Similans - Out of season

[cmdasia]

It seems there is an official ruling concerning diving in the Similans out of season - it's illegal - so that takes care of all those questions about "to dive or not out of of season".... ah well...


"SIMILAN ISLANDS: Passing fishermen rescued passengers and crew from a storm-lashed dive boat last weekend after a pipe broke loose in the engine room. Instead of water being pumped to the boat’s toilet, it was pumped into the engine room, swamping the vessel.

The Rarerngchon (Atlantis X I believe), leased to Atlantis Divers of Patong, was taking five foreigners and 12 Thais to the Similan Islands last Saturday when the drama unfolded on the high seas.

Two fishing boats took some of the dive boat’s lifejacket-clad cargo back to port at Tab Lamu, Phang Nga. Others made it back in the Rarerngchon’s rubber dinghy. The Rarerngchon itself finally sank in eight meters of water off Beacon Bay, near Similan Island No 8. Insurance assessors are expected to visit the boat to see if it can be salvaged.

Wittaya Hongwiangchan, Chief of the Similan Islands Marine National Park, warned tour and dive operators that it was illegal to bring tourists into the marine park during the monsoon season when the seas are rough and dangerous.

The park opens again in November."

 

[neve]

YEAH! New wreck!

Seriously, I didn't know of this rule. And I'm glad nobody got hurt in the incident.

 

[Batfish]

Yes, it was a pity about that boat. It had just run one season, and had been getting good reviews.

It's not really illegal to go in the low season, but the park is officially closed. Operators have to report outgoing trips to the National Park office, and it is illegal not to report.

The main reason not many boats go is that the weather (as the Atlantis X found out) is unpredictable. I have had several excellent out of season trips, but really you should only go on bigger boats such as The Junk.

Weather on the West coast of Thailand can change quickly. Last week, one liveaboard cancelled a trip as the waves were too big. The next day the sea was flat and the sun was shining. Weather forecasts are often wrong, so they usually go for that symbol that has sun, cloud and storm. It means "we don't know". Generally, low season weather is not bad, and you have one great advantage if you are willing to be flexible and meet the demands of the weather - hardly any other divers in the water.

Well, high season is on it's way now. We expect more rain during September and early October, then a gradual improvement.

Now is the time to Dive Thailand!




Phuket Scuba Diving

 

[RSdiver]

In early Oct 1997, I had an excellent trip on the Sai Mai. It was the first trip of the year and not a drop of rain, no other boats around and clear water. It was El Nino, so weird things do happen, even uncommonly good ones.