Special New Year’s Trip – Similan Islands Diving Liveaboard

Celebrate New Year’s Eve floating in the bay of tropical island on the Andaman sea. Watch the sun go down after a late afternoon dive and indulge in a delicious New Year’s eve dinner. Stay up late and get up to the sundeck just before midnight to count down the seconds together with the others onboard and with a glass of champagne in your hand. Look up and you will see a galaxy of stars above you as bright as you have ever seen to start the new year with (we don’t use fireworks on New Year’s eve – we haven’t found biodegradable firework yet). Sounds good? Then join us for our New Year’s Special Liveaboard trip with Wicked Diving. We offer you 4 days of great fun, special surprises and amazing diving all around the Similan Islands. Why not jump to the trip details and booking section?

We carry only 14 guests on our trips, so the groups are small with a relaxed pace and uncrowded dive sites. Each cabin is air-conditioned with sea views and fresh air. There are 3 toilet / hot shower units on the boat and there is a large gear up area and dive deck. A total of 5 boat crew will be waiting on your needs and we also provide at least one dive guide per 4 guests. You will be treated to the best in Thai hospitality!

When you dive with us you make a difference. Our boat and trucks use only locally produced Biodiesel so your money makes a difference in our community. Wicked uses only fair-trade, phosphate-free soaps and detergents on our boats and in our shops so that we don’t affect our environment around us. Your sheets and towels will be 100% fair-trade organic cotton. Also, 10% of all our profits go to local NGO’s as we continually strive to make the world around us better.

Our staff are among the most experienced and highly trained in all of Thailand. Our continual training programs assures you that all staff are current EFR (1st aid) and DAN Oxygen certified. Wicked Diving has not one but two Instructor Trainers and an experienced Dive Medic on staff. We are the evacuation and emergency center for the entire region. In addition we conduct our dives and courses in English, Swedish, German, Thai, Indonesian, Dutch, Belgian and French (and even American).

Elephant Head Rock – Thailand Dive Sites

Thailand is home to some great diving. The Similan Islands are frequently listed among the top 10 dive sites on earth.

It is no wonder that the best dive sites on the Similan Islands are good – damn good! Among the most famous and frequently cited as “incredible” is Elephant Head Rock. Located right int he Center of the islands – just off  Koh Similan.

Elephant Head Rock is home to some huge pelagic visitors as well as some incredible macro as well. If you imagine a  massive pile of boulders the size of houses that just keep going deeper and deeper into the depths – then you can imagine what this site is like.

Due to Dive profiles and the great features of this site – it’s best to visit in the morning. This usually means joining a Similan Liveaboard as the daytrips usually arrive a bit late.

with Depths to 30 meters and far beyond – Nitrox is also a good idea.

For more on Similan island Dive Sites

Christmas Liveaboard – Similan Islands Special

Merry Christmas!

What? Seems too early? Well our holiday trips fill up very quickly, so it’s best to register now!

23rd – 26th of December 2009 – 4 days

We carry only 12 guests on our trips, so the groups are small with a relaxed pace and uncrowded dive sites. Each cabin is air-conditioned with sea views and fresh air. There are 3 toilet / hot shower units on the boat and there is a large gear up area and dive deck. A total of 5 boat crew will be waiting on your needs and we also provide at least one dive guide per 4 guests. You will be treated to the best in Thai hospitality and European standards!

When you dive with us you make a difference. Our boat and trucks use only locally produced Biofuel so your money makes a difference in our community. Wicked uses only fair-trade, phosphate-free soaps and detergents on our boats and in our shops so that we don’t affect our environment around us. Your sheets and towels will be 100% fair-trade organic cotton. Also, 10% of all our profits go to local NGO’s as we continually strive to make the world around us better.

Join our staff for our great Christmas Special Liveaboard trip. Our staff are famous for turning these trips into something really special, with gifts, games and funny dress ups. The boat will be decorated in Christmas style and you can expect Santa to visit us again this year and he might even join us for a dive or two!  Let’s hope he leaves his reindeer at home this time. We always have good food on the trips but in addition our staff will prepare a special delicious Christmas dinner and a Christmas breakfast. And if you behave well on the trip, you might get a nice surprise gift from Wicked Diving. Why not jump to the trip details and booking section?

Bangkok Airport information

Bangkok Airport General Info:

Address: Bang Phli, Samutprakarn, 10540 Bangkok, Thailand
Location: The airport is located in Racha Thewa in the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province, 30km (18.5 miles) east of Bangkok
Website:
E-mail: aotpr@airportthai.co.th
Telephone: (0)2 132 1888
Country Code: 66
Time Zone: GMT + 7
Number of Terminals: 1 (The Domestic and International terminals are located in the same building. There are plans for the construction of a second terminal building for low-cost airlines.)

Bangkok Airport Help Desk:
There are information counters on the departure level (tel: (0)2 132 9324/5/6/7) and just outside the luggage pick-up area on the arrival level (tel: (0)2 132 9328/9).

Bangkok Airport Disabled Facilities:
Facilities and arrangements for disabled travellers are in place, but the airport’s designers have been criticised for not making the airport sufficiently accessible for disabled people. For example, it has been argued that the restrooms designed for people with special needs are not spacious enough for wheelchair users.

Bangkok Airport Facilities
Money and communications: Bureaux de change are located in the Arrivals hall on level 2. There are ATMs in several places throughout the terminal building. Public telephones are available on all levels. Eating and drinking: There are plenty of restaurants, food outlets and bars in the terminal building, on level 1, 2, 3 and 6. In addition, there are four restaurants and two bars in the airport hotel nearby. Shopping: Shops selling everything from freshly cut flowers to designer clothing are available on levels 2, 3 and 4 of the terminal building. Duty free shops are on the departures level (level 4). Luggage: Luggage trolleys are available in the Arrivals and Departures halls. Lost and found services can be reached on (0)2 134 221. Other facilities: A wide variety of facilities are available in the terminal building, including traditional Thai massage and luxurious spa facilities. The Airport Medical Center is available on (0)2 132 7777. Airline lounges are located on level 3, some of which offer first class and business travellers luxury spa and massage rooms, a fine-dining area, slumber rooms with full-size flat beds, a business centre, a host of private meeting rooms, state-of-the-art video and visual entertainment rooms, shower rooms, deluxe seating areas and built-in check-in facilities.

Renting A car at Bangkok Airport
Car rental service counters can be found at the Arrivals level. Travellers can book their rental car there and take the airport shuttle bus express route to the Transport Center, where the car can be picked up. Car rental services at the airport are provided by international and local operators.

Driving to Bangkok Airport
Road access to the airport is provided by five new highways connected to Bangkok’s outer ring road. The main access road (and the most convenient route) is an elevated two-by-five lane road going north from the passenger terminal to the new Bangkok-Chonburi Expressway.

Car, Taxi or Public Bus To Bangkok Airport
Driving by taxi or bus from the airport to downtown Bangkok takes around 50 minutes. Road: Taxi: Public taxis can be found on Level 2 (Arrivals). Alternatively, travellers can take a complimentary airport shuttle bus to the Transport Center taxi stand. Limousine: To get a limousine, travellers should contact the Limousine Service Counter at the Arrivals level (second floor). The limousine pick-up area is by the outer curb on the Arrivals level. Six types of limousine are on offer with a total of 380 cars available around the clock. Bus: Public bus service is provided from the bus terminal at the airport’s Transport Center (which can be reached by taking a free airport shuttle bus). Public buses depart frequently to Bangkok and the surrounding area. Buses go to Minburi (no. 549), Happy Land (no. 550), Victory Monument (no. 551), On Nut BTS station (no. 552), Samut Prakan (no. 553) and Don Muang Airport (no. 554). In addition, Airport Express provides air-conditioned bus services between Suvarnabhumi Airport and Bangkok hotels, operating four bus routes to downtown Bangkok. The pick-up area for buses is by the inner curb on level 2 (Arrivals), while the drop-off area is by the inner curb on level 4 (Departures). Rail: Work on a city airport terminal in Makkasan and a 28.5km (17.5 miles) high-speed rail link to the new airport started in July 2005 and is due for completion by early 2008(now 2010!). When operational, the high-speed link is expected to take travellers from city to airport in 15 minutes.

Bangkok Airport Hotels:
The 612-room Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel (tel: (0)2 131 1111) is the airport’s official hotel. It is located in front of the passenger terminal building and connected to it by a 300m (328 yards), air-conditioned underground walkway. The hotel is situated straight above the underground rail station that upon completion (expected in early 2008) will be connected to the city of Bangkok by a high-speed rail link. Hotel Ibis Huamark Bangkok (tel: (0)2 308 7888), Avana Bangkok Hotel (tel: (0)2 744 4280), Royal Princess Srinakarin (tel: (0)2 721 8400) and Kanary House (tel: (0)2 374 5544) are some hotels that are located within 30 minutes from the airport.

East Of Eden – Thailand’s Dive Sites

As part of our site development and growth – we have moved these dive site descriptions over to the main site…

Similan Island Dive sites – Elephant Head Rock AKA Hin PusarIf you have any questions or concerns – please fell free to contact us

Elephant Head Rock is part of the itinerary for our Similan Islands Liveaboard North Tours

Between islands seven and eight lies Elephant Head Rock – or ‘Hin Pusa’.

A beautiful collection of submerged boulders, ranging from large slabs of rock to smaller stones. The relative isolation of the site between Islands 7 & 8 leaves it open to strong cross currents.

Conditions permitting drop down on the south side between the two large rocks which the break the surface. Stay close to the rocks until the strength and direction of the current has been gauged, and if necessary use the boulders as shelter. The south side of the dive site drops along a series of rock plateaus to a graduating sandy bottom which starts at about 30 meters and goes deeper – more than 50 Meters.
Keep the boulders on your left and work eastwards. Look beneath rocks for lobsters and large rays. A large channel can provide a good introduction to the dive, which sits at around 18 meters. Follow the opening through and then turn left into a smaller series of swim-throughs which bring you towards the north of the dive site.

If you skip the swim-throughs and head outside the site (rather than through) you will find some big fish hunting. Also spend some time looking for Frogfish, Flabellinas and other little stuff. You will be surprised by all that you find.
Conditions permitting continue swimming out towards the Northern-outer edge of the dive site over a sandy plateau where large White tips, Grey and Black tip reef sharks can sometimes be seen.

Turn back towards the rocks shallowing up to around 12 meters, where some inviting swim through bring you towards the center of the dive site characterised by smaller rocks and many small fish. Oriental and Harlequin sweetlips can often be found in the swim through as can larger groupers.

Also keep an eye open for some weird and wonderful nudibranches and in particular for flabbelina’s. Octopus, sea snakes and cuttlefish can also be found amongst the dead coral. Head south and you should come to an opening which begins at 12 meters and extends south to around 6 meters, where the current usually gains force. Beneath the large rock to your left is a long crack. Use a torch to look for baby white tip reef sharks. This can be a good place to end the dive, swimming back out to the north-east during the safety stop for one final look for Sharks, Rays, Giant Trevally and Great Barracuda.

Similan Diving

Similan Islands

Surin Islands

Scuba Diving the Similan Islands

Thailand has one of the world’s most diverse marine habitats, with more than 300 major reef groups covering an area of over 4,500 square miles. From pinnacles and submerged rocks, through to stunning coral gardens and sheer walls, the scuba diving in Thailand has something to offer scuba divers of all levels of experience. It is this diversity in marine habitats and diving environments which attracts so many divers to the waters around Thailand every year, and today the region is one of the world’s most popular scuba diving destinations.

There are a number of major diving destinations in Thailand, all offering a wide selection of diverse dive sites. Throughout all of these major destinations is a network of well equipped, knowledgeable and experienced dive centers, offering a range of diving from leisure dives through to a selection of scuba diving courses.

It would be impossible to discuss Thailand, without looking at the scuba diving in Khao Lak and the nearby Khao Lak with the surrounding areas. Without doubt, the diving from Khao Lak is of the highest standard, and the surrounding dive sites host a plethora of great diving. Similan Islands Scuba Diving is frequently listed as one of the ten best diving opportunities on earth. The are also underwater treasures that lie slightly further afield. Dive sites such as the Burma Banks, The Surin Islands and the Mergui Archipelago are often found high on the wish list of many discerning scuba diver and offer some of South East Asia’s finest dive sites.

The scuba diving on the Western Gulf of Thailand sees a different emphasis, and the small islands found here have become one of the world’s most popular areas to learn to scuba dive. In fact, the island of Koh Tao has developed a complete tourist industry from introducing people to scuba diving, and today large numbers of would be scuba divers travel to o Koh Tao every day to begin their diving education. Other islands within the Western Gulf of Thailand are also home to developed scuba diving industries, and destinations such as Koh Samui and Ko Pha-Ngan are both home to a large number of dive centers and divers. However the dive sites are very overwhelmed and the diving here is often referred to as “champagne diving” – all bubbles.

Throughout Thailand there are a number of exceptional dive sites, and sites such as the Richelieu Rock and Shark fin Reef are widely acknowledged as being world class dive sites. However it is the sheer volume of excellent dive sites that makes Thailand such a popular destination. Destinations such as Koh Lipe Krabi, Phi Phi and the Surin Islands are all home to a number of exceptional dive sites and dive centers. For a good reference try the Best Dive Sites in Thailand.

Today, Thailand is one of the world’s most popular scuba diving destinations, and large numbers of scuba divers travel long distances to dive in the waters surrounding this stunning country. The sheer diversity of the diving on offer here ensures that there is something to cater for all tastes and levels of experience. From vertical wrecks, through to submerged pinnacles, from the largest sharks, through to the smallest nudibranches, the diving in Thailand has something for everyone.

Bumphead Parrotfish – Marine Life of Thailand

The Bumphead Parrotfish or Bolbometopon muricatumis both amazing and beautiful. This is the largest of all the parrotfish family – which is known for colorful displays and strange lifestyles already.

The Bumpheads can grow as large as 1.3 Meters (4 1/2 Feet) and weigh as much as 80 Kilos (180 pounds). They are quite impressive and very exciting to watch. They have the very unusual shape to their heads (it is theorized) as they will use it to ram coral communities to make dining easier?! I’ve never seen this, but their heads look like they’ve had a bit of abuse, so it could very be true.

The other really amusing feature of the bumpheads are their teeth. They have what appears to be a huge beak sticking out. It is in fact a fused tooth that is so thick it can scrap and crush coral colonies. It looks very funny and is kind of intimidating at first. Once you realize they are not only harmless but quite timid you’re attitude changes.

They are also quite peculiar in that they are hermaphroditic – they change sex. They are usually seprated by colors – the juveniles (found in shallows) and females are drab and the males are very brightly colored and vibrant.

As they are very slow to mature and reproduce, they are quite susceptible to diminishing populations or even extinction due to environmental or more realistically – human interference. They are very popular in the Aquarium trade and the Mock reefs of restaurants and resorts

They sleep in shallow areas and often in cracks and nooks in the reef that are often too small for them. Thus they are easily captured for aquariums or spearfished for meat.

Their role in the reef is amazing. Parrotfish are one of the primary sources of sand! They scrape algae off with their teeth, and whatever else gets in, they digest the food, and deposit sand. In most areas where the Bumpheads live, they play an integral role in controlling algae growth. Off the Dominican Republic there were large numbers of Parrotfish and living corals until the mid-80’s. Then, after all other species were fished out, the Parrotfish (Not Bumpheads in this case) were taken in huge numbers. Very soon after the coral was all dead as there was no growth control on the algae. Now imagine when these are the size of humans and eat nearly 3 tonnes of algae a year!

(While they are not list as Endangered they are listed as threatened. In many areas of the world they are extinct. )

They are also quite peculiar in that they are hermaphroditic – they change sex. They are usually seperated by colors – the juveniles (found in shallows) and females are drab and the males are very brightly colored and vibrant.

While we do have them on The Similans – they are not common. Most frequently they are found at Shark Fin Reef and Boulder City. They are spotted at other sites, but not with the frequency one would hope.

So when you do see one, prepare for a giggle and a memory. You can also do your part in preventing their decline by asking what exactly the fish you are eating is – any kind of parrotfish is bad. They are also not that good an eating fish. Also avoid any of the farm raised shrimps and prawns as their feed is purely bycatch from trawlers – which destroys the habitats.