EcoSea Adventures Asian Cheap Hotels Budget Guesthouses Discount Flights PADI Dating Visas

The last time that I went scuba diving was in Thailand off Koh Phi Phi I had a great time and saw lots of cool things like turtles and sharks but one of the funner thing that I did was this swim through I only wish that I had lights for this as the picture is pretty dark tons of great sea fans here.

If you go to Koh Phi Phi be prepared in that there is no negotiation on the prices they are totally fixed even for dive pro's the only break they gave me was a the use of some scuba diving equipment for my travel buddy.



Please see our other blog Cheap Charlies Hotels Asia flights guesthouses accommodations Blog

What a cool coffee shop here in Asia in Nha Trang Vietnam, I found this coffee shop accross the street pretty much from a great luxury beach resort in Nha Trang the Ana Madera. The resort was nice but one of the highlights of this trip back to Nha Trang by train from Saigon was this coffee shop which had just a ton of art works of every kind spread out in the garden setting a very relaxing place to stop and enjoy your holiday, which if you are like me you are here there and every where, and you really never slow down to smell the beans, so enjoy!


Please see our other blog Cheap Charlies Hotels Asia Blog

Well I am going to give you a couple of tips

1 bring more money if you are going to come to Asia as everything is getting more expensive at a crazy rate! Milk went from $1 to $1.50, Coffee from $3 to $3.80,
eggs 10 for .6 to ten small for over a buck. Gas is now over $1.25 a liter in Cambodia and Thailand is very similar.

A good friend of mine went online and booked a hotel room online, the hotel never confirmed. The hotel refused the contract rate and wanted more than 25% more than was listed on a major hotel booking search engine! I am not going to ding the engine as it was not there fault.

If you live in the west this is fairly common stuff but has to be very scary for the Khmers and Thais that are already living on the edge. More scary is the price of rice and fish, both of these staples have gone through the roof nearly double what they were a year ago and still climbing like a rocket! I half expect that there will be trouble on that front in the near future here in South East Asia.

the 2nd Asia travel tip is this vodka, take the vodka and stick it into a small bottle and use it as a hand sanitizer. At 60% alcohol by content it is more powerful that the commercial sanitizers and cheaper by weight as well. And hey if the day gets to be a pain you can use it as a stress reliever. Also because it is alcohol you can rub it on your arms and neck and it will cool you down as it evaporates Pretty cool travel tip! Pardon the pun!

BDV-303115-BDV

I don't know why but this seems like it is not quite ligitimate. I don't remember ever giving this person my email and they must know that foriegners are not suppose to own land in Cambodia, unless they have a corporation registered with the Cambodia goverment.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I have 10 Hectares of land in Siem Reap along the road
to Banteay Srey Temple (Kulen Mountain) 16km from town
and I want to sell it urgently. The price is very
reasonable just $1.2/m2. I promise it is a very good
land.

Please see the map of my land in the attached file.

With our best regards,

Ousphea
016 30 82 13


PS. This area will be used to build golf club in the
near future.

As I have been saying on my blogs. I had forgot how good the scuba diving was over on the Adaman sea I did a couple of dives around Koh Phi Phi and saw sharks and tons of beautiful soft coral below the M/V Dive Asia gets out to the really good diving and for the trip the price is really good. Don't forget tell them EcoSea.com sent you otherwise they will quote a different rate. If you have a group send me a email.

Below the discription for the trip I will place a couple of scuba diving pictures I took with my Sony cybershot with the marine pack underwater housing.

M/V Dive Asia I to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai & Richelieu Rock departs on Friday the 14th of March 2008 and will return to Chalong on March the 18th around 6 P.M.

4 Nights / 4 Days / 14 dives, air-conditioned cabins - twin share, all meals, fruits, drinking water, coffee, tea, Divemaster, tanks, weights, weight belts, underwater light for the night dives.


Pick up time: 6 P.M. in Kata, Karon and Patong Beach

Last Minute Offer for your Guest: 19,900 Baht Important you need to tell them that you were refered from EcoSea.com to get this special rate!!!

National Park fee of 1600 Baht to be paid by customer directly to Dive Asia prior departure.

For inquiries or bookings, please contact your Dive Asia Team at:

Dive Asia, Kata Beach
Phone: 076 330 598, Fax: 076 284 033
mailto:reservations@diveasia.com





Please see our other blog http://www.cheapcharlieshotels.com/

We have been staying at Max's guesthouse in Patong Beach it is always a pleasure to find a little gem like this where you get good customer service clean rooms and everything works the way it is suppose to. Thailand today is getting to be very expensive as the baht continues to get stronger the Baht has actually gone into the 31.xx range and doesn't seem like it is going to get weaker anytime soon.

Patong and Phuket in general are going absolutely crazy even this close to March most of the Cheap Hotels & guesthouse in Phukett and Patong beach Thailandare full.

We are going to go out to Koh Phi Phi tomorrow I was surprised that we could get a cheap ticket of 900 baht round trip to and from Phuket including transfers and the locals are saying that we should be able to get 700 baht air con rooms.
Max guesthouse cheap hotels Phuket Thailand photo


Please see our other blog http://www.cheapcharlieshotels.com/blog/

I remember when Bangkok was affordable well ok more affordable than today my Thailand cheap hotel in Bangkok use to cost me $15 now costs nearly $22. I use to buy shoes they would cost me around $25 now a cheap pair of shoes is $35 almost $40 and the reason is the strong Baht to the weak Dollar. In 2000 the baht dollar rate was 46 baht to the dollar, if you are good with numbers you realize that is nearly 40% in 8 years.

The foreign exchange rumor of the day is that Thailand is going to bring the baht down internationally where it is trading around 31, and bring the baht inside Thailand to the same levels instead of having this on shore, off shore rate. So remember if you are coming to Thailand don't buy baht until you get here and wait if you can until you get into town to do your exchange and you will give yourself nearly 3% for the same amount of money.

Don't use credit cards if you want to save money as they are going to bill you at the off shore rate so you are going to pay more, the difference again is around 3% more to see the current foreign exchange rates use these travel tools for ef="http://www.ecosea.com/eco/HTM/travel%20tools.htm">currancy converter


Dating in Thailand has always been a lot of fun. Recently though, it seems like the women aren't as friendly as they have been in days gone past. A guy I know was saying that he noticed the same thing and he says he has more fun dating in Cambodia and Japanese dating is more fun as well if you have the budget to hang out in Tokyo which even the cheap hotels in Tokyo cost almost $75 for a room that you can fit yourself and your luggage into.

Please see our other blog http://www.cheapcharlieshotels.com/blog/

Dating in Thailand has always been a lot of fun. Recently though, it seems like the women aren't as friendly as they have been in days gone past. A guy I know was saying that he noticed the same thing and he says he has more fun dating in Cambodia and Japanese dating is more fun as well if you have the budget to hang out in Tokyo which even the cheap hotels in Tokyo cost almost $75 for a room that you can fit yourself and your luggage into.


Please see our other blog http://www.cheapcharlieshotels.com/blog/

I just had to write that for the title as the spin on it mimics the election process that we have in the USA today. One of the funny things is that a couple of states might not have their votes counted for the democratic primary's because they had the gall to have their elections earlier, so that they could get their issues actually acknowledged by the politicinas. Thanks to Cheap Charlies hotels Asia for putting that video up on their blog.

Cheap Charlies Hotels Asia Discount Flights & Visa: Cambodia’s Mock US Election.

Please see our other blog http://www.cheapcharlieshotels.com/blog/

Here are some more pictures of Hawaii scuba diving in Waikiki. Again if you are visiting in Hawaii from Waikiki hotels the cheap way to get to the Waikiki beach’s is to take The BUS Honolulu's excellent bus system which you can take all the way around the island and you can also take it up the west side of the island to Makaha which is a very beautiful little town on the end of the road.



Picture of Diamondhead the most recognizable landmark in Waikiki and Honolulu Hawaii

I was talking to friend about scuba diving and he asked where should we go and I responded that I still want to scuba dive in Nha Trang. Vietnam always seems to be getting hit with a storm when I am planning to go there or actually is in a storm when I am there.

When I was in Nha Trang in Aug Sept or Oct it was a last minuite trip as a friend from Saigon asked me if I could help him with a presentation that he was doing. Vietnam charges a fair bit for their Vietnamese visa that you really want to take advantage of them when you do go there.

From Phnom Penh to Saigon is a cheap trip only like $12 each way and to get up to Nha Trang to Saigon Vietnam on the train is about the same in a 1st class sleeper. the Saigon cheap hotels are still around $10 but many are starting to raise their prices I would expect that they will all $15 pretty soon.

Nha Trang Cheap hotels are just a little bit more if you are close to the beach. If you have the budget go for a discount naha trang Hotel or a luxury nha trang hotel on the beach is really cheap compared to other beach resorts for the same quaility.



Nha Trang Vietnam City view

This is a great video of peacock flounder that I shot at Haunama Bay near Waikiki in Honolulu. Haunama Bay is one of the best scuba diving sites in Hawaii it is only done as a shore dive. Haunama Bay is a protected reserve and so you will see fish and turtles and they don't spook very easy compared to other dive sites in Hawaii.

Haunama Bay is a partially collapsed volcano cone. As a protected area you get many different fish species in one place. Haunama Bay is a great way to spend a day for really cheap. Waikiki Hotels will help you to get there by Honolulu the bus or they can give you directions for your rental car and there is lots of parking that is not a budget buster.



I love to find peacock flounders and show them to other divers as they are so unique. When they are young both the eyes are like all the other fish one on each side, as they get older one eye migrates towards the other, so that both eyes are up. The flounder lays on the sand in ambush and waits for dinner to come to it. The camouflage also protects it from being eaten itself.

I am writing a artcle for a Cambodia travel magazine and I was looking through some old pictures from this time of the tyear out at Koh Tang as you can see from the photos there was excent visability that day in the Thailand Gulf just 35 miles from sihanoukville.

I was watching a program last night on TV on energy and i still find it hard to believe that alternative energy is being fought so hard. We will have a real crisis in not so many years if we don't start taking action now to curtail it.

I think everyone can start looking at there lifestyles and figure out how you can reduce reuse or recycle. I recently got a new apartment in Phnom Penh and I replaced the air con with a new one and the difference in the energy bill is $50 a month on average so the new air con will pay for itself in 4 months. now some will say turn the air con off all together I agree if I was comfortable but I am not so I use it as minimally as I can.

I think that in modern society it is impossible to live with out using energy the thing we need to do is use it smartly and move towards renewable I also look for and buy alternative energy stocks DSTI is my most recent buy as they have a non silicon based system that is getting 10% efficiency and is bendable once they can get this being generated in bulk the technology can be used on the outside of buildings to generate electricity.

If you know of a good alternative energy stock please let me know here on the blog thanks

I learned something that I find to be helpful. If you are hunting that mosquito that has been bothering you.. if you lather up your hands when you swat at them they stick to your hand, and then you can put them out of your misery Now that I live in Phnom Penh this is a real good thing to know to lessen the chance of catching dengue fever which will knock the dodo out of you for a weeks at a time if you get a bad case of it.

i have noticed alot lately that there is a energy tax being applied everywhere in Cambodia and the world, but it seems that it is seen more readily here as one of the ways that the Cambodian goverment taxes is through the gas pump.

From a tax collection stand point it makes sence as you get everybody and every industry by taxing energy. The problem is that you are also raising costs accross the board and not getting any added value. It makes more sence to tax products and industry after they have had a chance to make money with the little bit of capitol that is aailable, so what happens is that companies cannot afford to expand faster as they are just keeping pace with the increases in energy. for a lot of business in Cambodia if the energy was taxed later they would be able to expand which means more jobs and more taxs eventually comming in. It is sad that this is the way it is becuase the ones that lose the most opertunities are the ones that can least afford it.

NEWS FLASH

Bush baffled by Osama email

After numerous rounds of "We don't even know if Osama is
still alive,"
Osama himself decided to send George Bush a letter in his
own handwriting to let him know he was still in the game.
Bush opened the letter and it contained a single line of
Coded message:

370H-SSV-0773H

Bush was baffled, so he e-mailed it to Condoleezza Rice.
Condi and her aides had not a clue either, so they sent it
to the FBI.

No one could solve it at the FBI so it went to
the CIA, then to MI6 and Mossad. Eventually they
asked Australian Intelligence (ASIO) for help.

Within a minute ASIO emailed the White House with this
reply:
"Tell the President he's holding the message upside down."

Asian Scuba divng Adventure in Philippines Purtero Princessa

If you have been going to theseyou know that the event changes between Bangkok and Singapore every year I have allways enjoyed going to the ones in Sinapore as the venue is easy to find and get too. If you are going check out these cheap hotels in singapore It’s just been a month and premium locations at Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) 2008 have already been snapped up! At least 60% of the exhibition space at ADEX 2008 is now sold. Among the big dive brands who have confirmed spaces are key dive equipment manufacturers, retailers and operators such as Oceanic, Cressi-Sub, Mares, Beuchat, Delta P, Dadriba & Absolute Scuba, compressor makers such as Bauer, Coltri-Sub and L&W and dive organisation PADI. With a little more than 6 months remaining, approximately only 40% of exhibit space is available to potential exhibitors.


Cassandra Dragon, Project Manager of ADEX 2008 explains, “ADEX 2008 has received positive response from the dive industry since starting out a month ago. The dive industry recognizes that ADEX 2008 is the platform to reach out to the right customers, network to establish business connections and establish market visibility. Potential exibitors who want to reach out to quality visitors should move quickly to secure exhibit space at ADEX 2008! Afterall, ADEX is a landmark even on the international dive calendar!”

ADEX 2008 Asia’s largest and longest running dive exhibition, returns to Singapore from 18 to 20 April 2008 at Suntec Singapore. ADEX brings you 14 years of expertise, knowledge and full understanding of the dive industry and is the most effective avenue to showcase your dive related products and services to one of the fastest growing markets in the world – Asia! Don’t miss out this chance to exhibit in the largest international dive exhibition in Asia! Exhibit now! Potential exhibitors can click here for information on exhibition reservation or alternatively, contact Cassandra Dragon at Cassandra.Dragon@SuntecIntegratedMedia.com

I walking around Phnom Penh today looking at serviced apartments and ran into this statue group near Independence monument.

I was working on Siagon Asian luxury hotels for the website and i as taking some pictures from the carevelle PR disc andsaw this walking tour ws so good I though others would find it usefull as well.

Have a Great day!

Walking%20Tours.pdf

Discover Hawaii


The Hawaiian Islands sit by them selves in the middle of a vast ocean and are a marvelous ecosystem with each island being quite different from the next, but all a paradise in their own right. If you are into outdoor adventures there is no better place to go with many things to do from hiking on jungle and mountain paths, discover scuba diving and snorkeling, surfing and wind surfing, to exotics like hang gliding or going for a ride in a real submarine!

The main island of Oahu where the capitol of Honolulu and Waikiki are located has over 80% of the population of the whole Hawaiian island chain which provides a bit of a shock when you fly into the airport, don’t expect to see grass huts in Honolulu which is the 14th largest city in the US, and covers a major part of the island; yet 1 hour walking from the skyscrapers will put you into dense rainforests, with major stands of big bamboo and very cool waterfalls. Up on the north shore of Oahu you have some great scuba diving or surfing depending on the waves.

Hawaii or the Big Island as it is known is still growing, with volcanoes spewing for decades now. The Big Islands most noticeable features are 2 of the biggest mountains in the world with Mauna Kea & Mauna Loa close to 35,000 feet tall if measured from below at there bases, which start over 20,000 feet below the sea. This is also the home to the largest ranch and the largest subdivision in the world.


Kauai the garden isle receives in one location on average 700 inch’s of rain a year. A favorite with filmmakers as it just might be Shangri-La as it is said to be where God goes for vacation. Probably the most visually stunning island you are awed in every direction from the time that you flight starts to bank sharply into the airport.

Maui has a little bit of all of the above and if you were going to have to pick one to visit this very well might be it. A little bit of a city in Lahaina. Haleakala for a mountain the road to Hana with all of its waterfalls and dense jungle and Molokini crater one of the best scuba diving locations in the world.

I was working on the EcoSea website and I was updating some pages and I ran into this photo from the Elious hotel which is a Saigon boutique hotel located in the backpackers area of Saigon. Like alot ofthe backpacker areas in Asia there is encroachment by the yuppies after the backpackers have done all the hard work.

Freat views of Siagon Enjoy

Hello to all dive colleagues
…….. I d like to pass on some info for who ever is interested in Padi IDC on Koh Chang, ….yourself, one of your dive masters or dive customers.
Since all of you are in the diving business, I will not go into details here about what an IDC is, I would like to explain though why or who might be interested in coming to Koh Chang to become a Padi dive instructor.
You all know how the traditional IDC is organized, an 8 day course, of which the first four days are training for Assistant Instructor (AI), the last four days are training for Open water scuba instructor(OWSI). Then there is the Instructor Exam (IE), two days. This works, and has always worked, and we give the same training for our IDC.
However, as we are BB divers, known for full extensive but also fun training, we suggest another option … this is train for the AI some time in advance, and thus have more time to actually practice the teaching and getting to know the courses. For this reason we are offering an AI training over 7 days instead of 4, and an extra week to practice the teaching skills in pool, open water and theory. Then we train the OWSI and the IE, so with this luxury full training package the new instructors will be fully prepared to start teaching right away when they walk out of the IDC.
This is a great way to become a dive instructor for recent, newly trained dive masters, or for those who have time to spend and want to avoid the stress of an 8 day IDC course.
Prices for the IDC and AI are below. Included is all training, same price for long or short AI version, transport, lunch and drinks during training (8 or 11 days), use of pool, boat and classroom, stay in rooms at the BB pool. Not included are books, dive equipment, other lodging ….. We can help candidates to find lodging up to their budget, and offer a 20% reduction on all dive equipment and Padi materials.




IDC date SEASON 2007/2008
IDC 1 date time instruction by
AI 1 15/10/2007 7 days staff instr. organized on request of AI cand.
Or AI 2 15/11/2007 7 days staff instr.
Or AI 3 27/11/2007 4 days staff instr./CD
OWSI 02/12/2007 4days course dir.
IE 7/12/2007 2 days
Staff 30/11/2007 8 days course director

IDC 2
AI 1 15/01/2008 7 days staff inst.
Or AI 2 25/01/2007 4 days staff instr./CD
OWSI 01/02/2008 4 days course dir.
IE 08/02/2008 2 days
Staff 28/01/2008 8 days course dir.

IDC 3
AI 1 27/02/2008 7 days SI
AI 2 22/03/2008 4 days SI/CD
OWSI 27/03/2008 4 days CD
IE 11/04/2008l 2 days
Staff 25/03/2008 8 days
Note:
The assistant instructor course can be organized at any date, the dates above are scheduled on request of customers.

Price list for IDC.
AI: 25.000 baht (extra training sessions included)
OWSI: 25.000 baht
EFRI: 10.000 baht
IE: on request, this payment goes directly to Padi, it will be around 250 US, plus costs for transport and lodging, which will be organized through BBdivers, and will be kept low.
Staff instr. 25000 baht (mail or call fore more info)

A deposit of 5000 baht will do as confirmation of the booking.
During training lunch and drinks are included, and rooms at the BB pool for 10 to 13 nights. If candidates prefer more luxurious lodging, we can help to book, but this lodging is not included in price. Transport from BB pool to Bang Bao will be provided.
Also included is the pool use after the training sessions if candidates want to practice, and open water dives from the boat during the 10 days of training.

Hopefully this gives you all the information needed, and this should give all your candidates the first rush of little nervous tickles, getting ready to take the plunge……!!

Feel free to mail or call for any extra information, such as what books needed, etc.

Thank you for taking the time to read this
Kristel, BB divers

BB divers

American beauties taken from this link talks about my sisters football team in england No not soccer! Football



Seesaw season: But Sheffield Tomahawks didn’t let the title slip out of their hands


« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »

View GalleryBy Nick ward
MEET the Sheffield Tomahawks - a team that plays an all-American game as good as the Yanks...
The under-16 American football team finished top of the English league after a seesaw season that saw them clinch top spot on the final weekend.

But that's not the end of it.

The dedicated squad are back on the training ground sweating it out in preparation to play the game of their lives in the National Championship Finals, at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster on Sunday.

As English champions they take on Scotland's finest, The Highland Wildcats, with the winners facing either Sussex Thunder or Glasgow Tigers in the final.

Managed by Dorothy Ledger, a Chicago-born American football fanatic, and with her husband Paul as head coach, the Sheffield lads are going places.

Founded just three years ago with only six players the Tomahawks, like the lads in the squad, grew quickly.

Now they have 40 registered players aged 11 to 19, and many of those are being tipped to reach the very top.

Paul, aged 48, a firefighter at Low Edges station, got into the game when his son Robert, then eight, told his dad he didn't want to play 'cissy' soccer.

So the die-hard Blade was dragged along to a try-out session at a now defunct Sheffield American football team. The lad got in - and so did his old man.

Because Paul was the only dad who stuck around to watch practice sessions he was roped in to help with coaching.

And he took to it like an American to burgers.

Ten years on Dorothy - a Chicago Bears fan - set up the Tomahawks and had no hesitation in choosing her husband as head coach.

Paul is confident the lads can win the finals.

"If the lads play to the best of our ability it would take a very good team to beat us," he said.

"We work hard in training. We train Wednesday evenings during the summer and every Saturday morning throughout the year.

"But I do give them two weeks off at Christmas.

"We travel all over England competing against top teams in London, Birmingham and Sussex just to name a few.

"It's tough but it's fun - and I reckon we have a big chance of winning."

The Tomahawks, set up with the help of a grant from the South Yorkshire Foundation, has four teams competing in national competitions.

They are already on the lookout for new players aged 11 to 19 for the coming season and would like to hear from firms who can help out with sponsorship.

Call Dorothy or Paul on 0114 220 7165.
Last Updated: 03 September 2007 6:55 AM

THAILAND RECREATIONAL DIVING REGULATION
Recreational scuba diving is an important tourism activity in Thailand. Diving can contribute to the further
development of tourism only when diving is regarded as safe and enjoyable. Recreational diving in Thailand
continues to maintain and enjoy an excellent safety record.
Section 1: Recognised Diver Training Agencies: Minimum Certification Requirements
1) The minimum certification level for divers wishing to participate in diving in Thailand is an entry level
certification from a Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) associated Diver-training agency or a
1 star Confederation Mondiale Des Activities Subaquatiques (CMAS) certification from a CMAS-affiliated
diver training agency.
2) Other diver-training agency’s entry-level certificates must have as performance requirements for Open
Water Training Dives encompassing the knowledge and skills as outlined in the RSTC entry-level performance
requirements.
3) A diver is required to submit proof of his/her training by means of a diving certificate and to submit
proof of his/her diving experience by means of a logbook.
4) A diver who cannot submit an entry-level or higher certification must be considered a trainee and may
only participate in training dives according to the standards of the training programs as sponsored by the
aforementioned diver training-agencies, until certified as an entry-level diver.
5) A diver who cannot submit proof of his/her dive experience by means of a log book must demonstrate
to the dive instructor that he/she has mastered the skill as outlined in SECTION 11: ORIENTATION
DIVE
Section 2: Supervision of Diving Activities.
1) All diving activities, both land and boat based, must be supervised by Dive Centre Staff either directly
or indirectly. If a Dive Centre Staff is found to be negligent in supervision, the Dive Centre Staff and the
Dive Centre will be subject to appropriate action as deemed fit by the government authorities.
2) In order to function as a Dive Centre Staff, a person must meet all the prerequisites as mentioned under
SECTION 10: RECOGNISED QUALIFICATIONS OF DIVE CENTRE STAFF.
3) “Direct Supervision” is defined as Dive Centre staff being physically present and in control of the diving
activities and being able to personally evaluate the behaviour of the divers and being capable to prevent
or correct problems when they occur.
4) “Indirect supervision” is Dive Centre Staff organising the diving activity and being available to respond
correctly and timely to problems when they occur.
5) Prior to a dive, a dive briefing has to be given to the divers by the Dive Centre Staff.
6) Certified divers may dive with another certified diver without the immediates supervision of a Dive
Master when environmental conditions are similar to the conditions in which the diver has been trained,
or proof of experience of diving in more demanding conditions can be demonstrated by entries in their
logbooks.
7) Certified divers, who do not have the skill or experience necessary to safely and comfortably dive in
given environmental conditions, must dive under the immediate supervision of Dive Centre Staff.
8) The maximum number of divers on any one dive will be restrcited to six divers plus one dive guide. The
recommended maximum number will be four divers plus one dive guide.
Section 3: Maximum Depth Limitations
1) The maximum depth for all-recreational diving in Thailand is 40 meters.
2) This applies to divers training in Deep Diving Techniques who participate in recreational diving activities
within Thailand, tourists, Dive Centre Staff, Instructors on or off duty and all instructors and
students involved in Advanced and Deep Diving Training. This maximum depth limitation also applies
without exception to diving activities on live-aboard and safari boats.
3) Any person repeatedly and deliberately violating this regulation may be excluded from further diving.
Furthermore, any Dive Centre Staff repeatedly and deliberately violating this regulation will be subjected
to disciplinary measures as deemed fit by the concerned Thailand Authority.
4) Entry level divers may dive to a depth of 20 meters or within the limits as set forth by standards of their
certification agency, but not exceeding 20 meters.
5) Not until entry-level divers have received training in Deep Diving techniques may they go deeper than
20 meters.
6) Instruction in Deep Diving techniques must be provided in compliance with the standards of the program
the instructor is qualified to teach according to the Diver Training Agencies as mentioned in SECTION
1: RECOGNISED DIVER TRAINING AGENCIES.
7) The fact that an entry level diver is diving under the supervision of an instructor shall not be grounds to
dive deeper than 20 meters unless the diver is trained or is receiving training in Deep Diving Techniques
as per standards.
Section 4: Decompression Dive Limitations.
1) Only no stage decompression diving is allowed in Thailand. This applies to everybody who participates
in diving activities within Thailand, tourists and dive Centre staff, instructors on and off duty, also instructors
and students involved in Advanced and Deep Diving Training. This no-stage decompression
limitation also applies to live-aboard or safari boats. No exception whatsoever is allowed.
2) Any person repeatedly and deliberately violating this regulation may be excluded from further diving.
Furthermore, any Dive Centre staff repeatedly and deliberately violating this regulation shall be subjected
to disciplinary measures as deemed fit by the concerned Thailand Authority.
Section 5: Dive Centre Requirements
1) All Dive Centres must register with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and obtain an operating license.
2) All Dive Centres must be equipped with pure Oxygen and have an emergency plan ready in case of diving
related accidents. The emergency plan must include mechanisms for:
1) Searching methods in case of missing divers.
2) Providing First Aid Care.
3) Transport method to the next appropriate medical facility.
4) Reporting to the appropriate Authorities (Police, Coast Guard, Tourism Authority of Thailand, etc.)
3) All Dive Centre Staff must be familiar with his/her Emergency Plan and be able to act appropriately.
4) A Dive Centre must have an employed Base Leader who is responsible for the Dive Centre and who is
present at the Dive Centre on a daily basis. In case the Base Leader is absent, an Assistant Base Leader
must assume responsibility for the Dive Centre.
5) A Dive Centre must have adequate equipment spare parts, equipment and course materials for all courses
conducted.
6) A Dive Centre must have a list of all dive services and courses conducted and their rates available in
writing.
Section 6: Dive Centre Equipment
1) Dive Centres must provide well-maintained dive equipment.
2) Dive cylinders must be hydrostatically tested by a facility authorised to do so by the ???
3) Buoyancy Compensators Devices (BCD’s) must be approved for recreational diving by the manufacturer
and must have a Low Pressure Inflator. The BCD must be maintained according to the manufacturer’s
instructions.
4) Regulators must be approved for recreational diving by the manufacturer and must be maintained according
to the manufacturer’s instructions.
5) Dive Centres must provide Alternative Air Sources, depth and timing devices as standard rental equipment.
Section 7: Standard Equipment for Divers and Instructors
1) During all recreation diving activities divers must be equipped with:
a) Mask, Snorkel, Fins
b) Regulator with submersible pressure gauge and Alternative Air Source or redundant air supply.
c) Buoyancy Compensator Device (BCD) vest with minimum 6 litres volume, with oral and low presure
Inflator.
d) Time and depth measuring device.
e) The use of dive computers are highly recommended for all divers
f) Emergency signalling device comprising inflatable surface balloon and whistle.
2) During all night diving activities divers must be equipped with:
g) Underwater torch and night signalling device that includes every diver in possession of a marker
light
h) Reflective surface marker buoy (SMB)
3) In addition, all dive instructors supervising diving activities must be equipped with;
j) Knife and emergency signalling device
Section 8: Dive Boats
1) Dive Boats are the responsibility of the Dive Centre and the crew.
2) Dive Boats must have at least a crew of three, and must be dedicated to the safety of the divers and support
the divers in any way they can
3) The Dive boats operated by Dive Centres must be able to communicate to the Dive Centre at all times
during the dive through a functioning walkie-talkie or hand phone and radio telephone or CB set.
4) The Dive boats must have sufficient fuel to make the prearranged dive trips and any changes there to.
5) In case weather conditions deteriorate while divers are under water, the crew must be proficient in recalling
methods.
6) The Dive Centre Staff is responsible for the provision of a spare tank, spare diving equipment, First Aid,
Oxygen Kit, dive flag and a boat ladder that allows for comfortable exit from the water.
7) The Dive Flag illustrated in ANNEX 1 shall be clearly visible when the divers are in the water and must
be lowered when the last diver has exited the water.
8) An operational Search Light must be onboard, in all night dives involving dive boats.
Section 9: Safety Considerations.
1) All Dive Centres must have an Emergency Plan as mentioned under SECTION 5: DIVE CENTRE REQUIREMENTS.
2) The Dive Centre Staff must brief the divers prior to every dive. The brief must include information about
safety regulations, depth limits, dive site characteristics, currents, entry and exit techniques, environmental
considerations and potential hazards.
3) After all dives, a Safety Stop must be made for at least 3 minutes at 5 meters. Divers must commence
their safety stop with a tank pressure not less than 50 bars. A safety stop at 5 metres for 5 minutes is
recommended for all dives deeper than 9 metres.
4) The use of a Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) is absolutely mandatory for all diving activities.
5) Solitary Diving is NOT allowed under any circumstances.
6) For practical reasons the term “diving” is used to describe recreational diving only. Commercial and
military divers and other occupational divers must adhere to these regulations when participating in
recreational diving activities.
7) Familiarisation sessions with the oxygen equipment must be provided on the dive centre for all dive staff
and this training session must be held at least annually.
8) No exceptions to the Thailand recreational diving regulations are allowed unless expressly permitted in
writing by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Section 10: Recognised Qualifications of Dive Centre Staff.
1) In order to supervise diving activities or exercise leadership in diving activities, a person must: be a Dive
master (RTSC) or 4 Star diver (CMAS) or equivalent as per RSTC standard, have a Work Permit and a
valid Visa if not a Thai national, carry professional liability insurance and personal accident insurance
covering diving accidents and chamber treatment.
2) All training and certification of divers is to be done exclusively by Instructors, who may be assisted by
Assistant Instructors and/ or Dive Masters as per standard.
3) In order to function as an Instructor an individual must, in addition to the above: be certified as an Instructor
(RSTC) or 1 Star moniteur (CMAS) or equivalent as per RSTC standard; be in teaching status
with the diver-training agency whose diver training program he/she chooses to teach. Strictly adhere to
all the standards that apply to the diver-training program he chooses to teach.
4) In order to function as a Base Leader or Assistant Base Leader, an individual must be a Dive Instructor.
Section 11: Orientation Dive
1) If a diver is certified as an entry level diver or above, but cannot show proof of at least 30 dives and/or
has not been diving in the last 3 months, the diver is required to make an Orientation Dive.
2) An Orientation Dive is NOT a test, but is a dive in shallow water under quiet, controlled circumstances,
where the diver is given the opportunity to regain confidence in his/her skills, including but not limited
to: mask clearing, regulator recovery, neutral buoyancy, ascents, descents and alternate air source
breathing.
Section 12: Definitions
1) In this regulation, unless the context otherwise requires:-.
a) “diving” means underwater recreational scuba diving
b) “Dive Centre” means dive schools, dive bases and all other parties that provide diving services for
tourists
2) Following are some of the abbreviations used by International Diving Associations stated in this
regulation;
PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors
NAUI - National Association of Under Water Instructors
RSTC - Recreational Scuba Training Council
CMAS - Confederation Mondiale Des Activities Subaquatiques
SCUBA - Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
BARACUDA - Baracuda International .Aquanautic Club
VIT -Verband Internationaler Tauchschulen (Association of International Diving Schools)
POSEIDON - Poseidon Nemrod International Diving Club
SSI - Scuba Schools International
CHAPTER THREE: DIVING GUIDELINES
Section 1: Planning the Dive
1) It is essential to “PLAN YOUR DIVE AND DIVE YOUR PLAN”. Dive centres must be aware of any
changes to the dive plan of the dive boat and divers.
Section 2: Weather Checks
1) It is recommended that dive centres keep aware of local weather conditions and inform divers of any
special conditions at each dive site prior to the dive.
Section 3: Low-Risk Conditions
1) Maximum depth of dive site does not exceed 20 m
2) Swell and/or wave height does not exceed 0.5 m
3) Current is nil to slight (diver can swim against it with minimum exertion)
4) Underwater visibility is greater than 4 m
5) Dive starts and ends in full daylight
Section 4: Prohibited Dives
1) Decompression dives
2) Dives deeper than 40 m
3) Dives less than 24 hours before flying (a pressurised aircraft)
4) Dives in restricted /no dive areas
Section 5: Diver Qualifications
1) A diver must present the following documents to the dive centre:
a) Dive certification card from a recognised agency that allows the person to dive without supervision
in open water.
b) Completed diver registration form at the dive centre.
c) An orientation dive may be required for persons who have not dived within the last 3 months. The
dive centre may impose restrictions on a diver’s activities on the basis of his/her logged experience.
Section 6: Dive Tables and Computers
1) Use of dive tables and dive computers are highly recommended for all divers.
2) Dive tables must be available at the dive base for divers to workout their dives manually.
Section 7: Dive Flag
1) The wide transport activities around Thailand make it essential that divers mark their presence clearly.
Therefore, any boat with divers operating from it must always display signals by day or night to inform
other boat users. In Thailand the daytime signal for divers is the International Code Flag “A” (white
and blue split flag) as an indication of a submerged diver (Annex 1). The flag must be at least 750mm in
length and 600mm in width.
2) Dive flag can be used anywhere where divers are diving and should always be displayed by dive boats
when it has divers in the water. The use of dive flag is to signal any boat, jet-ski or anybody else in the
vicinity that divers are underneath and hence should keep distance, or take care when approaching.
Section 8: Diving from Boats
1) For all dives away from the dive centre, it is recommended that a person with the following qualifications
and experience remains on the surface during diving operations:
a) A boat driving/captains license from the Habour Department of Thailand and with significant experience.
b) Dive Centre staff with adequate knowledge of the dive location or other person approved by the Base
Leader.
c) First aid certificate.
d) Oxygen resuscitation and therapy certificate or PADI /DAN Oxygen Provider Course.
Section 9: Cylinder Pressure Testing
1) Those who are professionally engaged in the filling of compressed air are forbidden to fill aluminium
cylinders that have not been hydrostatic pressure tested within the last five years and steel cylinders that
have not been hydrostatic pressure tested within the last two years. Persons employed by dive centres to
fill cylinders (such as compressor boys) must be made aware of these regulations.
Section 10: Environment Protection
1) As responsible divers, reasonable care should be taken to protect the marine environment, its associated
living organisms and their habitats. Divers should be briefed by the dive instructor on responsible
behaviour whilst diving, such as buoyancy control, avoiding damage to corals and physical contact with
marine animals. Shark feeding is NOT permitted for the divers and the dive centre staff alike.
2) Activities that are detrimental to marine protected areas and protected species and their habitats are
prohibited. Marine Protected Areas are living marine aquariums. Look but don’t touch is the message in
these areas, and ONLY permitted activities can take place. Protected areas, as their name suggests, are
there to protect typical areas of the coral reef system, and its resident fish and other animals, in as near
to a pristine condition as possible.
3) Permit to dive in marine protected areas may be required. Please check before you venture.
4) Diving with gloves will not be permitted on any dives with the following exceptions: wreck dives and
mooring line ascents and descents.
Section 11: Damage Due to Anchoring
1) Dive boats are not allowed to anchor on dive sites. Drift boat diving is the norm in Thailand. Boat anchors
destroy fish habitats especially corals and even sea-grass beds. If anchoring is required for any
reason, prevent reef damage by anchoring in sandy areas or using mooring buoys.
Section 12: Diving for Commercial Fishing & Marine Research
1) Diving for marine resources and marine research are not covered under these regulations. Permission
should be obtained from the concerned government authorities before engaging in such activities.

This has been a very cool place so far. I really love the mountains in the distance and as we are very close to the equator here it is hot but not stifling hot like you might expect..

I did not know what to expect for cheap hotels here as the information on the net was very sparse. I really lucked out and found a cheap accommodation right on the water in Semporna that just opened that is only 50 RM a night with hot water and air con.

Now the reason I am here is that you cannot stay on Sipadan anymore for ecological reasons so your options are Mabul or Samporna. I am hoping to get to Mabul later this week and try to do some shore scuba diving sounds like I will not be able to do but I will try! I will get the new underwater camera housing wet that I just bought in KL and I will be looking for ghost pipefish and frog fish and big fish known as SHARKS!!!!

Have a good one!

Man i tell ya I had the hardest time finding a underwater Camera housing for my cybershot the camera is a couple of years old and qualifies as a antique at least that is what all the camera shops tell me.. I looked all over Cambodia in Phnom Penh where you use to be able to get them and then I looked all over in Bangkok including Pantip Plaza which use to have alot of underwater camera housings for the Sony and Olpmus as well as the Cannon.

talk to anybody and they will tell you that the olypus is the one to go with for Underwater shots for a point and shoot they do a great job.

Now my Sony takes good pictures and was the camera that Sherry from the New york times was using as well I had great success shooting a lot of pictures in the Philippines when i was scuba diving as well as in Cambodia.

Anyway to make a long rant shorter I looked in KL Kuala Lumpur and I was getting real frustrated as no one had it but a couple of the shops suggested that I try Petronas Towers So i did and they have a Sony shop on the 4th floor i looked no Marine Pack I wa about to lose it so I asked for the manager and he went into the back and came out with YES A UNDERWATER HOUSING Yea as I am off to Sipadan Tommorow and would have been none too happy if I wasn't able to shoot any underwater pictures So keep an eye out here as I will have some cool critters this week for you to ogle.

here are a couple of underwater pictures from my trip to Purto Galara
Chow mein!
img src="http://www.ecosea.com/blog/Nudibrach%20Puerto%20Galara.jpg"/>

Fan mail from the maldives about an new scuba Diving boat for liveaboards in the Maldives.

Dear Sir /Madam

My name is Ali Rasheed, from Maldives. I am making a new safari boat in Maldives,

Cruiser that will make your Maldives holiday perfect one. One of the most beautiful Safari yacht in the Maldives offers you, Diving, Fishing, Snorkeling, Wind Surfing, Sailing and visiting many different islands, including desert island and off cause cruising anywhere in the Maldives or just floating in the warm tropical water in Indian Ocean.

Please visit our web- www.dreammaldives.mv to get more details and let me know what you think about it.



Thank you

Ali Rasheed,



Dream Maldives Pvt.Ltd.
M.Goabilimaage.
Sheed ali higun
Male
Rep. of Maldives
+960 778 5346
info@dreammaldives.mv
www.dreammaldives.mv

I did 2 discover scuba diving today, I had a good time as I was leading Malaysians around; it is all ways a thrill to introduce new people to the underwater world. Here are some pictures fro malaysian scuba diving.