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VOL. 12.7

ARCHIVES:

Superlatives drip from the pen when it comes to describing the Andaman Sea region, so much so it often seems repetitive. Once in the area and surrounded by all the sea and sand, forests and cliffs etc, etc, etc, you too will be suffering SOS (Superlative Overload Syndrome). It’s that kind of place. Perhaps it's time to coin a new word to describe the regional beauty surrounding Phuket, one word in place of a list. Andamazing. In this issue, we’ll try and describe just what Andamazing means exactly. Better yet, come and see for yourself.

Year-round Sea Recreations

Scuba diving and snorkelling

(averaging 20-30m around offshore destinations such as the Similan Islands).

November-April: Scheduled, extended live-aboard diving cruises begin in October, and the second half of November sees the beginning of the real peak season. Fine weather, calm seas.

March-April: Planktonic blooms sometimes appear during these months. Downside: reduced underwater visibility. Upside: plankton feeders such as whale sharks and manta rays may be more in evidence (although sightings of whale sharks have fallen off in the past couple of years).

May: Generally fine weather and calm seas till mid-May; good for live-aboards.

June-October: Daytrips can be excellent. Local dive shops check weather reports before setting out. Uncertain weather and heavy seas can make live-aboards impossible to schedule well in advance, and they can sometimes be uncomfortable. Inshore dive sites may suffer reduced visibility, from time to time, due to rain and runoff sediment. Sometimes a “mini peak season”, with a week or two of calm seas and fine weather, makes for fine dive cruises to destinations such as the Similan Islands or Hin Daeng, off the coast of Trang Province. Snorkellers on west-coast beaches should inquire about undertows and rip currents — observe the red flags.

Yachting, windsurfing and dinghy sailing

November-February: From mid-November, generally flat seas, fair winds (usually no more than 15-20 knots, especially in the mornings, tapering to a breeze in the afternoons; 25-30 knots is unusual) and fine weather. For sailors, west coast anchorages are fine. The 15th annual Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, a glittering social and competitive sailing event, will be held 1-8 December. The annual Phang Nga Bay Regatta will be held in early February 2001.

March-April:  Moderate winds; generally calm seas. For sailors, west coast anchorages are secure.

May-October:  From mid-May winds are generally moderate; but heavy seas off the Indian Ocean and squalls can make these sports hazardous for all but the really adept. Waves are normally slight to moderate, but they can range up to 4m. Phang Nga Bay still fine for sailing. Chalong Bay and Laem Phrao offer secure anchorages.

Surfing

Bay of Bengal and off the east coast of Africa generate waves of a magnitude to interest west-coast Phuket surfers. The rest of the year is pretty glassy, with adequate swells a rare event.

Gamefishing

November-May: Late November is a good time to go after marlin, tuna and any number of other fighting fish. The annual Phuket International Sportfishing Classic tournament is held in this month (16-19 November, this year).

June: There’s every chance of connecting with sailfish at this time of year. Also good for any number of other fighting fish.

July-August: Seas can be a bit rough, though a mini-peak season in terms of fine skies is common. This is a great time to go after sailfish in the lee of islands such as Koh Racha Yai. Also good for any number of other fighting fish.

September-October: Good for any number of fighting fish.

Sea-canoeing

November: Sea conditions in Phang Nga Bay are always safe. The weather, towards the end of November, is getting more consistently dry and sunny.

December: Dry and sunny, especially towards the end of the month.

January-May: Consistently dry and sunny, getting hotter during April and May.

June-October: Although this is the rainy season, Phang Nga Bay is still highly recommended, with its spectacular vistas sometimes shrouded in mist and rain, adding moods of mystery to its fair-weather repertoire. Crystal-encrusted stalactites sparkle even more in the beam of your torch. In any case, there is still a fair share of sunshine.

Water-skiing  & parasailing

November: From mid-November, the seas are generally calm and the surf slight.

December-March: Ideal conditions — calm seas and slight surf.

April: Good conditions, generally calm seas and slight surf.

June-October: Heavy seas and surf frequently make skiing and parasailing ill-advised.

Year-round Land Recreations

Trekking

Phuket is also the base for jungle trekking excursions to the neighbouring mainland. Again, in the summer season the forests are greener, the rivers higher for canoeing or rafting, and the waterfalls are more spectacular. (The terrestrial leeches are also             out in force, mind you; but this is only a minor nuisance, since     they may be removed by applying anything from suntan oil or insect repellent to a lighted cigarette. Try soaking your socks in       insect repellent or tobacco water before setting out.)

Golf

The Blue Canyon Golf Club, which has already hosted the Honda Classic once and the Johnnie Walker Black Label Classic tournament twice, provides a course of the highest international standard. The Phuket Golf and Country Club, Banyan Tree, and Loch Palm also offer year-round golfing in splendid surroundings.

Hiking, biking, motorbiking, 4WD touring

This might also be a good time to explore the interior of the island. Most of the original jungle has gone the way of the tiger. Mining, agriculture and, most recently, tourism have seen to the gradual destruction of the natural habitat. By now, only about 7 percent of the land area is covered with natural forest. The greatest part of  that is found in Phuket’s Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, where picturesque waterfalls, granite outcrops, gibbons and birds in a setting largely unchanged for millennia give the visitor some idea of what Phuket must have been like in times past.

Tennis, horseback riding, shooting, bungee jumping, Paintball, mini-golf, dining, a wide range of nightlife activities, and even more, are all readily available year-round on Phuket.

NOTable Dates

14-16 September 2001,

The 3rd Annual Quicksilver Phuket Surfing Contest

Email: cobrapkt@phket.loxinfo.co.th

10 November 2001,

8th Thai Airways Laguna Phuket Triathlon

Event Manager Laguna Phuket Triathlon
Tel: (66 76) 324 060 Fax: (66 76) 324 061

Email: triathlon@lagunaphuket.com

16-19 November 2001,

Phuket International Sportfishing  Classic

Tournament HQ, Phuket Tourist Association
73-75 Phuket Road, Phuket 83000 Thailand
Tel: (66 76) 222 178 Fax: (66 76) 222 177
Email: fish-classic@phuket.com  
http://www.phuket.com/fishing/classic.htm

1-8 December 2001,

15th Annual Phuket King’s Cup Regatta

The Regatta Secretary, Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Office
P.O. Box 386, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Tel: (66 76) 273-380 Fax: (66 76) 273-389

E-mail: info@kingscup.com; www.kingscup.com

20 December 2001,

Phuket Invitational Megayacht Rally

Tel. (66 76) 340-406 Fax  (66 76) 340-586

Email: info@seal-asia.com

11-14 February 2002,

4th Phang Nga Bay Regatta

Formerly “Phuket - Phang Nga - Krabi Regatta”. Now  “Phang Nga Bay Regatta”. This is its 4th year. Always held over Chinese New Year.

E-mail: info@bayregatta.com  Website: www.bayregatta.com

March 2002,

The 1st Annual Thai Cup

This is a race with more laydays than races. Sunsail       currently run a similar event in Tahiti with great success. Basically, a group of yachts participate in a series of races. The difference is that they have an opportunity to sail around the area on the “rest days”.