Diving the Gulf of Siam May 2019

This should have been an interesting dive trip. The boat (Tapana Catamaran) departed Songkhla in southern Thailand with stops to dive one day each at Losin, Koh Krah, Koh Tao and Chumphon. Unfortunately, poor visibility marred almost every dive. Plus, scheduling problems meant that we did fewer dives than planned and several dives in less than ideal locations.

Packing up my dive gear. 

Bus from Korat to Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok

Songkhla Harbor

Departing Songkhla

Losin light and a storm in the distance.

Surfacing at Losin

Lots of coral bleaching at Losin. Water temperature averaged 31ºC (88ºF). Last September it was 2ºC less. This is enough to kill coral.

Mam. Calm and collected as usual.

Sunrise on the way to Koh Krah

Koh Krah in the distance.

Hin Sung. Diving was OK.

Divers wait on the lift as we move to a new dive site.

Nice colored coral at Hin Sung

Hin Sung on the left. Koh Krah on the right. We were unable to dive at Koh Krah because the Thai Navy was doing some sort of project at a beach where sea turtles lay their eggs.

Hin Ruea. Close to Koh Krah and Hin Sung

Chef Pom grilling steak

Steak and three kinds of potato.

Mam checks the coral at Hin Ruea

Hin Ruea

Mam, Jack and Kaen at dinner

Sunrise at Koh Tao

Mam and Jak at Koh Tao

Finally, pancakes

Batfish at Chumphon Pinnacle

Ngan Yuan near Koh Tao

Mam gets a photo of Koh Ngam Yai

Koh Ngam Noi - Horrible visibility in this area

Koh Ngam Yai

Mam at the HTMS Parb wreck. This Thai navy vessel was sunk to be an artificial reef. Not much of interest and horrible visibility.

HTMS Parb

Mam surfaces at the HTMS Parb

Relaxing mostly out of the sun

Koh Ngam Noi - Note the shack just below and to the right of the coconut tree.

Koh Ngam Yai - Bird nest collector village

Koh Ngam Yai

Village at Koh Ngam Yai

Koh Ngam Yai

Mike, Mam and Jak on the aft dive lift. Thanks to Sainamtalay.

Aft dive lift with Koh Ngam Noi in the background. Thanks to Sainamtalay.

Mam and yours truly. Thanks to Sainamtalay.

Short video of the dive. Not a lot to see underwater.

Mam, Mike, Gun (boat manager) and Kaen (Sainamtalay partner and great dive guide)

Burger bonanza on the Tapana Catamaran

Sunrise at Chumphon

Tapana Catamaran anchored outside Chumphon (Pak Nam) Harbor.

Mam heads toward our Nok Air flight back to Bangkok.