News
Whale sharks are back in the Similan Islands
The National park of the Similan Islands is open again to the public, much to the delight of divers and snorkelers.
Copyright: Mark Strickland
Considered the jewel in the crown of Thailand diving, the Similan and Surin Islands won’t disappoint. Thriving reefs with over 200 species of soft and hard corals and impressive sea fans abound, as well as an incredible variety of marine life including ghost pipe fish, napoleon wrasse, schools of barracuda, nudibranchs and even beautiful sea horses. There is also plenty of larger life to see with sea turtles, Napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrot fish, leopard sharks, manta rays and of course the majestic whale shark.
Whale sharks wander the warmer seas around the world, either alone or in large numbers, in areas with abundant plankton, their main source of food. One of the main dive sites for seeing whale sharks is Richelieu Rock, some 50 miles or so north of the Similans and a mainstay on every Similan Itinerary. This limestone pinnacle covered with soft corals slopes steeply to a sandy bottom at 35 meters (120 Ft). The surrounding deep waters of this pinnacle bring up nutrient-rich currents providing the whale sharks with a ready supply of plankton.
Known to be seen regularly from January to March, The Junk liveaboard has already been seeing whale sharks from her first trip in November, so expect a bumper season ahead.
The Junk is a 33 metre restored teak wood Chinese merchant sailing vessel that can take up to 18 divers in 6 air conditioned cabins, with a choice of double cabins, triple cabins and quads. Each cabin has its own private bathroom with hot water. There is a choice of 4 and 6 night cruises departing from Taplamu Pier, near Khao Lak, or Patong, Phuket.
If you want to live this unforgettable experience, bear in mind that if your gear is serviced and ready to go then you can dive the Similan Islands right now. Contact The Junk today to book your next diving vacation in Thailand Limited spaces are available so don’t wait too long…
Email: thailand@wwdas.com
Website: www.thejunk.com
Over the next 12 months, specialist scuba holiday company Dive Worldwide will be supporting Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation with donations collected from client bookings to any one of its stunning dive destinations around the world. The independently-owned operator expects to raise £3000 for the UK charity.
Manager at Dive Worldwide, Phil North, said: “We’re especially excited to work with Bite-Back and support its intelligent, creative and results-driven campaigns to end the UK trade in shark products and prompt a change in attitudes to the ocean’s most maligned inhabitant.”
Bite-Back is running campaigns to hold the media to account on the way it reports shark news along with a brand new nationwide education programme. Last year the charity was credited for spearheading a UK ban on the import and export of shark fins.
Campaign director at Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’re enormously grateful to Dive Worldwide for choosing to support Bite-Back. The company’s commitment to conservation helps set it apart from other tour operators and we’re certain its clients admire and respect that policy. For us, the affiliation is huge and helps us look to the future with confidence we can deliver against key conservation programmes.”
To launch the fundraising initiative, Phil North presented Graham Buckingham with a cheque for £1,000.
Visit Dive Worldwide to discover its diverse range of international scuba adventures and visit Bite-Back to learn more about the charity’s campaigns.
MORE INFORMATION
Call Graham Buckingham on 07810 454 266 or email graham@bite-back.com
Free Octopus with every purchase of a SCUBAPRO regulator system
Just in time for the spring season, divers can save money with the FREE OCTOPUS SPRING PROMOTION! Until July 31st SCUBAPRO offers an Octopus for free
with every purchase of a regulator system!
Get a free S270 OCTOPUS with purchase of these combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with A700
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with S620Ti
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with D420
MK25 EVO Din mit S620Ti-X
Get a free R105 OCTOPUS with purchase of the following combinations:
MK25 EVO or MK19 EVO with G260
MK25 EVO or MK17 EVO with S600
SCUBAPRO offers a 30-year first owner warranty on all regulators, with a revision period of two years or 100 dives. All SCUBAPRO regulators are of course certified according to the new European test standard EN250-2014.
Available at participating SCUBAPRO dealers. Promotion may not be available in all regions. Find an authorized SCUBAPRO Dealer at scubapro.com.
More information available on www.scubapro.com.
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