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Dive Info

Phi Phi Trip 14^th – 18^th January 2008!

On the 14^th January 2008 a group of divers shall be heading south for a 4 day 4 night trip to Phi Phi Islands and the best diving sites in the area. The divers will get to see where ‘The Beach’ was filmed, loads of great diving, a night out on Phi Phi (we have a good few Mermaids Divers working there that we can hook up with) and a big night out in Phuket.

The boat is leaving from Chalong Bay (south of Phuket Island) late in the evening and hence we like to fly into Phuket at approx 18:00 on the evening of the 14^th.

Costs of the flights are currently as below with www.airasia.com

Out bound: 14^th January

Return: 19^th January

With all of the tolls and taxes included the cost is approximately 2500 baht in total for the return. The closer to the departure date that you book your flight of course the cost of the flight will increase. The same flight in 2 months time might be 3500 – 4000 baht return.

OK – All divers attending MUST be BOOKED IN (prior to mid December) and need to meet at Mermaids Dive Center at 11:30am on the 14^th January 2008. We’ll have a couple of Star Guests with us also – eh, HMS?

Depending on how many divers there are (usually 16 – 18) we hire 2 – 3 minibuses to collect us from Mermaids. We need to know all divers requiring transfers so that we can get the numbers correct.

The minibus will stop at the services for a rest and KFC if that’s your thing and then on to Bangkok Airport. (www.)Air Asia(.com), for those that have not flown them before are a no frills airline but they usually get us there on time. We should land in Phuket and be through the terminal by the latest 18:00.

Alistair the owner of the boat and operation meets us with minibuses and vans to take us divers and all of our unwieldy equipment to the boat moored in Chalong. 

On the way to Chalong we stop at TESCO Lotus or another store for a few personal bits and pieces. Maybe you have a craving for Mars Bars or San Miguel (only after diving!) – We can stock up.

The boat has all accommodations taken care of. All of the meals on the boat are served. We have a snack bar where tea coffee, coke, lemonade, toast, crackers, biscuits, and much more is all on offer 24/7 FREE but we all have our personal favorite snacks. If you do not wish to buy anything – no problem – you shall find your self well fed and taken care of on the boat. 

When we get to the boat an evening meal shall be served and the boat briefing made. The Staff on the boat have been the same over the last 6 years that I have been diving with them and they were there a long time prior to that. A boat brief and cabin allocation is made and we can all relax for the night. Many choose to stay on the top deck with the stars for light.

The boat has music and movie entertainment all covered also.

The last trip that we took the following dives:

You can see the last Phi-Phi trip in January 2007 here - 2007 Phi Phi Live Aboard Trip

The first morning we get to see the “Beach” when it is still quiet of other boats prior to setting off for a dive. We dive 14 dives in total. 4 each day until the last day where we take 2 dives whilst cruising back to Chalong and a great night out in Phuket. There are no park fees in Phi Phi before but you never know (the Similans is 1000 baht.

The 3^rd night on the boat we moor off of Phi Phi Island. For those that have never been before – it’s the Khao San Road of the South with Fire Dancing on the beach, loads of restaurants, backpackers, bars and souvenir shops as well as beautiful scenery of course (unlike Khao San).

Personally I fly down to Phuket with the other scuba divers on the date of the boat departing (14^th January 2008). I then return the day after we dock (19^th January 2008) as I have to get back to work – this allows 24 hours after diving before flying also. Any one wishing to stay in Phi Phi or Phuket longer is more than welcome. As long as we know whom is staying or returning then we can plan the amount of minibuses to collect us from Phuket and Bangkok.

The last day on the boat we’re usually docked and in our hotel by approx 16:00. This allows the elderly of us to have a nice relaxing lay down prior to meeting up in the evening for a night out. We usually start with a very nice meal together and then get out the cans of ‘red paint’ from there on. It is always a very good night out!

There is a hotel that is very well located and convenient that I usually book. This used to be 600 baht (back in the days) but is now approx 1000 baht per night – you can share rooms if you wish to split the costs. The hotel is well located with a great bakery for breakfast and perfect high speed internet for all of you guys with laptops. The transfer to and from the boat to the hotel is all included in the boat fees (coming up in a moment).

For those of the divers that are to be returning on the flight the following day (19^th January) we’ll be collected from the hotel approx 11:00am and taken to Phuket Airport – again this transfer is all included in the cost.

We do need top pay for the minibus back to Pattaya from Bangkok.

For those that wish to stay on, maybe dive some more etc – we’ll see you back in Jomtien very soon.  

The costs:

If you’d like to join the live aboard trip – we have limited placements available. The boat can take up to 22 divers but we like to cap this at 18 divers. To join simply contact me or leave your interest on the Mermaids Diver Forum and I shall contact you.

ALL bookings and payments need to be completed by 24^th December 2007 – no placements for the boat will be taken after this date.

The boat will fill very quickly so please state your interest ASAP.

Peter