Archive for February, 2009

Things to do on Phuket, Thailand

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

We have a large number of guests that have several days “free” at each end of their liveaboard cruise and as well as fitting in some extra diving on some of the excellent local dive sites that are on offer or sunning themselves on the fantastic beaches that Phuket has to offer they often ask for suggestions on what they can do.

The most popular three excursions for our guests are Sea Canoe, Amazing Bike Tours and Siam Safari which offer three entirely different views of Phuket and are suitable for all ages.

Eco sightseeing at its best

Sea Canoe, Phuket

Siam Safari, Phuket, Thailand

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Last Minute Special Offer for 27th Feb 2009

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

Special Last Minute Price for the trip onboard MV Colona VI on the 27th February.


Trip Code: CO28

Departs: Friday 27th February, 8PM, Patong.

Returns: Thursday 5th March, 4PM, Patong.

Destination: Similans, Richilieu, Tachai & Koh Bon

Duration: 6 Days 6 Nights

Dives: 22

Normal price per diver in Standard Twin: 45,000 THB

Normal price per diver in Master Cabin:48,000 THB

20% off above prices for this confirmed sailing.

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Customer Report on Trip CO22

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

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


Colona Liveaboards

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Rapporto di viaggio dei nostri clienti - CO22

Friday, February 20th, 2009
Sono appena rientrato dal viaggio in Thailandia, volevo confermarti che tutto è andato per il meglio, nonostante un mio problema  che non mi ha mollato per tutto il viaggio, e che quindi inizialmente mi ha fatto rinunciare ai primi due giorni di crociera verso il sud di Phuket, esattamente Hin Daeng e Hin Muang, ma conto di tornarci presto, in quanto le immersioni anche in quella zona ricordo che sono fantastiche. Sono felice di constatare che la barriera corallina nella zona delle Similan e delle Surin è in ottime condizioni e non ha, fortunatamente, subito nessun effetto dal passaggio dello Tsunami. Richelieu Rock è semplicemente un sito d’immersione superbo, dove anche dopo la decima immersione si trovano angoli diversi e nuovi da osservare.
Mi devo congratulare con la vostra organizzazione, rapida ed efficiente, sia per il pick-up dagli alberghi che per il servizio a bordo del Colona VI, con lo staff thailandese sempre generoso e ben addestrato, e le guide subacquee molto professionali, con un’attenzione all’osservazione delle regole nel rispetto della barriera corallina molto forte, ma necessaria. Il cibo era ottimo e le immersioni bellissime, anche il sole non è mai mancato.
Grazie Mille ancora e spero di essere vostro ospite ancora in un futuro non troppo lontano. Nel frattempo ti mando alcune foto per essere utilizzate al prossimo Eudi.
Cordiali Saluti,
Leonardo Olmi


Leonardo Olmi
Specialized in Travel & Underwater Photojournalism

Colona Liveaboards

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2009 / 2010 Season

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009

With many enquiries already from new and past guests for next season we have released the schedules for MV Giamani and MV Colona VI for 2009 /2010 diving the Similan Islands, Myanmar (Burma), Richilieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon, Phi Phi and Hin Daeng & Hin Muang.

You can download the catalogue for both boats by right clicking on the link below and choosing “save as”.

2009 / 2010 Catalogue

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MV Giamani - GI18

Monday, February 16th, 2009

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.

Nicobar Pidgeon

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MV Giamani Crew

Sunday, February 15th, 2009

As most people know its not just the diving that makes a great trip on a liveaboard, its the crew as well.

Colona Liveaboards are very lucky in the fact that the crew on both MV Colona VI and on MV Giamani give that extra level of service on your trip to the Similan Islands, Hin Daeng & Hin Muang, Phi Phi or Myanmar (Burma) to ensure that you have an unforgettable trip.

Below are Captain Tin and his Thai crew along with Dimitri & Fabio the dive staff onboard MV Giamani with the boat behind them docked at Thap Lamu

The crew of Giamani at Thap Lamu harbour, Thailand

The crew of Giamani at Thap Lamu harbour, Thailand

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MV Giamani - GI17

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

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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MV Colona VI - CO22

Sunday, February 8th, 2009

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.

MV Colona VI - Similans Liveaboard

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

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Special price for GI23 on MV Giamani to Burma

Sunday, February 8th, 2009

Due to a cancellation of a small group we now have availability on MV Giamani GI23 a 9 day 9 night trip that takes in the best diving that the Andaman Sea has to offer.

During the course of the trip guests will get to complete 31 dives, 19 in Burma and 12 in Thailand. The trip departs on Monday the 9th of March and returns on Wednesday the 18th March.

Dive sites visited will include the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richilieu Rock and the Mergui Archipelago.

The normal prices are as follows;

Standard Twin Share Cabin : 67,500 Thai Baht

Deluxe Cabin Triple Share : 70,200 Thai Baht

Deluxe Cabin Twin Share : 76,500 Thai Baht

For this trip we have a special offer of 20% off the above prices.

Standard Twin Share Cabin : 67,500 Thai Baht SAVE 13,500 Baht, pay only 54,000 Baht per diver

Deluxe Cabin Triple Share : 70,000 Thai Baht SAVE 14,040 Baht, pay only 56,160 Baht per diver

Deluxe Cabin Twin Share : 76,500 Thai Baht SAVE 15,300 Baht, pay only 61,200 Thai Baht per diver

MV Giamani - Thailand & Myanmar Liveaboard

MV Giamani - Thailand & Myanmar Liveaboard

MV Giamani - Thailand & Myanmar Liveaboard

MV Giamani - Thailand & Myanmar Liveaboard

If you have any questions please contact the Colona Liveaboards team.

MV Colona VI & MV Giamani
www.diving-thailand-phuket.com

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