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There's far more detailed info in the 'Diving' section
of this site. Consider this page a brief introduction . . .
There are over
a dozen dive schools on Koh Chang, ranging from one man operations to big
businesses with big boats and big offices. The biggest dive operators by
far are
Ploy Scuba and Waterworld, smaller operators with good reputations include The
Dive Adventure - who run liveaboard dive trips to Cambodia, the English-run
Dolphin Divers and BB Divers down in Bangbao. (If being the only diver amongst a group of 30 non
swimming Thai snorkellers is your thing then check out OK Diving.)
All
dive schools offer PADI courses and fun dive trips. Prices are usually
very similar between schools, don't mention the word 'cartel' they don't like
it, e.g. 10,000 baht for the PADI Open Water course
& 2,400 baht for a couple of fun dives off Koh Rang. There is a lot of competition - a couple of
years ago there were only a handful of dive schools. If a school knows you
are serious about taking a course then it will pay to haggle, especially if you
approach the school direct.
As you can see from the map, some of the dive sites are quite a few km
from Koh Chang, therefore how you get to the sites is worth considering if you
don't want to spend more time than is necessary on a boat. The type of boat the
dive trip will be run off is also a big factor - converted fishing boats
aren't known for their speed, unlike purpose built dive boats. There
again, there isn't always much room to move around on a speedboat - especially
if it's on the small side & you and your fellow aquanauts are crammed in like
sardines. Make sure you see the boat first.
 All
diving on Koh Chang is done off boats. There's no beach diving. (However, some dive schools on
White Sand Beach
prefer to complete any confined water training required on a dive course
in shallow seas near the beach, rather than in a pool.)
The map on the
right pinpoints some of the main dive sites around Koh Chang:
1.Wreck of
the 'Thonburi'
2. Hin Luk Bat
3. Hin Rap
4. Koh Wai
5. Koh Kra
6. Koh Rang
Different dive
schools prefer different dive sites, therefore prior to signing up for a dive
make sure you check where you'll be going and what you can expect to see.
Your dive school should be able to give
you details of the types of fish & marine life that have been recently seen at
various dive sites.
Don't expect Koh Chang to have the level of
underwater visibility that you get diving off Koh Tao or anywhere in the Andaman
Sea. It's a good, but not great, dive destination. The underwater rock
pinnacles and the marine life they attract are the main attractions however, if
you're lucky you may get to see turtles, rays and the odd shark or two.
Non-divers should note that the snorkelling around Koh Rang is also particularly good with an abundance of fish
to be seen. I've snorkelled here and also around Krabi & Trang.
Whilst the visibility is better at those southern snorkelling sites, I saw far
more varieties and some seriously large schools of fish off Koh Rang.
So, if your budget doesn't stretch to a dive course or
black skintight rubber just isn't your thing, sign up for a snorkelling trip.
It should cost around 400/450 baht for the day if you book a trip leaving from
Bangbao, including a transportation to & from from your resort.
Captain Toom, who's the embodiment of a Thai seadog, runs trips out of Bangbao
which can be recommended. If you are
staying on White Sand Beach and don't fancy starting your day with a 30 minute drive
down to Bangbao then a trip starting at White Sand Beach will set you back around 600
baht+. Sab Sunya Tour lay on a large boat and decent buffet lunch - book
through one of their agents.
** One snorkelling tour to avoid on
principal rather than service is Chang Cruise. This is a converted car
ferry that can hold 300 snorkellers. Put yourself in Bob the fish's place, one
minute you're grinning for the camera as a lone diver takes your pic; the next a
couple of hundred bodies are milling around, the noise is deafening, your coral
home has been trampled and at least 20 kids have pissed on your doorstep.
Not a good thing.
Onward to the Diving
part of this site . . . . |
