Technical Divers explore further inside the ‘Sea Chart 1′ shipwreck

Khao Lak, Thailand - Big Blue Tech continues their exploration of the ‘Sea Chart 1′ shipwreck off the shore of Khao Lak in Thailand. The dives conduced today were to begin penetration of the inside of the shipwreck including it’s engine room, wheel house, stern hold and bow compartment. These penetrations were conducted in groups with exterior support and conducted over 2 technical dives.

Penetration of the ‘Sea Chart 1′ shipwreck is complicated by the unstable cargo of large hard wood logs which are held in place by steel cable which is slowly rusting and will eventually break under the immense weight applied by the sideways position of the boat.  While many logs have spilled out into the sand, many remain applying a great deal of pressure which restricts penetration to only a few areas.

Additionally the current and visibility improved today alowing further exploration outside the wreck which allowed the team to look at the propellers and hull.

During our dives we found signs that a fire might of contributed to the sinking. Although no actual fire damage could be seen there was fire fighting equipment in use in some areas including fire blankets and a full face mask or BA set used to fight fires. As more dives are conducted more information is revealed about this wreck and it’s condition.

Big Blue Tech will be conducting a 4 day  Cavern Course in Khao Sok National Park. The following dates are available.

January 3rd - 7th ( 4 spaces )

This trip includes the option of up to 10 dives.

This trip will be open to divers from around Thailand.

Pre-Requisites: Must be minimum Advanced with 20 dives ( Redundant Breathing System Provided)

Conduct: The course will be done on site in the national park over a 4 day period of 10 dives with academic plus dry land skills. Certification as a Cavern Diver will be received after completing 4 dives and a final exam with 6 experience dives to follow.

Included:
- Ferry to and from Mainland Thailand (if required)
- Transport to and around Khao Sok
- 4 nights accommodation in a 4 star resort inside the the National Park
- Manual and Certification
- All gas and cylinder fills
- All equipment (Reels, Torches, Dive Gear)
- All food and drinks (non alcoholic)
- Park Entry Fee
- Boat Fees
- 4 Training Dives
- 2 “fun” Experience Dives

Not Included: Beer

Tekkies: Technical gear is available for those certified, included in the course price.

Certified Cavern Divers:
For those certified we will be running exploration trips in conjunction with this course, this will allow certified divers to use the boat and compressor to conduct 4 days of diving

Gas:
Nitrox, Trimix and boosted oxygen available on site, on request.

Prices: 19,800 Baht

Big Blue Tech have released a short video of our most recent technical diving course filmed by James Waller on Chumphon Pinnacle with Bull Sharks.

The video shows the graduation of the TDI Decompression Procedures course which was completed in December 2009. That story can be found here: “All I want for Chriistmas is TECH” During this course, underwater videographer James Waller joined us during his holiday break from working and filming in Wakatobi.

The video, filmed in High Definition (HD) shows the abundance of the marine life at Chumphon pinnacle with schools of barracuda’s and different types and sizes of sharks. James Waller being an experienced videographer and a SDI Solo Diver was able to leave the disturbance of other divers to focus on the film work on his own with a redundant breathing system or “pony”.

This is the first in a series of videos which will show more technical diving and sharks as the footage is gathered.

Big Blue Tech will be closed from December 24th - 26th celebrating the christmas holiday.

To all our fans, customers staff and their families; happy holidays and safe diving.

Today Big Blue got the best christmas present any dive could hope for; the return of our flagship vessel the Mv Banzai. The Mv Banza has spent the last month on the mainland of Thailand getting engine work and a paint job. The boats here take quite a beating over a diving season and go away for repairs every November.

The plan was to get our boat back next year but she arrived this afternoon. A loud cheer could be heard on sighting it steaming towards koh tao on the horizon of the sea.

With the return on Mv Banzai brings our Koh Tao fleet to 4 boats which means it’s now time for Sail Rock full day trips in the new year!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Today Big Blue Tech checked out a new boat that might be part of the Big Blue Diving fleet, bringing our fleet to 7 boats.

The M/V Itsaramai is a sailing boat designed for scuba diving that can accommodate 12 people in their cabins. The vessel has global range providing us the chance to explore long range locations including wrecks and caves.

It’s a real pirates of the Caribbean feeling and you get the immediate essence you are one with the sea even though we only experienced the boat anchored in front of our resort.

One of our new year goals is an exploration to a destination that is littered with caves and caverns but very little exposure. While we can’t speak about this new destination just yet we can offer up Intro to cave and full cave courses for people to join.

Big Blue plans to use the vessel for sailing tours and custom diving trips and occasionally letting us take it hundreds of miles out to sea for weeks on end.

Contact us if you want more information.

Big Blue Tech will be conducting a 4 day  Cavern Course in Khao Sok National Park. The following dates are available.

December 18th - 23th ( 4 spaces )

This trip includes the option of up to 10 dives.

This trip will be open to divers from around Thailand.

Pre-Requisites: Must be minimum Advanced with 20 dives ( Redundant Breathing System Provided)

Conduct: The course will be done on site in the national park over a 4 day period of 10 dives with academic plus dry land skills. Certification as a Cavern Diver will be received after completing 4 dives and a final exam with 6 experience dives to follow.

Included:
- Ferry to and from Mainland Thailand (if required)
- Transport to and around Khao Sok
- 4 nights accommodation in a 4 star resort inside the the National Park
- Manual and Certification
- All gas and cylinder fills
- All equipment (Reels, Torches, Dive Gear)
- All food and drinks (non alcoholic)
- Park Entry Fee
- Boat Fees
- 4 Training Dives
- 2 “fun” Experience Dives

Not Included: Beer

Tekkies: Technical gear is available for those certified, included in the course price.

Certified Cavern Divers:
For those certified we will be running exploration trips in conjunction with this course, this will allow certified divers to use the boat and compressor to conduct 4 days of diving

Gas:
Nitrox, Trimix and boosted oxygen available on site, on request.

Prices: 19,800 Baht

On Friday December 11th Big Blue hosted a “Divemaster Challenge” celebrated the graduation of our most recent interns by creating a mock “pop idol” style event with games and events.

The graduates included Big Blue Tech’s Ash Dun who received his PADI Divemaster certification along with Yan and Karen who received her SSI DiveCon certification.

The theme behind the event was based on “pop idol” where the graduates have to compete for best dancer and singer while the judges decide what their prize or punishment should be.

Now that ash has officialy graduated (he received his actual divemaster rating over a month before) he can go on to better a brighter things.

These divemaster challenges replace the more common practice of “snorkel challenge” and are common around dive centers worldwide for various certification levels. Big Blue host divemaster challenges monthly.

Big Blue Tech have published their upcoming schedule of various technical diving events during the holiday season of December and January.

These events can be found down the right hand side of our main news page or here:

• Event: Cavern Diver Course Expedition Khao Sok
  Fri 18 December 2009
  
• Event: Cavern Diver Course Expedition Khao Sok - 2010
  Sun 3 January 2010
  
• Event: Sea Chart 1 Shipwreck Survey
  Sat 9 January 2010
  
• Event: Tech Liveaboard Similans Island
  Wed 13 January 2010

Otherwise Big Blue Tech will be training and diving leading up to these events.

Today Big Blue Tech visited Dave of Aquatech Scuba Service and Repair to complete the TDI Visual Inspection Procedures (VIP) course for the Technical Diving Interns Andy and Mark.

We visited Dave because he has all the expensive precise tools needed including the “go no-go guage” and the hydrostatic testing station. We also needed to hydro static two scuba cylinders that had expired and thought this would be a great chance to show the interns how the whole process works.

Dave showed the interns how to use the several different tools, hydro static test, cleaning the cylinder and marking the exterior to show the valid new test stamp.

After we left Aquatech we returned to the shop to complete the exam for the visual inspection procedures. And not a moment too soon as the rain started. Although the interns are quite eager to finally get in the water they realized they were lucky to be doing all this service work when they saw the cold and miserable people ouside in the rain. So with the kettle on and some music we sat and relaxed through the afternoon as the rain passed.

The interns enjoy a few days off and then spend sunday doing their DAN 02 provider course. The phylosophy behind that decision was to ensure all members of the dive team could help each other rather then just relying on the staff for help. Hopefully we’ll get a member of staff to come in on the weekend to get some pictures.

Thailand is described  as being “the new technical frontier“, Thailand has numerous world class sites for divers of all standards, making it an underwater adventure paradise. Some wrecks still remain unidentified and all sit just as they sank.

Huge freighters, POW ships, drill ships, tankers, munitions carriers and even a US WWII submarine can be counted amongst the historical wrecks littering Thailand.

The Andaman and South China Sea’s, all the wrecks listed have been located over the last five years and are truly untouched. Along with Caves and Caverns that are being discovered every day with untouched decorations and long rewarding penetrations.

The recent discovery of a sunken village in Khao Sok National park and the on going wreck discoveries in the Similan Islands open up Thailand to the technical diving community with more variation of challenges and adventures than any other technical diving destination.

To the right is a list of diving locations we use frequently for trips, training and planned expeditions for certified technical divers. The list is a summary of destinations, for more information about where we’re going and where we’ve been look at our news section and upcoming events.

Chumphon Pinnacle

Location: Koh Tao, Gulf of Thailand

Description: Underwater pinnacle used for training, warm up dives and experience dives. This is also the only place to see sharks large predatory sharks in the region.

Depth: 45 meters

Visibility: 20 - 25 meters (65 - 80 feet)

Rating: ****

Availability: Daily from December to October

Sharks, Sharks and more Sharks. This busy dive destination is used by everyone on Koh Tao. Although not suitable for open water dives since the site starts at 16m this dive site is one of our more accessible deep sites where 50m is found easily.

The main attraction is Bull Sharks, Gray Reef Sharks and Whale Sharks which can be found daily. We use this site for training purposes and for fun technical diving when you just want to watch the sharks go by for hours.

Gulf Of Thailand Wreck Liveaboard

Introduction:

This 3 day technical wreck expedition joins the MV Trident to the HTMS Pangan

These dives are in complete in tropical conditions at 50-60m

Pre Day: Travel from your destination anywhere in Thailand to Koh Tao where the Boat Departs in the evening.

Day 1: 2 Deep Accelerated Decompression Dives

Day 2: 2 Deep Accelerated Decompression Dives

Day 3: 2 Deep Accelerated Decompression Dives - Return Home.

* a optional warm up and check out dive is available if required prior to the trip.

Costs: 40,000 Thai Baht - When Booked Online (course or training not included)

Included:Food, Drink, Accomodation, Boat Fees, Nitrox, Oxygen, Equipment (Regulators, Wing, Backplate)

Not Included: Personal Diving Equipment, Diving Insurance

Water:Salt

Location: Gulf of Thailand

Availability: Montly February to October

Cave and Cavern Expedition

Introduction:

Our 4 day Cave and Cavern Expedition is designed not only for training but also for certified cave and cavern divers.

Pre Day: Travel from your destination anywhere in Thailand to Khao Sok National Park

Day 1: Reel and Line Practice, Jungle Trekking, Relaxing, Swimming

Day 2: 3 Fresh Water Cave or Cavern Dives - Water Fall Tour After

Day 3: 3 Fresh Water Cave or Cavern Dives - Trek to hidden lagoon.

Day 4: 3 Fresh Water Cave or Cavern Dives - Head Home

Costs: 20,000 for certfied divers, to combine with a course see specfic course.

Included:Food, Drink, Accomodation, Transfers, Equipment, Torches, Reels, Park Entrance Fee, Boat Fees

Not Included: Nitrox, Oxygen, Technical Equipment (If Certified)

Water: Fresh

Location: Khao Sok National Park

Availability: Monthly year round.

Sunken Village Expedition

Introduction:

Our 4 day Sunken Village Expedition is designed for Technical Divers who want to try something completely different.

These dives are in complete darkness in water about 25 degrees at 50-60m

Day 1: Travel from your destination anywhere in Thailand to the National Park

Day 2: 2 No-Decompression Warm Up Dives with one night dive.

Day 3: 2 Accelerated Decompression Dives

Day 4: 2 Accelerated Decompression Dives

Day 5: 2 Accelerated Decompression Dives

Costs: 30,000 Thai Baht - When Booked Online

Included:Food, Drink, Accomodation, Transfers, Equipment, Torches, Reels, Park Entrance Fee, Boat Fees, Nitrox, Oxygen, Technical Equipment (regs, wings, plates), Diving Insurance

Water: Fresh

Location: Mainland Thailand

Availability: Montly year round

Similan Islands Technical Liveaboard

Introduction:

Our 4 day Similans Technical Liveaboard is designed for Technical Divers who want to explore the Similan islands in the comfort and style of technical diving with staff and crew who know how to accomodate you on our vessel the Mv Pawara.

Day 1: Travel from your destination anywhere in Thailand to the Khao Lak (free pickup from Phuket Airport is available. Depart in the Evening.

Day 2 :Up to 4 Technical Dives including night dive.

Day 3: Up to 4 Technical Dives including night dive.

Day 4: Up to 4 Technical Dives including night dive.

Day 5: Up to 3 Technical Dives arrive back in Khao Lak with transfer to airport or town.

Costs: 35,000 Thai Baht - When Booked Online

Included:Food, Drink, Accomodation, Transfers, Equipment, Torches, Reels, Park Entrance Fee, Boat Fees, Nitrox, Oxygen, Technical Equipment (regs, wings, plates)

Water: Salt

Location: Similan Islands

Availability: Bi-Monthly November to April

Big Blue Tech is a technical diver training and expedition dive shop based in Koh Tao, Thailand. Big Blue Tech also has smaller offices and shops around other places in Thailand including khao Lak, Chumphon, Khao Sok and Bangkok but our main dive shop is in Koh Tao.

Big Blue Tech provides technical underwater skills development and training from all levels of technical scuba diving in Thailand

Big Blue Tech provides training from TDI (Technical Diving International), BSAC (British Sub Aqua Club) and DSAT (Design Science and Technology) by being a certified dive centre from each agency. When not training new divers were planning and executing alternative expeditions to cave diving destinations and wrecks located all around south east asia.

Our Location

Lonely Planet rated Big Blue Diving resort as a highly recommended destination in Thailand for its relaxed and friendly atmosphere located directly on the beach. We have many different options for accommodation from bungalows with a sea view to multi floor air conditioned rooms; all of which offer the standard amenities expected with a island resort. Our resort also has a restaurant and bar offering a full selection of food and drinks which is available all hours of the day.

Getting here and getting away is easy with full time taxi’s who can transfer you around the island and to your next connection on your trip, we’re located only a few hours from Samui International Airport. If you want a bit of independence you can rent a scooter from our in house motor bike rental facility who would be happy to give you a quick introduction if you’re new to riding bikes.

To find out more information about the resort visit our main website at www.bigbluediving.com.

Our Facilities

We provide all mixes of  nitrox, trimix, triox, heliox, normoxic and hypoxic mixes; 200 bar of boosted oxygen or trimix for rebreather divers.

Free wireless internet access, tea and coffee with a secure private gear room with service area.

All our classrooms and teaching environments are on site with air conditioning and multi media tools for a comfortable learning environment.

Being a small and mobile diving school our facilities follow us when diving in remote locations with portable compressors and air banks.

We have 6 boats in different locations:

On koh tao we have 3 boats called Mv Banzai, Mv Navakid and Mv Big Blue. All are used by both technical and recreational diving until. When deeper and longer dives are needed we utilize the one of our boats for just technical diving.

In Khao Lak we have a large liveaboard called the Mv Pawara and 2 speed boats for long expeditions and day trips to the similan islands.

Diving Options

Beyond training new divers we also provide professionally lead diving for already certified technical divers. These destinations include the east coast of Thailand with wreck diving liveaboards and day trips. Sunken Temple and Cave Expeditions in Khao Sok National Park and Similan Islands liveaboards and day trips.

With more boats and locations we provide the greatest variety of technical diving destinations and expeditions in Thailand

Diving Equipment

Big Blue Tech have a large storage facility with an abundant amount of technical diving equipment for our divers to choose from. This equipment is maintained in accordance with standards of a BSAC diving facility. Our compressors all meet HSE Air Quality Standards and we use the latest equipment.

As standard all our regulators are balanced Apeks series and leading OMS and Halcyon buoyancy compensators. Divers can choose from fixed or adjustable harnesses with different accessories from pockets, back pads, weight systems and sizes.

This equipment is included with our training, you can rent this gear if you are already certified.

Environmental Commitment

Living and working in a tropical paradise takes responsibility, we take this responsibility seriously by supporting local efforts with technical divers and logistics. We donate boat space, diving equipment and facilities for individuals conducting ecological assessments, clean ups, bio rock initiatives and training.

We also use our popular news section to create awareness of global ecological problems.

Military Resettlement

You served your country now we’re here to serve you, unlike other companies we don’t take money from you just for paperwork. The get paid out of the courses you do, the rest is yours to do what you like. However we do not support military funded holidays. If you’re not looking to getting to this type of diving with serious intentions then this won’t be a good place for you to visit.

We have many x-forces who have completed training with us from the MOD who we can put you in contact with for references.

Many former british forces enjoy this challenging and rewarding style of diving beyond the recreational diving.

Getting Here

Thailand is the land of sun, sand and smiles, it’s probably the easiest place to get to for diving. We are here to help you any way we can. We have access to book flights and transport cheaper then you can from home. We have offices in Bangkok and Chumphon where a rep will meet you and help you to your destination. And we have 2 resorts on both sides of Thailand for you to relax and enjoy when you arrive.

We reccomend that our customers fly to Surrathani Airport or Koh Samui Airport and then take the 1 hour boat to Koh Tao. Or fly directly to Phucket Airport and then a 1 hour taxi ride to Khao Lak. If you’re not flying then contact us and we will help you plan your journey.

Today Big Blue Tech, a technical diving school based on Koh Tao in Thailand celebrates the graduation of Phil Elmer from his TDI Extended Range Course.

Phil arrived on Koh Tao almost a week previously and began with some technical diving fun dives as he was already certified as a TDI Decompression Procedures Diver. After a few trips Phil was ready to start his course. The TDI extended range course certifies the student to 55m and to use a variety of gas mixes and techniques for decompression diving. Phil started off in confined with a skill refresher and an introduction to how we do skills and then we were off deep diving the next day. The course took us to various locations, wrecks and conditions.

The final day was conducted by looking for new wrecks using gps and sonar from fishermen marks on our own boat. After a few sweeps and some dives we came up empty handed but it was great experience for Phil to see how wreck searches are conducted and it was a chance for Big Blue Tech to cross off an area of interest leaving only a few more search areas left.

As reported on the Big Blue Diving blog:
“Meanwhile in the deeply technical world of Deep Tech diving, ‘Canada’ (James Thornton-Allan) & his tattooed team of black hooded twin tank techie boys have been taking Navakid off for a jolly with a fish finder & a depth reader to see if they can find somewhere deep & dark to go diving. Ideally chancing upon a wreck would be a fine thing, but we’ll suffice with a ridge or a wall or a series of pinnacles. As long as its deep & its dark & its technical & it involves carrying around lots of tanks & a gimps hat it doesn’t really matter!”

Tonight the celebration will continue with a party at “Moov” which will be their last for the season.

Below are pictures from his course:

In anticipation of the cooler months Big Blue Tech has created some hooded sweat shirts for all our staff and fans. These hoodies are made of 100% cotton featuring our signature logo and dive flag keeping our entire clothing range consistent.

If you find yourself outside Thailand we provide international shipping to all our former students, friends and colleagues.

The hoodies are at a special price of 600 baht including shipping and handling globally and come in either M or L