Saturday, March 24, 2012
TIME ZONE
Thailand’s
time zone is GMT +7 hours. During winter months, this means that
Bangkok is exactly seven hours ahead of London, 12 hours ahead of New
York, 15 hours ahead of Los Angeles, three hours behind Australia and
five hours behind New Zealand.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
DEPARTURE TAX
There are no sales taxes in Thailand. There is a Bt500 departure tax for all international departures.
Transit passengers
(those in the country for less than 12 hours) and children under two years of age are exempt.
Transit passengers
(those in the country for less than 12 hours) and children under two years of age are exempt.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Getting Around
An intricate network of good roads makes it easy to get around Thailand.
Depending on the arrangements you have made with your hotel or dive shop, you will be picked up at the airport or need to grab a cab.
Dive shops and live aboards provide pick up and drop off services before and after your trip.
Day trip divers will be picked up at the hotel, taken to a pier to meet the ship, and met on the ship’s return.
So the only thing needed is interim transport, of which there is plenty.
Local taxis, tuk tuks and motorbikes can ferry you about. If you like to live dangerously, you can also rent a motorbike and cheat death. Flights within Thailand are usually cheap and plentiful from Thai Air and Bangkok Air. Ferries run daily to places
like Ko Samui and Ko Tao. Tickets are available at travel agents and even convenience stores with travel and activities counters.
Depending on the arrangements you have made with your hotel or dive shop, you will be picked up at the airport or need to grab a cab.
Dive shops and live aboards provide pick up and drop off services before and after your trip.
Day trip divers will be picked up at the hotel, taken to a pier to meet the ship, and met on the ship’s return.
So the only thing needed is interim transport, of which there is plenty.
Local taxis, tuk tuks and motorbikes can ferry you about. If you like to live dangerously, you can also rent a motorbike and cheat death. Flights within Thailand are usually cheap and plentiful from Thai Air and Bangkok Air. Ferries run daily to places
like Ko Samui and Ko Tao. Tickets are available at travel agents and even convenience stores with travel and activities counters.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Going Tech
The
quest for deep wreck diving is being realized in Thailand by the
Trident Team of Jamie Macleod and Stuart Oehl, who run a dive center and
also a live aboard with dedicated tech wreck diving charters.
Technical diving is new to Ko Tao and Thailand as a whole.
As Thailand’s waters, especially in the Gulf, aren’t considered to be overly deep by tech standards, this has not been a tech hotbed like Bikini Atoll. However, the depths are still considerably beyond safe sport diving limits and new finds have put a spotlight on tech endeavors here.
Having a huge area of relatively shallow water to explore, it is gaining in popularity.
The gulf has been a major shipping route for hundreds of years and the wrecks so far found and explored include wooden Chinese pottery wrecks, WWII ships, planes, submarines and modern wrecks.
The USS Lagarto was the most publicized find, and landed the MV Trident pair on US national news and the Undersea Detectives TV show.
The USS Lagarto is a Balao class fleet submarine sunk by Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer Hatsutaka in May 1945 with all 86 hands lost.
She sits upright and fully intact in 235ft of water, and is a demanding dive.
Japanese records apparently state that 179 marus (merchant vessels) were lost in the Gulf of Thailand in WWII.
The coordinates of many of these virgin wrecks are known, and exploratory expeditions are run on a regular basis.
Although there’s no guarantee of a great new wreck every trip, the success rate is very high.
Technical diving is new to Ko Tao and Thailand as a whole.
As Thailand’s waters, especially in the Gulf, aren’t considered to be overly deep by tech standards, this has not been a tech hotbed like Bikini Atoll. However, the depths are still considerably beyond safe sport diving limits and new finds have put a spotlight on tech endeavors here.
Having a huge area of relatively shallow water to explore, it is gaining in popularity.
The gulf has been a major shipping route for hundreds of years and the wrecks so far found and explored include wooden Chinese pottery wrecks, WWII ships, planes, submarines and modern wrecks.
The USS Lagarto was the most publicized find, and landed the MV Trident pair on US national news and the Undersea Detectives TV show.
The USS Lagarto is a Balao class fleet submarine sunk by Imperial Japanese Navy minelayer Hatsutaka in May 1945 with all 86 hands lost.
She sits upright and fully intact in 235ft of water, and is a demanding dive.
Japanese records apparently state that 179 marus (merchant vessels) were lost in the Gulf of Thailand in WWII.
The coordinates of many of these virgin wrecks are known, and exploratory expeditions are run on a regular basis.
Although there’s no guarantee of a great new wreck every trip, the success rate is very high.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
KO TAO & KO NANG YUAN
Ko Tao, meaning ‘Turtle Island’, was all but uninhabited in the 1950s, though
you’d never know it nowadays.
Though it’s growing and improving rapidly, seemingly month-to-month, it is still small enough to be laid back and a bit cozy.
A large turtle in front of Crystal Dive near the Mae Haad town pier greets aspiring divers, and a road that doesn’t even go halfway around the beautifully hilly island keeps things close and personal.
In the late 1980s the first Samui based dive operators began running overnight live aboard trips to Ko Tao.
The popularity of the island as a dive destination grew, as water clarity tends to be better here and the coral and marine diversity is good.
Realizing there was a wealth of untouched beauty, dive operations began relocating to Ko Tao.
More than 3% of the divers in the world are now certified here annually, and courses at all levels are nearly always available.
Hillside bungalows in niche resorts and basic dive camps run the gamut of accommodation.
Virtually all have dive facilities and most have numerous classrooms.
Good restaurants abound,too.
Shops have first rate, new rental gear, and there’s even a full service dive supply store right off the ferry pier. Nights are spent gathered for happy hour at a dive shop beach pub, followed by a review of the day’s dive adventures videoed by local shop professionals. Everywhere you look, something dive-related is happening. Many people spend the morning diving and then relax and watch the sun go down from a beautiful stretch of sand called Sairee Beach.
Nearby and part of the scenic offering of many of the island’s northern viewpoints is Ko Nang Yuan, a tiny island formation comprising three landmasses connected by a central spit of sand.
Many nice, shallow dives and snorkeling spots are accessible from the island, which also has a hotel.
If you want to dive, this is the place to come.
you’d never know it nowadays.
Though it’s growing and improving rapidly, seemingly month-to-month, it is still small enough to be laid back and a bit cozy.
A large turtle in front of Crystal Dive near the Mae Haad town pier greets aspiring divers, and a road that doesn’t even go halfway around the beautifully hilly island keeps things close and personal.
In the late 1980s the first Samui based dive operators began running overnight live aboard trips to Ko Tao.
The popularity of the island as a dive destination grew, as water clarity tends to be better here and the coral and marine diversity is good.
Realizing there was a wealth of untouched beauty, dive operations began relocating to Ko Tao.
More than 3% of the divers in the world are now certified here annually, and courses at all levels are nearly always available.
Hillside bungalows in niche resorts and basic dive camps run the gamut of accommodation.
Virtually all have dive facilities and most have numerous classrooms.
Good restaurants abound,too.
Shops have first rate, new rental gear, and there’s even a full service dive supply store right off the ferry pier. Nights are spent gathered for happy hour at a dive shop beach pub, followed by a review of the day’s dive adventures videoed by local shop professionals. Everywhere you look, something dive-related is happening. Many people spend the morning diving and then relax and watch the sun go down from a beautiful stretch of sand called Sairee Beach.
Nearby and part of the scenic offering of many of the island’s northern viewpoints is Ko Nang Yuan, a tiny island formation comprising three landmasses connected by a central spit of sand.
Many nice, shallow dives and snorkeling spots are accessible from the island, which also has a hotel.
If you want to dive, this is the place to come.
Full Moon Madness
Don’t expect to get a room without major advance reservations around the time of the full moon (every month) at Ko Pha-Ngan.
The famous full moon parties, which attract as many as 20,000 people to all-nighters on Haad Rin’s Beach, are now part of the island’s international claim to fame.
Paradise Bungalows, the site of the original full moon party, consistently puts on an inspired show with wild decor and a combination of superb resident and international guest DJs.
Paint yourself in UV colors, dance under the black light and go wild to techno, trance, goa, drum n’ bass, dub, reggae, commercial hits, house and even blues music.
In all, there are roughly 15 sound systems blasting all night long at Haad Rin Beach. People gather and meet others from all corners of the globe at small tables all along the beach
just order drinks and food from the restaurants and bars.
There’s even an ‘after party’ now. The good news is that if you do go to bed early, you may have the dive boat all to yourself if you do dive the next day after the full moon party. Everyone else will be nursing a hangover.
The famous full moon parties, which attract as many as 20,000 people to all-nighters on Haad Rin’s Beach, are now part of the island’s international claim to fame.
Paradise Bungalows, the site of the original full moon party, consistently puts on an inspired show with wild decor and a combination of superb resident and international guest DJs.
Paint yourself in UV colors, dance under the black light and go wild to techno, trance, goa, drum n’ bass, dub, reggae, commercial hits, house and even blues music.
In all, there are roughly 15 sound systems blasting all night long at Haad Rin Beach. People gather and meet others from all corners of the globe at small tables all along the beach
just order drinks and food from the restaurants and bars.
There’s even an ‘after party’ now. The good news is that if you do go to bed early, you may have the dive boat all to yourself if you do dive the next day after the full moon party. Everyone else will be nursing a hangover.
MONEY
US dollars are the most readily acceptable currency
for buying baht, and travelers checks get a better rate than cash.
British pounds are the next best option.
Banks or legal money changers offer the best rates.
Credit cards are becoming increasingly accepted in quality shops, hotels and restaurants.
Visa/PLUS is the most useful, followed by MasterCard/Cirrus;
American Express cards are not as widely accepted.
ATMs that accept Visa, MasterCard and other credit cards are easily found in the larger cities.
Also, many exchange booths will give you a cash advance on your credit card.
The baht comes in denominations of 20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple) and 1000 (beige) notes.
There are 100 sàtàang in one baht; coins include 25-sàtàang and 50-sàtàang pieces, and one, five and 10 baht.
for buying baht, and travelers checks get a better rate than cash.
British pounds are the next best option.
Banks or legal money changers offer the best rates.
Credit cards are becoming increasingly accepted in quality shops, hotels and restaurants.
Visa/PLUS is the most useful, followed by MasterCard/Cirrus;
American Express cards are not as widely accepted.
ATMs that accept Visa, MasterCard and other credit cards are easily found in the larger cities.
Also, many exchange booths will give you a cash advance on your credit card.
The baht comes in denominations of 20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple) and 1000 (beige) notes.
There are 100 sàtàang in one baht; coins include 25-sàtàang and 50-sàtàang pieces, and one, five and 10 baht.
Getting There
Many international airlines service Thailand on a daily basis.
There are plenty of bargain basement flights to take advantage of for domestic flights in Thailand, and also for onward travel.
Bear in mind that flights in and out of Thailand are often overbooked, so confirm and reconfirm.
A host of international carriers land at Don Muang, Bangkok’s major airport terminal. Flights in and out of Thailand can be overbooked, so it’s imperative to reconfirm ongoing flights as soon as you arrive.
This can be done at the airport.
A good option is to bypass the Bangkok madness and fly directly into Phuket. Keep in mind that when leaving the small Phuket airport, things can bog down even getting in the door past a checkpoint can cause a major bottleneck.
Get there early to save the bother.
It’s a nice enough airport inside and has some good food stands.
Divers, especially those with diving photography gear, will be well catered for on flights originating in the US, as baggage restrictions allow for a reasonable amount of gear and equipment.
Usually two 50-pound bags are allowed for check-in, plus a carry on and a computer.
Some divers now carry their housings.
If you’re flying in from Asia or Australia, prepare to pay through the nose or not bring anything of substance.
The baggage allowance is only 20kg, with maybe an extra 10kg if you’re lucky.
(Strangely, only golfers can bring extra baggage without charge.)
Extra baggage fees can often add up to More than the ticket.
Also, be aware that if you travel through Hong Kong you may be confronted with haggling over a carryon bag being a centimeter too long in as you enter customs and security.
Most airlines will only cover up to US$2500 (usually less), which may just cover a single camera, so explain the circumstance and insist on taking a bag with your digital gear and computer on board.
Make as many advance preparations for this as possible and work with the airlines.
There are plenty of land entry pointsinto Thailand between Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
There is a Bt500 departure tax for all international departures. Transit passengers (those in the country for less than 12 hours) and children under two years of age are exempt.
There are plenty of bargain basement flights to take advantage of for domestic flights in Thailand, and also for onward travel.
Bear in mind that flights in and out of Thailand are often overbooked, so confirm and reconfirm.
A host of international carriers land at Don Muang, Bangkok’s major airport terminal. Flights in and out of Thailand can be overbooked, so it’s imperative to reconfirm ongoing flights as soon as you arrive.
This can be done at the airport.
A good option is to bypass the Bangkok madness and fly directly into Phuket. Keep in mind that when leaving the small Phuket airport, things can bog down even getting in the door past a checkpoint can cause a major bottleneck.
Get there early to save the bother.
It’s a nice enough airport inside and has some good food stands.
Divers, especially those with diving photography gear, will be well catered for on flights originating in the US, as baggage restrictions allow for a reasonable amount of gear and equipment.
Usually two 50-pound bags are allowed for check-in, plus a carry on and a computer.
Some divers now carry their housings.
If you’re flying in from Asia or Australia, prepare to pay through the nose or not bring anything of substance.
The baggage allowance is only 20kg, with maybe an extra 10kg if you’re lucky.
(Strangely, only golfers can bring extra baggage without charge.)
Extra baggage fees can often add up to More than the ticket.
Also, be aware that if you travel through Hong Kong you may be confronted with haggling over a carryon bag being a centimeter too long in as you enter customs and security.
Most airlines will only cover up to US$2500 (usually less), which may just cover a single camera, so explain the circumstance and insist on taking a bag with your digital gear and computer on board.
Make as many advance preparations for this as possible and work with the airlines.
There are plenty of land entry pointsinto Thailand between Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
There is a Bt500 departure tax for all international departures. Transit passengers (those in the country for less than 12 hours) and children under two years of age are exempt.
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