The Cambodia Coastal Visitors Guide 52nd

scuba diving

reefs closer to shore, ranging from 10-30m, usually around 15m. Koh Prins has two ship- wrecks to the northwest at 30- 40m. Koh Tang is a favorite diver’s destination. The island played a major role in the 'Mayaguez Incident' and still shows the scarring of the May 1975 battle between American and Khmer Rouge forces. The surrounding waters offer sever- al reefs and outcroppings dis- playing a particularly colorful variety of hard and soft corals, an abundance of other marine life, and consistently good visibility. For more see Guide to the Islands on page 32. Scuba Operators There are several dive centers in Sihanoukville and on the islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem. Most can organize, outfit and lead almost any sort of diving excursion from introductory dives to fully out- fitted multi-day scuba expeditions for experienced divers. Koh Rong Dive Center Dive center, offering a full range of PADI diver train- ing classes, from PADI Open Water Scuba Diving certification through PADI Dive Master. In addi- tion. Kids programs available. Twice a day scuba diving and snorkeling trips to areas around Koh Rong. Located near the Golden Lions and on Koh Rong Island. Tel: 034-934744 http://kohrong-divecenter.com Scuba Nation, PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center The pioneers of diving in Cambodia, providing comprehensive diving and snorkeling services, day trips, live-aboards, nitrox and the full range of PADI courses from beginner to Instructor. You can also do training sessions in Phnom Penh or Sihanoukville, then finish with a live-aboard on a custom-made dive boat in Sihanoukville. Offices on Serendipity Beach Road, and in Phnom Penh at #18Eo Sothearos Blvd (FCC area). Contact Gerard and Vicky at 012-604680 or 012-715785 www.divecambodia.com Island hopping, fishing, booze cruises... 19

The waters off of Sihanoukville and the nearby islands offer some good scuba diving opportunities. Coral encrusted rocky reefs surround many of the local islands, supporting abundant hard and soft corals, sponges, anemones and an assortment of fish life including sting rays, moray eels, dolphins and even whales. Experienced divers report that the variety and concentration of marine life along the reefs is impres- sive. Good dive sites can be found within a two hour boat trip of town, making for an easy day trip, but the very best sites are 4-6 hours out. The local waters are warm (consistently between 27- 31C) and though visibility can be quite variable, espe- cially during the monsoon season. In the diving season from October to June visibility ranges from 10-25 meters on good days, even at nearby islands such as Koh Rong Sanloem - better at more distant sites such as Koh Tang . Most of the dive sites are comparatively shallow (around 15 meters) and gentle currents around the islands allow drift diving over the reefs and out- croppings. Some of the more popular diving islands include : Koh Rong Many good snorkeling areas and near two dozen good dive sites around the island. Depths of 5- 15 meters. (Map page 34.) Koh Rong Sanloem Rocky reefs host a variety of marine life in shallow waters and at depths up to 18 meters. Like all of the nearby islands the best diving and visibility is on the west side. Species sightings include cobia, puffer fish, moray eels, octopus, rays, crabs, nudibranch, cuttlefish, scorpion fish, lion fish, barracuda, yellow goatfish, parrot- fish and more. (Map page 38.) Koh Kon Koh Kon is, as the name implies, a small island sitting just off the north tip of Koh Rong Sanloem. Rocky, coral encrusted outcrops on the west and south sides of the island provide home to a variety of corals and marine life including anemones, box fish, parrot fish, yellow goat fish, snappers, stingrays, moray eels and cat sharks. Visibility is moderate, averaging around 10 meters, though better on some days. Koh Tang, Koh Prins, Poulou Wai Some of the best diving in the area lay 4-8 hours southwest, around Koh Tang, Koh Prins and Poulo Wai . The area has rocky reefs, depths of 15-40m and much better visibility than

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