Colona Liveaboards

I am just back from my trip in Thailand, I would like to confirm that everything has gone for the best, despite a problem of xxx that has not released me for the whole trip, and that therefore initially has made me give up the first two days of cruise toward the south of Phuket, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang but I count on returning soon, as I remember the dives also in that area are fantastic. I am happy to note that the coral reef in the zone of the Similans and the Surin Islands is in good condition and didn’t have, fortunately, any effect from the passage of the Tsunami. Richelieu Rock is simply a superb dive site, where also after the tenth dive different and new angles are found to observe.

I must congratulate with your organization, rapid and efficient, both for the pick-up from the hotels and for the service on board of the Colona VI, with the Thai staff always generous and well trained, and the very professional underwater guides, with a very strong, but necessary, attention to the observation of the rules in the respect of the coral reefs. The food was excellent and the dives very beautiful, also the sun was always out.

Thank you so much again and I hope to be your guest again in the future.

Kindest regards,
Leonardo Olmi

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Colona Liveaboards

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Colona Liveaboards

This was a special cruise as it was only 7 people onboard, all Italians, who after the 4 days in the Similans rather than returning to Patong were being dropped off on Island #4 in the Similans where they were staying for another 5 nights in the tented accommodation provided by the Similan Marine Park Ranger service.

The diving part of the trip was superb and with only one diver and 5 snorkelers rather than going to Richilieu Rock MV Giamani stayed in the Similans, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai. The snorklers and one diver all had a memorable trip - in fact this is their second year on MV Giamani as they liked it so much last year they have come back to repeat the experience!

As MV Giamani has now departed for a 9 day 9 night trip to Myanmar (Burma) it will be MV Colona VI that collects them in a few days from Similan Island #4 to return them to Patong.

For the bird watchers amongst you this is one of the few places in the world that you can see the Nicobar pidgeon, you don’t have to look to hard either, you can see and hear them all around the campsite.

Sawadee Krap

Back from another 9 day 9 night trip to the Similans and Myanmar (Burma) and what an awesome trip it was.

We started the cruise on January the 31st with 6 Italians, 2 ladies from Finland, a Swiss couple and a couple from the UK. After an overnight cruise from Thap Lamu on mainland Thailand the guests first dive of the trip was in Koh Bon - 3 Manta’s cruising around made for a great start. The second dive was even better with 7 different Manta’s !

The dives at Koh Tacha Reef only had one manta but this didn’t matter so much as we were all busy looking at the four leopard sharks.

Our dive at Richilieu Rock the next day was truly amazing for how clear the water was. As we were descending we could see all away across the dive site ! After a great dive we headed off to Ranong to check out of Thailand and into Myanmar (Burma).

The next morning saw us begin 19 dives in Burmese waters. There were a few sightings of sharks but what amazed most guests wasn’t the larger fish life but the macro critters. The variety and number was simply stunning. Tigertail seahorses, ornate ghostpipe fish, frog fish and all manner of colurful nudibranchs including a spanish dancer at Black Rock.

North Twin has fantastic visibility, beautiful corals but was spoilt a little by the dynamite fishing that we could hear in the distance. This is still a problem in Burmese waters but one that the Marine Parks are working hard at to control.

Burma Banks never fails to disappoint and guests were happy to see juvenile silvertips as well as black tip reef sharks. There was also some good schooling action which was great for the photographers on the trip who had their wide angle lenses with them.

Western Rocky was the last site in Burmese waters before checking out of Myanmar and returning to the Similans via Richilieu Rock where we had three more excellent dives, only this time the Harlequin Shrimps were hiding so well that we couldn’t find them!

After so many dives on reefs over the 9 days we made the last dive of the trip on the Boonsung Wreck just of the mainland of Thailand. This famous wreck is an old tin mining dredge and is now home to huge schools of fish, many honeycomb moray’s, stonefish, nudibrancs and large numbers of lion fish.

All in all a tremendous trip to the Similans, Richilieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon and Burma.

Dive Slowly

Dimitri

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This trip we had a mixed group with divers from China, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy and England. Having travelled overnight to  the Similans we had some great dives and some beach time on Island #8 in the afternoon.

The second day was fantastic, with all divers getting good sightings of Manta’s and some brief interatcion with sharks. MV Colona VI overnighted in the Surin Islands in order to get a head start in the morning and be the first liveaboard at the world famous dive site of Richilieu Rock.

As usual Richilieu Rock lived up to divers expectations as they “ticked off” the marine life on their wish list; tigertail seahorses, ghost pipefish, mantis shrimp and a plethora of weird and wonderfull nudibranchs.

The resident school of barracuda were there crusing the centre section of the site and the unusually good visibility meant that divers could get a fantastic view of this big school over the “rock”.

After Richilieu Rock, MV Colona VI headed south back down the Andaman Sea to to Koh Tachai, another must do dive site, that produced more manta’s and a few leopard sharks for the divers.

There was time for a a couple more dives back down on the Similans with rays, barracuda and a napolan wrasse before cruising back to Patong to disembark at Patong beach.

Safe Diving………….

Steve