Thursday 31 May 2012

Layang Layang in 2013

Hammerhead sharks
This week I've had a couple of people ask me if there is still a chance to dive Layang Layang this year. I've had to tell them that they are too late, the few trips running in early June have already stopped taking bookings because it takes about 5 weeks to get the permits to enter the area. Besides, the best months to dive Layang and the Spratly Islands is Mar-May, that is if your goal is to dive with hammerhead sharks.

Both White Manta and Divemaster 1 have recently released their schedules for next year. I know it seems a bit early to plan diving for next year but with so few places available I recommend it.

The advantage of diving from these liveaboards as opposed to diving from the resort on the island at Layang Layang is that you also get to dive the Spratly islands and, with Divemaster 1, the Labuan wrecks. Also, the flight from Kota Kinabalu to Layang Layang resort is very restrictive regarding baggage allowance (they weight passengers and bags together).

I've just had some divers come back from trips on both White Manta and Divemaster 1 and they all saw hammerheads and other reef sharks. I know that every White Manta trip saw hammerhead sharks this season and the reports back on the quality of the reefs, reef fish life and pelagics has been excellent.

Next year when White Manta finishes in Layang Layang they will be moving round to Sangalaki (Indonesia) , an exciting new destination for the boat. More on that soon...

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Last Minute Prices on Komodo Liveaboards

Looking for some great diving in June? If you can get yourself to Bali sharpish there are some really good deals to be had on Komodo Liveaboards. Mermaid I, Mermaid II and Black Manta all have discounts on their few  remaining spaces. This is a great time of year to dive Komodo, you are pretty much guaranteed sharks and mantas as well as all the critters that Indonesia is so famous for.

Mermaid I Indonesia Liveaboard

Mermaid 1 discounts:
9-18 June: 1 space in a Deluxe twin share cabin available: Euro 2070 (reduced from Euro 2300)

Mermaid II Komodo Liveaboard

Mermaid II discounts:
2-9 June: 1 space in a Standard twin share cabin available: Euro 1440 (reduced from Euro 1600)
2-9 June: 4 spaces in a Deluxe twin/double cabin available: Euro 1660 (reduced from Euro 1800)
16-23 June: 1 space in a  Deluxe twin  share cabin available: Euro 1660 (reduced from Euro 1800)

23-30 June: 2 spaces in a Standard twin share cabin available: Euro 1440 (reduced from Euro 1600)
23-30 June:8 spaces in a Deluxe twin/double cabin available: Euro 1660 (reduced from Euro 1800)

Black Manta departs from Labuan Bajo to Komodo


Black Manta discounts:

5-10 June: One Deluxe Double cabin available for US$1320 (reduced from US$1650)
11-15 June: Deluxe Twin and Double cabins available for US$1100 (reduced from US$1375)


Tuesday 29 May 2012

Overnight liveaboard to Phi Phi Islands, Racha Islands and Phang Nga Bay

Saimai Diving and Snorkeling liveaboard
MV Saimai has released an exciting new schedule of overnight diving and snorkeling liveaboard trips departing from Phuket.

There are 3 options for a 2 day 1 night liveaboard on Saimai with departures every week.

Racha Yai, Racha Noi Islands: These granite islands, 90 minutes cruise south of Phuket, are rarely dived by other liveaboards. Racha Noi where the boat overnights is an uninhabited tropical paradise and you'll have it all to yourself. Trips depart every Saturday morning and return Sunday evening. The price is 12,900 baht.

Phi Phi Islands: The Phi Phi Islands are about 3 hours cruise east from Phuket. This overnight trip includes diving at Shark Point, King Cruiser Wreck and Koh Doc Mai as well as the best Phi Phi dive sites like Bida Nai, Bida Nok and Maya Wall. There will be a chance to see the famous Maya Bay as well as a chance to explore on Phi Phi Island. Trips depart every Monday morning and return Tuesday evening. The price is 12,900 baht.

Phang Nga Bay: This overnight liveaboard is a non diving trip and makes a nice complement to the Phi Phi or Racha Trips. Enjoy the beauty of Phang Nga bay in comfort and at your pace, away from the day tripping hordes. When the day trippers leave you'll have the place to yourself. Trips depart every Wednesday morning and return Thursday evening. The price is 12,900 baht.

For more information about any of these trips please contact us

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Thailand Liveaboards in June - Confirmed trips

The Junk under sail
The Junk has two liveaboard trips confirmed for next month (June).

Both trips dive at Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Phi Phi, Koh Haa and Racha Islands. This is the best diving possible in the Andaman sea at this time of year. Both trips depart from Phuket at 6pm on Saturday evening and return at 8am the following Friday. They are 6 night trips with 5 full days of diving.

Boat: The Junk
Dates: 16-22 June or 30 June-6 July
Diving at: Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Phi Phi and Koh Haa
Price: from US$1350 per diver

For more details or to book please contact us

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Similan and Surin Snorkeling Liveaboard

Snorkeling liveaboard in the Similan Islands
We are pleased to offer a new liveaboard boat on our website that is dedicated to snorkelers only. Most snorkeling tours to the Similan Islands are day trips by speedboat that invariably limit in water fun but this 3 day 3 night Snorkeling Discovery Tour takes the time to visit the best of the Similan Islands, the Surin Islands plus Koh Bon and Koh Tachai.

Snorkelers are guaranteed the best snorkeling in Thailand's Andaman Sea, the clearest water and the most plentiful fish. By including Koh Bon in the itinerary you have the opportunity to snorkel with Manta Rays and lucky snorkelers may even see Whale Sharks at Koh Tachai.

Snorkeling tour route
As well as all the snorkeling there are plenty of excursions on to the islands and beaches with short nature trails and view point climbs. Similan Island beaches have beautiful fine white sand with no inhabitants. In Surin you'll get to meet the Moken sea gypsies who still live their traditional life there.

At just 12,900 baht for 3 days with 3 nights accommodation on board and all meals included it's great value. Trips depart from Khao Lak or Kuraburi from November to May (see schedule) but if you are staying in Phuket we can arrange transfers for you. These trips have been running successfully for two full seasons now and feedback has been excellent.

More details here: Snorkeling Liveaboard

Tuesday 8 May 2012

Mini break from Phuket - Khao Sok

Cliff and River Resort Khao Sok
The view from our veranda at Cliff and River Resort
Khao Sok national park is a little less than a 200km drive from Phuket. It's easily reached by road from Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak or Surat Thani. It's a great getaway for anyone living nearby or a nice two day side trip for tourists staying in Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak or Samui. Khao Sok features ancient evergreen forest, striking limestone cliffs similar to Phang Nga Bay, a huge dammed lake and all kinds of flora and fauna to keep nature lovers enthralled. There are also plenty of opportunities for adventurous types like treking, climbing, rafting, kayaking and tubing down the river.

There are several places to stay in the Khao Sok area although a lot of tourists stay in Khao Lak just an hour away. Some of the coolest looking accommodation is in tree houses but as we have a young son who hasn't learnt that falling from height can hurt yet we chose to stay at a more earthly resort. The Cliff and River Jungle resort is a beautiful resort that blends well in to the surrounding environment. The rooms aren't fancy but have real natural charm along with the basic facilities that you need like air con and a decent bathroom. At about 2000 baht a night they are good value. The resort restaurant by the river was also pretty good and not too expensive which is lucky because there are no other eating choices near by. When the sun goes down on Khao Sok there is no nightlife apart from eating in the restaurant or sitting on your bungalow veranda listening to the jungle. In the morning the view from your porch is stunning. If you are up at sunrise you can watch the mist covered cliff slowly clear and listen the the macaques howling.

During the day there is plenty to keep you entertained. We visited the picturesque Rajjaprabh dam and went for a longtail ride to one of the raft house resorts on the dam. Some people choose to overnight on the dam, staying in rather basic floating huts but not us. Still, it's cool place to hang out for a couple of hours and take a dip. Kayaks are also available. The water is a beautiful deep turquoise.

We also went kayaking and tubing on the river that ran past our resort. I would highly recommend doing one or both of these while in Khao Sok although whether you can go tubing or not really depends on the height of the water. In the dry season the river may be too low and after a few days of rain the water may run too fast. For us it was perfect.

Cliff and River Resort Khao Sok
Cliff and River Resort, Khao Sok
For the tubing we were driven just 5 minutes up the road from the Cliff and River resort and shown down a jungle trail to the river's edge. A bbq lunch was prepared for us there, we had our own cool box of beers. After a leisurely lunch and wallow in the river under a shady tree we were given our tubes and guided onto the water. It took us a few minutes and a few bumps to get our technique down but once we were settled it was a pretty gentle drift down stream. Tubing in Khao Sok is not like Vang Vieng in Laos, there are no bars along the way blaring out dance tunes, it's just you and the river and birds and monkeys. The ride finished after about 90 minutes right at the bottom of our resort. We couldn't believe that the drive to the start had taken 5 minutes and the float back had taken 90 minutes.

The kayaking was done on the same stretch of river as the tubing. This time all of us (my wife, my son and me) shared the same inflatable kayak with a local guide who took care of the navigation. Along the way he pointed out a few critters to us and we had a 30 minute stop at a beautiful swimming hole, deep enough to swing out and jump into river with the rope hung from a tree on the bank. Again, the tour ended at the resort. The tubing cost 500 baht per person, the kayaking about double that. Both are equally enjoyable.

All in all we loved our 2 days and 1 night in Khao Sok. One of our projects for next season is to organise custom tours to Khao Sok for people who don't like rushed, crowded group tours. If you are interested, please contact us.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

Komodo Diving

sun fish
So the Thailand liveaboard season is over for another year until next November. So where to dive between now and then? There are so many great dive destinations within easy reach of Phuket divers. We are a couple of short flights away from either Sipadan, the Philippines, Bunaken, Lembeh Strait or Tioman Island. However if liveaboard diving is your thing I suggest jumping on a flight to Bali and embarking on a liveaboard to Komodo.

Last season every trip saw manta rays and every trip saw reef sharks. Add those to all the critters that are so common in Indonesian waters like pygmy seahorse, spanish dancers, rhinopias, stargazers, bobbit worms etc etc and it's no wonder that everyone raves about Komodo diving. Many trips saw dolphins (on the dives!) and mola mola.

As well as diving you'll also see Komodo Dragons up close on Komodo Island.

The best time to dive Komodo is May to October. Check out the schedules for Mermaid I, Mermaid II and Black Manta here at IndonesiaLiveaboards.com.