19 - 20 January: Phi Phi Overnight Trip

Monday, 19th January
Dive 004: Shark Point
Max Depth: 18.5m ; Bottom time: 52 min
Water Temp: 27c; Visibility: 3-5m

Dive 005: Koh bida Nok
Max Depth: 19.5m ; Bottom time: 57 min
Water Temp: 27c; Visibility: 5-10m

Dive 006: Whale Shark Wall, Phi Phi Le
Max Depth: 17.3m ; Bottom time: 59 min
Water Temp: 27c; Visibility: 10-12m

Tuesday, 20th January
Dive 007: Koh bida Nai
Max Depth: 30.4m ; Bottom time: 47 min
Water Temp: 27c; Visibility: 10-15m

Dive 008: King Cruiser Wreck
Max Depth: 25.3m ; Bottom time: 50 min
Water Temp: 27c; Visibility: 5-10m

Comment: Two days of diving and working with Mogan on specialty training, it was a needed retreat for me. I was suffering from "scuba withdrawal" going on 2 weeks without any diving. Few photos are with my 2009 Random Photos Album at Facebook. Check out what's in the water now in Phuket & Phi Phi. Water temperature was quite colder than usual, averaging 27c for all of the dives.

10-12 January: 2009 First IDC Program

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Saturday, 10th January
Dive 001:Kata Beach Reef
Max Depth: 6.0m ; Bottom time: 34 min
Water Temp: 27c; Visibility: 5-10m

Monday, 12th January
Dive 002:Kata Beach Reef
Max Depth: 7.0m ; Bottom time: 32 min
Water Temp: 27c; Visibility: 5-10m

Dive 003:Kata Beach Reef
Max Depth: 7.0m ; Bottom time: 40 min
Water Temp: 27c; Visibility: 5-10m

Comment: Mogan (Gillmanoids, Malaysia), Kiam (Diventure, Singapore) & Chris (RFA, Thailand) joined me for the first IDC program of 2009. Remar & Ian (Gillmanoids, Malaysia) came to help out, with Remar completing her IDC Staff course concurrently. The boys survived the 12 days challenge with very little "scars" to show :-) There are quite a few photos of the program posted on my Facebook photos album. Also, videos are available for your viewing leisure at My Youtube page. Enjoy and Happy 2009!

31 December: Last dive of the year

Dive 147:Koh Pu (Off Kata Beach)
Max Depth: 12.5m ; Bottom time: 52 min
Water Temp: 28c; Visibility: 5-10m

Comments: I spent my last minutes underwater in 2008 with my fav diver, Sophiya aka "Aqua Girl." Condition definitely was not ideal at Koh Pu, with surges & low viz due to plankton. We spotted quite few surprises, including this rare Nudibranch (see photo) that I'm yet to identify, squat cleaner shrimps, Maldivian Sea Snails, cuttlefish etc. With my second dive here in December, and finding 3 different nudibranches that I have never seen, I am so looking forward to make this small island dive site as our regular weekly excursion.