Dive & Life in Phuket Thailand

Remember the sadness of September

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 11:51:00 +0000

10 years ago, I was happily strolling the dirt roads of Koh Tao after a wonderful dive at Sail Rock with Miz. We passed shops and restaurants, with people glued to the television, of what looked like then an action film. Needless to say, when we finally stopped to see what all the excitement was, we realized we were watching replays of the planes crashed into the World Trade Center. My country and my life had not been the same ever since.

3 years ago, my friend Dave Purkeypile passed away, on the night of a rather superstitious day, 09/09/09. I am trying to remember Dave as best as I can every September, and striving to make sure that I live my life as intended, full of passion and love. Well, here to America and my friend Dave, I raise my glass and spill a couple of splashes for you both.

A few photos of Dave back in CA during our Captain Frog Scuba IDC from 2004-2006. Click here.

Thien & Scuba Junkie Confirmed PADI IDC for November 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Fri, 20 May 2011 11:35:00 +0000

Thien next PADI IDC schedule for Scuba Junkie PADI 5 Star IDC Center in Semporna & Mabul Island, Borneo is released. Our next program for November 2011 is confirmed as followed:

DM Reviews & IDC Prep: 9-10 November
IDC & EFRI: 11 - 18 November
Specialty Instructor Course (Deep, Digital Photo, Night): 19 November
IE Prep: 20-21 November
IE (Seafest Hotel, Semporna): 22 - 23 November

Our 'Mabul PADI IDC' Special package starts from only 49,500 THB, include:

PREP course + EFRI + IDC + 1 Specialty Instructor Course
complete 2011 IDC Crew Pak and EFR Instructor Manual (value 750.00 $AUS)
10 nights Shared room, 3 meals daily, and equipment rental
FREE unlimited dives off the world famous house reef, Froggies & Awas.

Other Instructor programs available include MSDT Prep (from 19,000 THB), IDC Staff Course (18,500 THB), and dive and room package starts from 3,500 THB / day (3 dives, including dorm accommodation & 2 meals, full set equipment rental).

How about it? Are you up for a PADI IDC in one of the best dive destinations in the world? Thien and the team at Scuba Junkie are looking to host our potential candidates in Asia's top destination, where diving, practical training sessions, room & board are just steps away...

Come for the IDC or just come hang out and dive, we hope to see you in the water. Contact us at dive@rumblefishadventure.com or thien@gopro-thailand.com.

We have a "Price Match Guarantee," do let us know if you receive the same written offer at a lower price, we'll match it.

Riskiest Places to Use Your Credit Card - CNBC

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:36:00 +0000

Even if you use the utmost caution, you can still be a victim of credit card fraud. Credit card companies and banks are more and more often putting the onus of catching phony or incorrect credit card charges on the consumer.

The most important thing is to check your billing statment, of course. And there are organizations like Creditcards.com that offer tips on how to keep your cards safe as well.

Riskiest Places to Use Your Credit Card - CNBC

(In Memoriam) David Purkeypile, PADI Master Instructor

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:00:00 +0000

It is with deep sadness for us at Rumblefish Adventure and GoPro Thailand to announce the passing of our good friend and colleague, 'Big Dave.'

What led to his death is mostly hearsay, and I gathered as much info from his girlfriend, his ex-business partner of his new restaurant, and Mike Marchbanks. I found out about Dave's condition from Mike in the morning of the day after...

The story..."Dave went to Phuket International Hospital for severe stomach pain on the 9th September, 2009. After 3-4 hours of waiting for tests and x-rays etc, PIH doctor diagnosed that he has pancreatitis, however, PIH does not have the facility or equipment to treat him. He was directed to Vachira Hospital, after he went into unconsciousness and was unable to confirm his ability to pay for his treatment (eventhough he does have insurance, credit card, cash in the bank etc). His girlfriend finally contacted Mike Marchbanks hours later, and Mike authorized his admittance into the ICU. During that same evening, his liver failed and Dave went into a coma. Blood dialysis was initiated the next morning, however he never regained consciousness."

He passed away at Vachira Hospital, succumbed to acute pancreatitis, which led to failure of his liver and kidneys, on the evening of the 10th September, 2009.

We will always remember Dave for his wicked laughs, hearty smiles, a larger than life personality and generosity to all those in our dive communities of Kata Beach, Phuket and Bakersfield, California.

Here are some of Dave's photos at our Picassa Site.

Stop Whining & Dive Already...

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:14:00 +0000

I'm ranting, so be prepare to hear some harsh comments that may offend you...

All I hear lately is how the global economy crisis affecting every part of everyone daily activities. People are shelving their plans, postponing their lives just because apparently all of this current economic problems suddenly thrusted upon us without any warnings. Of course, the way some people carried on with their lifestyles in the last few years had nothing to do with this... NOT!
Don't believe me? I can name a few non-essential junks that many of you spent your good diving money on: Do you really need another iPhone? iPod? "Something" handheld devices supposedly will make your life better & work more effectively?

So, now suddenly even the friendliest of people in the world, you know... us, the scuba divers, also joining in on the "whining wagon." Yep, living in the center of Thailand's diving world, I get to see and hear loads of bitching and whining. We hear divers complaint that, "Diving is too expensive; it cost too much for a dive trip; we need discounts, give us more if you want us to go diving with you... blah blah blah! Geez, want more cheeze with your whines?" But, they had no problem plunking down cold hard cash for another "useless toy" that probably will be replaced with a newer, faster and more expensive model in a couple weeks.

The price of dive trips in Phuket hadn't change since Bill Clinton was the president of the United States. Really! it's still around 2,500 - 3,000 THB for a daytrip, not much has changed in boat diving price since the late 90s and early 2000s. However, Phuket's dive services today are much better than they were a few years ago, and back then, we were already pretty good. Today, Phuket is shuttling divers between their hotels & boats with newer minibuses and better equipped passengers trucks. Most operators have Breakfast & lunch on-board for guests, and even pan-cakes for the boat ride home. Tanks are filled during service interval, super attentive boat staff to care for your every needs, three chambers available to respond to any dive emergency, newer and larger boats etc. I can go on and on with the goods... And Phuket does all of this depsite year after year of challenges with natural disaster, political unrests, fuel costs etc. And I bet not much has changed either in other part of the region, Bali, N. Sulawesi, Borneo, Philippines and more.

So, please get over yourselves and be mindful next time you ask for discounts, or giving up your dive trip because apparently you are trying to save money to buy another "iSomething." When your dive shop or boat operator had to discount, something or someone had to be given up. And, usually it will be the cheerful boat staff, the nice office attendant, that cool Dive Guide who will have to do more and get less... Just because some of you are stingy for a 5-10 bucks discount.

With a little planning, you don't have to miss your dives or spend too much for some great diving. Take advantage of many operators offer, multiple trip discounts can add up your savings. It's more affordable to travel by air today than the past, thanks to Air Asia, Tiger Airways and many others regional airlines in learning how to earn without taking from the travelers. I know this because I use these airlines regularly. Want an example? Here's what a little planning result for my next diving trip, using only Air Asia. and please don't even try to tell me that I don't watch my spending because I'm a Yank. I am Vietnamese by birth, and we as people don't waste money by paying full price for anything if we can help it :-)

24th June - 12th July (Flight: AK823 & AK836, Phuket to KL to Phuket, fare 2,383 THB Return)
24th - 28th June (Flight: KL - Tawau AK5154, fare 87.50 RM one way)
29th June - 1st July (Flight: Tawau - KK AK6127, fare 50.50 RM one way)
2nd - 3rd July, (Flight: KK - KL AK5109, fare 84.00 RM one way)
Prices for flights are inclusive of fees, 15kg baggage allowance, Goinsure Premium and Advance Seat Selection.
Total: approx. 4,603 THB or 460 RM (135 USD)

The cost of diving is pretty much the same in Semporna and Sabah as in Thailand. Though I highly doubt the boat service will match Phuket standard. However, I am a Scuba diver and a lover of the sea. I care deeply about the dive industry. So, I'm going to dive on published price during this trip and many more this year.

I plan to spend more of any money I save in the diving industry in 2009. Yes, I am cutting down on my eating habits (most expensive in my monthly budget :-) so that I can dive, and support the dive businesses around the region. If you are passionate about the sea, about diving, I challenge you to do the same... Get in the water, it's good for your soul!

Seven Days, 3 countries, 4 Cities... Life on the Road

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:04:00 +0000

I've logged quite a bit of "air Km" in the past few days, I'll say a bit too much for an active Course Director, instructor, and lover of scuba diving! But, duty called, so I packed up and go... So here some tidbits of my airport experiences, airline faux pas, and the annoyance of dealing with inept or lack of service by the airline industry.

First up, Tiger Airways served as my transport mode for my trip from Phuket to Singapore. With 2 counters opened, 3 staffs assisting the guests, Tiger won the mark as my favorite no frilled airline in the Indochina area. Reasons? How about efficient check-in process, clean plane, attentive staff, empowered to assist guests without having to defer to their supervisor... I wish though that Tiger would fly to more destination within Thailand, now that Nok air & 1-2-Go are out of business!

The worst service for my trip descended down to Jet Star Asia, winning the "lame-ass award" for the second time within 4 months. To keep it precise, Jet Star canceled all their flights to Phuket from Singapore starting April 2008. With me traveling to Manado, I received an email notification only 2 weeks prior to my travel date with them. I called the customer Service office for Thailand, received "a sorry about that, would you like to change to another destination and pay the different, or receive a refund " comment. Well, home is Phuket, and in need of a flight back from Singapore for me, Jet Star could not book me on another airline. and by the way, they will refund my canceled ticket in 3 months. I had to scrambled while in Singapore to find a flight back to Phuket, and guess who did a wonderful job on this, Tiger Airways.

a week after I have returned to Phuket, Jet Star sent out an apology email and a voucher of 50 SGD (valid until June 30th) to paid for our trouble because they had canceled flights to Phuket.

So, now back to this trip, I flied Jet Star to Ho Chi Minh City after my stop in singapore. During checking in, I was informed that my Vietnam "Visa on Arrival" is not allowed for me to get on the plane (Uh, I'm a Vietnamese, and traveled to Vietnam using this method all the time...). After a few minutes, the counter staff cleared with her supervisor that indeed it is valid (like we didn't know that!). Then came the real kicker, she said the name in my booking does not match with the name in my US passport. Jet Star Booking has my Family name: DO, Given Name: THIEN; my passport showed my Family Name: DO, Given & Middle Name: THIEN XUAN. apparently that's not acceptable since I was suppose to include my middle name in the booking, under the First Name. HUH? If Jet Star wants the middle name included, then why not add a box for middle name? I wonder if they demand the same stupid policy compliance from John Thomas Henry if he only entered John Henry?

However, not all is so bad for this "Kangaroo managed" airline (partly owned by Qantas). My flight from HCM to Nha Trang City (domestic) went without any stupid hitch or more policy compliance. I wonder maybe it's due to the Vietnamese staff of Pacific Airlines, which bought out by Jet Star early this year... Either way, Jet Star Asia, and especially the counter staff at Changi, are lame, rude, and offer crappy service...

My final 2 legs of the trip back to Bangkok then Phuket were on the popular Thai Air Asia. with the recent closing of so local routes by Thai 1-2-Go & Nok Air (partly owned by Thai Air), Air Asia is now the number 1 airline for domestic travel inside Thailand. There's not much to tell about this "local bus style" service airline. It's one of the few success stories of new airlines launched within the last 5 years. However, I wonder why they still holding on the silly boarding policy, of everyone get up and go at the same time when boarding the plane? If they did indeed model themselves after the successful Southwest Airline (US no-frilled carrier who has continue to post profits year after year), why not use the simple practice of assigning a numeric to each passenger checking in, so that when it's boarding time, call passengers with number 1-30 to begin, then 1-60, then 1-90 etc. eliminating the "cattle rush"...

conclusion, flying will be more expensive & annoying as ever, and it will continue. so, if you want a little decency and also save a little bit of cash by using no-frill airlines, here my rank:

Tiger Airways: assign seating, 20kg check luggage & generous allowance for sports equipment, new plane, well trained & attentive counter staff at check-in, and efficient both on the ground and in the air... Hoping more destinations will be added to SE Asia!
Air Asia: More destinations, relatively cheap, more flights to popular destinations, 15kg allowance for check luggage, and will charge you extra for sports equipment.
Jet Star: 20kg allowance, assigned seating. AVOID Them unless you have no other choice...

Have any horror stories about no-frilled airlines? Tell the world about it, as they are getting away with too much now...

THE JOURNEY OF A DIVER MANUAL

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:55:00 +0000

Ever wonder when you choose to do your dive course (either the beginner level of Open Water, or the Advance, Specialty or Rescue), why you pay so much money for the manual you use during your training? Well, me too!

As an ambassador for a very large certification organization, I have gone and completed more courses than the casual diver. However, you and I should wonder in this day and age of environmental conscious, reducing carbon foot print, save the rain forest, or cut down CO2 emission etc., why on earth are paper products still being printed, wrapped, packaged, driven, loaded, shipped, unloaded, driven, stocked, re-packed, loaded, shipped, unloaded, driven, stocked, and finally delivered to you, the student diver? Why organizations who preach conservation would continue with this wasteful business practice and environmental unfriendly education model? Is the answer lied somewhere in the name of protecting intellectual property or cold hard cash or just lip service?

Anyway, here's the journey...

A diver manual (any language) is printed somewhere in the US of A. It is then wrapped, packed, driven to a dock and shipped to another continent (let's say Sydney, Australia) where it will be driven (picked up) from a shipping dock to a warehouse, stored, and is ready to be sold. Once it is sold, the diver manual is re-packed, driven (or picked-up) to a dock, shipped to the buyer in let's say another continent (Thailand, Asia). However, its journey is not done. The poor diver manual will be unpacked, fondled & flipped (custom officer duty), re-packed, driven, then un-packed and stored at a warehouse, awaiting you the diver to book the dive course.

You can free this poor diver manual from its wasteful journey by booking a diver course. The diver manual is then get sold to a dive school where you will take the dive course. Then, it gets picked-up, wrapped, written on, driven to the post office (or dive center), and then handed to you, the rightfully owner, the one who set it free... at a cost of 3,477 THB, if it was an open water course manual.

am I the only one that is questioning this method of environmental damaging & cost ineffective business model? As a consumer, shouldn't you ask is it really necessary?

My thought:

southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam, & Cambodia) is the most traveled destination for tropical holiday makers, and avid divers. Why can it pay for the right to distribute dive manuals? Is the printing machine out here not as good as the US of A?
do you think Mc Donald or Starbucks would ship any of their products in the same manner to stores around the globe?
Have any of these dive organizations heard about digital manual?
Since new diver certifications are decreasing annually, wouldn't it be better to put as many of the digital open water manuals into the hands of interested divers FOC?
Ah, lost of revenue in book sales if it's free? not to worry! Why not raise the certification card fee to cover the net profit margin?
Isn't it better to have the rain forest last a little longer by cutting the use of paper product instead of trees, even by just 10%?
Imagine the itsy bitsy reduction of carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere... LEAD by Example anyone?

Well, it's just my jumble thought... But, all of you environmentally conscious divers must wonder the same, and shouldn't take rules, policies, or blah blah blah as a cope out answer.

Is the life of a tree any less important than a coral? Or a reef any more important than a forest?

TDEX 2008: re-Launching BEUCHAT

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Tue, 20 May 2008 13:53:00 +0000

TDEX 08

Five months later we're finally here! The Rumble Fish team headed to Bangkok to officially launch our new arm in the group, Gear Square Co. Ltd. With Beuchat as our anchored brand, one of the most experienced, oldest, and durable dive equipment brand in the world. See the photos from the album above for the action took place during the show at our booth. Beuchat Thailand also sponsored the Photo Competition where we awarded the winner with a VR200 Regulator, runner up won a Masterlift Voyager BCD, and the five categories winners walked away with a brand new Beuchat "inspired by the sea" rash guard.

Tipping during your Travel in Asia

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 12:38:00 +0000

I read an article written by the folks at Budget Travel regarding tipping in different part of the world. Of course, the article failed to include any destination in Asia (other than Japan), as if Americans do not venture across the Pacific to our neck of the world. So, here are my suggestions for how to tip properly while traveling to Southeast Asia. Scenario: The bill for an uneventful taxi ride from the airport to your hotel in Bangkok (250-300 Bht) or the main beaches in Phuket (700-800 Bht).

How Much To Tip & Why: 20-40 Bht. Locals usually don't tip taxi drivers, but, rounding up the fare and telling the driver to keep the change is fine; there's no need to give more. For that matter, tipping the driver is by no means necessary, so don't do it if the service isn't satisfactory, especially if you got one that think he's an F1 driver or show lack of safety awareness.

Scenario: Dinner and drinks at a busy local restaurant for two costs about 800 Bht. Your waitress was decent but not extraordinary.

How Much To Tip & Why: 20-40 Bht. Waitstaff in Asian local restaurants do rely on tips as their wages for the week is about the cost of your dinner bill. Still, local patrons often tip very little or none at all even for good service. For exceptional service, tip 10% of the bill will bring a smile & lots of thank yous from your waitstaff. However, check your bill when dining in resort or hotel restaurants, service charge of 10% plus 7% VAT are normally already added in.

Scenario: During your four-day dive excursion in Phuket, the boat staff and dive guide were adequate but at times a bit curt--and you didn't see all the marine life you had hoped to. Your trip cost was 25,000 Bht.

How Much To Tip & Why: 1,000 - 3,000 Bht . The general rule is that the boat staff (team) and dive guide should each be tipped 200 - 400 Bht per day. In this instance, tipping on the low end is acceptable (500 Bht for the guide, 500 Bht for the boat staff). Give more if the service is friendly and helpful, especially if the boat crews go out of their way to make sure you see amazing marine life, eat great meals and learn a bit about the location you are diving. A lot of divers tip dive guides and boat staff 300 Bht or more each per day. It's not much, considering you're spending thousands on airfare and the dive trip.

All right, now get on a plane and come on over to see what's the fuss about Southeast Asia. remember, it's not a 2 weeks trip if you want to see Angkor Wat in Cambodia, go shopping in Bangkok, dive in Phuket, get to the full moon party in Koh Phangan, climb Mt. Kota Kinabalu in East Malaysia, see an active volcano in Sulawesi, Indonesia, cruise Ha Long Bay in Vietnam etc. Your two weeks will be just enough for 2 destinations in one country.... So, pick and go!

Coincidence or just plain ol' Intellectual Theft?

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:32:00 +0000

Something came across me recently that I need to raise an issue to the rest of my diving friends, acquaintances, and peers. Pocket DiveSite (PD), a little publication created by 5 Thai PADI DM & instructors, researched, designed, and published 2 very nice and informative dive site books, "Pocket Divesite: Similan including Koh Bon Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock" and "Pocket Divesite: South Andaman including Hin Muang Hin Daeng Phi Phi" for the West Coast of Thailand.
A recent release of a "German" vesion titled: Tauchreisefuhrer Thailand von den Similans bis Koh Lanta, written by Frank Schneider & published by KOSMOS, combined all of the dive sites together into one book. Unfortunately, this particular book contained dive maps that are practically identical to the maps from the PD versions. Coincidence or just plain "cheater?" The sad part is the book was supported with advertising from 3 prominent dive companies in Phuket & Khao Lak: Dive Asia, Sea Bees, and IQ-Dive.

To verify the coincidence, I asked a friend of mine who is also one of the founders of PD to see if they have sold the rights to KOSMOS book. Well, the story was PD offers any publication with the right to use the map, as long as they asked properly. In this case, the author did not contact PD at all.

So, take a look at the images and decide for yourself. It's bad enough to copy the maps, but KOSMOS "German" version is now selling all over Phuket right next to the original PD versions. I hope the PD team will be able to receive some compensation from KOSMOS for their Bad business practice. If not, should they and their advertisers deserve a boycott?

please ask yourself, would you support an "intellectual Thief?"

Surviving the trip from Sunarvabhumi Airport to Bangkok Downtown

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:59:00 +0000

It's a gigantic airport, so prepare to walk a long way from the gate to Immigration and then luggage area. After you have cleared everything, grab a free tourist map and head for the exit you will see hundreds of touts waiting for guests or the "fresh meat." First thing is to ignore them (smile and keep walking like you know where you are going!) as they will keep bugging you about if you need a taxi (illegal), because there are proper registered taxi stands just outside the terminal. Don't get rope in and become their "fresh meat." Second, head toward a money exchange counter (should be quite a few lining up, exchange a couple of 100.00 bills if you have cash (rate in country currently is 33.8 bht/dollar). There are plenty of the exchange places in town, and you don't want to carry too much cash). Third, then follow the sign to "TAXI STAND." and it should be at the second floor, outside the terminal. There's a table where you come and tell the lady where you are going. She'll write it on a registered ticket (airport fee pay to directly to driver at the end of the trip is 50 Baht plus your meter fare), and you take it to one of the Meter Taxi driver waiting.
Here's the tricky part, you need to make sure that they start the METER after getting in. He'll ask you if you want to use the express way, say yes if you go to Sukhumvit area. The Express Way toll is 60 Bht to Sukhumvit Area, have it ready so that you can give it to him at each toll booth (2 of them). The meter should start at around 35 Baht. Your total trip from door to door should be between 300-350 Bht and takes 40-50 minutes depending on traffic (it's crazy at peak hours). And finally remember, if anyone offer to help you buy jewelry, gem stones, suits at special price or they know a great place to meet "nice Thai ladies or gents", (politely declined and tell them you already have a Thai Lady :-) Trust me, people keep falling for these tricks that I just can't fathom what the heck are they thinking, trusting some taxi driver in a country where they don't speak the language nor know where the heck they are.... And it's the same for bellhops, bartenders, waiters, etc. Thais are very friendly, but they are not that generous so remember to just smile and say no or "MAI OW KRUP or KA (female)!... otherwise, your adventure will be quite short.... OK, that's enough to get you prepare for the arrival in the City of Angels, aka Bangkok. Travel Well!

Gillmanoids New Scuba Sea Stars

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 10:47:00 +0000

Sabrya, Remar and Mogan from Gillmanoids dropped in this last weekend with 6 new Junior ocean lovers. The weather gave us a break, rewarding the children with calm sea & 30+m visibility for both diving days. I got to dive with Sophi again, and watching her improving tremendously since our last dive way back in February. Other than the occasional goof, such as using me for rodeo underwater, or can't seem to navigate in a straight line, our dives were fantastic! She's going to rule the ocean some day...

Miz joined in to help on the second day with Tara, who had a bit of trouble with equalization and confidence with her dives. Some time in the second dive, it clicked for Tara, and she managed to complete all that were challenging for her just the day before. The rest of the kids, including the bad boys Tai-Fu & Alex the Germanian, they passed well with a bit of assistance from Andy of ScubaGuards, and stern lecture from Sabrya for misbehaving. Alister & Laki dive well and show their maturity, did all the skills with ease.

Mogan proved to be one of the few people that always could get me into trouble, as the amount of beers we partaken for 3 days were about as much as I drank for a month... Bad bad bad!!! :-)

Last but not least, the graduation party was hosted by The Beach Club at Twin Palms Resort in Surin. Miz organized it wonderfully in just a day, the spread was amazing, a whole Salmon sliced up for sashimi, fresh oysters, rock lobsters, cheese platters, thin slice rib eye, 4 different type of salads, and a free flow ice-cream & chocolate fountain for the kids... WOW!

Sophi picked me to be her buddy for the "snorkel test," so had to demonstrate one with Vodka & OJ. My first since college days in Isla Vista, Santa Barbara... Funny, it was really easy, guess it's a skill like riding a bike, you just don't forget how to :-) Will post more actual photos when I get them from the parents. Now, I'm looking forward to a Sea Stars Expedition with Gillmanoids in February with the kids... Dive, eat, learn, and more.... Can't wait!

Scuba tunA Next Adventure: Africa?

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 03:22:00 +0000

So, looking into what we're going to do next, I came across my buddy from South Africa a couple of days ago. He owned a dive center & host one hell of a customized Africa diving, safari, food & wine trip. So, we talked (skype) and I came up with maybe another really interesting and unforgettable excursion, a 2 weeks run through southern Africa, with Sharks diving, Big Game Safari, food & SA wines, crossing through a couple of countries while we are at it. Big B recommended June as the best month for Great Whites, whale shark guarantee, and other large pelagics in Mozambique... his website: http://www.reefdivers.co.za/index.php

Take a look and see what you think. We'll need to have 8-10 people, the trip will include all inbound activities such as transport, domestic flights, diving, accommodation, eating & more eating (we just need to pay for the flight into SA). He estimated the price at R 22,500 (about 3,000 bucks)... I don't think i'll be able to get that many people willing or brave enough to attend this once in a life time experience, so anyone of you maybe interested?

Well, take a read through South Africa and see if this adventure is interesting.

The idea of swimming along and then bump into the top of the food chain is already getting my blood pumping :-)

Thai National Referendum Passed

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 02:59:00 +0000

Now that the National Referendum passed by popular votes, Thailand is getting ready for an election to be held in December. Looking at the number of votes by region, the country is clearly divided between North & South, overwhelming majority of the South provinces voted for the referendum. The majority of the Northern provinces refused the referendum, in a way they were supporting Thaksin's former government.

For us expats in Phuket, the next 2 months will see what other changes the provincial government will put us through. The latest Phuket Gazette highlighted the challenges that our dive industry will face in the coming months with more regulations & government control. See the full story by downloading the pdf version:
http://phuketgazette.com/digitalgazette/Aug18_07.pdf

A lifestyle magazine for Phuket

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 09:51:00 +0000

Read through the first issue of MyPhuket Magazine this weekend, and found myself laughing out loud over a few articles. There's one on how to communicate locally in Tinglish (hilarious conversation at a restaurant) and another on how to drive in Phuket (funniest stuff ever!). So, get it at the bookstores or download the pdf version. Good read if you like to know how we live here on this Pearl of the Andaman Island called Phuket!

August wind

noreply@blogger.com (Thiện) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 08:40:00 +0000

Chris completed his open water course on Friday. A fantastic diver, great composure, and wonderful diver, he's a natural under water. Karen achieved great stride in overcoming her fear of depth & water. She logged 4 dives with Andy (ScubaGuards), and hopefully will return in the near future to continue with her quest to be able to dive.

Weather was quite rough last week, windy conditions kicked waves as high as 3m during the boat trip. Seasickness all around, but Racha Yai rewarded us with 20-30m visibility, was awesome!

Thien