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Home: Inactive Forums: Underwater Video:
Thailand in Dec

steve
User

Nov 3, 2004, 6:35 PM

Post #1 of 8 (2328 views)
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Thailand in Dec	Can't Post

Hey All,
We just had a couple , due to a medical necessity, have to bow out of a liveaboard trip this Dec, 19-28th to Thailand aboard the Anggun out of Phuket. The trip had already been paid for and they are just trying to recoup some of their loss. The price for the trip is $2500 but they are willing to sell their spots for $2,000 plus airfare. I was on this boat last Xmas and it was really excellent diving, service and food. If anyone is interested in a great deal for these 2 spots please contact me as soon as you can.
Steve
WORLD FILMS & TRAVEL
WWW.WORLDFILMSANDTRAVEL.COM <http://www.WORLDFILMSANDTRAVEL.COM

Steve Douglas
619-464-4505
steve-sharksdelight@cox.net
www.worldfilmsandtravel.com

bubblevision
Novice

Dec 30, 2004, 2:10 AM

Post #2 of 8 (2066 views)
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Re: [steve] Thailand in Dec [In reply to]	Can't Post

Steve, are you OK? I'm assuming you were on this trip yourself. I heard the Anggun survived the tsunami but was in some trouble up near Ranong. You have my best wishes.

UPDATE 31/12/2004: I have heard through the grapevine that Steve is OK.
_________________________________________
Bubble Vision underwater video & marine life DVD, Phuket, Thailand
Sony VX2000, Gates housing, L&M Sunray lights
Sony Vegas

(This post was edited by bubblevision on Dec 30, 2004, 11:59 PM)

steve
User

Jan 1, 2005, 1:17 PM

Post #3 of 8 (2032 views)
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Re: [bubblevision] Thailand in Dec [In reply to]	Can't Post

Much thanks for the kind thoughts. Just got in late last night and we are all safe and sound but very tired. The devastation was pretty severe.
Steve
www.worldfilmsandtravel.com

bubblevision
Novice

Jan 1, 2005, 2:00 PM

Post #4 of 8 (2027 views)
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Re: [steve] Thailand in Dec [In reply to]	Can't Post

Steve,

Have you done any diving in the area since the tsunami? I'm off to the Similans and Burma from 3rd to 11th January with Santana's MV Discovery.
_________________________________________
Bubble Vision underwater video & marine life DVD, Phuket, Thailand
Sony VX2000, Gates housing, L&M Sunray lights
Sony Vegas

steve
User

Jan 1, 2005, 2:50 PM

Post #5 of 8 (2020 views)
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Re: [bubblevision] Thailand in Dec [In reply to]	Can't Post

If possible, I would cancel. The dive conditions there are horrid right now. There has been a huge change in the diving since I was there last year. The fishermen have been dynamiting a lot and much of the sea life is no longer there. While Burma waters have always been better than the Thai waters of the Simians, the vis and life has been greatly depleted. The soft coral was still beautiful tho. Never the less, the Tsunami has destroyed much and the conditions won't clear for quite some time. If possible, cancel. If you have dive insurance they will surely accept the tsunami as a legit excuse.-Steve
www.worldfilmsandtravel.com

bubblevision
Novice

Jan 1, 2005, 3:03 PM

Post #6 of 8 (2017 views)
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Re: [steve] Thailand in Dec [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm not a tourist. I'm a videographer on Santana's boats in Phuket. So actually diving in the Similans and Burma and selling DVD's to the tourists is my livelihood.

When you say "The tsunami has destroyed much" do you know that for a fact and can you give me some specifics? Obviously coral near to the mainland has been affected but I've heard that damage to the Similans has been minimal and it's our hope that a lot of the Mergui archipelago will have escaped damage too because the islands are in relatively deep water and don't have shelving sea beds.

I know over the last couple of seasons there has been quite a lot of dynamite fishing in Burma. I've seen it with my own eyes and even heard the blasts underwater. But the staff on the last Santana trip in early December told me that there was no evidence at all of dynamite fishing now and that there were more fish and sharks than last season. South Twin in particular has a lot of sharks. Let's hope a recovery is underway. Which sites did you dive on your trip before you had to abort?

I will report back about the quality of the diving after I return on 11th January and try and post an online movie of the trip too.
_________________________________________
Bubble Vision underwater video & marine life DVD, Phuket, Thailand
Sony VX2000, Gates housing, L&M Sunray lights
Sony Vegas

steve
User

Jan 1, 2005, 3:21 PM

Post #7 of 8 (2013 views)
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Re: [bubblevision] Thailand in Dec [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yes, we also heard the dynamiting while underwater there. This was mostly around North Twin, High Rock in Myanmar and the 3 islets. I shot quite a bit of footage of the dead and dying fish, destroyed reefs, as well as a massive net covering much at High Rock. The vis at the Simians dropped greatly after the Tsunami. Really didn't see too many sharks anywhere, much less than our trip there last Xmas. Will look forward to your report.
Steve
www.worldfilmsandtravel.com

bubblevision
Novice

Jan 15, 2005, 1:21 PM

Post #8 of 8 (1859 views)
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Re: [steve] Thailand in Dec [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well yes, quite a lot of dynamiting sadly. Very little damage due to the tsunami however, and no loss of visibility. I've uploaded a movie of footage shot at East of Eden in the Similans on 4th January. It's on http://www.bubblevision.com/movie-gallery.htm
_________________________________________
Bubble Vision underwater video & marine life DVD, Phuket, Thailand
Sony VX2000, Gates housing, L&M Sunray lights
Sony Vegas