vietnam or thailand december??

December will be their monsoon season in the S. China Sea.

You might like the islands to the south of Phuket for a change--Lanta, etc.

Last year i was in koh tao sor the monsoon season!! It didn't really happen, the vis does drop to about 15 m but you will still see way more than in vietnam, If you go to phi phi it will be high season and expensive. When your in the south or bkk call to a few of the dive schools and see what the weather has been doing, Last nov/dec i completed my res efr courses with simple life and had a wicked time. The dive sites are a lot less crowded than other months, some days we were the only group of fun divers at the sites. Didn't see whale sharks but plenty of reef sharks and we think we saw bull sharks but its still being debated. If your flash packing stay next door to simple life they have a pool right on the beach and air con rooms with cable tv and fridge.
whatever you do stay clear of samui and phuket!!!!!
have fun

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<hr> whatever you do stay clear of samui and phuket<hr></blockquote>Strange advice, because the diving from Phuket is a lot better (visibility, marine sightings, diversity, quality of corals) than from Koh Tao.

In December the best place in Thailand by far will be the Similans, and defiantly not Koh Tao. There is just no comparison between the two.

In December Phuket / Similans are in there high season and Koh Tao is in it's low season.

If you like taking photos then Richelieu Rock is the place not to miss.

Have a great time wherever you go.

Stephen.

Phuket Thailand. Diving.

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<hr> whatever you do stay clear of samui and phuket<hr></blockquote>

Stevenl: I was also a bit confused on the above statement. As there is no comparison between the two different diving locations, i am just glad i am the one diving in Phuket.

Stephen.

Diving Phuket Thailand.

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<hr>whatever you do stay clear of samui and phuket<hr></blockquote>why?

Since you have already dived the Similans and want somewhere new, the other sites in Thailand that are great are Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. There are short liveaboards from Phuket (normally 2 days) and day trips from Phi Phi or Koh Lanta. Good chances to see "big stuff" at these sites.

If you have the budget for it, then you might consider the Mergui Archipelago. Liveaboards are not cheap - over 1,000 U$ for the least expensive, but worth a look - macro life abounds and a fair amount of big things around too.

Or, although you're flying in to Thailand, you can consider somewhere like Sipadan. You can fly down that way pretty cheaply with Air Asia (to Kuala Lumpur and on to Tawau).

Happy Diving
Jamie
Phuket

skip vietnam simple unless you like cave diving

as for fish life most was seen in resturants on ice

o and of course the bottles of seahorse whisky mmmmmmm tasty

skip vietnam simple unless you like cave diving

as for fish life most was seen in resturants on ice

o and of course the bottles of seahorse whisky mmmmmmm tasty

Hope you can all give me some advice as well please?

Three of us are coming to Thailand this December. We are considering the advanatages and disadvantages of Koh Lak and Koh Lanta.

I'm an advanced diver, one friend passed his open water last december on Koh Tao (it was murky) and hasn't dived since, my other friend has never been diving but may be interested in learning.

I am keen to dive the similians on a liveaboard, but my friends may find Koh Lak 'too dive orientated'.

Is the diving in Koh Lanta comparible with the Similians?
Is there much to do in Koh Lak except diving? We may be there for Christmas and may fancy the odd late night!
Can you recommend any dive operators in Koh Lak or Koh Lanta?

Hope you can help me please

Cheers pb