To give you a an idea of what is happening here, take a look at this video.  It’s in Thai but the English subtitles should make it pretty easy to comprehend besides the use of cartoon characters.

At the moment, water is entering various parts of inner Bangkok and a number of foreign governments advise against absolutely essential travel to the Thai capital.  It is still unclear how severe the flooding will be, but a lot of Bangkokians are taking no chance and are fleeing the city as a lot of basic consumer goods as bottled drinking water and dry food have become very scarce.  How long the flooding of Bangkok and some of  the other provinces of Thailand will last, remains unclear, but last indications say anywhere from 6 to 9 weeks.

Ronald is still smiling while the Hamburgler should better change to a diving mask. Source : theatlantic.com

So what to do?

Tourist destionations like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai in the north; Phuket, Samui, Koh Tao, Krabi in the south and Hua Hin, Pattaya and of course our own Koh Chang in the east have no flooding and are having blue skies and sunshine nearly every day.  It is business as usual in these places, although you will find empty shelves in the local supermarkets here too as a result from the disrupted distribution that originates in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces.

So there is no need to completely cancel your planned holiday to Thailand.  You might want to reroute your trip and this site offers you some handy tips.

If you’re on twitter and want to stay up to date, you can find the latest via #ThaiFloodEng

This site, in English, provides some good information about the current situation.

When you’re planning to visit us here on Koh Chang or one of the neighbouring islands and have any questions, please feel free to contact us for more information or assistance.

Here are some more incredible photos of what this vast mass of water is doing to the country.

A new update will follow soon!  In the meantime…

Happy Bubbles!

The package includes the following :

Hotel accommodation with breakfast at The Rose Garden Resort, Meyuns Rd, Koror, Palau (11 nights)

It is a quite silent hotel, not to big, a little away from everything so that it is nice and relaxing.

The hotel consists of 24 rooms and it is upon a little Hill with a very nice view over the below laying area and water.

The rooms are made (except the bath) completely out of wood, furnished nicely and useful and, important, they are clean.TV, minibar, ventilator and AC is in the room as well as a table, chair, sideboard and of course a bed.

The rooms are very clean and the come with great balconies and adequate space.

8 days of diving with Fish and Fins

The diving consists out of 2 dives a day.  Boat transfer, dive guide, weights, belt         and tanks are included.  Lunch and drinks during the dive trip are provided as well.

Shark Week 2012 T-shirt, Gala Night and all other Official events

Airport – hotel transfers

Unlimited house dives

Free Nitrox 32% for certified Nitrox divers

Not included in the package is :

* Korror state permit 35 USD which is valid for 10 days included entry for Jellyfish Lake

* Peleliu State Permit 25 USD which is valid for 14 days

* Departure (25 USD) and green tax (15 USD)

* Diving Equipment

* Any other excursions or tours.

* Flights

The price per person for this package is 1890 USD.  A deposit of 25% is required for confirmation of your booking.  The full amount is payable a month after your booking, no later than 1,5 months before the start of this amazing trip.

More information regarding the exact program of Sharkweek 2012 will soon become available.

Talking about sharks have a look at what the guys from Dive Tribe Thailand are doing and join them in in saying “No to Sharkfins”

A remarkable way of making people aware of the shark finning problem is this envelope…only one problem…There is no info on where to get them!  If anyone knows where I could get these, please send me a mail with the details.

Happy Bubbles!

The fact that the temperature was down compared to last year, is a blessing for the coral reefs, not only around Koh Chang, but for the entire South-East Asia region.  We noticed that most of the coral reefs are back in their normal rhythm and that even the worst affected species of coral, the ones from the Staghorn family, are indeed recovering.

Almost daily diving during the Thai Holiday month resulted in really nice encounters with big schools of some very curious Batfish, huge Triggerfish and Giant Travellies.  Not only the bigger fish caught our attention, also well camouflaged fish like the Demon Stinger, sometimes called an Indian Walkman were spotted together with Coral Shrimpfish, Long-snout pipefish and the Pacific blue-stripe pipefish to name a few.    During the entire month, almost every day their were sightings of dolphins around the diving and snorkeling boats.  Which is a very nice indicator for the future.

One of the highlights of the month of April is of course Songkran, the Thai New Year. Every year this three day long holiday ends up in massive water-fights and no-one escapes from them.

Songkran 2011 @ DivingScool Koh Chang

Towards the end of the month, Pascal finished is PADI Divemaster training, but before we could let him go into the world as a certified Divemaster he had to take one final hurdle: his snorkel-test.  A big thank you to our lovely neighbour Jacqui for her mean bucket recipe. The pictures don’t need any comments

Well done, Pascal!  You’ll be a great Divemaster!!!

Ps.  The update on our Palau-trip is a bit delayed but should be online this week!!

Happy Bubbles !!

The main reason for his visit was the  annual PADI Member forum, which was held, like all previous editions at the Amari hotel here on Koh Chang.  Focus this year was on the implementation  of a digital version of the PADI Open Water Diver Manual, which will help lowering our carbon footprint and be ready for distribution at the end of next month.

The new PADI Divemaster course was also a popular topic.  The new materials have finally arrived and we at DivingScool Koh Chang, already started using them.  Pascal is halfway through his divemaster course and is doing great.  Next week we will do his PADI Search & Recovery Speciality and get him ready on supervising certified divers.

More information about the most “awesome” dive trip to Palau will be available just before the weekend.  We were able to get a very sharp price (will be revealed just before the weekend)and remember places are limited for only 10 shark diving enthusiasts!

Happy Bubbles!

Palau is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 800 km east of the Philippines and 3,200 km south of Tokyo.  Its unspoiled reefs offer a wealth of marine life, coral formations and wrecks.Blue holes, huge caverns and an immense variety of rare and exotic marine species are easily accessible in clear water with visibility exceeding 50meters.

Vast numbers, not found anywhere else in the world, of large pelagic predators, sharks, turtles, dolphins and many species of migratory fish gather here at a unique crossroads of three of the world’s major ocean currents.

And the sharks that’s what we go for during this trip!  During 13 till 23 of March we offer you a true Shark Week at Palau’s major dive sites like the famous “German Channel”, the “Blue Corner”, the “Peleliu Corner” and “Shark City”.  This week falls during the peak of grey reef shark mating season.  16 awesome dives during eight days in this wonderful dive hotspot will definitely become an unforgettable dive experience you do not want to miss out on.

Aside from the first-hand experiences in shark appreciation that you get diving each day, the learning continues at the evening during Shark Week. Each evening, Fish ‘n Fins hosts lectures and presentations by shark experts to inform you about the state of shark conservation.

At the moment we’re making the final arrangements for this outstanding diving experience and we will shortly be able to offer you a detailed overview about the how’s, when’s, what’s and so on.

If interested in this amazing adventure do not hesitate to contact me!  Places are limited till 10 fun diving enthusiasts, so do not let this one slip!

Happy Bubbles!!!

So far no big deal, until I went into the kitchen and saw what she wanted to serve me. To my big surprise I was looking at a juvenile Guitar-fish, one the most vulnerable fish in Thai and international waters. Check out this site for more info on endangered species

The lady cook had no idea about what kind of fish she was facing and the saddest part of all, is the fact that local fishermen gave it to her. They couldn’t even be bothered to sell it. It’s by-catch and just given free to local restaurants.

The new guidelines represent the most extensive research into emergency cardiac care to date.  The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) released these new guidelines in October 2010 based on extensive review of various studies, literature, debates and discussions by international resuscitation experts.

There are no great changes from the Guidlines 2005.  Most practices, such as the compression to ventilation ratio of 30:2, have not changed.  There is a  reinforced emphasis on providing effective chest compressions with minimal interruptions.

Below you will find some of the changes that have been made :

1.  No more “Look, Listen and Feel” for breathing.
Rationale : minimizing the  delay in providing  chest compressions

2. First 30 compressions then 2 ventilations, unless you suspect drowning. Rationale : existing oxygen in the lungs and in the circulatory system is sufficient to      provide immediate benefits provided by chest compressions

3.  Give compressions  at a rate of minimum at least 100 per minute.
Rationale : emphasis is on good quality chest compressions at a rate to                              provide adequate circulation

4. Use an Automated External Defibrilator (AED) when one is available.
Rationale : more AED are publicly available and they are very effective.

The full list of changes can be found here.

So, you’re up to date on the newest guidelines! As promised a sexy little video that will help you retain the CPR rules a bit easier Enjoy!!

The main reason for the closure, is the bleaching of the coral reefs.  Back in June last year, I published a short article about the effects of the rise in  sea temperature here on Koh Chang and it’s effect on the corals.

With the closure of the sites, the government tries to give the coral reefs time to recover naturally.

The director of the Department of National Parks, told yesterday, that a dozen of  reefs will
be closed across seven national parks.  Here’s the list of the sites :

Infograph : The Bangkok Post

1. Hat Jao Mai NP – Trang – Koh Cheuk
2. Mu Koh Phetra NP – Satun – Koh Bulon Mai Pai, Koh Bulon Rang Peung
3. Tarutao NP – Satun – Koh Tha Kiang, Koh Hing Ngam, Koh Rawi, Hat Sai Kao, Koh Dong
4. Mu Koh Chumpon NP – Chumpon – Koh Maprao
5. Hat Nopparat Thara NP – Koh Phi Phi, coral reefs around Hin Klang
6. Mu Koh Surin NP – Phang Nga – Ao Sutep, Ao Mai Ngam, Koh Ster, Hin Kong, Ao Pakkad and coral reefs in front of the park
7. Mu Koh Similan NP – Phang Nga – Ao Fai Waeb, East of Eden

Koh Chang isn’t on the list and  believe it or not, that makes sense.  About half a year ago, the local and the dive sites in the National Marine park were severely hit by coral bleaching.  Since then, about 90% of the main coral structure has recovered, besides the table and stag-horn corals. The latter seemed to withstand the “heat” the longest, but in the end it were they who would suffer the most, leaving only a few patches of healthy offspring.

At the moment there isn’t any noticeable bleaching going on here around Koh Chang , which doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t monitor the situation and increase the awareness of all kinds of visitors to our wonderful aquatic world.

Excellent visibility, the recent sighting of a large pod of dolphins (around 100) and of course the visit of a whaleshark on one of the local sites, certainly makes the diving in Koh Chang well worth it at the moment.

So if you’re facing a cancelled trip due to the closure of one of the previous mentioned sites, Koh Chang definitely is a good alternative for your diving in Thailand!  Check out our special diving packages and enjoy the beauty above and below the water at Koh Chang.

Happy Bubbles!!

As this is the first post of 2011, we would like to wish all of you a brilliant 2011 with lots of happiness and outstanding diving!

Similar to last year, we at DivingScool Koh Chang will try and post regular updates about the diving at Koh Chang, special (diving)events, remarkable underwater encounters, new diving courses and all other (diving or Koh Chang) related news.

For the moment we are enjoying wonderful diving both at the local as around the National Marine Park sites. Stunning 25-30m visibility, plenty of fish, hardly any current and steel-blue skies makes every diving day a memorable one.

Also in 2011, we will bring you the PADI Specialty of the month at a special discounted price!  This January it is the PADI Enriched Air Diver, this course allows you to extend your bottom time considerably and therefore giving you more precious underwater time.   As this is one of the most popular diving specialties we will offer this course at a reduced price during the entire year!

Our SSI diving courses will come more into the spotlights this year, with the opportunity of starting any professional diving course at any time you want.  As Koh Chang’s only dive center with an in-house Instructor Trainer, we will personally guide you towards your new career and make you an outstanding dive professional whenever you want it!

The next twelve months we continue to offer you the best possible personal service and hope that you all enjoy your (new) underwater adventures in a save and fun way!

Happy Bubbles!!!

]]> http://www.divingscool.com/blog/2011/01/happy-new-year-and-have-wonderful-wet-2011/feed/ 0 http://www.divingscool.com/blog/2010/12/not-the-star-you-wish-to-see/ http://www.divingscool.com/blog/2010/12/not-the-star-you-wish-to-see/#comments Sat, 04 Dec 2010 07:43:38 +0000 DivingScool http://www.divingscool.com/blog/?p=389 Continue reading →]]> Since last summer, the reefs around Koh Chang are slowly recovering from the coral bleaching due to the increased global sea temperature yet they’re facing a new challenge for survival.  The crown-of thorns starfish, the world’s second largest sea star, is on the hunt and it’s favourite meal consists out of coral polyps .

The sharp, venomous spines on the sides of the starfish’s limbs resemble thorns and create a crown-like shape, giving the creature its name. The thorns are very sharp and are capable of piercing through standard wetsuits and other clothing, resulting in a serious wound with a sharp stinging pain that can last for hours.  Proper first aid is needed to treat these wounds.

The Crown-of-thorns starfish crawls over reef structures, and squeezes its stomach onto the coral.  By doing this, it releases a digestive enzyme that allows the starfish to absorb nutrients from the liquefied coral tissue, leaving the white coral skeleton behind.

Normally there aren’t many of these starfish on a reef and their presence might even play a significant role in the natural reproduction and evolution of coral reefs.  So why do we see so many of them lately and should we be concerned?

Studies have shown that the crown-of thorns starfish are attracted to coral reefs that are stressed.  Several factors such as dynamite fishing, (diving)tourism, climate change and many more contribute to stress the reefs.  We know that the reefs around Koh Chang suffered from severe coral bleaching due to an above average water temperature, so this could be a cause for their abundant presence.

The overfishing of one of the few natural predators – the triton shell –   isn’t helping either. Many people find triton shells attractive as a design object, and so they are collected and sold as part of the international shell trade. In recent years this has contributed to the animals’ scarcity.

Regulating collecting these shells could help, in an environmentally friendly and above all a natural way, controlling the escalation of the crown-of- thorns starfish numbers amongst our reefs.

When under stress the crown-of-thorns can create outbreaks and, if dismembered, can regenerate from each severed or damaged limb, creating more sea stars. Therefore, controlling the crown-of-thorns is difficult and much care is required.

Divers often give nature a helping hand by removing the starfish from the water or by injecting them with sodium bi-sulphate which is deadly to them, but it does not harm the surrounding reef and oceanic ecosystems.

In the end we have to realise that somehow, perhaps in many collaborative combinations, human abuse of the coral reef ecosystem is behind the problem. Or at least making it worse.  Time to take action and look at the other, more human, population which is running out of control.

Happy Bubbles

]]> http://www.divingscool.com/blog/2010/12/not-the-star-you-wish-to-see/feed/ 0