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Scuba Forum / General / December 2003Koh Tao Diving
I am torn between two Diving companies on Koh Tao, 1) Buddha View 2) Big Blue Diving Both sound good. Anyone any experience of either of these???? Any replies appreciated. Fanks. > I am torn between two Diving companies on Koh Tao, 1) Buddha View 2) Big > Blue Diving [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Fanks. Buddha View is excellent. I know their course directors, Guy Corsellis and Mark Soworka, and a friend of mine just did his divemaster internship/OW Instructor training there. Based on what he describes, their teaching standards are top notch. Big Blue also has a good reputation, although I dont have too much first-hand info about them. As for the diving, I was less than impressed with the diving in Koh Tao. Good place to get certified for cheap, but the sites arent that good, and I dont particularly like cattleboat diving. YMMV. (snip)> > As for the diving, I was less than impressed with the diving in Koh > Tao. Good place to get certified for cheap, but the sites arent that > good, and I dont particularly like cattleboat diving. YMMV. I agree with this. However, Vinnie, where would you recommend this person go for better sites, smaller boats and still achieve his objective? I would avoid both these schools. Too big, horribly crowded boats, we used to make sheep noises at their divers when we overtook their boat! go for a smaller, friendlier school like Master Divers Kit > we > used to make sheep noises at their divers when we overtook their boat! What are sheep noises ?  SignatureAlfred Molon ------------------------------ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Olympus_405060/ Olympus 5050 resource - http://www.molon.de/5050.html Olympus 5060 resource - http://www.molon.de/5060.html >> we >> used to make sheep noises at their divers when we overtook their boat! > >What are sheep noises ? They're really baaaaaaad. Personally, I just moo. Signaturedillon Life is always short, but only you can make it sweet > I would avoid both these schools. Too big, horribly crowded boats, I never used them, but just saw the crowds going to and coming from their dive shop - enough reason to choose another. : I agree with this. However, Vinnie, where would you recommend this person : go for better sites, smaller boats and still achieve his objective? Hey hey hey, Ms L! How goes? I didnt notice that this was x-posted on rec.scuba. Have we figured out who won the battle between the forces of God III and Team Stroke? Anyhoo, I could *ahem* recommend a certain idyllic location not too far away, but that'd violate Usenet charters about blatant commercial self-promotion. So instead, I'll suggest he try a day in Phuket and visit the King Cruiser wreck, and then see if he can latch on to some boats visiting Rachna Leiu (sp?) or Similans or even A******s. Or he could avoid that whole sordid mess and go dive in Indonesia and Philippines. SignatureVandit Kalia <this space for rent> > : I agree with this. However, Vinnie, where would you recommend this person > : go for better sites, smaller boats and still achieve his objective? > > Hey hey hey, Ms L! How goes? I didnt notice that this was x-posted on > rec.scuba. Have we figured out who won the battle between the forces of > God III and Team Stroke? Team Stroke remains undefeated. > Anyhoo, I could *ahem* recommend a certain idyllic location not too far > away, but that'd violate Usenet charters about blatant commercial > self-promotion. Not if I ask you straight out, it doesn't. And by the way, I am asking you straight out because I'll be in SE Asia in April and May. I will be visiting sister in Singapore and father in Jakarta and am currently searching for a dive component for my vacation. Something idyllic, with great diving and a bit of nightlife. Know any place like that, relatively easy to access from Singapore or Jakarta? :^) > So instead, I'll suggest he try a day in Phuket and visit the King Cruiser > wreck, and then see if he can latch on to some boats visiting Rachna Leiu > (sp?) or Similans or even A******s. Or he could avoid that whole sordid > mess and go dive in Indonesia and Philippines. So Vandit . . . where shall I go? > > : I agree with this. However, Vinnie, where would you recommend this > person [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > So Vandit . . . where shall I go? Enquiring minds, Vandit. We eagerly await your words of wisdom :-) > > So Vandit . . . where shall I go? > > > Enquiring minds, Vandit. We eagerly await your words of wisdom :-) Looks like I'm going to have a bit of a wait. I think he's in the Andaman's? What about you, Alan? Any recommendations? Right now I'm mulling over Manado and Sipadan. > > > So Vandit . . . where shall I go? > > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Right now I'm mulling over Manado and Sipadan. I don't think you can go wrong with the diving at Sipadan, but Sulawesi might be a little more interesting for other activities. Sipidan is pretty much off to itself. Steve Kramer would probably have some good insight here. Alan > > > > So Vandit . . . where shall I go? > > > > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > pretty much off to itself. Steve Kramer would probably have some good > insight here. I've posted reports of Sipadan several times, and of Sangalaki 200k south of Sipadan which can be even more fascinating (see http://www.seatraveler.com/Tripsang.htm for that report,) another on diving in the Philippines ( http://seatraveler.com/coron.htm ) and certainly about my years (not weeks,) spent diving all over this region. A net search will bring them all up, and those wanting more detailed info have always e-mailed me for more. No need to re-write it all again here and start another debate. Steve Kramer Chiang Mai, Thailand http://www.photoenvisions.com Signature"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust > I've posted reports of Sipadan several times, and of Sangalaki 200k > south of Sipadan which can be even more fascinating (see [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > info have always e-mailed me for more. No need to re-write it all again > here and start another debate. Debate?? (confused look, if I only knew the . . . :^( nah, that's not it . . um . .. OK, I'm just trying to figure out where I should be diving ithis spring . . . oh yeah . . and where to avoid you while I'm at it. heee hee (if I'd stayed in Koh Tao two more days, I'd have met you last time . . .) :^) :^) > Steve Kramer > Chiang Mai, Thailand > http://www.photoenvisions.com > > I've posted reports of Sipadan several times, and of Sangalaki 200k > > south of Sipadan which can be even more fascinating (see [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > info have always e-mailed me for more. No need to re-write it all again > > here and start another debate. > Debate?? (confused look, if I only knew the . . . :^( nah, that's not it . *grin* > OK, I'm just trying to figure out where I should be diving ithis spring . . > . oh yeah . . and where to avoid you while I'm at it. heee hee It's easy. If you're going to be in the S'pore area, dive Layang Layang, Sipadan, or Sangalaki. Layang Layang will give you the best vacation plus the best diving. Sipadan will give you fantastic diving and rough vacation unless you stay on Mabul while you dive Sipadan. Sangalaki will give you dozens of Giant Mantas on every dive, (without a DM forcing you to sit in the sand and watch) a jelly fish lake, and a deep cavern dive and only 9 bungalows so no crowds possible. If you want wreck diving and are Nitrox certified (I believe you are...) dive Coron Bay in the Philippines. Do NOT go to Cebu or Bohol. You are too experienced a diver for those places. If you don't want to travel that far from S'pore, dive Palau Tioman but on the south end only! Dive Redang or the Perhentians. You can get to any of these in less than an hour's flight from S'pore. The Perhentians offer the best diving with the least development. Do NOT go to Koh Tao. You need a more subtle Zen-like appreciation of it's beauty to dive there... :o) > (if I'd stayed in Koh Tao two more days, I'd have met you last time . . .) > :^) :^) Be still, my heart! If I had only known... :o) Steve Kramer Chiang Mai, Thailand http://www.photoenvisions.com Signature"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust >plus the best diving. Sipadan will give you fantastic diving and rough >vacation unless you stay on Mabul while you dive Sipadan. What's rough about Sipadan? SignatureUse the From: header. Sending mail to ese002@news8.exile.org or ese002@news7.exile.org will only result in frustration. > >plus the best diving. Sipadan will give you fantastic diving and rough > >vacation unless you stay on Mabul while you dive Sipadan. > > What's rough about Sipadan? The accommodations... but only when compared with those on Mabul or Kappalai. This is NOT to imply that the accommodations on Sipadan itself are bad. They aren't. They just are more 'rustic' and more packed together when compared with those found on Mabul. You certainly can get more beach dives done in one day when you stay on Sip itself, but you can relax in the jacuzzi drinking a margarita at the end of the day's diving when you stay on Mabul. Just a different sort of accommodations. Same waters for diving. Steve Kramer Chiang Mai, Thailand http://www.photoenvisions.com Signature"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust >> >plus the best diving. Sipadan will give you fantastic diving and rough >> >vacation unless you stay on Mabul while you dive Sipadan. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >can relax in the jacuzzi drinking a margarita at the end of the day's >diving when you stay on Mabul. Just a different sort of accommodations. I suppose that's true. When I came through, my concern was more about trying to fit the experience into a backpackers budget. I stayed at Borneo Divers. Accommodation was significantly more posh than my usual fare and priced accordingly. However, I still wouldn't call it luxury. My impression is that the other resorts are more upscale. SignatureUse the From: header. Sending mail to ese002@news8.exile.org or ese002@news7.exile.org will only result in frustration. > >> >plus the best diving. Sipadan will give you fantastic diving and rough > >> >vacation unless you stay on Mabul while you dive Sipadan. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > fare and priced accordingly. However, I still wouldn't call it luxury. > My impression is that the other resorts are more upscale. For the average maniac diver who will be more than happy to sleep under a tarp on the beach if the diving is good, all the accommodations on Sipadan are more than comfortable enough. Even for those wishing a bit of comfort, it can be found there too. But for a family with a couple of kids, or some of us 'chronologically challenged' divers, we prefer a firmer bed, hot water showers, and someone to carry our tanks for us (not that we 'can't, it's that we don't 'want' to...) The 'SMART' (Sipadan-Mabul Resort) resort on Mabul http://www.seatraveler.com/photos3.htm provides beach umbrellas, waiters bringing cool drinks out to you, a jacuzzi and swimming pool for the kids, lots of palm trees and yet is only an 8 minute boat ride from Barracuda Point. Here is a view of Sipadan taken from Mabul http://www.seatraveler.com/pages/sipadan.htm And remember, Sip is only 150 meters long... It's close! The Sipadan Water Village Resort on the opposite side of Mabul island is just as lovely, but built on stilts and lacks the palm trees. Everything is linked via boardwalks, has a great restaurant, but the prices are significantly higher so if budget is more of a concern, you are better off staying on Sipadan. And, as I said, you can make 6-8 dives a day if you stay on the island... and if you don't bend easily. *grin* Steve Kramer Chiang Mai, Thailand http://www.photoenvisions.com Signature"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust >But for a family with a couple of kids, or some of us 'chronologically >challenged' divers, we prefer a firmer bed, hot water showers, and As I recall, the beds at Borneo Divers were quite nice. Not just better than average for a backpacker but actually nice. Hot showers too. No jacuzzi, beach waiters, or swimming pool, of course. [snip] >significantly higher so if budget is more of a concern, you are better >off staying on Sipadan. And, as I said, you can make 6-8 dives a day if >you stay on the island... and if you don't bend easily. *grin* IMHO, trying to do 6-8 dives a day is just plain nuts. Most people only do the 3 boat dives and maybe a night dive. As a backpacker, this is a drawback to Sipadan. I would prefer to dive 2-3 times per day for maybe 2 days, take a day off, and repeat. But staying at Sipadan costs too much if you are not diving. SignatureUse the From: header. Sending mail to ese002@news8.exile.org or ese002@news7.exile.org will only result in frustration. > IMHO, trying to do 6-8 dives a day is just plain nuts. Most people only > do the 3 boat dives and maybe a night dive. As a backpacker, this is a > drawback to Sipadan. I would prefer to dive 2-3 times per day for maybe > 2 days, take a day off, and repeat. Then you'd better be careful on some live-aboards. When we dive Palau with a live-aboard, we make at least five dives a day. Six if we do a night dive too. But in Palau it worth the effort! It's wake up, dive, eat, dive, sleep, dive, eat, dive, sleep, dive, sleep, eat, night dive, sleep. By the third day we have people literally scattered all over the decks sound asleep between dives. At that point my wife usually skips one or two of the next day's diving. I start skipping dives after the fourth or fifth day. Once, when we were staying on Mabul, there was some guy staying on Sipadan who made nine dives in one day. He started before dawn and finished up around 11pm. We did three per day, or four if doing a night dive as well. One of the nicest things about now living closer to our favorite dive sites is that we can come back more often and not feel the need to cram in so many dives each day simply to justify the cost. Steve Kramer Chiang Mai, Thailand http://www.photoenvisions.com Signature"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust Steve Kramer <steve@seatraveler.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: : If you want wreck diving and are Nitrox certified (I believe you :are...) dive Coron Bay in the Philippines. Do NOT go to Cebu or Bohol. :You are too experienced a diver for those places. What does experience have to do with whether or not a site is nice enough to dive? Dan Bracuk If at first you don't succeed, you run the risk of failure. The Best of rec.scuba http://www.pathcom.com/~bracuk/RecScuba/ > > . oh yeah . . and where to avoid you while I'm at it. heee hee > > It's easy. If you're going to be in the S'pore area, dive Layang Layang, > Sipadan, or Sangalaki. Layang Layang will give you the best vacation > plus the best diving. I've had friends tell me that I would be bored there. >Sipadan will give you fantastic diving and rough > vacation unless you stay on Mabul while you dive Sipadan. Sangalaki will > give you dozens of Giant Mantas on every dive, (without a DM forcing you > to sit in the sand and watch) a jelly fish lake, and a deep cavern dive > and only 9 bungalows so no crowds possible. As I understand it, if I'd be bored (diving aside that is) at Layang, Layang, I'd also be bored at Sipadan. > If you want wreck diving and are Nitrox certified (I believe you > are...) dive Coron Bay in the Philippines. Do NOT go to Cebu or Bohol. > You are too experienced a diver for those places. I thought of that too, but it's too far off my route. > If you don't want to travel that far from S'pore, dive Palau Tioman but > on the south end only! Dive Redang or the Perhentians. You can get to > any of these in less than an hour's flight from S'pore. The Perhentians > offer the best diving with the least development. Thanks for that Steve. Have you been to Manado? I've had friends tell me that the diving is amazing. I'm also leaning that way because I can get a direct flight and upon landing, it's not too much of a hassle to get to the dive op/resort area. > Do NOT go to Koh Tao. You need a more subtle Zen-like appreciation of > it's beauty to dive there... :o) I found Koh Tao a beautiful place and have always understood why you like to go there to vacation. I did have one or two zennish dives, but it was not enough to make me recommend that people travel halfway across the world to dive there. However, if one is already in the vicinity, um, say on Koh Samui, I'd recommend it. :^) > > (if I'd stayed in Koh Tao two more days, I'd have met you last time . . .) > > :^) :^) > > Be still, my heart! If I had only known... :o) LOL > > > . oh yeah . . and where to avoid you while I'm at it. heee hee > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > I've had friends tell me that I would be bored there. Well, there isn't any night life, that's true. But the diving is as good or better than at Sipadan, less crowds, nicer land scenery, etc. > As I understand it, if I'd be bored (diving aside that is) at Layang, > Layang, I'd also be bored at Sipadan. If you are going for the diving, no. Period. If you are going for the partying, probably. Unless you've dived in Palau or the Red Sea, you've never had diving like you'll find off the coast of Borneo. But for night life, you can watch the turtles lay eggs, watch other turtles lay eggs, or perhaps watch some more turtles lay eggs. Personally, when I'm on tropical paradise sort of islands, I prefer to watch turtles lay eggs rather than listening to loud music and watching people getting drunk. > > If you don't want to travel that far from S'pore, dive Palau Tioman but > > on the south end only! Dive Redang or the Perhentians. You can get to > > any of these in less than an hour's flight from S'pore. The Perhentians > > offer the best diving with the least development. > > Thanks for that Steve. Have you been to Manado? I've had friends tell me that the diving is amazing. It is. But it depends on which area you dive. Do you want macro or pelagic. It's tough to find both in the same section around Bunaken. Some prefer Lembeh Straights for the macro. There are new species being discovered on a weekly basis! > I'm also leaning that way because I can get a direct flight and upon > landing, it's not too much of a hassle to get to the dive op/resort area. Certainly more night life to be found there than on Sipadan, but I don't think the diving is better. If you've never been to Sipadan, you are missing out on some great diving. I'd say it was the third best dive venue in the world as far as I know it. > I found Koh Tao [SNIP] > However, if one is already in the vicinity, um, say on Koh > Samui, I'd recommend it. :^) I'm surprised you said Koh Samui and not Koh Nang Yuan. That one is only 1.5k away. Samui is almost 30k. :o) Where ever you chose, have a safe, enjoyable trip. Steve Kramer Chiang Mai, Thailand http://www.photoenvisions.com Signature"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust >> > > > So Vandit . . . where shall I go? >> > > > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >info have always e-mailed me for more. No need to re-write it all again >here and start another debate. Thanks, Steve. > Not if I ask you straight out, it doesn't. And by the way, I am asking you > straight out because I'll be in SE Asia in April and May. I will be > visiting sister in Singapore and father in Jakarta and am currently > searching for a dive component for my vacation. Something idyllic, with > great diving and a bit of nightlife. Know any place like that, relatively > easy to access from Singapore or Jakarta? chilly bean, my sources have this to say : There are some really fabulous places that have both but that is their monsoon season so that nixs them. If she really wants night life I guess I'd have to say Bali or Caines, Australia would be the only places I can think of. Kuta Beach is Bali's hot spot, but that's where the bombing was too. Bali's diving gets mixed reviews. From friends of ours dove there, some loved it, some said it wasn't worth it. We do have a friend who used to teach there if she ends up wanted recommended dive sites. As for Caines, that would be late fall I think. When we were there in July, on land was nice (like Florida in the winter) but the water is freezing and we wore full wetsuits. Liveaboards from there will obviously get her out seeing more of the Great Barrier Reef but there were tons of day trips being run all over town. We really liked Cairs, it was like a step back into the 70's in many ways. However, there were no direct flights there from S'pore when we went and it ended up taking us 10 hrs. to get there. On the other hand, great diving who's night life would depend on who else is around when you get there is all around here in May. Our favorites for bang for the buck at that time of year were Manado and Sipidan. Sipidan of course everyone has heard of and I think you heard us rave about the marine life we saw there (the reefs though are phaa). We never felt unsafe, there was alot of military presence. Manado's diving reminded us of Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman. Since we were there last there is now a liveaboard which friends of ours are loving 'cause it pulls in muck diving sites too. There are also alot of places closer to S'pore at that time of year that can be pretty great too, but some of their accommodations can get (to American standards) rustic. Tioman for one has some great sites and is cheap. We went several times but ultimately decided we preferred to travel elsewhere (personal preference, we know many people in S'pore who go every weekend). I can give you more if you want. ----------- Lemme know if you want more info. :) [snip] > (to American standards) rustic. Tioman for one has some great sites > and is cheap. We went several times but ultimately decided we > preferred to travel elsewhere (personal preference, we know many > people in S'pore who go every weekend). I did my open water certification there as well as my Divemaster certification years later. I love the diving when done from Kampang Salang (only!) DiveAsia is a PADI 5-Star shop with great boats never having more than 6-8 people on them, their DM's are friendly and know the sites, and they let experienced divers using computers dive their own profiles. By the way, this is where the "Bali Hai" sequence was filmed for the movie 'South Pacific.' If THAT doesn't give you an idea about the beauty of the place nothing will! But again, this is from the village of Salang. The other villages on the island are not nearly as idyllic. Steve Kramer Chiang Mai, Thailand http://www.photoenvisions.com Signature"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust > I did my open water certification there as well as my Divemaster > certification years later. I love the diving when done from Kampang [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Chiang Mai, Thailand > http://www.photoenvisions.com Hey Steve, nice to see you. I hope that you, your wife and family are doing well for this holiday season. > > I did my open water certification there as well as my Divemaster > > certification years later. I love the diving when done from Kampang [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Hey Steve, nice to see you. I hope that you, your wife and family are > doing well for this holiday season. Very well, thank you! And to you and yours as well. I just wish I had more time to spend in the water. I have assignment shoots and photo safaris scheduled well into January. I wish another client would book another beach shoot and some underwater photos! One client sent us down last month for a week's fun in the sun, but I wouldn't mind another one this month. Most are taking us north into the jungles along the Burmese or Lao borders for landscape shooting with the acres of blooming sunflowers that are just popping out now, and photographing Hill tribes. Not much diving to be found in those mountains... Steve Kramer Chiang Mai, Thailand http://www.photoenvisions.com Signature"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust > Very well, thank you! And to you and yours as well. I just wish I had > more time to spend in the water. I have assignment shoots and photo [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Chiang Mai, Thailand > http://www.photoenvisions.com Well, not much diving for you maybe... but from what I've seen of your pics, the local shots that you do will be wonderful. You have a talent Steve. I'm sure it will work out to be in your favor. So, here's to 2004... and hopes that it will be both of ours favor. :) Cheers. > > searching for a dive component for my vacation. Something idyllic, with > > great diving and a bit of nightlife. Know any place like that, relatively > > easy to access from Singapore or Jakarta? > > chilly bean, my sources have this to say : Thanks for this Salty. > There are some really fabulous places that have both but that is their > monsoon season so that nixs them. If she really wants night life I > guess I'd have to say Bali or Caines, Australia would be the only > places I can think of. I've been to Bali and Caines is too far out of the way. > Kuta Beach is Bali's hot spot, but that's where the bombing was too. Yes, but New York is where the planes went into the towers. So should people consider not going to New York? My last trip over to SE Asia was within a few days of 9/11. I don't let things like that worry me. If it's your time, it's your time. I qualify those statements by saying, I don't travel into war torn countries and wouldn't travel to Bali, if they'd continued to have followup bombings. > Bali's diving gets mixed reviews. From friends of ours dove there, > some loved it, some said it wasn't worth it. We do have a friend who > used to teach there if she ends up wanted recommended dive sites. The diving I did there was not all that, however, I have friends that dove with Mola Mola. I'm sure my opinion would be quite different, had I had that experience. I love Bali though for everything else that it offers. It is one of the world's treasures and everyone should get there while they can. It is already being ruined by tourism and it's not going to get any better. Prices are probably not too bad right now either, with all the tourists staying away because of the bombing. > On the other hand, great diving who's night life would depend on who > else is around when you get there is all around here in May. Our > favorites for bang for the buck at that time of year were Manado and > Sipidan. I looked at Manado quite seriously for this trip. But when I found the airfare to be almost double that to Sipidan, my outlook changed a bit. :^) > Sipidan of course everyone has heard of and I think you heard us rave > about the marine life we saw there (the reefs though are phaa). We > never felt unsafe, there was alot of military presence. Right now it is between Sipidan and Layang Layang. I might have some friends that will be in Sipidan while I'm over in the neighbourhood and so that would certainly influence the decision. > There are also alot of places closer to S'pore at that time of year > that can be pretty great too, but some of their accommodations can get [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > people in S'pore who go every weekend). I can give you more if you > want. Actually, it had occurred to me that I might slide up to Tioman for a couple of days and get some diving in there too. Please thank your friend for all of her input. I appreciate it very much. And thank you again for going to the trouble of asking her for me. > The diving I did there was not all that, however, I have friends that dove > with Mola Mola. I'm sure my opinion would be quite different, had I had > that experience. You can do that in California. Big deal. > > The diving I did there was not all that, however, I have friends that dove > > with Mola Mola. I'm sure my opinion would be quite different, had I had > > that experience. > > You can do that in California. Big deal. Have you ever done it? > > You can do that in California. Big deal. > > Have you ever done it? Of course. Hasn't everyone? I've seen them a few times in the past years, most recently on an offshore oil rig back in June. I wrote a trip report, which you seem to have ignored; there are even links to pictures (not mine). Here it is again. Read it and weep. http://groups.google.ca/groups?safe=images&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&as_umsgid=vfmrh0bun 63328@corp.supernews.com&lr=&hl=en > > > You can do that in California. Big deal. > > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > ignored; there are even links to pictures (not mine). Here it is again. > Read it and weep. http://groups.google.ca/groups?safe=images&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&as_umsgid=vfmrh0bun 63328@corp.supernews.com&lr=&hl=en Hmm, now that you mention it, I do recall that being a pretty good trip report. And you said: "I saw one small one" I know your photog buddy said he saw 15 or so, but you saw one small one and from how far away? I have seen the video of my friends diving with the Mola Mola in Bali. They were up close and personal and there was no doubt that those were my buddies diving with the fish. Now, my original point was: if that had happened to me while I was diving in Bali, I'd probably feel differently about the quality of the diving there. > And you said: "I saw one small one" > > I know your photog buddy said he saw 15 or so, but you saw one small one and > from how far away? My small one was probably 18 inches around and I was within touching distance. After all, they don't swim very fast. > > And you said: "I saw one small one" > > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > My small one was probably 18 inches around and I was within touching > distance. After all, they don't swim very fast. OK, that's cool. <snipping some> > I've been to Bali and Caines is too far out of the way. That's probably my fault for not narrowing it down specifically to places close to Bali / Sing. > > Kuta Beach is Bali's hot spot, but that's where the bombing was too. > Yes, but New York is where the planes went into the towers. So should [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I qualify those statements by saying, I don't travel into war torn countries > and wouldn't travel to Bali, if they'd continued to have followup bombings. I understand perfectly. You see though, this is somewhat of a C&P of what my sources had to say. They don't know you and they don't know how you feel about the terrorism stuff. They were just trying to 'cover that base' by being certain to mention the Bali incident. > > Bali's diving gets mixed reviews. From friends of ours dove there, > > some loved it, some said it wasn't worth it. We do have a friend who [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > better. Prices are probably not too bad right now either, with all the > tourists staying away because of the bombing. I'm told things are generally half-price now as to what they were when I was there in 2001. I wish to go back and buy furniture there, then have it shipped back via a crate. <g> If only I could. > > On the other hand, great diving who's night life would depend on who > > else is around when you get there is all around here in May. Our > > favorites for bang for the buck at that time of year were Manado and > > Sipidan. > I looked at Manado quite seriously for this trip. But when I found the > airfare to be almost double that to Sipidan, my outlook changed a bit. :^) Ahhh. That isn't good. Where would your starting point be though ?? You might be able to be flexible on that, right ?? > > There are also alot of places closer to S'pore at that time of year > > that can be pretty great too, but some of their accommodations can get [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > people in S'pore who go every weekend). I can give you more if you > > want. > Actually, it had occurred to me that I might slide up to Tioman for a couple > of days and get some diving in there too. > Please thank your friend for all of her input. I appreciate it very much. > And thank you again for going to the trouble of asking her for me. I'll thank both her, him and my other source too. :) Let me know if you want me to ask about specific places to stay / dive ops in Tioman, Spidan, Layang Layang. (snip), this is somewhat of a C&P of > what my sources had to say. They don't know you and they don't know > how you feel about the terrorism stuff. They were just trying to > 'cover that base' by being certain to mention the Bali incident. No worries. Under those circumstances, I'd likely have mentioned it too. (snip)> > better. Prices are probably not too bad right now either, with all the > > tourists staying away because of the bombing. > > I'm told things are generally half-price now as to what they were when > I was there in 2001. I wish to go back and buy furniture there, then > have it shipped back via a crate. <g> If only I could. I have some furniture, carvings, etc. from Sing and Bali. They dry out pretty fast up here, very hard to care for. > > I looked at Manado quite seriously for this trip. But when I found the > > airfare to be almost double that to Sipidan, my outlook changed a bit. :^) > > Ahhh. That isn't good. Where would your starting point be though ?? > You might be able to be flexible on that, right ?? I am flexible from the standpoint, that I could fly into Manado from either Jakarta or Sing, but the price was virtually the same. So it won't be this year. Maybe next time, when I save a bit more money (ha). > > Please thank your friend for all of her input. I appreciate it very much. > > And thank you again for going to the trouble of asking her for me. > > I'll thank both her, him and my other source too. :) Let me know if > you want me to ask about specific places to stay / dive ops in Tioman, I might do that for Tioman. Thanks. > Spidan, Layang Layang. There is only one place to stay on Layang Layang. :^) Thanks again. > I'm told things are generally half-price now as to what they were when > I was there in 2001. I wish to go back and buy furniture there, then > have it shipped back via a crate. <g> If only I could. And then you would join the hundreds of others who buy exquisitely carved furniture in SE Asia, ship it back to the States and to Europe and watch it crack in a dozen places because the humidity level is so different. Most of the furniture sold in SE Asia is made with wood that isn't properly dried when it's being worked on. We bought a large (300lbs) carved elephant two years ago, and even keeping it here in it's original environment, it is beginning to show small cracks in the wood. Not enough to ruin it's beauty, but if I brought it back to a US house heated with a wood stove or electric heat, it would be little more than dozens of pieces of carved kindling now. > > Actually, it had occurred to me that I might slide up to Tioman for a couple > > of days and get some diving in there too. On Tioman, DiveAsia in Kampang Salang, and the Salang Beach Resort... right next to each other, right on the water, and the owners of the dive shop, Roger and Dianna Ng, also own the nightclub/bar that out at the end of the jetty. Steve Kramer Chiang Mai, Thailand http://www.photoenvisions.com Signature"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust > On Tioman, DiveAsia in Kampang Salang, and the Salang Beach Resort... > right next to each other, right on the water, and the owners of the dive > shop, Roger and Dianna Ng, also own the nightclub/bar that out at the > end of the jetty. Thank you. I note that you kept all of my criteria in mind. (wg) > And then you would join the hundreds of others who buy exquisitely > carved furniture in SE Asia, ship it back to the States and to Europe [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > heated with a wood stove or electric heat, it would be little more than > dozens of pieces of carved kindling now. what would happen if it were well waxed with a heavy paste wax, that should form a moisture barrier? Or keep it near the shower or the indoor pool? > Steve Kramer > Chiang Mai, Thailand [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > "The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, > but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust > > And then you would join the hundreds of others who buy exquisitely > > carved furniture in SE Asia, ship it back to the States and to Europe [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > heated with a wood stove or electric heat, it would be little more than > > dozens of pieces of carved kindling now. > what would happen if it were well waxed with a heavy paste wax, > that should form a moisture barrier? > > Or keep it near the shower or the indoor pool? Perhaps if you sealed it in some sort of polyurethane you might have a chance at keeping it together. But you lose the beautiful finish that the carving comes with. Most of difficulty comes with the carvings that are quite large; headboards for beds, dinning room tables, wall murals, etc., and the shrinkage is huge as the wood dries. The small table top carvings don't have that same percentage of size change. As I said, I haven't even taken my elephant out of it's original environment and it's beginning to crack already. You can't work wet wood and expect to maintain great finished results when something that size dries out. Signature"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust > You can't work wet wood > and expect to maintain great finished results when something that size > dries out. That's the whole point of Viagra, isn't it? > And then you would join the hundreds of others who buy exquisitely > carved furniture in SE Asia, ship it back to the States and to Europe [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > heated with a wood stove or electric heat, it would be little more than > dozens of pieces of carved kindling now. <snip> I see that chilly commented on the wood cracking too. I guess I'll find out more about it as time goes on since my friends who lived there had a 14 piece dining room suite shipped in from Sing....table, chairs, buffet, cabinet and server table. That would truly suck if they had problems with it. Regardless, I'd like to mention a few things : - I brought home 6 pieces from our 2001 trip. Our friends brought home stuff too. None of it has cracked. - I have a kitchen set and a TV / stereo table that were custom made for me...ie I went to the carpenter and said "Make me this" and he did. Both were made from oak. The kitchen table cracked. I found a someone to repair it. The TV table is fine even though it takes just as much abuse since it is close to the fireplace in the winter. The kitchen table gets abused by the sun. - My sis in law's kitchen set just cracked too. She had it repaired without a big deal. The differences were that mine was custom made and cracked on table surface. Hers was store-bought and cracked on the leg. - I think that most ppl fail to realize that wood is fluid. It was cut from a living thing and therefore, it moves. It expands and contracts no matter how much drying or prep was done to it. Most ppl don't want to take the time to oil their wooden pieces. (I sure as hell don't.) By oil, I mean just that and using a wood oil, not by using a furniture polish that claims to have oil in it. I oil my kitchen set maybe once or twice a year. I never oil my TV stereo and the TV is so heavy that 2 strong ppl need to lift it so that I can dust underneath. No cracks...yet. - If you doubt that wood will always expand and contract (and thereby sometimes crack), then you don't live in my house. I have a house that changes between seasons. Some of my 6 panel doors will not close completely depending on the season and the amount of humidity. And if you live in my climate and someone tells you to buy Anderson Windows, a very popular brand, tell them they are nuts. Ask them to speak to the fact that the inside casing is wood and, as such, not efficient with temperature extremes that we have in PA. - Many wooden pieces increase in value and become more desirable with some cracking, just the same as many metal pieces increase in value with their patene. So, IMHO, I would opt to purchase the unique piece of furniture from Asia / Indonesia and hope that it doesn't crack. After all, there are many antique pieces out from Asia / Indonesia that have withstood the test of time. If my piece cracked, I'll hire a finish carpenter to repair it just like I did with my kitchen table surface and my sis in law did with her table leg. It wasn't expensive, it was fairly quick and you have the piece back without being able to tell the crack in most cases. > > And then you would join the hundreds of others who buy exquisitely > > carved furniture in SE Asia, ship it back to the States and to Europe [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > I see that chilly commented on the wood cracking too. Did I specifically mention wood cracking? Hmm, well, my cherrywood tea tray is not cracking, however, the varnish has pulled away from the edges. My engraved chest, had apparently already been restored and once it started to dry out over here, all the filling fell out of the worm holes. Oh, yeah, and the varnish has retracted in some places. Many of my beautiful carvings just don't have the same finish that they used to have. My cousin's big elephant cracked, and cracked and cracked despite being kept in the bathroom. My other cousin's beautiful furniture has for the most part been magnificently maintained. They have lost a few pieces however. Buyer beware, that's all we are saying. (snip) > > Steve Kramer <steve@seatraveler.com> wrote in message > news:<3FDD7694.61790597@seatraveler.com>... [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > > > I see that chilly commented on the wood cracking too. > Did I specifically mention wood cracking? Hmm, well, my cherrywood tea tray > is not cracking, however, the varnish has pulled away from the edges. My [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > magnificently maintained. They have lost a few pieces however. Buyer > beware, that's all we are saying. Ohhh... correction. I see that you didn't say cracking, just drying. Do your pieces look bad now ?? I'll bet they don't. I'll bet that your guests don't even notice the things you've mentioned. You notice it because you're looking more closely at them to clean them, etc. I agree, buyer beware. I know Guy personally as well, and I would recommend Asia Divers over Buddah View. I know the majority of the instuctors there as well. I feel Asia Divers are smaller so you get a more personal experience with them > > I am torn between two Diving companies on Koh Tao, 1) Buddha View 2) Big > > Blue Diving [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Tao. Good place to get certified for cheap, but the sites arent that > good, and I dont particularly like cattleboat diving. YMMV. Doesn't it depend on the period you are going? This year I arrived on Koh Tao and saw crowded ships. Two days after many people left and we were just a handful on the boat. Personally I always use Easydivers at Mae Haad. >I am torn between two Diving companies on Koh Tao, 1) Buddha View 2) Big >Blue Diving [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >Fanks. > Anyone any experience of either of these???? Cris I have certified with both. What are you going to do? as my advice will change with the case. http://meekings.net/diving/index.html Has some Koh Tao photo's >replace spamblock with my family name to e-mail me |
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