Caves in Thailand
CAVE DIVING THAILAND
As soon as Blue Label Diving started in 2008, straight away we made our speciality “Cave Diving Courses Thailand“. Ben had done his 239 meter deep dive in Sra Keow in the year 2006 and ever since he has been loving the caves in Thailand. We teach our cave diving courses with TDI (Technical Diving International). Ben has also written a few of the CCR Cave Courses for TDI.
We use 3 locations for our TDI Cave Diving Courses and expeditions Thailand;
1) Khao Sok Chiew Lan Lake – close to Suratthani
2) Sra Keow Cave – Close to Krabi / Ao Nang
3) Song Hong Cave – Close to Thung Yai
Once you’ve decided you would like to take your diving experience up to the next level and you are considering a cavern/cave diving course, the only thing you need to do next is where, when and with whom.
Cave Diving Courses
Blue Label Diving decided to conduct all of our Cave Diving Courses Thailand in the caves mentioned above. Why?? Well its close to Phuket, the depths are perfect, cave location numbers 2 & 3 are perfect for expeditions and because we can offer ALL INCLUSIVE CAVE DIVING COURSES. This means; Accommodation at the caves, food at the caves, transport to and from the caves, equipment use, certifications, manuals, park fees and coffee, tea and water. If you dive on your own CCR and doing Trimix you have to pay for the Helium a 1.9thb per liter. The same counts for Open Circuit divers. If you want to hire a TEch CCR the extra cost is 10,000 THB per day. a Recreational CCR will cost you 4000 THB per day.
KHAO SOK
Chiew Laan Cave Diving Courses Thailand
The first part of the courses are run in National Park Khao Sok on the Chiew Lan Lake. This is a man made lake about 2 hours north from Phuket. This beautiful sanctuary only has a few “floating resorts” the sides of the lake are very steep wall thus impossible to build anything on there. This is why was decided to build these floating bungalows once the lake was ready for inhabitants.
These bungalows are made of Bamboo and are very basic. There is no toilet or air conditioning in the hut, there is only generated electricity from 6-12am and the showers are either on land up hill or you just Jump in the lake, straight fro you bungalow.These simple huts have a mattrass on the floor, with a pillow and a blanket.
With these basic bungalows is how it all strated. Now a days you can find very luxurious bungalows with airconditioning and toilets inside the bungalow….this is only for the Posh traveler and not meant for expeditions.
Diving in Khao Sok
So to give your cave adventure an extra “touch” you will obviously sleep in the basic bungalows…. Oh and there is no Mobile phone reception or Internet.
The surroundings of Khao Sok National Park are breathtaking. You really need to see this. In the morning you will wake up around 6am, because of the sounds of the jungle around you. If you are an early bird you could take one of the free canoes and peddle down to the other side to see the monkeys eating on the side of the water.
SRA KEOW
Sra Keow – Cave Diving Courses Thailand
The second part of the cave courses will be run in Krabi Province in Sra Keow cave. This cave is also a fresh water lake next to a elephant station. This cave is 2.5 hours drive from Khao Sok National Park. This is where Ben Reymenants did his 239m cave dive in 2006.
SRA KEOW is a cave for experienced cave divers only. This cave has great visibility but less then 1 foot on your way back. We do not use this cave for our regular cave diving training.
SONG HONG
- After that dive you will drive down to Song Hong, Song = 2 and Hong = room, lake in Trang Province, again 2.5 hours drive. This is a fresh water lake which is used by the locals for drinking water. This lake used to be covered up, but many many years back it collapsed and is now formed into a sink hole. After it has been discovered in the year 2006, only a handful divers have had the privilege to dive here. This is a very difficult location to find, even with GPRS coordinates. There are two entrances, one from the large lake and one from the smaller one. They are connected at 40 meters. Ben has been diving there many times and the deepest he went was 155 meters. These rooms are huge with a crystal clear visibility of 50 meters. The surroundings of this lake are Rubber plants and if you are lucky you will find a huge Thai Wet fresh market.
Nearby Song Hong there is a small typical Thai Village where you will spend the night in a guesthouse. This is also where all the filling takes place for the next day.
Song Hong
Each day will start with a good breakfast and end with a gorgeous Thai dinner that will satisfy your stomage like you would not believe.
These courses are very heavy on the brain and the body. You will sleep like a baby and you will have an experience you will never ever forget and you will cherish your whole life. After this course the “real” diving starts. You will push yourself way beyond your comfort zone, you will see things not many people have and you will become a very well trained cave diver.
