Last Minute Offer @ 20%…

MV Black MantaLast Minute Offer
@ 20% Discount for
MV Black Manta

Similans, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock

18th – 22nd January 2011
14 dives, 5 days / 4 nights

Available Cabins & Price:
1 Master cabin now only 30,400 B. Usually 38,000 B.
1 Deluxe cabins now only 28,000 B. Usually 35,000 B.
2 Standard cabins now only 22,400 B. Usually 28,000 B.

To book click here

Departure from Thap Lamu pier at 22:00 on 18th January 2011

Included; 14 dives, transfers*, all meals on board, guides, air tanks, weights

Not Included; National Marine Park fees (1,600 B.), equipment rental, transfers* outside Kata, Karon, Patong areas and Airport

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Manta Rays at Hin Muang and Hin Daeng

One of the attractions when on Koh Lanta is the possibility of seeing Manta Rays at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. These two sites are amongst Thailand’s top dive destinations and on my second visit within a month, there was Manta mayhem with multiple Mantas showing up during all three dives of the day for the full duration of each dive.

Manta Ray at Hin Daeng

Manta Ray at Hin Daeng

Within seconds of descending for the first dive there was Manta hovering around Hin Muang and it just didn’t stop for the rest for the day. During each dive that day we saw various Manta at the sites.

Manta Ray at Hin Muang

Manta Ray at Hin Muang in full flight

For more pictures and videos have a look at my dive blog. Instead of the scheduled two dives, everybody was very happy to get a third dive in that day.

Manta Ray at Hin Muang profile

Manta Ray at Hin Muang profile

Next time when in Koh Lanta, make sure to make a visit to Hin Muang and Hin Daeng. Alternatively I can also recommend Koh Haa where there are also regular Manta sightings.

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PADI IE December 2010 successful with PADI Platinum Course Director Camille Lemmens

All 5 candidates from PADI award winning Platinum Course Director Camille Lemmens, combined from two IDC’s, one in Kao Lak with Julia and Suzanne, in conjunction with Similan Diving Safaris and one IDC with Maja, Emma and Craig, held in conjunction with Scubafish on Koh Lanta, have successfully passed the PADI IE in Phuket.

All candidates of PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens during the December 2010 PADI IE in Phuket

PADI IE December 2010 in Phuket with Platinum PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens, from left to right; Craig, Maja, Emma, Tim (PADI Examiner) Julia, Suzanne, Camille and Jim (PADI Examiner)

Good luck to all of you in your future PADI Instructor careers and for making Camille’s candidates pass rate during 2010 PADI IE’s 100% for this year!

Camille’s next IDC starts 6th January 2011 on Koh Samui.

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Similan Dec 15th Trip Last Promotion Cabin

PP HarmonyLAST STANDARD PROMOTION CABIN AVAILABLE

For the trip 15-19 Dec  -  4D/4N to Similan – Richelieu
and still for a last minute price of
ONLY THB 20,000/diver including the equipment!!!
or THB 19,000/diver with own equipment!
Non-divers: THB 16,000/person

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Similans Special Offer Trip 15-19 Dec on PP Harmony

PP HarmonyTo celebrate the “re-launching” of P.P. Harmony here we are with a great LAST MINUTE OFFER

For the trip 15-19 Dec  -  4D/4N to Similan – Richelieu Rock

ONLY THB 20,000/diver including the equipment!!!
or THB 19,000/diver with own equipment!

Non-divers: THB 16,000/person

MV PP Harmony Boat Details

Book this Similan Islands trip deal now ! – Only limited space.

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Special Borneo Banks Trips on MV Black Manta

Borneo Banks on MV Black Manta
5 days / 6 nights (18 dives) diving safari to Layang Layang, South China Seas

black_mantaIncluding; Dallas reef, Mariveles reef (Sprartlys),
Usukan Bay Wreck, and many more spectacular dive sites

8 Trips between 13th April to 4th June 2011
Black Manta Special Borneo Banks Trip Pricing Enquire Here

Maximum 18 Divers, first come, first serve.
Single supplementary of 80% of another diver.

Departures from Sutra Harbour Marina,
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Included; Airport transfer from KK airport to Boat and to airport, 6 nights onboard Black Manta, Port fee, all meals, drinking water and hot beverages, snacks and fruits, towel , daily cabin services,  tanks, weight belt, dive guide, & 18 dives.

Not Included; 1) All flights, 2) Diving Entry fee to Borneo Banks RM$350 per person (to be paid onboard), 3) Travel or diving insurance, 4) Nitrox Fills, 5) Rental Equipment

Itinerary Details
Borneo Banks
5 Days / 6 Nights (18 Dives) at Layang Layang
Dive Sites; Dallas reef, Mariveles reef (Sprartlys), Usukan Bay Wreck & many more spectacular dive sites.

Borneo Banks are beyond Layang Layang and consists of the Dallas reef, Mariveles reef.  Sailing time is about 17 hours from Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia

Layang Layang is an island situated 300 km north of the coast of Sabah, in Malaysian Borneo. A part of the disputed Spratly Islands, the island is also claimed by China, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines, and is occasionally known in English as Swallow Reef.
Layang Layang is situated in very deep waters with the drop off outside the island’s reef falling away to approximately 2000 metres. Given its location in the middle of nowhere, the ocean waters are clear and unpolluted. Deep water marine species such as Hammerhead sharks visit this location. Whale Sharks also frequent the atoll. The corals are in pristine condition and with no fishing permitted, the fish life is abundant.
Best time to dive – April to June (Highlight – swim with dolphins and hunt for Hammerhead sharks)
There are 10 or so dive sites – all which are accessed by boat. The visibility is usually very good at 20 -40 metres and more. The water temperature is somewhere around 30 degrees C. Each dive will give you opportunity to see large creatures such as sharks, turtles and manta rays – maybe even the elusive hammerhead shark. A vast array of intact, unbleached hard and soft corals, barrel sponges, gorgonian fans, schools of large fish and the usual array of colourful little fish are easy to see on each dive. The diving conditions such as current will vary with the weather and the dive master will select a suitable site accordingly.
·        Crack Reef
·        D Wall
·        Navigator’s Lane
·        Snapper’s Ledge
·        Wrasse Strip
·        Dog Tooth Lair
·        Gorgonian Forest
·        Shark’s Cave
·        The Runaway
·        The Valley
·        The Point – For a chance to see any hammerheads, this is the location where divers swim away from the reef at the beginning of the dive into the blue at about 30-35 metres depth for about 5-10 minutes before returning to the reef and completing the remaining 30 minutes slow ascending dive along the reef wall.

Dallas Reef – Another site to see more sharks – White Tip, Grey reef and Hammerhead, Manta ray, marble ray and devil ray. You see 10 sharks at one time swimming together.

Mariveles Reef – Most beautiful wall dive ever with giant sea fan, schools of Bumphead parrot fishes and nest of giant sweetlips
Dallas and Mariveles reef are part of Spratlys and about 2-4 hours sailing time from Layang Layang. Only can access by live aboard dive boat..

Brief Itinerary

Embarkation / Disembarkation : Kota Kinabalu Sutra Harbour Marina

Night on board : 6 nights

Diving days : 5 full days
Day 1 Afternoon : Check in Boat by 2.00pm, depart Marina for Diving Exploration

Day 2 Full day diving in Layang Layang area

Day 3 Full day diving in Dallas

Day 4 Full day diving in Mariveles reef

Day 5 Full day diving in Layang Layang

Day 6 Full day diving in Usukan Bay wreck

Day 7 Afternoon : Arrive Marina 7-8am. 12-3pm Check out and transfer to airport

(Itinerary is subjected to change without prior notice according to the diving circumstance)
How to Get to kota Kinabalu Malaysia? 
Daily flight from Singapore by SilkAir , Jetstar Asia, AirAsia.com, TigerAirways.com SilkAir.com.sg, MalaysiaAir.com
How to get to Sutra Harbour Marina?  The taxi ride is 10 minutes from airport to marina.
All divers must have travel and diving insurance that cover trip cancellation or trip disruption.

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First PADI IDC in Kao Lak for PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens

PADI award winning Platinum Course Director Camille Lemmens has conducted his first PADI IDC in Kao Lak in conjunction with PADI 5* IDC center Similan Diving Safaris.

IDC Kao Lak November 2010

First IDC in Kao Lak November 2010

Two candidates, Julia and Suzanne were participating and two PADI Master Instructors staffed. In the picture from left to right; Richard (MI), Camille (PADI Course Director), Stephan (SDS manager) and Jeffree (MI).

In front Julia and Suzanne, who will attend their PADI IE in Phuket from 10th to 12 th December with candidates of Camille’s current IDC being conducted in Koh Lanta.

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PADI IE November 2010 on Koh Lanta successful

PADI IE November 2010 on Koh Lanta successful

All candidates from award winning Platinum PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens completed successfully the first IDC that Camille conducted on Koh Lanta and the 3 candidates went on to nail the PADI IE, also conducted on Koh Lanta.

Camille worked in conjunction with Scubafish in Baan Kan Tiang Bay.

Koh Lanta November 2010 PADI IE

Koh Lanta November 2010 PADI IE

In the picture from left to right; Heidi (OWSI), Dom (OWSI), Simon (OWSI), Camille (PADI Course Director) and Rob (PADI Examiner). Richard who staffed and Phil who completed his IDCS course are missing from the picture.

The IDC was so well received that on short notice an additional Koh Lanta IDC is scheduled, starting 29th November 2010.

First things first though and an IDC will start in Kao Lak this 17th November 2010.

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PADI IDC of October 2010 completed with PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens

PADI IDC of October 2010 completed with PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens

In conjunction with The Dive Academy on Koh Samui, award winning Platinum PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens.

All candidates successfully completed the PADI IE on Koh Samui, as is shown in the picture below.

PADI IE Koh Samui October 2010

Group picture of Koh Samui October 2010 PADI IE

Standing from left to right: Darren (IDCS), Paul (MI and owner The Dive Academy), Nori (OWSI), Camille Lemmens (PADI Course Director), Joep (OWSI), Marlies (OWSI), Rob (PADI Examiner), Nobu (MI) and Aiko (IDCS) and sitting in front from left to right; Tobias (OWSI), Yusuke (OWSI) and Kenta (OWSI).

As usual it was a very international affair with candidates originating from the Netherlands, Germany and Japan and staff from Japan and the UK.

Joep , who’s pictured here, completed his IDC last month on Koh Phangan. His fellow candidate Aldo completed his PADI IE successfully on Perhentian Islands in Malaysia last month.

Camille’s next IDC will kick off 27th October on Koh Lanta followed by an IDC starting 17th November in Kao Lak. Check here Camille’s IDC schedule for 2010 and 2001.

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PADI IDC completed on Koh Phangan with PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens

PADI IDC completed on Koh Phangan with PADI Course Director Camille Lemmens

The IDC was held at the brand new 5* IDD Resort facilities of Haad Yao divers on Koh Phangan and the classroom had amongst other wifi and a swimming pool within walking distance.

IDC on Koh Phangan with Haad Yao divers

IDC on Koh Phangan with Haad Yao divers

From left to right, Daniel, co owner of Haad Yao divers who staffed part of the course, Aldo, Joep and Camille.

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