Where do we like to go to eat in Khao Lak?

The name of restaurant is Krua Ta Na Mong Kol (Go Aek). It's between Bang Nieng and Khao Lak, 5 minutes by motorbike from Khao Lak Scuba Adventures.

If you like authentic Thai food that has not been tamed for the western tongue then this is the place. We (many of us here at Khao Lak Scuba Adventures) like to go there for our post dive dinner.

Go Aek is the owner and also the cook and has more then 10 years experience cooking tasty, authentic Thai food. He cooks amazing dishes from all over Thailand and the prices are more then reasonable.

Yum Yum!

The fastest and the slowest in the sea.

     Sailfish are a very well-known species of fish (you've probably heard of them, and maybe even seen one mounted) because of their popularity among sport fishermen. They live in  the warmer areas of all the oceans of the world and can also be found at the Similan islands. I have often seen them jumping at the surface while I'm on the dive boat. They are blue to gray in color and have a distinctive large dorsal fin known as a sail, which often stretches the entire length of the back.They eat flying fish and squid, tunas, mackerels, jacks and other fish that swim near the ocean’s surface.
     Generally, sailfish do not grow to more than 3 m in length and rarely weigh over 90 kg.It's the fastest fish in the ocean and can reach speeds of 68 miles (110 kilometers) per hour. Their large size and spirited fight make them a favorite among trophy fishers

      Sea horse is the world's slowest fish. It travels .001 miles per hour. It would take the fish about an hour to swim only five feet. There are nearly 50 species of seahorse, mainly found in shallow tropical and temperate waters throughout the world. They prefer to live in sheltered areas such as sea grass  beds, coral reefs, or mangroves. These fish form territories, with males staying in about 1 square meter of their habitat while females range about one hundred times that area. That's why we can see the sea horse at the same spot around Richelieu Rock.
     Seahorses swim upright, another characteristic that is not shared by their close pipe fish relatives, which swim horizontally. Seahorses have a coronet  on their head, which is distinct to each individual, much like a human fingerprint. They swim very poorly by using a dorsal fin, which they rapidly flutter and pectoral fins, located behind their eyes, which they use to steer. Seahorses have no caudal fin. Since they are poor swimmers, they are most likely to be found resting, with their prehensile tails wound around a stationary object. They have long snouts, which they use to suck up food, and eyes that can move independently of each other, much like a chameleon. Seahorses eat small shrimp, tiny fish, crustaceans and plankton.

The training course for the winner of the Divemaster course with Khao Lak Scuba Adventures is in progress already.

Here is a photo of Mario assisting Jonas Holm in the pool for a group of Open Water Students. Jo was doing a Scuba Skill Update - so we both have gotten our first experience in assisting and teaching, and it was fun!

We also have completed the Stress and Rescue course, which included saving a panicked diver from our day trip boat. Don't worry, Jonas set it up without us knowing, so the guy was not really drowning ;-) But, we managed to get him on board - happy for us we didn't cause him more damage!
Our recommendations to all divers: take this course, its fun, challenging and it will make you a better diver.

Besides rescuing divers, we're studying hard so we are ready for our SSI Dive Control Specialist exams and then we're going on a live-aboard. Pictures and stories to follow :-)

And by the way, the sun is now shining in lovely Khao Lak and we are all looking forward to seeing some of you blog followers soon.

                                                                Story and Photo by: Jo and Mario 
                                                                Post by: Khao Lak Scuba Adventures

The dive guide with a beautiful smile.

     Khao Lak Scuba Adventures is proud to introduce to you Mrs. Sureerat Dunlop, nick name Boom, a PADI divemaster who is working for Khao Lak Scuba Adventures for the first season. Boom is Thai, she married to Don the instructor who is also working for us, they have a very cute son together.
     Boom became a Divemaster in 2009, Boom had been working in the office before she started diving. She thought the office work was boring and wanted to try something else, that's why she became a PADI divemaster.
     Boom is sweet, joyful Thai woman with an easy smile. Her favorite marine animal is the Whale Shark. " It was impressive to see the first Whale Shark after 15 dives. That experience makes me like diving and want to do it as long as I can" said Boom
   

Nice scene.

     This is a common scene when you dive at the Similan Islands. The islands have a lot of colorful fish and many species feed in schools which is a great  spectacle.

Strongest "punch" in the world.

     Mantis shrimp or stomatopods are marine crustaceans, they are neither shrimp nor mantis, but receive their name purely from the physical resemblance to both the terrestrial praying mantis and the shrimp.  These aggressive and typically solitary sea creatures spend most of their time hiding in rock formations or burrowing intricate passageways in the sea-bed.They are burrowers, constructing U-shaped holes in the loose substrate near the bases of coral reefs in water ranging from 3 to 40 meters (9.8 to 130 ft) deep. Mantis shrimp is a smasher, with club shaped raptorial appendages. An active hunter, it prefers gastropods, crustaceans, and bivalves, and will repeatedly smash its prey until it can gain access to the soft tissue for consumption. It is reported to have a "punch" of over 50mph. The fastest punch of any living animal.They are active, intelligent, curious animals, capable of interacting with their keepers. Although it happens rarely, some larger species of mantis shrimp are capable of breaking through aquarium  glass with a single strike from this weapon. The eyes of mantis shrimp may make them able to recognize different types of coral, prey species (which are often transparent or semi-transparent), or predators, such as barracuda, which have shimmering scales. In a lifetime, they can have as many as 20 or 30 breeding episodes. Depending on the species, the eggs can be laid and kept in a burrow, or carried around under the female's tail until they hatch.
     You can see Mantis shrimp at Similan, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu rock when you go diving with Khao Lak Scuba Adventures.
    

Khao Na Yak

     Khao Na Yak is Khao Lak's house reef. Only 30 minutes away by local boat and with a maximum depth of 8 - 10 m. This is a most relaxing dive and an excellent dive site for new divers or for those who haven't dived for a while. If you like small animal that look strange and colorful like nudibranch, flat worm, sea horse, frog fish, lion fish, scorpion fish, moray eels, napoleon wrasse, ghost pipe fish,occasional rays and leopard sharks. This is the place you can go to see them. Khao Na Yak Reef as well as the Boon Sung Wreck also appeals to experienced divers who like to spend some time focusing closely on the varied fish life of a tropical reef.

     Dive site information
Depth: 6 - 10 m
Visibility: 5 - 15 m
Currents: Low
Surface Conditions: Calm
Water Temperature: 26 - 30°C
Experience Level: Beginner

Diving Season: Nov - May
Distance: 7 km south of Khao Lak (30 min.)
Access: Long tail boat 

Khao Lak Scuba Adventures organize day trip to Khao Na Yak from November to May.

Sarasin bridge.

     What’s the first sign to notice that you are stepping into Phang Nga from Phuket by car?
     It would be Sarasin Bridge, the only way to get to Khao Lak, Phang Nga by car. You may wonder why I mention Sarasin Bridge. Is it important to know about the only way to get to Khao Lak by car? Actually it’s not important if the bridge is just only a normal bridge but the bridge comes with legend of love.
     Flash back to February 22nd, 1973 @ Sarasin Bridge, love tragedy was existed.
     Young couple tied themselves with Thai loincloth, and jumped off the bridge.
Even though the couple can’t hold their last breaths up until the end, but their love story remains the same.
     The love tragedy originally starts with Dam-a young man local bus driver-
who falls in love with a lovely Teachers College student, Gew. Dam is only a guy who earns very little, he lives from hand to mouth while Gew was born in a wealthier family. It wouldn’t be a real tragic love if Gew’s father didn’t judge their love.
     Gew’s father dictated his daughter’s life by not allowing her to think and act freely. He wanted Gew to be married with a rich guy, not poor man like Dam.
But Gew and Dam didn’t’ give up. They were trying to make her dad understand
what their true love is. On contrary, dad hated what they have done. He sometimes detained Gew inside the house, for worse, he hit her like a slave,
not a beloved daughter as she supposed to be.
     Even thought Gew’s father was too blinded to see a glory of his daughter’s love, but not in villagers’ eyes. Some of them have convinced Gew’s father, but he never ever once listened to what they’ve told. He still wanted his daughter to get married with a rich guy.
     It’s like a sweet bitter love novel. No it’s not. It’s a REAL true love story. It’s hard to imagine about what they were thinking before they made up their minds
to committed suicide.
     It's about 1hr 30minutes from Phuket airport to Khao Lak Scuba Adventures by car. You will pass the bridge on the way.

Thank you Iza.

     Below is an email from Iza, one of Khao Lak Scuba Adventures's customers who was on the live-aboard last trip. Thank you Iza.

--- On Mon, 11/15/10, Iza Lorenc <izabelalorenc@msn.com> wrote:

From: Iza Lorenc <izabelalorenc@msn.com>
Subject: MQII trip 10-14/11/10
To: divingkhaolak@rocketmail.com
Date: Monday, November 15, 2010, 3:45 AM

Dear Bee and KSA Team
Thank you very much for the amazing 4 days/nights trip on MQ II
The professionalism, knowledge and care of MQ II Dive Instructors are very impressive. I have learn so much from their experience.
Some days we had a rough weather, and big seas, the Instructors always make a very safe return to the boat.
All the dive sites we visit were very beautiful, and the choice where to go next was always adjusted to a weather condition, so we can get the best of it. Very well done and well organized.
The surface interval was nicely long, that give us time to rest and did not feel like "production line" , like some organizations do. So with the 4 dives a day , there was enough time to relax and enjoy the trip, with the pleasure of multiple dives.
The food was great, and I did have to escape from some of the meals, as was impossible to eat all (2 breakfasts then morning tea then lunch!!!). There was always choice for different food preferences: spicy, not-spicy, meat or vegetarian.
And the help from Thai Staff was incredible. I am not sure if I still remember how to take care for my own equipment, as every thing was always done for me.
I am just 1 day after the live-aboard trip and already want to go back to MQ II
Special thanks to Gonzo and Paul
Thank you very much Staff of MQ II and KSA
Best Regards
Iza

Why we should not feed the fish?

     It's an entertaining and interactive marine experience for the diver, and an easy meal for those beautiful fish, so what's the problem? It's now generally accepted that despite being a"once in a lifetime experience", feeding marine fish is bad idea for everyone, including divers, fish and the ecosystem. The Green Fins (The organization that help to protect and conserve coral reefs) 4Deadly D's explains why we should not feed fish or throw food leftovers and waste into the sea
     1) Disruption of ecological processes, over time this activity can change the behavior of the fish as they learn of connect divers, snorkelers, and boats with feeding time. Marine life maintains an intricate balance of ecological relationships and behavior. Unnatural feeding encourages species that would never usually come into contact with humans to interact. This may result in serious injury and harm to individuals. Upsetting such complex and unique systems can lead to measurable negative impacts.
     2) Disadvantageous health impact to fish, when fed, fish may stop natural feeding cycles which are important to ensure they are receiving the correct nutrients to survive. Over a prolonged period, fish conditioned to accept a free meal from a diver could become under nourished, stressed or in some cases, death.
     3) Danger to humans, attacks and bites have been increasingly reported by fish feeders and others in the vicinity because marine life mistake divers actions for handouts, or the marine life lose their natural wariness of humans underwater. There was highly publicized case of a resident moray eel in the Similan islands trained to eat sausages by visiting divers, one day it mistook a diver's thumb for a sausage and bit entire thumb off.
     4) Damaging the environment, many fed species like grouper and small sharks are predators whose feeding habits provide key roles in the delicate balance of life on coral reefs and other marine habitats. By supplementing the diet of these fish, we interrupt this important natural balance. There is much evidence today in Thailand that fish feeding is increasing the severity and rate of the coral eating Crown of Thorns starfish outbreaks.
     Khao Lak Scuba Adventures and Green Fins asks all tourists, divers and boat crew not to feed fish anywhere, to throw your left over lunch into the bin and to ensure that rubbish is taken off the boat and disposed of responsibly. It's not allowed to feed fish in National Parks around Thailand.

The dive site map drawing expert.

All these maps were drawn by Julian Arenas Mahe from Zaragoza (Spain). He is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer and SSI Dive Control Specialist Instructor, who is now working now for a second season with Khao Lak Scuba Adventures. He has been diving in Spain, Oman, Indonesia and Malaysia.

"I have always had 2 main passions in my life, from an early age. one is the mountains, especially alpine and classic climbing. I love to reach highs and beautiful summits as cleanly as possible and to descend long white glaciers as fast as possible; another one is the underwater world. From my beginnings in free diving to my years as scuba fun diver, always looking for new underwater experiences in new places and with new people. But there is another passion sharing the same space, maybe comprising the other two, which is to travel, to visit new places, to meet new people, to know different cultures. I think that through this small explanation I can show why I became an instructor, why I enjoy every single day of my job, sharing experiences with different people above and below the water, teaching them and going together through the first or any other step of this amazing world" said Julian.

Julian is a positive person and likes to learn new things all the time. He is easy going, thinking about today and the near future. He doesn't like to make big plans for the future that are too far away, because he knows that things can change all the time, so he just enjoys his life everyday that he lives.

To meet Julian or diving with him, make reservation on our M/V Manta Queen I from now until May.

Manta Queen III

Our  Manta Queen III is now in progress. We expect the boat to be ready in January.

Due to the distance to the Similan Islands, it is also possible for divers and snorkelers to stay overnight like the very popular 2 or 3 day overnight trips on M/V Manta Queen III.

Our custom built live-aboard M/V Manta Queen III with 2 big new engines is cruising continuously around the Similan Islands National Park.
The vessel is fitted with air-conditioned cabins for up to 24 guests. The boat has 3 types of cabins
6 shared twin bed bunk cabins with extra bed, 2 shared twin bed bunk cabins with extra bed and private bathroom, 1 double bed cabin with private bathroom (14 sqm) 

A daily transfer by our two 675 horsepower speedboats “White Dolphin” and "Dolphin Express" in the morning takes you to the diving vessel M/V Manta Queen III making it possible to start on any day an overnight trips for any length of time that suits you.

     In order to accommodate all their individual needs. The White Dolphin then departs to shallower and calmer reefs for the non dive activities and diving students while our certified divers will dive from the M/V Manta Queen III.

Join our 2-day/1-night  or 3-day/2-night trip, start every day, we will give you an experience that you will never forget.

หัวหน้าดำน้ำ

Divemaster
     ถ้าคุณรักการดำน้ำ และไฝ่ฝันที่จะเป็นนักดำน้ำมืออาชีพ เพื่อที่จะได้ทำในสิ่งที่คุณรัก Divemaster course คือก้าวแรกของการเป็นนักดำน้ำมืออาชีพสำหรับคุณ เราเปิดสอนทั้งหลักสูตรของ PADI และ SSI ซึ่งทั้งสองหลักสูตรจะช่วยเพิ่มทักษะในการดำน้ำ และสร้างทัศนคติของการเป็นไดฟ์มาสเตอร์ที่ดีให้แก่คุณ

โครงสร้างหลักสูตร
     การทดสอบสมรรภาพของร่างกาย และทักษะการดำน้ำ
- การว่ายน้ำ ระยะทาง 400 เมตร
- การสน้อกกลิ้ง ระยะทาง 800 เมตร
- การลอยตัว15 นาที
- การลากนักดำน้ำ ระยะทาง100 เมตร
- สอบทักษะการดำน้ำ18 ทักษะ
- การสอบทักษะการ Rescue
- การสอบการเปลี่ยนอุปกรณ์ใต้น้ำ
- สอบข้อเขียน

     การเรียนเรื่องทฤษฎีการดำน้ำทั้งหมด 8 บท
- หลักสูตรที่ไดฟ์มาสเตอร์สามารถฝึกสอนได้
- การจัดการ ควบคุม ดูแลนักดำน้ำ
- การทำงานร่วมกับครูสอนดำน้ำในหลักสูตรดำน้ำต่างๆ
- ฟิสิกส์กับการดำน้ำ
- สรีระวิทยากับการดำน้ำ
- อุปกรณ์ดำน้ำ
- ทักษะและสิ่งแวดล้อม
- ทฤษฎีเรื่องการลดความดัน (Decompression Theory)

     การฝึกงานและการสอบภาคปฎิบัติในทะเล
- การทำแผนที่ใต้น้ำ
- การจัดทำแผนรับมือกับเหตุฉุกเฉิน
- การจัดกาาร ควบคุม ดูแลนักดำน้ำในกิจกรรมการดำน้ำต่างๆ
- การทำงานร่วมกับครูสอนดำน้ำในภาคปฏิบัติ

     คุณสมบัติของผู้ที่มาเรียน
- อายุไม่ต่ำกว่า18 ปี
- ผ่านการเรียนดำน้ำระดับ Advanced Open Water ของ PADI หรือ SSI หรือเทียบเท่ามาแล้ว
- ผ่านการฝึกการปฐมพยาบาลในหลักสูตร EFR ของ PADI หรือ SSI หรือเทียบเท่ามาแล้ว
- ผ่านการเรียนดำน้ำระดับ Rescue Diver ของ PADI หรือ SSI หรือเทียบเท่ามาแล้ว
- มีประสบการณ์การดำน้ำมาไม่น้อยกว่า 60 ครั้ง
- มีใบรับรองจากแพทย์ว่าเป็นผู้ที่มีสุขภาพร่างกายแข็งแรง สำหรับการดำน้ำ

     ประโยชน์ที่ได้รับ
- สามารถนำสิ่งที่เรียนรู้ จากการดำน้ำมาประกอบอาชีพเป็นอาชีพหลักหรือเป็นอาชีพเสริมได้
- มีทักษะด้านการดำน้ำมากขึ้น
- สามารถเป็นผู้ช่วยครูผู้สอน (Instructor) ในการสอนการดำน้ำเบื้องต้น
- เป็นผู้ควบคุมดูแลการท่องเที่ยวดำน้ำ และเป็นหัวหน้ากลุ่ม (Dive Leader) ในการดำน้ำ
- มีรายได้เพิ่มขึ้น มีเพื่อนมากขึ้นจากอาชีพดำน้ำ
- มีประสบการณ์ด้านการดำน้ำ และการท่องเที่ยวเพิ่มขึ้น
- สามารถเลือกประกอบอาชีพที่เกี่ยวกับการดำน้ำที่ตนเองชอบ เช่น ช่างภาพใต้น้ำ    

The dive master trainee winners have arrived

     Hi all, this is Mario and Jo - the lucky winners of the Dive Master course at KSA.
We are proud to tell you that we passed the Emergency First Response today, and tomorrow we're heading for the pool to try out some rescue skills. Keep your fingers crossed for our advancements ;)

     Friday is diving day!! We will keep you updated on our fun and progress :)

     

     Story and photo by: Jo and Mario

     Post by:Khao Lak Scuba Adventures

     Khao Lak Scuba Adventures is proud to introduce Miss Montse Amores from Barcelona, Spain. Montse is an SSI diving instructor and PADI master scuba diver trainer. She works for Khao Lak Scuba Adventures from October to May and spends the rest of the year working as an economist in Spain.
     Montse fell in love with diving in 2005 when she had her first diving experience at the  Great Barrier Reef and since then she can't stop diving. "I love diving. I like the feeling of being underwater as it's calm, relaxing and happy. I want to show everyone how beautiful the underwater world is and I would like to share this feeling with others. I also love the opportunities that diving provides for meeting people from different countries and learning about different cultures. It's fun to hang out and have a good laugh with all the divers on the boat" said Montse.
     Montse also loves kids and she likes to hang out with kids in the neighborhood during her free time. She shows them the pictures and underwater video, telling them stories about diving. She hope to get a chance to teach diving to kids someday.
     If you want to meet our lovely Montse, come to dive at the beautiful Similans with us. Montse is waiting to show you the amazing underwater world of the Similans.

MQ I trip#03, 27-31/10/10

Happy divers

Octopus try to look like the reef.

We found them! We found them! Yehhhh

You are so beautiful.

This picture is so cool.

Juvenile sea cucumber.

Sweet, sweet lips.

Come closer, we like you.

An art.

Log book time.

    Join our trip to see beautiful Similans and have a good time with us. Check our website www.khaolakscubaadventures.com