The Beach
Posted By Malcolm James on 6 October 2000
Most people have heard about the mythical beach, an idyllic world created by Alex Garland in his book "The Beach", and now a film starring Leo Di Caprio. Set on an island paradise, where all is good until the end. These places only exist in Hollywood or in some writer's mind don't they?
Well the island where "The Beach" is set does exist, and it offers the adventurous diving traveler the ultimate destination. Imagine a place where you can rent a beach bungalow for $2.50US a day, where the best Thai meals in a restaurant cost $1.50US and access to the internet will set you back 3 cents a minute. What you are left with is plenty of time and money to dive during the day and party at night.
Sounds too good to be true, well read on and start planning.
The starting point is Bangkok, Thailand. Head South for one and half hours, flying on a forty seater twin prop plane (I put it in the class of big enough to make you realize that it is a plane, small enough to feel nervous), to Koh Samui. Then it's a ninety-cent bus ride to the Buddha ferry terminal that takes about ten minutes. From here it's a direct ferry to Koh Pha Ngan. The ferry leaves at 10.30am, 1:00pm and 4:00pm and will costs $2.00US. But remember that Murphy's Law of travel will ensure that you arrive in time to see the ferry pulling out.
An hour later you pull into Haad Rin, and the bungalows stretch along the beach. All you have to do is walk up and down the beach and find one you like...its that simple. I need to point out at this stage though that this is backpacker country so please don't come expecting a Club Med Resort with staff at your beck and call. What you are getting is an island paradise, which has fun and excitement and is an adventure, not a packaged Cook tour. You need to bring everything, including your towel and toilet paper, but hey if you forget it don't worry you can always buy it on the island.
There are two dive shops in Haad Rin, Easy Divers and Phangan Divers. Both are excellent operators with multi lingual staff and a good emphasis on making diving fun and safe. I dived with Easy Divers and had a great double dive day.
The main dive boat for Easy Divers is MV Seaflower capable of handling forty divers with a large wet area and multiple entry points, a cabin with about eight tables and there are still two more areas to lounge about in and relax on the way to the dive or between dives. There are no air-conditioned rooms so be prepared for a day in the tropics, but there is plenty of shade.
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