28-29 December: RFA & Gillmanoids Dive Festival

Sunday, 28th December
Dive 142: Raya Noi (Marina Bay)
Max Depth: 17.3m ; Bottom time: 36 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 10m

Dive 143: Raya Yai (Bay 5)
Max Depth: 17.9m ; Bottom time: 38 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 10-15m

Monday, 29th December
Dive 144: Koh Bida Nok
Max Depth: 11.8m ; Bottom time: 40 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 145:Koh Bida Nai
Max Depth: 12.8m ; Bottom time: 38 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 15-20m

Dive 146:Koh Doc Mai
Max Depth: 17.3m ; Bottom time: 43 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 5-10m

16th December: Laurie & Chris Bautista

Dive 140: Shark Point (Hin Musang)
Max Depth: 16.1m ; Bottom time: 39 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 10m

Dive 141: Koh Doc Mai (Flower Island)
Max Depth: 17.9m ; Bottom time: 49 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 10-15m

7th - 10th December: Fun dives with Itt, Eve & Neng

Sunday, 7th December
Dive 135: Ko Pu, East Side
Max Depth: 12.5m ; Bottom time: 33 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 136: Kata Reef
Max Depth: 9.1m ; Bottom time: 41 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 10-15m

Tuesday, 9th December
Dive 137: Raya Yai, Bungalow Bay
Max Depth: 11.5m ; Bottom time: 38 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 138: Raya Yai, Bungalow Bay
Max Depth: 11.2m ; Bottom time: 40 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 10-15m

Wednesday, 10 December
Dive 139: Kata Reef (Night Dive)
Max Depth: 8m ; Bottom time: 41 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 10-15m

3rd December: Inspecting MV May Dream

Dive 134: Ko Hei (Coral Island)
Max Depth: 10m ; Bottom time: 31 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 5-10m

29th November: First Dive at For Sea AirWreck

Dive 132: Dakota (D2) Plane
Max Depth: 21.9m ; Bottom time: 39 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 2-5m

Dive 133: Dakota (D3) Plane
Max Depth: 17.9m ; Bottom time: 38 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 2-5m

Comments: A windy day off Bangtao Beach, Phuket for the celebrated first dive at the newly sunk wrecks. The dive site is officially named For Sea AirWreck Dive Site (despite the politically motivated TDA - CMAS organization attempt to call it something else). Descending into the stirred up sandy bottom, visibility was at best 5m or so. We reached the Dakota D2 at 20m, sighting it for the first time. The plane is intact, sitting upright, secured tightly by ropes and cement blocks to the bottom. The interior is easily penetrated, wide open with opening for sunlights from both sides. Its body however is littered with "self-proclaimed" stickers and banners by TDA & CMAS, creating an ugly image (looks like all of those damm bill boards selling property on the island) for the artificial reef. Please support in the conservation of our Andaman sea, AVOID businesses who support or associate with any organization whose is "placing graffiti" on dive sites promoting their own self-indulgence dive businesses.

Due to the tide changing & windy conditions, the wreck is quite challenging for beginners or inexperience divers. However, I do foresee if condition is favorable later in the season, this is one fantastic dive site for wreck lovers. To dive this dive site, please contact any dive businesses who support Thailand For Sea Foundation, the non-profit organization whose interest is to raise awareness to the plight of the seas surrounding Thailand.

Photos: Dakota D2 (top); Broken Self-proclaimed TDA & CMAS canvas sign that can hurt unsuspected turtles (middle); Dakota D3 (bottom)

more photos are found at my Facebook album.

27th November: Ko Doc Mai with Kristina, Clae & Andrea

Dive 130: Ko Doc Mai (Soft Coral wall & Garden)
Max Depth: 17.9m ; Bottom time: 48 min (32% EANx)
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 5-10m

Dive 131: Ko Doc Mai (Caves Side)
Max Depth: 17.9m ; Bottom time: 49 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 5-10m (32% EANx)

Comments: A quick 2 dives trip to Ko Doc Mai with Kristina, Clae & Andrea from NorCal. The ride out was a little bouncy, as the morning wind was still blowing. Current for the dive was heading North to South, about 2 knots. Visibility was less than usual due to the windy condition. The Soft Coral wall was spectacular as always, with school of thousands of bigeye snappers (lutjanus lutjanus) hanging out over the coral garden. Nudibranches were in abundance, especially the Glossodoris and Phyllidia species. Video clip of the Snappers are posted at my YouTube page. Click here to view.

Photos: Glossodoris atromarginata (right) & Phyllidia melanocera (left) (Also known as: Phyllidiella pustulosa)

15th - 16th November: RFA Dive Fest with Gillmanoids

Saturday, 15th: Raya Yai Island
Dive 124: Bay 3 to Staghorn Reef
Max Depth: 21m ; Bottom time: 55 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 20+m

Dive 125: Lucy's Reef to Bay 4
Max Depth: 16.1m ; Bottom time: 57 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 20+m

Dive 126: Homerun Reef
Max Depth: 17.3m ; Bottom time: 45 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 10-15m

Sunday, 16th: Phi Phi Islands
Dive 127: Ko Doc Mai
Max Depth: 19.2m ; Bottom time: 44 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 10m

Dive 128: Ko Bida Nai
Max Depth: 14.6m ; Bottom time: 44 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 129: Lohsama Bay
Max Depth: 16.1m ; Bottom time: 57 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 10-15m

Comments: Kata was invaded by our friendly Gillmanoids from KL over the weekend. The gang came in to finish a couple of students for the OW course and also brought along a bunch of troublemakers :-) to keep the whole festival lively. Elia & Abhi completed their OW course under the direct supervision of Sabrya & Ian. They encountered green turtle, leopard shark, and for Abhi, manta on his 3rd diving day... not too bad for a newly certified diver. RFA was joined by my buddy Dave Garrett (SF) the timid Elin (Sweden) who were completing their courses also, my brother Trung (SF) & his fiance Amee (BK) whose came along for the ride to Phi Phi Islands.

The fun players from Gillmanoids: Sharman, Ashima, Nick, Remar, Andrew, Alicia, Mogan & the "aquaGirl" Sophi.

From Rumble Fish, the players were: Danny, Chris, Peter & Moi! More photos are found at my Facebook albums.

8th - 10th November: IDC OW Practical Training

Saturday, 8th
Dive 122: Kata Beach Reef
Max Depth: 5.4m ; Bottom time: 43 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10-15m

Monday, 10th
Dive 123: Kata Beach Reef
Max Depth: 6.4m ; Bottom time: 83 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10-15m

Comments: Felix & Maria were joined by our first 2 Japanese Candidates: Naoko & Keiko for the IDC training dives. GoPro Thailand Japanese program was conducted by Course Director Tom & IDC Staff Yumi.

2nd - 3rd November: Eve's Jr Advance Course

Comments: Eve & her friend Collette completed her Jr OW course with me in November 2006. Eve returned this year to continue on to her Jr Advance level, and was joined by Neng and Tu as our second instructor. We did the course over 6 dives, in two of the best dive destinations locally, Ko Bida Islands & the Raya Islands. Eve saw her first shark, a 1m Blacktip, yellow tiger-tailed seahorse, 5 different species of nudibranchs, green turtle, and she took some wonderful photos of a swimming reef octopus (see photo below) on her first day in the Bida islands.
Chris, our DM joined us on the second day as Neng dive buddy. Raya Noi rewarded us with 30+m viz, school of hundreds of yellowtailed baracudas, yellow-lip seakrate, and wonderful coral gardens in Banana Bay. Her last dive in Raya Yai was memorable, we found swimming bluespotted stingrays, 2 beautiful Ornate ghost pipefish, a nudibranch I'm still trying to identify, and the locally popular bent-stick pipefish. She's now a proud Jr advance diver at 14, just 1 more year and we can go deep, to check out her "narcosis tolerance :-)" View more photos at my Facebook album.

Sunday, 2nd: Phi Phi Islands

Dive 116: Ko Doc Mai
Max Depth: 17m ; Bottom time: 51 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 117: Ko Bida Nok
Max Depth: 15.8m ; Bottom time: 60 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 118: Ko Bida Nai
Max Depth: 14.9m ; Bottom time: 55 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 5-10m

Monday, 3rd: Raya Noi & Yai Islands

Dive 119: Banana Bay, Raya Noi
Max Depth: 21.3m ; Bottom time: 53 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 30-40m

Dive 120: Raya Noi Bay
Max Depth: 14.9m ; Bottom time: 58 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 30-40m

Dive 121: Bay 2 to Staghorn Reef, Raya Yai
Max Depth: 17m ; Bottom time: 52 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 10-15m

A Couple Days Under pressure

Friday, Halloween 2008
Feeding my urge for compressed air on Halloween, I hopped aboard MV Scuba Explorer for an inspection trip, and also completing Mehdi's Specialty Instructor Courses. Coming along for the trip were Chris Stout (DMT) & Brendan Lund (Sept08 Grad). I literally had to will the wind to stop the night before, which luckily it cooperated, allowing the boat to make it to Hin Muang / Hin Daeng in the open seas. The 2 rocks were not as spectacular as I had seen them in the past, could be due to the westerly wind still blowing up waves, stirring up the seas. Hin Muang has some coral damages, though it looked more like a natural problem rather than human cause. Still a good dive sites worth visiting...

Dive 109: Ko Ha Yai (number 5), the Cathedral
Max Depth: 30.4m ; Bottom time: 57 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 110: Hin Muang (Purple Rock)
Max Depth: 29.2m ; Bottom time: 55 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 111: Hin Daeng (Red Rock)
Max Depth: 21m ; Bottom time: 55 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 112: Hin Daeng (Red Rock)
Max Depth: 16.1m ; Bottom time: 51 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 10-15m

Saturday, 1st November, 2008
Dive 113: Ko Bida Nok
Max Depth: 24.3m ; Bottom time: 60 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 5-10m

Dive 114: Ko Bida Nai
Max Depth: 16.7m ; Bottom time: 60 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 5-10m

Dive 115: Anemone Reef
Max Depth: 18.9m ; Bottom time: 49 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 5m

Comments: We overnighted in Phi Phi and dive the Bida islands on the second day. I haven't been out this way for awhile, so it was good to check up on the marine life, and also fine-tuning my search skills for those macro creatures. Found the black tigertail seahorse on the wall off Bida Nai & the usual leopard sharks chilling out in the sandy bottom.

OWSI Training, Back in Kata Beach

Dive 108: Kata Beach North Reef
Max Depth: 7.6m ; Bottom time: 55 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 5-10m

comment: OWSI training dives with Ryan & Kaiming from Sunny Cove Singapore. Joined the dive were my DMT Chris Stout, and our current staff, Danny P. This is my first dive at Kata since april. Condition was outstanding, calm seas (very early for the Andaman Sea this season), and lots of small creatures waiting to be photographed.

IDC Training Dives in Cambodia

Excerpt from PADI Surface Interval Archive - Regional News:

POSITIVE RESULTS FROM THE FIRST-EVER IE CONDUCTED IN CAMBODIA
The Kingdom of Cambodia warmly welcomed PADI’s first-ever Instructor Examination held in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, from 2^nd to 4^th October 2008.

All seven competent candidates completed their IDC and IE in Cambodia, one of Asia Pacific’s fastest growing muck dive destinations. The programs were conducted under the direct supervision of Thien X. Do, PADI Course Director and PADI 5-Star Dive Centre, The Dive Shop, who supported the group’s logistics.

The international candidates included Shina Sakata, Mehdi Seridji, Lucy Plant, Ashley McKenty, Simon Herbert, and Paul Bremner. This celebrated event also graduated 2 new IDC Staff Instructors, David Polley and Birkan Tanis.

Additionally Bora Ran is recognised to be the first ever Cambodian Khmer (the main ethic group and language of Cambodia) to achieve the respected PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and EFR Instructor level. The successful completion of the EFR Instructor Course in Cambodia will now place eight new EFR Instructors to demonstrate their CPR/First Aid training skills in Sihanoukville.

Ko Tas (Snake Island), Sihanoukville
28th Sept 2008

Dive 106: the Pier
Max Depth: 5.7m ; Bottom time: 25 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 0-3m

Dive 107: the Pier
Max Depth: 5m ; Bottom time: 30 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 1-3m

Comment: A perfect location for control training during the IDC. Visibility started at 3m & reach zero beyond 5m. Condition challenges presented me with the great opportunity to elaborate and expand on "judgment call" for the new candidates, know when to make the change. Seven candidates attended the IDC, and successfully passed the IE on the weekend of 2-4 October. See our Photos album on Facebook.

One Diving Day in Cambodia

Koh Rung, Sihanoukville
Dive 104: the Corral
Max Depth: 9.7m ; Bottom time: 69 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 1m

Dive 105: Vietnamese Bay
Max Depth: 11.2m ; Bottom time: 65 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 1m

Comment: Arriving to begin the first ever PADI Instructor Development Course in Cambodia, I was able to get a day of diving in. A typhoon lashing out in Taiwan caused condition to be quite murky. We got about 1m viz for the day. The Corral didn't disappoint, with seahorses hidden in various urchins among the sandy bottom. Found a fantastic juvenile flabellina, about 0.5cm in length. More photos are found at my Picassa album.

16th - 17th September: Specialty Instructor Training Program

Tuesday, 16th: Raya Yai Island
Dive 99: Andaman Eagle Wreck
Max Depth: 27.4m ; Bottom time: 42 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 5-10m

Dive 100: Home Run Reef
Max Depth: 17m ; Bottom time: 57 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 5-10m

Wednesday, 17th: A-S-K Triangle Area
Dive 101: Anemeone Reef
Max Depth: 25.3m ; Bottom time: 59 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 5-20m

Dive 102: Shark Point
Max Depth: 18.2m ; Bottom time: 52 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 5-15m

Dive 103: Ko Doc Mai
Max Depth: 17.3m ; Bottom time: 50 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 5m

6th & 8th September: IDC training dives

Friday, 6th: Ko Hei
Dive 97: East Side
Max Depth: 7.3m ; Bottom time: 67 min
Water Temp: 29c; Visibility: 5-10m

Monday, 8th: Ko Hei
Dive 98: Coral Island Resort West Side
Max Depth: 8.2m ; Bottom time: 58 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 3-5m

Comment: We chartered a speedboat for the 2 days. The guys, Andy, Brendan, Richard & Steve, had a bit of brain-lapsed in the first day of open water presentation. The second day was much better with control & delivery, though there were still moments of "duh" under water. Much work still needed to tie all of the loose ends together... Some video clips of the guys delivering their presentations for Rescue Course and Adventure in Diving are at my Youtube. Take a look!

27th - 28th August: Alistair Jr Advance Course

Wednesday, 27th: Raya Yai Island
Dive 92: Staghorn Reef
Max Depth: 15.8m ; Bottom time: 42 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 15m+

Dive 93: Home Run, Bay 1
Max Depth: 13.7m ; Bottom time: 41 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 15m+

Thursday, 28th: King Cruiser - Shark Point Area
Dive 94: King Cruiser Wreck
Max Depth: 21.6m ; Bottom time: 23 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10m+

Dive 95: Shark Point *
Max Depth: 14.9m ; Bottom time: 38 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10m+

Dive 96: Koh Doc Mai
Max Depth: 17.3m ; Bottom time: 39 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10m

Comments: Alistair, a Gillmanoid's Sea Star original member dropped in for a couple days of diving. He hasn't dive since his 4th dive after his jr OW course, so there were lots to be done for his Jr Advance. Unlucky for Alistair, he got me as his instructor :-), so now he saw how Sophiya got tortured during her time diving with me in Phuket.
The weather was a lot wetter this month, with rain on and off during both of our diving days. The occasional wind stirred up the sea for a bit of bouncy boat ride. Alistair did very well, handling some of the more challenging conditions: current, thermocline, low viz etc. at the King Cruiser Wreck & Ko Doc Mai. He saw his first shark (2 leopards), and sorta overcame his fear of "BiG FiSh" though i'm not sure if he'll swim up close to anything larger than his arm :-) More photos of Alistair's trip is located at my Picassa Album.

14th - 16th August: Gillmanoids Invasion

Thursday, 14th: Phi Phi Islands
Dive 86: Shark Point *
Max Depth: 15.8m ; Bottom time: 37 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 20m+

Dive 87: Ko Bida Nai *
Max Depth: 14.3m ; Bottom time: 48 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 10m+

Friday, 15th: Raya Noi Island
Dive 88: Raya Noi Bay
Max Depth: 15.5m ; Bottom time: 49 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 40m

Dive 89: Banana Bay
Max Depth: 14m ; Bottom time: 49 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 40m

Saturday, 16th: Raya Yai Island
Dive 90: Andaman Eagle Wreck* & Bay 2
Max Depth: 24m ; Bottom time: 48 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 20m+

Dive 91: Staghorn Reef
Max Depth: 13.1m ; Bottom time: 48 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 20m+

Comment: Can't get any better for the monsoon season this year! We had a great 4 days of fantastic weather for diving. A leopard Shark swam at us minute after we descent at Pinnacle 1, got the kids excited immediately. Alex & Gary were doing their fish ID adventure dive, so one easily recognized. First day back in the water for Sophi, newly nick-named Twerp, she saw 2 leopard sharks & hung out with a Green turtle for a few minutes. Raya Noi on the second day was spectacular, I haven't seen 40m viz in a long time. It's a drift dive for the group, where we also saw the "Moiseys" doing their OWC skills in clear blue water. Alex & Gary got the opportunity to dive the Andaman Eagle Wreck on the third day, their first wreck dive. Good viz & nice current extended our dive easily, as we drifted lazily across Staghorn Reef for the group last dive of the trip. More photos of the trip is located at my Picassa Album.

10th August - Koh Doc Mai, King Cruiser & Shark Point

Dive 83: Koh Doc Mai
Max Depth: 24.6m ; Bottom time: 52 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 20m+

Dive 84: King Cruiser Wreck *
Max Depth: 21.6m ; Bottom time: 40 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 20m+

Dive 85: Shark Point *
Max Depth: 19.2m ; Bottom time: 52 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 20m+

Comment: Beautiful day for diving, flat sea and sunny skies! I was joined by Brem & Maaike, from the Dive Shop Cambodia (their first dive in the Andaman), Saskia, and Brendan, my current padi-wan DMT. Condition also was fantastic under water. We got 20m+ Viz for all 3 dive sites, and very little current. King Cruiser has collapsed a little bit more now, as the stern where the toilets are located, sunk another 5m or so deeper. It's one storm away from falling to the bottom. Brendan did a good job getting the gang through Ko Doc Mai for the first dive. The bow of the King Cruiser is covered with thousands of snappers. We saw a pair of hunting baracudas on pinnacle 1 of Shark point, and the safety stop, a 1.5m leopard shark cruised by to show of his graceful swim... Overall, cool diving day. Photos are uploaded to my Picassa album.

See a video clip of the car deck, in the King Cruiser's Bow:

19th - 21st July: Wreck & Deep Courses

Danny led Richard through his specialty training dives for Deep and Wreck at Racha Yai Island. Conditions were spectacular again, with the guys having a great time going through all of the tasks and skills. Brendan joined the courses as a DMT and responsible for some awesome photos of the Andman Eagle Wreck in Racha Yai, Bay 1. Check it out in Brendan's Picassa album.

Phuket July Condition: Calm Sea & Sunny Skies

July weather has been spectacular, with calm wind, flat sea, 30m visibility in the Racha Islands area, and whale shark sightings daily in Phi Phi and Shark Point Marine Sanctuary. I love LOW SEASON :-)!!!

8th July, 2008
Koh Bida Nok, Phi Phi Island
Comment by Danny Pilling - Awsome dive, bad viz from lots of plankton and quite strong currents, sound bad?? NOT FOR WHALE SHARK ENCOUNTERS!! Perfect conditions and hey presto, there she was. Encountered in the first 10 minutes of the dive, then after we returned to the boat, she decided to come check us out, thus rewarding us with 10-15 minute snorkel swim encounter. Awsome!! Low Season just got better!!!

6th - 7th July - Racha Yai Island

Sunday, 6th July
Dive 79: Bay 1-2 *
Max Depth: 12.8m ; Bottom time: 42 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 30m+

Dive 80: Bay 2 - Staghorn Reef
Max Depth: 10.3m ; Bottom time: 47 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 30m+

Monday, 7th July
Dive 81: Home Run Reef *
Max Depth: 18m ; Bottom time: 43 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 30m+

Dive 82: Staghorn Reef *
Max Depth: 17m ; Bottom time: 42 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 30m+

Comments: After almost 4 weeks without Scuba, I got my "nitrogen fixed" again thanks to Livia Vo (from Texas by way of Singapore), coming to visit us for her referral OW course. The first week of July has been spectacular, beautiful weather, calm breeze, flat sea, and unbelievable visibility. Patrick Lee (from Singapore) joined in on our second day of the course to finish off his dive 3-4. Want to see how nice the trips were? check out the photo album at picassa below:

Open Water Course 7th July

12th June, Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Dive 77: the Corral, Koh Rung **
Max Depth: 13.4m ; Bottom time: 80 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 5-10m

Dive 78: Unnamed site, Koh Rung
Max Depth: 22.8m ; Bottom time: 33 min
Water Temp: 30c; Visibility: 3-5m

Comment: After almost 20 days going without getting wet, I was in full "Nitrogen withdrawal" before the plunge for a couple of muck dives in Cambodia. Meeting up with Paul (friend & former Instructor candidate) at the Dive Shop, he has intrigued me with the opportunity to dive with seahorses. Yes, you read it right, it's plural... A 2 hour boat ride to Koh Rung with the rain pestered us the entire day, we descended into a sandy bottom, starting out at 11m depth. Appropriately named by Paul (he discovered the site among many others), "The Corral," it delivered spectacularly!
Common seahorses (adults, pregnant, and juveniles) are spotted every couple of minutes during the dive. Octopus hidden in every other clam shells, crevices, sand and can be seen by any beginners. Then there were a Balloon shark, crabs (all over the place), nudibranch, flatworms, and the rare found of a leafy or weedy filefish ... As unlucky for me, I failed to charge my battery properly, thus within 30 minutes into the dive, my camera was done :-(

Marine life spotted were: Hippocampus kuda (common seahorses, there were 9 different sightings, with 2 beautiful juveniles), Chaetoderma penicilligera (leafy or weedy filefish), ocellated (spotted) octopuses (they were in every other clam shells), a pipefish that looked like Acentronura gracilissima (graceful or bastard seahorse), Cephaloscyllium umbratile (balloon or swell shark, often found in Japan and very uncommon in the Indochina Sea) can also be Cephaloscyllium sufflans
Nudibranches: Bornella stellifer, Pteraeolidia ianthina, Thecacera pennigera

Come dive with the Dive Shop, located on the road to Serendipity Beach, right next to the well-known the Monkey Republic Bar, Restaurant and Guesthouse. The Dive Shop's DM & Instructor, Bora, Shina and Paul, are on hand to help you spot all the little critters.

UPDATE: Click here to download and read Asian Divers' Feature on diving in Cambodia by Sol Foo, the Editor.

If you're interested in looking further into travel to Sihanoukville, Cambodia, some helpful info are: accommodation ranges from 8-15 USD, food costs 2-3 USD per meal (try the Cambodian Lok Lak, it's tasty!), and Anchor Beer costs 1 USD per bottle in the bar (0.75 cents at happy hour). A day trip for diving runs about 50 USD for two dives. And lastly, there's plenty to do in the beach town when you're not diving...cool beach bars, wooden huts with hammocks, music clubs, and even a couple of casinos to keep anyone entertain.


Sihanoukville, Cambodia is a "must dive location" for all macro photographers and rare marine life seekers! I can't wait until my next trip back in September.

See what photos I barely got in the album at Picassa:

the Corral, Sihanoukville