket 83100
Tel : 330625, 330517 Fax : 330516
Instructors for Thai, English, German

P.I.D.C. DIVERS (Phuket International Diving Center)
1/10 Viset Rd. (Chalong Bay), Phuket 83130
Tel : 280644-5 Fax : 381219
Instructors for Thai, English, French, German

PHUKET AQUATIC SAFARI
12/157 Soi Nunnam, Thinnawut Village 2,
Chaofa Tawantok Rd., Phuket 83000
Tel : 216562, 219373, 214507 Fax : 214507
Instructors for Thai, English

PHUKET DIVERS
31/1 Phunphon Rd., Amphoe Muang, Phuket 83000
Tel : 215738, 214649
Instructors for Thai, English

POSEIDON NEMROD
Phuket Island Resort, Viset Rd., Phuket 83130
Tel : 381010-7 Ext. 494 Fax : 381018
Instructors for Thai, English, French, German

SANTANA
P.O. Box 79, Patong Beach, Phuket 83150
Tel : 340360 Fax : 340360
121/10 Mu 4, Patak Rd., Kata Beach, Phuket 83100
Tel : 330598 Fax : 330598
Instructors for Thai, English, German

SEA BEES
1/3 Viset Rd. (Chalong Bay), Phuket 83130
TEL: 381765 Fax : 381765
Instructors for Thai, English, German, Japanese

SIAM DIVING CENTER
121/9 Patak Rd., Kata-Karon Beach, Phuket 83100
Tel: 330936 Fax: 330680
Instructors for Thai, English, Swedish

SIMILAN SCUBA SPORT CO., LTD.
1 Soi Prayun, 2/5 Yaowarat Rd., Samkong,
Amphoe Muang, Phuket 83000
Tel: 210194 Fax: 219647
Instructors for Thai, English, Swedish, Japanese, German

SOUTH EAST ASIA DIVERS (1991)
P.O.Box 15, Patong Beach, Phuket 83150
Tel: 340406 Fax: 340586
Instructors for Thai, English, French, Swedish, Italian, German

CHUMPHON Area Code (077)

CHUMPHON DIVING CENTER
Chumphon Cabana, Thung Wua Lan Beach, Chumphon
Tel: 501990 Fax: 504442
Instructors for Thai, English

SEAFARI
Sai Ree Lodge, 100 Mu 4, Tambon Hat Sai Ri, Chumphon
Tel: 521212 Fax: 502479 BKK.Tel: 2602304, 2610028
Instructors for Thai English

KO SAMUI, SURAT THANI Area Code (077)

CALYPSO DIVING
Opposite Super Dragon, Chaweng Beach
Ko Samui, Surat Thani Tel: 422437
Instructors for Thai, German, French, English, Swedish, Spanish

INDEEP DIVE
Chaweng Garden
Chaweng Beach, Ko Samui, Surat Thani
Tel: 422265 Ext. Diving, 230155-6
Instructors for Thai, English, Japanese, Swedish, German, Italian

KO SAMUI INTERNATIONAL DIVING SCHOOL
P.O. Box 40, Ko Samui, Surat Thani
Tel./Fax: 421465
Malibu Resort
Chaweng Beach, Ko Samui, Surat Thani
Tel: 422386, 231242 Ext. Diving
Instructors for Thai, English, German, Italian, French

MATLANG DIVER
Matlang Resort
Chaweng Beach, Ko Samui, Surat Thani
Tel: 422172 Ext. Diving
Instructors for Thai, English, German, Japanese, Italian

SWISS DIVE CENTER
Near Royal Beach Bungalow, Chaweng Beach
Ko Samui, Surat Thani
Instructors for English

ASSOCIATIONS/CLUBS

BANG SAEN INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE
Amphoe Muang, Bang Saen, Chonburi 20131
Tel: (038) 391671-3

PHUKET MARINE BIOLOGICAL CENTER
Laen Phanwa, Amphoe Muang, Phuket 83000
Tel : (076) 391127-8

SIAM DIVING CLUB
363/28 Spi Suksawat 19, Suksawat Rd.,
Ratchaburana, Bangkok 10140
Tel. & Fax: 2597553

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