So that day was spent resting and wandering around Chalong bay. The next day, fully recovered, I also departed and headed for my hotel along Patong beach. The trip had definitely not gone according to plan. I had experinced some real highs as well as the obvious low. There are probably more liveaboard boats now around Phuket than ever before.
Competition means generally low prices and more destinations on offer.
It also means that there are a lot of divers regularly at these sites, often at the same time. Most liveaboards now combine the Similans with other trips such as to the Burma banks or Richilaeu rock. If you're diving here you may also spend some time diving around Phuket. While the sites are not spectacular, there are a few worth checking out if you're there - see the Phuket diving story for more information. With my experience here, I would say that in order to fully enjoy the diving you need to be an 'advanced' or more experienced diver.