Similan liveaboard - the Parinee...Trip ONE!

And she's off! With 11 lucky guests the Parinee is off for 3 days and 2 nights on the Similan Islands. The amazing staff - Filip, Tuk and Robyn are sure to make this a very memorable trip indeed.



With a very diverse background - our guest range from the Brand new Open Water diver (he got certified on the Gili Islands about one month ago) to the 100+ dive instructor. A photographer, videographer and of course - Fun Diving!

The cabins were all prepped. Sadly our organic cotton sheets aren't here yet - but on their way. We ended up having to find the actual factory that makes the fabric! So a custom job. Not easy, but we said we would do it and we are. (Just not as fast as we hoped)



On the other hand our organic shampoos and soaps are here. Each guest is given a bar of the pure soap, and the bathrooms are stocked with the shampoos. In the kitchen you'll find that we are using organic detergents as well. Our grey water has the least possible impact on the environment.

Rememeber - when you dive with Wicked, you make a difference.



Our next trip departs Novemebr 4th. There are still spaces available, so please feel free to contact me or head over the Similan Liveaboard page to see more details about the trips!

We look forward to seeing you here

Meet the Wicked team - Part 3 - Filip

This year brings a few new people to the Wicked Diving Team. We'd like to introduce you to Filip Vandevyvere. He is our boatmaster and is one of the foundation stones that keep this house upright!
We were quite nervous about Filip joining the team as he has done thousands of dives and never once seen a Whale Shark. In fact - no matter how it worked out, even if he leapt in the water with a Whale Shark right off the boat - it would swim away. He just had that bad Whale Shark Karma.

This year - his luck has changed! Filip is now part of our Whale shark Club.

But here is more information about him....

Certifications...

PADI master scuba diver trainer
SSI Dive Control Specialist Instructor and Gas Blender

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
Belgium

WHAT LANGUAGES DO YOU SPEAK?
Dutch (Flemish), English, French, German, Spanish, and basic Greek and Thai

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DIVING?
Since 2000…so 8 years

WHAT GOT YOU STARTED?
After having done a lot of trekking in jungles, mountain hiking, etc it got time for something beach related. I was just wandering in the unlikely event I may have gotten married and the lady was a beach lover, I needed something more active to do than lying on the beach (apart from frequenting the cocktail bars), and the diving got me caught!

WHERE DID YOU DO YOUR OPEN WATER? WHO WAS YOUR INSTRUCTOR?
Nosy Be, Madagascar (Swiss Instructor named Philippe something…)

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE DIVESITE IN THE SIMILIANS and WHY?
Koh Tachai - Just love it when a current pops up out of the blue on the plateau and I can perform my favorite diving technique: The Procession of Echternach - 2 steps forward - 1 step back.

FAVORITE FISH ?
Frogfish - they're just too lazy to move

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU CRASHED YOUR MOTORBIKE? …(one of the realities of life in Thailand…)
Once in Khao Lak, never on Koh Tao (I must hold a record there). Wisdom -luckily there ain't no reindeer crossings in Thailand, be aware of massive elephant poop though (either slippery or rock solid)

FAVORITE MUSIC AT THE MOMENT?
Anything from Linkin Park towards Death Metal

FAVORITE FOOD?
Mussels and (Belgian) fries

ITEM OR EQUIPMENT YOU MUST HAVE ON EVERY DIVE? LUCKY CHARM MAYBE?
Knife

OTHER INTERESTS, ACTIVITIES, HOBBIES, or ADDICTIONS?
Cycling addict - love a good Belgian beer (or two)

Farewell Koh Tao

I was on Koh Tao to meet friends and to get some of the Wicked Team back over to Khao Lak. Filip and Marcel are having their farewell here as we head off to the mainland, good diving and an incredible season