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 impressive. 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, especially 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 outcroppings. 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.
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, subbranch, cuttlefish, scorpion fish, lion fish, barracuda, yellow goatfish, parrotfish and more.
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 reefs closer to shore, ranging from 10-30m, usually around 15m. Koh Prins has two shipwrecks 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 several reefs and outcroppings displaying a particularly colorful variety of hard and soft corals, an abundance of other marine life, and consistently good visibility.
Scuba Operators
There are now a several dive centers in Sihanoukville. Most can organize, outfit and lead almost any sort of diving excursion from snorkeling trips and introductory dives for beginners to fully outfitted multi-day scuba
expeditions for experienced divers. Chez Claude Claude has been running scuba and,adventure tours in Sihanoukville since 1992. Offering scuba excursions and lessons. Island and boating
trips. Tel: 012-824870, 034-934100
www.claudecambodge.com
The Dive Shop PADI 5 Star Dive Center. Awarded National Geographic Dive Center status. Offering dive
trips and all PADI courses - introductory Discover Scuba, PADI Open Water Courses, Advanced Open
Water, Rescue and Dive Master. Fun dives, live aboards, overnights, custom tours, island accommodations.
Equipment rental/sales. Scubapro equipment. Socially aware company directly assisting several charitable projects. Road to Serendipity Beach.
Tel: 034-933664 www.DiveShopCambodia.com
Koh Rong Dive Center Dive center, offering a full range of PADI diver training classes, from PADI Open Water Scuba Diving certification through PADI Dive Master. In addition. 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 boats in Cambodia. Offices on Serendipity Beach
Road, and in Phnom Penh at #18Eo, Sothearos (FCC area). Contact Gerard and Vicky at 012-604680 or
012-715785 www.divecambodia.com
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