The sea is great place to spend time enjoying the region's tropical beauty and marine life. Samui is becoming a water sports Mecca, with a range of options for those who want to get wet. The warm seas that surround Koh Samui have long played an integral role in the island's allure, with few visitors able to resist the temptation of the waters that gently lap Samui's beaches. Right now, there have never been so many ways for people to take a dip around Samui. Here are just a few of the most popular options for water babes who need an H2O fix during their time in paradise.
One of the most popular water sports worldwide is scuba diving and the Gulf of Thailand, with a rich diversity of marine life and favourable year-round conditions, is now firmly set as one of the world's premier dive holiday destinations. Whilst the teeming seas are an important part of the area's popularity, another key selling point is the huge variety of dive sites to visit. Koh Samui has it's own 'house' reefs that are suitable for novices, whilst more challenging dives await experienced divers at nearby Sail Rock or in the National Marine Park. For the clearest waters and most choice though, local dive operators also offer day trips to the stunning island of Koh Tao, where more than a dozen quality dive sites await discovery. Whether you're a hardened diver seeking some exciting dive experiences, or a nervous novice, keen to take your first breaths in this amazing environment, there is a diving option for everyone off Samui.
If going under the waves doesn't appeal, there are other ways to immerse yourself in to the deep blue world, the most popular of which is snorkeling. Many reefs lie directly off Samui and most visitors can't resist the urge to don a mask and snorkel and have a look at what lies beneath. As with diving, your snorkeling possibilities are by no means restricted to the immediate area. One of the more popular tours incorporating snorkeling is an adventure trip to the Ang Thong National Marine Park. This also includes a few hours kayaking amongst the park's striking collection of fifty limestone rock islands and formations, as well as a chance to see the 'golden bowl', a hidden lake that is completely encircled with majestic cliffs and was the inspiration behind Alex Garland's best selling novel: The Beach.
If it's the marine life you'd like to focus on then take a day tour to Koh Tao, where the clear waters and splendid array of shallow and bountiful reefs make for some of the best snorkelling anywhere in the world. Day trips also usually include a visit to famous Koh Nangyuan, an exquisite trio of verdant jungle islands connected by stunning, white sandbar beaches. Few visitors to Nangyuan are left disappointed and the views below the waters certainly match the breathtaking beauty above.
Back above the water, for more of an adrenaline rush, Koh Samui is now also home to one of the most exciting water sports of modern times: kiteboarding. Kiteboarding Asia is a company that has been on the island for five years and now also boasts three centers in Phuket, Hua Hin and Chumpon. Often called the new windsurfing, the sport also incorporates aspects of both wakeboarding and surfing to provide a truly thrilling experience.
These are the main but by no means the only seafaring options off Koh Samui, There are plenty of other water sports available such as jet skiing, taking a ride on a banana boat, hiring Kayaks to explore the beaches and rocky coves or renting Hobie cats and other craft for a spot of self-skippering. Add in other popular activities such as leisurely sunset dinner cruises, fishing trips that allow you to catch and barbecue your own supper, or perhaps even chartering a junk for a luxurious jaunt around the Thai Gulf and you'll soon find that it's possible to spend every day of your holiday either on, in or under the beautiful waters around Samui.
Johny is currently living on Samui Thailand and is working on a number of travel websites. If you are looking for a great Samui hotel then do visiting http://www.mysamuiholiday.com. Read more about Koh Samui in his Samui Guide.
When my wife and I moved to Costa Rica nearly seven years ago, we moved with the intention of leaving a "rat race" in the States, retiring to a completely different atmosphere and being able to enjoy life maybe a little more than if we had stayed in the States ( hey, we aren't rich!)
We anticipated maybe buying a little piece of land, building a house and peacefully enjoying the rest of our lives without the pressures that life in the States coupled with owning our own small business...seemed to bring. Well, we did do all of that but what then transpired could have been the topic for a movie script.
The ambiance of the people, and their true acceptance of us, as well as the ease at which we seemed to "fit in" truly astounded us. Many people have problems with the slower pace, the manana attitude, and the bureaucratic nightmares which seem to permeate the culture.... as well as the many seemingly illogical ways of dealing with life. Somehow we didn't. Sure, it bothered me in particular that we had to wait for a day to open a bank account or get a phone line... or even get a simple document completed. But somehow we managed to adapt and adjust our way of thinking.
The beauty and diversity of the country is astounding. A short drive can take you to several different microclimates... from cloud forest to rain forest to agricultural farmland to mountains and volcanoes...all in the space of half a day! And the people in each area are literally as different as night and day...much like the people are different from California to Kentucky to Maine... except in a much much smaller area.
We began a company to help people deal with the intricacies of buying real estate and building in Costa Rica. And slowly it grew...and grew some more. And before we knew it we were developing land ( on a small scale) and building houses. We were written up in Newsweek and other publications. The simple life that we had sought wasn't so simple anymore.
But it was fun. And that is the difference... the beauty, the simplicity, the acceptance and the seeming inevitability of our business growth and the fact that it just "seemed to happen" makes everything all worthwhile.
Costa Rica has given us everything we could ever want out of life. And in spite of all the little things that sometimes do go wrong here...we now see the glass as being half full instead of half empty.
If you are tired of your life or your situation ... or maybe you just want or need a change...visit Costa Rica. You just might end up staying the rest of your life. To explore more of your options in this great country... check out http://www.cr-home.com
Randy Berg and his wife moved to Costa Rica after selling their business and everything they owned...they knew no Spanish and not one single person when they arrived. Read about some of the things they have come to love...and a few that they don"t. "You ain't in Kansas anymore. "
http://bazillaonline.com snowshoes Toshiba Satellite L505-GS5037