Saturday, July 12, 2008

Scuba Diving In Phuket, The Pearl Of The Andaman Sea

Phuket is the southern province of Thailand. The word 'Phuket', derived from Malay word 'bukit', means hill or mountain. Phuket is a beautiful island and it seems like a mountain or hill for a distant view. Being the largest island in Thailand, Phuket is blessed with several beaches. Beaches of Phuket are really amazing and that is why it attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. The coastal areas of the western Phuket have several sandy beaches while on the southern Phuket there are muddy beaches. Patong beach is the most popular beach among tourists. Some other beaches in Phuket include Nai Harn beach, Karon beach, Bang Tao beach and Kata beach. Southern Phuket has some coral islands which are suitable for scuba diving. Similian Islands and Phi Phi islands are remarkable coral islands in southern Phuket.
Scuba diving, diving using underwater apparatus for breathing, is really suitable for viewing underwater spectacles like floras, faunas, beautiful fishes, coral reefs, especially in coral islands. 'SCUBA' is the short form of Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Scuba diving is getting popular among people all over the world for recreational diving. It is simpler and safer for low depth diving and help you remain in underwater for longer periods.
Scuba diving is the main attraction of tourists in Phuket. It is in the top 10 scuba diving destinations in the world. There are many agencies which provide scuba diving gears for tourists. There are many websites related to Phuket which provides details about Scuba diving in Phuket, wonderful scenery, facilities and other aspects. There are many travelling agencies which provide scuba diving packages specifically for tourists in Phuket. Day trips as well as night trips to diving areas are also included in the packages.
There are many skilled scuba divers and certified trainers in Phuket who can help naive divers to get accustomed with scuba diving. There are some institutes which run courses on diving. These courses are devised for different skill levels. Standards of the training are world class. So even if you don't know diving, you can come here and learn it and enjoy scuba diving in blue Andaman Sea.
You can enjoy the beauty of clear blue Andaman Sea by scuba diving in Phuket. There are dive boats which will take you to the diving destinations. Coral reefs in Phuket are some of the best spectacular reefs in the world. Over 200 species of hard corals are there vying their trade to build an amazing underwater ecological kingdom. Some of the exotic fish varieties that are seen in Phuket are dolphins, whale shark, manta rays, pelagic and numerous reef fishes and some of the turtle varieties that enchant the Phuket are Olive Ridleys, Hawksbill, Green Turtles and Leather Back.
Hing Daeng, Richelieu Rock etc are some of the diving sites in Phuket. There are live boards which provide food and accommodation as well as diving. Scuba diving in Phuket is becoming really a money spinner for the local enterprises as more tourists' visits. Local population are really friendly to the tourists. There are guides who can lead you to joyful scuba diving trips. Safety measures are taken for ensuring the safety of the tourists while diving. When it is not raining and if the sea is calm one can explore the underwater with pleasure and enjoy the beauty and return with mind full of extraordinary scenes.
Except during rainy season spanning from month of May to October scuba diving is possible without glitch in Phuket. Holiday season in December is the period which more western tourists like to come and splash in the blue waters. The water temperature is normally of 26-29 degrees. In March- April it can plunge to 10 degrees temporarily due to thermo clines. Visibility in water of Phuket in dry season is around 40 metres. While the visibility range changes according to the rain during rainy season. Scuba diving in Phuket is an experience of a life time which you can cherish.
Next time when you plan holidays consider Phuket. It is sure that Phuket will be an ideal destination for you. Facilities for advanced booking with travel agencies are available. Come and enjoy the beaches and the coral reefs in Phuket.

Author: Dan Wallace

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Krabi - A Destination for Relaxing Vacation

Krabi is an astounding vacation spot in Southern Thailand, located about 815 kilometers from Bangkok, about 170 km east of Phuket, and 80 km southeast of Phang-na. Sprawling over an area of about 4708 square kilometers, Krabi has the Andaman Sea to the west, Surat Thani to the north, Nakhon Si Thammarat to the east, and the Trang Province to the south. Teeming with scenic attractions comprising astounding coral reefs, incredible small as well as large island, beautiful white sandy beaches, mysterious caves, fantastic lagoons, scintillating waterfalls, and lush green forests, Krabi has now become a great spot for enjoying a relaxing vacation.
With a status of province, Krabi has been administratively categorized into eight amphoes or districts such as Khao Phanom, Ko Lanta, Amphoe Mueang, Nuea Khlong, Ao Luek, Lam Thap, Khlong Thom, and Plai Phraya. The jurisdiction of the Krabi province includes in-land and sub districts and more than 100 large and small islands covering the much famed Phi Phi Island. People found in Krabi are a mix of various races that have come from different regions to settle here. It is believed that each race settled here finds prominent position in the long interesting history of the region.
The prime attraction of Krabi is undoubtedly its magnificent coastline, with more than 200 incredible islands and unspoiled white sandy beaches such as Ao Nang; Tham Pranang Beach, which possesses some of the best diving spots in the world; Hat Pranang - a full service beach that provides facilities to enjoy a continuum of water sport activities; Railay Beach, which consists of two sections: East Hat Railay and West Hat Railay; Klong Kaong, a calm beach with picturesque settings; Kantiang, an excellent destination for snorkeling; Yao Beach with mind blowing scenery; Hin Khao Beach, an isolated beach. All these beaches together form base for a number of water sports recreational activities.
Other than beaches, Krabi offers a lot more for people touring here. Among which not to miss are Krabi's national parks that cover destination's coastline, islands, and beaches. Few of them are Hat Nopparat Thara National Park, which constitute a large portion of the coastline of Krabi covering the popular beaches of the area such as Ao Nang, Hat Noppharat Thara Beach, and Railey, apart from about 80 islands like Koh Gai; Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, which is a forested area with attractions including Tham Khao Ping Cave and Nam Tok waterfalls; Khao Nor Chuchi Wildlife Sanctuary, which is credited to be the only place in the world with a rare species of bird namely Gurney's Pitta; and Than Bokkharani National Park, where one can enjoy the beauty of the fabulous limestone outcrops.
A visit to Krabi would be incomplete without taking a tour to some of its stunning temples such as Wat Tham Seua or Tiger Cave Temple, whose highlights are a huge image of Buddha in sitting posture and a golden pagoda; and Wat Sai Thai with a statue of the reclining Buddha. Equally worth visiting are some of the interesting museums in the region such as the Wat Klong Tom, which is a temple museum with artifacts including pottery, bronze items, and ancient coins and stones.
Other must-see attractions in Krabi are Khao Khanap Nam, which are a group of mountains; Mu Ko Phi Phi, an archipelago consisting of six islands; Than Bokkhorani, a beautiful pond situated amid forested area; Tham Phet, otherwise known as Diamond Cave; Pa Thung Tieo, a forested area with natural pools and rare flora and fauna. Above all, fabulous is the nightlife of Krabi, which is mostly centered around areas such as Ao Nang and Phi Phi Island.
With unbeatable scenic surroundings, tranquil beaches, and excellent infrastructure, Krabi attracts people from across the world. Hence, in order to cater to the growing needs of tourists, Krabi has a great number of accommodation options that go with one's taste and budget. Many of the hotels provide services in the form of superb value packages inclusive of accommodation, dining, and facilities to enjoy a number of recreational activities. Since many of the service providers have their own websites, it enables to book an accommodation according to your taste and pocket. Some of them even provide discounts and deals when you make bookings in advance or when you book an accommodation in Krabi within a stipulated time period.

Author: Gregory Smyth

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