I initially jumped into Cambodian waters not knowing at all what to expect. It was a blind leap of faith through a friend who suggested I do my dive master training in Sihanoukville. Now at the end of my training, here is what I've learned.
Above is a video of an anemone garden we found on a dive trip to Koh Prins. None of the dive masters knew it existed and it is certainly not on any of the maps. I'm tempted to ask them if we can officially name it "Anemone Forrest".
1. Discovering Untouched Dive Sites
When you think about the Great Barrier Reef or Maldives the first idea that comes to mind for most people is the world renowned diving in those locations. People flock from around the globe to see these destinations and rightfully so they have some of the most unique marine life plus great underwater visibility. In Cambodia, diving is hardly anyone's first choice destination for scuba diving, some people probably don't even know there are ANY places to go scuba diving in Cambodia. Which, to me, is fantastic.
I've heard the stories of places in Thailand and Indonesia where you see more divers than fish when you're underwater. Here near the city of Sihanoukville, it would be very rare to run into another dive boat even on a live aboard trip to the islands. In the entire city of Sihanoukville there are only six other dive shops compared to Koh Tao's tiny island that has about 58 dive shops. In the past month and a half I have been here, I've only run into one other dive boat diving on the same site as us. But I have never been diving and actually seen other divers. Hell, it's rare for us to even run into each other if we're in two separate groups!
1. Discovering Untouched Dive Sites
When you think about the Great Barrier Reef or Maldives the first idea that comes to mind for most people is the world renowned diving in those locations. People flock from around the globe to see these destinations and rightfully so they have some of the most unique marine life plus great underwater visibility. In Cambodia, diving is hardly anyone's first choice destination for scuba diving, some people probably don't even know there are ANY places to go scuba diving in Cambodia. Which, to me, is fantastic.
I've heard the stories of places in Thailand and Indonesia where you see more divers than fish when you're underwater. Here near the city of Sihanoukville, it would be very rare to run into another dive boat even on a live aboard trip to the islands. In the entire city of Sihanoukville there are only six other dive shops compared to Koh Tao's tiny island that has about 58 dive shops. In the past month and a half I have been here, I've only run into one other dive boat diving on the same site as us. But I have never been diving and actually seen other divers. Hell, it's rare for us to even run into each other if we're in two separate groups!
2. Unique Fish & Coral
Since diving here I have seen so many new types of fish that I have never seen before in my life. I've been diving in Malaysia, Thailand, Hawaii, Florida and the Caribbean and I'm still finding new fish and coral here in Cambodia such as the deadly Stone Fish, Black Tip Reef Shark, Blue Spotted Stingrays, beautiful Nudibranch's or massive Pufferfish.
A few weeks ago I went to the island of Koh Prins about six hours south of Sihanoukville by boat. It is a very small island that is uninhabited but is home to crystal clear waters (20+ meters of visibility), beautiful coral reefs and wonderful exotic fish. Apparently, December through February is Whale Shark season where youth whales are commonly spotted close to the island. I unfortunately was not in season for them to be around but many of the dive masters I work with have seen them on multiple trips.
Since diving here I have seen so many new types of fish that I have never seen before in my life. I've been diving in Malaysia, Thailand, Hawaii, Florida and the Caribbean and I'm still finding new fish and coral here in Cambodia such as the deadly Stone Fish, Black Tip Reef Shark, Blue Spotted Stingrays, beautiful Nudibranch's or massive Pufferfish.
A few weeks ago I went to the island of Koh Prins about six hours south of Sihanoukville by boat. It is a very small island that is uninhabited but is home to crystal clear waters (20+ meters of visibility), beautiful coral reefs and wonderful exotic fish. Apparently, December through February is Whale Shark season where youth whales are commonly spotted close to the island. I unfortunately was not in season for them to be around but many of the dive masters I work with have seen them on multiple trips.
3. The Rule of the Dollar is Absolute
Even though the diving costs might equal other country's rates, everything else while you aren't diving is going to be significantly cheaper. Many tourists can pleasantly get by on less than $15/day for each person. Meals here range from $0.50 to $12 (at a very fancy restaurant) and most days I cook for myself as well which cuts the cost to nearly nothing. On the beaches you can sit in the lounge chairs for free as long as you order at least one thing off of their menu whether it be a lunch dish or just a $0.25 bottle of water.
Even though the diving costs might equal other country's rates, everything else while you aren't diving is going to be significantly cheaper. Many tourists can pleasantly get by on less than $15/day for each person. Meals here range from $0.50 to $12 (at a very fancy restaurant) and most days I cook for myself as well which cuts the cost to nearly nothing. On the beaches you can sit in the lounge chairs for free as long as you order at least one thing off of their menu whether it be a lunch dish or just a $0.25 bottle of water.
4. Challenging Experiences
What a lot of fun divers consider to be the "best" diving is in waters that have 30+ meters of visibility, no current or tides and cute fish and pretty coral to look at. While that may be what some tourist divers consider to be their peak diving experience, many others thrive on challenging dives that they can't get while looking at fish at 10 meters/ 33 feet underwater.
Here in Sihanoukville, there are ranges of diving conditions that will test even the most skilled of divers. During the rainy season you might have to navigate in less than 5 meters of visibility or once December hits you can have 15-20 meters everywhere you look. On some dive sites it will be calm and relaxing but then you turn a corner and be taken fast through the reef by a current. Or you could be diving on a slope full of coral at 15 meters and then find yourself at 30 meters without notice.
Becoming a dive master here is one of the best experiences I could have asked for. It's given me a full range of experiences that other diving areas wouldn't have provided me with. I can more easily adapt to other environments that are much easier, have better visibility and calmer waters after having spent so much time in different conditions on these islands in Cambodia.
What a lot of fun divers consider to be the "best" diving is in waters that have 30+ meters of visibility, no current or tides and cute fish and pretty coral to look at. While that may be what some tourist divers consider to be their peak diving experience, many others thrive on challenging dives that they can't get while looking at fish at 10 meters/ 33 feet underwater.
Here in Sihanoukville, there are ranges of diving conditions that will test even the most skilled of divers. During the rainy season you might have to navigate in less than 5 meters of visibility or once December hits you can have 15-20 meters everywhere you look. On some dive sites it will be calm and relaxing but then you turn a corner and be taken fast through the reef by a current. Or you could be diving on a slope full of coral at 15 meters and then find yourself at 30 meters without notice.
Becoming a dive master here is one of the best experiences I could have asked for. It's given me a full range of experiences that other diving areas wouldn't have provided me with. I can more easily adapt to other environments that are much easier, have better visibility and calmer waters after having spent so much time in different conditions on these islands in Cambodia.