I'm looking at visiting what sounds (and based on the website... looks) to be one of Thailand's next great diving islands.
It's undeveloped, there is only one large resort with a few other cheaper accommodation possibilities (home-stay, etc), and one diving facility, Blue Guru (Blue Guru Diving | Thailand Scuba Diving)
From the looks of it, this is islands is a welcome step back in time, and the diving potential is amazing. There are house reefs and local diving (all shallow, but with West Coast species variety), and then there is Surin and Richelieu.... only a boat ride away.
Anyway, I am in Thailand for almost 4 years now, and I have been on both coasts, worked on both coasts, and (I'm not claiming expertise, but....) I think I have a pretty good idea what the "known markets" (Phuket, Lanta, Kao Lak, Phi Phi, Tao, Phangan, Chumporn Park, et. all) have to offer.
What I'm envisioning here is Tao, 20 plus years ago, but on the west coast and with Richelieu instead of Chumporn. Or Lanta 15 plus years ago with local diving.
Has ANYONE been there, heard of it, known people that have visited?
Well, I plan on going, most likely, this winter, and if no one else has anything to say.... I'll be happy to start the reviews.
I think this is a spot with some real, well conceived, chances of becoming a major dive destination in Thailand. I don't know if they even want it to change too dramatically (its appeal seems to be its look into the past), but I do see room for sustainable growth.
Any ideas, opinions, or rants are welcome.
Thanks.
Gannon
It's undeveloped, there is only one large resort with a few other cheaper accommodation possibilities (home-stay, etc), and one diving facility, Blue Guru (Blue Guru Diving | Thailand Scuba Diving)
From the looks of it, this is islands is a welcome step back in time, and the diving potential is amazing. There are house reefs and local diving (all shallow, but with West Coast species variety), and then there is Surin and Richelieu.... only a boat ride away.
Anyway, I am in Thailand for almost 4 years now, and I have been on both coasts, worked on both coasts, and (I'm not claiming expertise, but....) I think I have a pretty good idea what the "known markets" (Phuket, Lanta, Kao Lak, Phi Phi, Tao, Phangan, Chumporn Park, et. all) have to offer.
What I'm envisioning here is Tao, 20 plus years ago, but on the west coast and with Richelieu instead of Chumporn. Or Lanta 15 plus years ago with local diving.
Has ANYONE been there, heard of it, known people that have visited?
Well, I plan on going, most likely, this winter, and if no one else has anything to say.... I'll be happy to start the reviews.
I think this is a spot with some real, well conceived, chances of becoming a major dive destination in Thailand. I don't know if they even want it to change too dramatically (its appeal seems to be its look into the past), but I do see room for sustainable growth.
Any ideas, opinions, or rants are welcome.
Thanks.
Gannon