Thailand Liveaboard recommendation: Similian-Richelieu and Hin Muang/Daeng

----- Original Message -----
From: "William Rampartson" <nosp@m.com>
Newsgroups: rec.scuba.locations
Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: Thailand Liveaboard recommendation: Similian-Richelieu and Hin
Muang/Daeng


>
> "Brian Allen" <brallen467NOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:100bmn07mua0r82@corp.supernews.com...
> > Hello William,
> >
> > If it's important to you that Strickland is going to be there I'd double
> > check it. I don't know the circumstances, but I was told his son was
born
> > with serious medical problems and the way people were talking they
didn't
> > know when he'd be back.
>
> Hey Brian, just arrived Bangkok, it's 11:30 PM or so here. I catch the
Thai
> Air flight to Phuket tomorrow morning but the time change has me wide
awake.
> Whether or not Mark is on board is not important to me. I had heard of the
> new baby but not of the troubles. That too bad. Were I him I would stay
home
> too.
>
> > It's very possible that I did get there in an off week, but I dove all
the
> > places you refer to and saw NO pelagics in Burma, and either did anyone
> else
> > on the boat.
>
> That you saw no pelagics in Burma does make me think you had an off week.
At
> the places I mentioned they were evident on every dive. I have some
> wonderful schooling shots of Bluefin, Giant Trevalies, Chevron Barracuda
and
> Big Eyes and a small group of Shovelnose Rays. Of a singular nature I shot
a
> Guitarfish and Banded Sea Snake. As far as sharks go we had Silvertip
> Sharks, Spinner Sharks, Grey Reef, White Tips and Leopard Sharks (we saw
> Leopard Sharks on most "rocky" dives though).
>
> > The only big stuff we saw were at Richelieu Rock (leopard
> > sharks, 2 mantas, marbled rays and a huge ray I can't remember the name
> of).
> > I did see a few large schools of barracuda, but nothing else big even
> worth
> > mentioning during the ten day trip. I agree that the macro diving is
> very
> > very good, but I can't agree on the comparison to PNG. I've been there
> too,
> > and I really don't think it compares.
>
> Not equal, but close. PNG is one of my very favorite places, I have made
> that trip 7 times and Andaman Sea has some favorable comparisons to PNG in
> terms of macro populations. Three Islets and Western Rocky are worldclass
> macro sites. Tremendous macro at both locations. Looking thru my journel:
On
> one dive in particular at Three Islets I shot Harlequin Shrimp, Black and
> Yellow Ribbon Eels, Mantis Shrimp, Harlequin Ghost Pipefish, Longsnout
> Pipefish, Banded Sea Kraits, Sea Horses, Frogfish (numerous varieties and
> some HUGE, I'd bet 12 inches in a couple cases) and a Tiger Tail Sea
Horse.
> I returned to the boat 4 times on that dive to replenish film. A couple
boat
> mates, people I have dived many places in the world with, told me that was
> the single best macro dive they ever had. I won't say it was my best macro
> dive, but it was certainly one of the best. I think there is an astounding
> assortment of macro in Andaman Sea. PNG has more, but it is more work to
> shoot it and I haven't seen such diversity in such a small area in PNG
> either.
>
> > The dive master I was referring to was Hans. He was also in charge of
the
> > boat. We were repeatedly dropped off down current, especially in bad
vis.
> > That's just plain stupid. When I asked him about figuring out which way
> the
> > current's going before the drop off he said there was no need for that.
> > There were people on the boat who quickly refused to get into the dingy
> with
> > him. One of these people in particular was very vocal, but I don't
think
> > took the hint. On one dive the vis was particularly bad, my wife, an
> older
> > guy and myself were with Hans and were once again dropped off down
> current.
> > As soon as we hit the water Hans made a bee line for the bottom. I
> actually
> > saw him look back once too. I started following but realized my wife
> wasn't
> > keeping up, so I slowed down. He just kept going and disappeared. I
> turned
> > around and had some how also lost my wife. I figured that it was no big
> > deal, I'd just go north using my compass, remembering from the brief
that
> we
> > were to be dropped off south of the submerged pinnacle. Fifteen
minutes
> > later, sucking air swimming against the current at 100' I gave up, did a
> > safety stop and went back to the OR. My wife and the other guy had
bumped
>
> > back into each other and somehow found the reef, but never did see Hans
> > until later on the OR.
>
> Well, I don't know who Hans is but I can say this:
> 1) On drift dives I too hit the water and make a "beeline" to the bottom".
> It probably comes from my West Palm days but that is how I do it. Beeline
> and no looking back. My buddy (usually my wife) and I meet at the bottom
and
> if not abort the dive.

It wasn't a drift dive, that was part of the problem.

> 2) I do not follow DM's or other people. In this sense what the DM does or
> doesn't do, once in the water, has no impact on my dive or safety.
> 3) If I enter the water and the current is running away from the intended
> drift I abort and reboard the boat. To me that's a simple decision. Not
> going to get to the site anyway, why continue?

An even simpler idea is to figure out current before drop off.

> 4) If there is a problem employee on the boat I don't complain to him or
> her. I find the Captain or trip/group leader and we talk about it. I have
> never had a problem after approaching situations in this manner.

Hans was in charge of this trip.

>
> But I now understand why you disliked the trip so much. And I do not blame
> you. Whomever it was you were diving with appears to have been completely
> unprepared to prepare you for the local conditions, subject matter and
photo
> ops.

Wasn't diving with anyone, my wife and I just decided to try the OR.


> > The older guy, who was very laid back and quiet,
> > asked Hans how hard is it to keep track of three people.
>
> My position is that I do not expect anyone to keep track of me, the minute
I
> do that then I am diving their dive, their safety decisions and their
skill
> level. I suspect had you severed your interaction with Hans the minute you
> realized he was a dufus, your trip may have been better than you report
> here.

I don't expect anyone to keep track of us either, but when the vis is bad
it'd be nice to at least be shown the reef. We pretty much did stop all
interactions with Hans, but because he ran the operation everyone was
getting dropped off at the same place on all the dives, in his dingy or not,
didin't really matter.

>
> >I skipped the next
> > dive and my wife and I either went with Andy (the other guide) or did
our
> > own thing. There are more examples, but I've whined enough. You sound
> very
> > experienced and I'm sure you'll have a good time even if Strickland
isn't
> > there, but I hope he is.
>
> Mark will be onboard but I don't find that imperative other than his
> incredible expertise in describing where certain photo subjects should be
> found. I don't expect him to point them out, cause I won't be diving
"with"
> him, but often just a hint of what colors and environment to look for
really
> helps.
>
> We board tomorrow night at 8:00 PM local time. I'll send you a mail after
> the trip. It should be interesting to see if your bad experience has
become
> the norm on the boat or was an unfortunate anomoly. Either way, for the
> money and time invested in a trip like this I do not blame you for the
hard
> feelings given what seems to be a poor performance by the diving operation
> on the boat.

You sound really experienced and I hope you have a wounderful trip. I'm
sure we were there during an off week for the boat and the conditions. Let
me know how it turns out.

Regards,
Brian


> > "William Rampartson" <nosp@m.com> wrote in message
> > news:Q_iNb.712$F83.62891@news.uswest.net...
> > >
> > > "Brian Allen" <brallen467NOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > > news:100bb6eoh2u4ib5@corp.supernews.com...
> > > > Hello,
> > > >
> > > > I was on the Ocean Rover last month. I wouldn't go back. The boat
> > itself
> > > > is nice, the crew is outstanding, except for one of the divemasters.
> > My
> > > > complaints are more with the dive sights in Burma. Dynamite
fishing,
> > gill
> > > > nets stuck on reefs (you swim up to a coral head and reef fish swim
> into
> > > the
> > > > nets)... stuff like that.
> > >
> > > Boy, that's entirely counter to my diving there. I don't know if you
> just
> > > got a bad week or what, but to me Burma (indeed most of the Andaman
Sea)
> > was
> > > well worth the expense and time. In terms of critters it ranks very
> close
> > to
> > > PNG. The photo ops (wide angle or macro) in the Andaman Sea are
numerous
> > and
> > > worldclass quality. I saw no nets left on the reef...but,
unfortunately,
> > > dynamite and cyanide and bleach fishing are evident almost anywhere in
> the
> > > world.
> > >
> > > > I'm sure our trip (even though overall was still
> > > > very enjoyable) would have been better if Mark Strickland would have
> > been
> > > on
> > > > the boat.
> > > > He's only scheduled to be on it for three months in '04.
> > >
> > > Mark's wife recently had a baby and he is staying home a bit more. He
> was
> > on
> > > my first trip and will be onboard on Friday.
> > >
> > > > There's
> > > > no camera equipment to rent, so if your thinking about underwater
> > > pictures,
> > > > rent or buy one before you get onboard.
> > >
> > > > There were only 8 of us onboard,
> > > > including a "Photo pro". 5 of us said we wouldn't be back ,
including
> > the
> > > > Photo pro. If I were going to be there and had an interest in
diving
> > > "since
> > > > you're there", I'd take one of the shorter trips like the other
poster
> > > wrote
> > > > about. There are a large number of really nice boats out of Phuket
> that
> > > go
> > > > on short trips. I really don't think you'll be missing anything by
> not
> > > > going to Burma, and therefore wouldn't go on the Ocean Rover trip.
> > >
> > > I think in Mergui, that Western Rocky, High Rock, Black Rock and Three
> > > islets are not to be missed....and are absolutely worldclass sites for
> > scuba
> > > and photo. The greatest schools of pelagics and the widest varieties
of
> > > sharks were found at this Westernmost area of the Archipelago. Burma
> does
> > > not have nice coral, with almost everything being rocks and hard
coral,
> > but
> > > it has the critters, schools and sharks. Very nice in my opinion. We
> spent
> > 4
> > > 1/2 days diving the outbanks of Mergui and Burma Banks and they were
> > > spectacular. Both areas..Mergui and Burma Banks have extraordinary
> macro.
> > As
> > > good and accessible as any other place I have been with the exception
of
> > > Milne Bay, Wakatobi and Mabul....and that is pretty good company.
> > >
> > > That was the only Myanmar diving we did and those were certainly worth
> the
> > > ride and time to visit. As much as I enjoyed the Thai sites I would
not
> > > return to Andaman Sea diving without visiting Mergui Archipeligo and
> Burma
> > > Banks again. Those are as nice or nicer than Richelieu and the
> > > Similans...which I found to be the best Thai sites.
> > >
> > > >
> > > > Good Luck,
> > > > Brian
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "William Rampartson" <nosp@m.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:H4gNb.615$F83.42477@news.uswest.net...
> > > > >
> > > > > "KJC" <kjc2750@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:e7ea825b.0401131617.13032768@posting.google.c om...
> > > > > > Hi,
> > > > > > Plan to end a 2-month SE Asia trip with liveaboard trip or two
in
> > > > > > mid-March 2004. Am interested in going to:
> > > > > > - Similans / Richelieu Rock
> > > > > > - Hin Muang/Daeng
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Would like recommendations for solid, safe, comfortable
liveaboard
> > > > > > with knowledgeable staff who give people some flexibility in
their
> > > > > > diving and very environmentally aware.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > FYI -- Am experienced diver with lots of shore diving in
Monterey
> > > > > > Calif. as well as Caribbean deep/drifts and have both cave and
> > nitrox
> > > > > > certifications. But this will be first liveaboard...
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If you can recommend an operator, would appreciate some
specifics
> as
> > > > > > to why and maybe a note on your own experience for context.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > many thanks in advance,
> > > > > > Kate
> > > > >
> > > > > I have dived from only one liveaboard out of Phuket, but it was
one
> of
> > > the
> > > > > finest diving boats I have ever been on. Ocean Rover is a couple
> years
> > > old
> > > > > and is as well or better fitted for liveaboard diving than any
boat
> I
> > > have
> > > > > been on over the past 25 years (in particular I think the Whale
Deck
> > is
> > > a
> > > > > great idea). The crew is superb. During the months of Nov. to May
> they
> > > > > service the Andaman Sea area so your Similians/Richelieu Rock
> interest
> > > > would
> > > > > be served by that itinerary. To my knowledge early March would be
> > better
> > > > > than late March when the plankton increases. Early March is the
end
> of
> > > the
> > > > > NE Monsoon so the seas are quite calm. I dived this month once and
> was
> > > > > pretty happy with the conditions but still wanted calmer seas and
> > > clearer
> > > > > water. To that end I board Ocean Rover this coming Friday to do
the
> > > > Andaman
> > > > > Sea itinerary in January. I guess the fact I have rebooked with
> Ocean
> > > > Rover
> > > > > indicates my satisfaction with their crew, boat services and
> > > > > professionalism.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have heard good things about Aqua One as well, but having never
> > > boarded
> > > > or
> > > > > sailed her I can't really say anything from first hand experience.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>

You can pick up some info on scubaboard and www.damnam.org re current
liveaboards in Thailand.


--
whitehead
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I would steer clear of Ocean Rover since I heard they are going through some
major changes. Including management as well as owners. Until they get this
settled I wouldn't take a chance.

Lawrence

Lawrence <coralsea5@citlink.net> wrote in message news:<BC3531B1.D5B0%coralsea5@citlink.net>...
> I would steer clear of Ocean Rover since I heard they are going through some
> major changes. Including management as well as owners. Until they get this
> settled I wouldn't take a chance.

They can do whatever they want with the management, as long as they keep the cook.

Froggy