Dive Review of
Sea Bees/Palm Garden Khao Lok in
Thailand/Andaman Sea

 CA, HI, Mexico (pacific), Carribean, Philippines 

Dive Conditions

50 bar and 30 meters  

M/Y Genisis had a good charging station and inside camera table.  

Overall Rating

Went to Thailand to see the renowned Similan and Surin Islands during whale
shark season.  Overall disappointing trip due to poor visability and zero
whale sharks.  Sea Bees dive center has a very user friendly website with
tons of info.  I booked a 3 day "north tour" aboard their
liveaboard M/Y Genisis and did 2 day trips from their Kao Lok based day
boats.  The M/V Stingray is a nice catamaran able to hold about 45 divers. 
We dove 27 divers going to Similan island #9.  The mostly German guides
were knowledgeable and friendly.  After a 3+ hour ride (each way) we did 2
dives with 90 minute surface interval.  A green algae bloom is all over the
Andaman Sea right now.  Guides say they have not seen visability this bad. 
Tons of fish at all sites, but I found the coral to be a bit on the thin
side.  The next day I went on the M/Y Runaway to the "Boonsung"
wreck.  About 90 minutes each way this time and 2 tanks.  This was by far
the most monchromatic wreck I have seen as it was covered in silt.  The
only item of interest was a couple of crocodile fish.  This day was a
complete waste of time and money.  The "North Tour" included
Richleau rock and Koh Bon.  Every site in the Surins had at least 8 other
packed liveaboards at them.  Again, the viz was terrible.  I found Richleau
to be rather unremarkable.  Beside a couple of ghost pipefish, not that
interesting.  Koh Bon salvaged the liveaboard portion producing a few large
mantas.  It also had a very nice reef.  But with the crowds it reminded me
of Molokini crater. The M/Y Genisis was a simple but nice liveaboard,
especially for $600.  The Palm Garden resort in Khao Lok was also simple
but nice.  Tasty food and friendly staff.  Given the travel time from the
west coast, long boat rides, the overall cost and medicore diving, I don't
think I'll go back anytime soon. 

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