Dieter KlinkhammerUW Photo and diving page

Similan / Surin , Hin Daeng / Hin Muang - February 1998 -
Just back from a 12 days cruise to the Similans and to Koh Bon, Koh Tachei until Richelieu Rock , then the Southern Trip until Hin Daeng / Hin Muang and then again the Similan Tour  I like to record:
it was a wonderful holiday again , especially , I had the luck to meet during four of five dives I took at Richelieu Rock ( 3 during the first , 2 during the second Similan trip )whale sharks again. But it is to record too , at present the visibility on the Similan trip is not so good like in the former years . The information in this homepage about the visibility at present to halve seems me realistic . Whether the reason is to see in the big forest - fires in Indonesia months ago ( global effect ? ) or in El Nino I can't decide . I hope I will find this area in the old good condition in the next year again. In the area of Richelieu Rock at present is a " seawood - blossom " , the visibility changes within hours between 0 and 15 m . On the other hand there are at present unusual great many whale sharks . A sign of many plankton in the water too . At Hin daeng / Hin Muang at present you expect multiply grey reef sharks ( ~ eight ). By reason of unusual cold deep currents a 5 mm instead of a 3 mm at present is recommendable , at least - in contrast to the normal condition of this area - not too warm .

The water temperatures are again normal, a 3mm is sufficient completely.The Similans indicates at present ranges of visibility from 25 to 35m. Directly during the first dive of my holiday a guitar ray to see (East of Eden) was fantastic. Likewise a manta ray at Koh Tachei staying at the reef edge long time, although in strong current. During my second Similan cruise I had unfortunately ended my dive at Koh Bon, when a manta came, but saw him  from surface floating below me. After the visibilities of the last year (see above) it was marvelously to be had at Richelieu Rock ranges of visibility to 18m, although no whale shark. On the southtrip to Hin Daeng / Hin Muang the visibility is more badly, approx. 10 to 15m. When diving at Hin Muang on February 11nd 99 about 20m depht it came 10 to 15m below us to an accumulation of great grey reef sharks. I means it were in the end 5, my two dive buddies means it were 8. When the sharks circled, consecutively like a string of pearls, we continued the dive.I would not like to repeat this experience necessarily. On the last dive day of my vacation I still was inside the wreck of the King Cruiser, which may be dived normally only from the outside. The wreck is situated fully in the current and it isn't easy to dive there.
To the weather, at present nobody can make reliable forecasts. Normally there is no rain in February, this time I had 2 to 3 rain days, on the second Similan cruise, storm, cloud break and high waves. There was in 1998 no real rain time (May until October), it seems it will come to a general weather shift.

An eventful dive - holiday again. Took two dive cruises via the Similan islands, Koh Bon and
Koh Tachei until Richelieu Rock. Unfortunately I didn't meet a whaleshark,
but during the second cruises met a big manta ray again, this time at Koh Bon.
The visibility changed between 10 m and 40 m .
Details of the dive cruises are published now on the Similan pages , non - diving news
at Thailand / Phuket tips see above .
 

Hin Daeng / Hin Muang are destroyed. At first I read in a report in cyberdiver.net about
and get the prove true a day later: within the night from 5th to 6th December 2001 an
unknown fisherboat used dynamite by fishing and destroyed both reefs total. It's time
that people will learn how important nature is and that it is to protect. May be it were
"only" some poor fishermen, the result is which centuries needed is away. Pleasedive
further on in this area, there are still many beautiful reefs, like the Similans. It remains
to hope, that people will learn, how important the (dive-) tourism and the ecosystem coral
reef - the rain forests of the seas - are be. If you will stay away, you will achieve nothing.

This year I was "only" one week in Phuket, because I further-traveled after it to Bali.
Nevertheless I participated in three daily dive trips. It is naturally completely mad that I
directly at the beginning of my first dive (Koh Racha Noi, Northern tip)- I was still no
three minutes in the water - a meeting with a large manta ray had. The visibilities at the
day trips dive destinations in the proximity of Phuket (Koh Racha Noi, Northern Tip ;
Koh Racha Yai, Bungalow Bay ;   Anemonen Reef ; Koh Doc Mai and near at Koh Phi
Phi, Koh Bida Noc) , varied during the time visited by me, between 6 and 12 meters. The
weather was very good, sunshine purely, as it was to be there to the high season in February.

Up - to date February 2004 : For not to have a building site effect - after the update on the first pages -
here once again some commments:

The Andaman Sea is still a
worthwhile goal for divers.
The ranges of visibility were
respetive the divespots allright,
the weather good.
Unfortunately I did not see a
whalshark on this dive holiday
again, but during both liveaboards
two manta rays at Koh Bon.
Many leopardsharks at Kon Tachei
in action, may be it was mating
season.
Because the Similans are today protectorate
(Bild: Manta Ray , Koh Tachei , Andaman Sea, Thailand, February 07th 1999)
under water too, the fleets of over 20 (small) fisherboats disappeared. There I pay gladly the national park fee.

Up-to-date 2005:
Whether it will come to continuations and/or updates of my divetravel - reports , remains being waiting.

In reason of a vein thrombosis in the left eye, their cause because of further in the eye present blood at present cannot recognized ,
me is diving at time being one advises against. A coherence between the thrombosis and diving is not to see (the last dive was
past seven months). It can quite be that I can dive further without problems or consequences. But, as long as this cannot be
determined however by the physicians surely, the risk, is too large going blind.
If I will dive again, these sides will be extended by new photos and reports from the Andaman Sea.
 

Up-to-date 2006 :
Now I have decided that I will finally stop with scubadiving.
It is a pity, but safety first.
A lot from the experienced ones 243 dives will be unforgettable for me.
But, by the way.......snorkeling is not a problem !

More pictures, push button, please: 

© Copyright by Dieter Klinkhammer, all rights reserved.

Last updated: June 25th 2006

webmaster: Dieter Klinkhammer P.O.Box 13 03 19 , D 47755 Krefeld , Germany , Fax: +49 2151 938498 ,     email: webmaster@scubadiving.de