Scuba Cat Diving has just launched their brand new-look website - and it is well worth visiting!

Not only is it packed with information, stunning images and special deals, theres a chance to win a choice of a free liveaboard excursion onboard MV Scuba Adventure.

Either a 4 days/4 nights, 14 dive trip around Mu Koh Similan Marine National Park, including the northern sites of Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock.

Or a 3 days/3 nights, 10 dive trip to Phi Phi, Koh Ha, Hin Daeng and Hin Mouang.

All you have to do is browse through the new-look Scuba Cat Diving website and see if you spot any teething problems and let them know if you do, either on their facebook page or by dropping them an email.

The most helpful contributor gets the trip - Its that simple!

The Open Water Scuba Instructor (OWSI) programme is one of two distinct components of PADI’s IDC. The first portion is the Assistant Instructor Course (AI), followed by the Open Water Scuba Instructor programme itself – both of which will also be available in Chinese.

The OWSI programme introduces the candidates to the entire PADI system of diver education and concentrates on further developing abilities as a professional dive educator.

The fun part of instructor training is interacting with course participants while creating friendships that continue long after the course concludes. You’ll also begin networking with other professionals and begin to explore PADI Pro Diving Jobs worldwide.

If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Sarah Kench at Scuba Cat Diving.

European or Scandinavian speakers are preferred.
Previous work and tour leading experience in Thailand would also be an advantage.
But all are welcome to apply!

If you think that you are the right person for the job please email Sarah Kench at Scuba Cat Diving and include an up to date CV and a current photograph of yourself.

There’s free activities for all family diving and non-diving members, including ‘Try Dives’ in the dive centre training pool and a free barbecue.

All the fun kicks off at 2pm and continues till 6pm, with a beach clean-up starting at three.

Both alcoholic and soft drinks are available throughout the afternoon. There will also be a whole bunch of special offers for the following week up for grabs.

But most importantly of all, the ‘Scuba Cats’ will be there to ensure that everyone enjoys the party spirit!

Free copies of the 2009 edition of Pocket Guide DIVE Thailand & GOLF Thailand were dished out to all our visitors, who were also invited to try their luck to win a free diving package, plus there were bargains to be had in the form of a bevy of Nok Smile Packages.

We also pointed people in the right direction by recommending which other exhibitors to visit at the show along with giving helpful tips and tricks on how to select the most suitable diving destinations around the country.

As for the competition – we have a winner! who has already been notified by email and will receive a three full-day diving trip for two around the very best of Phuket’s local dive sites with Sea Bees Diving onboard MV Excalibur II, plus two nights’ accommodation in Sea Bees’ Palm Garden Resort in Chalong including return flights between Bangkok and Phuket.

If you didn’t win one of the trips, don’t be dismayed as the prizes have not dried up by any means. Subscribe to our DiveBlog to receive all the latest news including announcements of future ‘free to enter’ competitions, such as our monthly Photo Competition!

Huge thanks to Sea Bees Diving, Phuket and Nok Air for the generous donation of prizes.

I’ve just spent a couple of weeks on that old trojan of the Andaman Sea Similan circuit, MV Scuba Cat, operated by Scuba Cat Diving on Patong Beach, Phuket.

It may seem like an unusual choice for a professional photographer, but it is one of the most perfect platforms for underwater work that I know. Tons of back deck space, excellent crew and captain who are great with delicate cameras and weird requests and a huge area for downloading and working on pictures and housings.

I was out in the Similans to photograph fluorescence in corals and fish at night. This involves a special filter in front of the flashgun, and another filter in front of the camera lens plus a huge amount of time and patience. To see what the camera is seeing you also have an ultraviolet torch and a yellow filter over your mask. The reefs literally light up in shades of fluorescent green, yellow, orange and red – it’s quite an experience though very hard to capture on camera. Check out some of the results.

Thailand was a real treat for me – my first time in a wetsuit for ages. You’ll find me mostly diving at either pole of the planet leading groups of intrepid individuals who want to experience penguins and seals in the Antarctic or belugas, ringed seals and narwhal in the Arctic. Needless to say we wear dry suits for all of that, so a spot of tropical diving was wonderful and has whetted my appetite to return to photograph the incredible biodiversity of the tropics once again.

To see what else Louise encountered during her stay on MV Scuba Cat here.

Nope! As three days later, an even larger one swam into the same area and was as equally happy to swim alongside the happy snorkellers - and seemed as equally curious as they were. So much so, that the graceful giant even allowed itself to be captured on video!  Check out the footage on the Scuba-Evolution website.

For more information on Mermaid Liveaboards’ trips and services, visit their listing at diveguidethailand.com.