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The waters off of Sihanouk Ville and the
nearby islands offer some good scuba diving opportunities. Coral
encrusted rocky reefs surround many of the local islands, supporting
abundant hard and soft corals, sponges, anemones and an assortment of
fish life including sting rays, moray eels, dolphins and even whales.
Experienced divers report that the variety and concentration of marine
life along the reefs is impressive. Good dive sites can be found within
a two hour boat trip of town, making for an easy day trip, but the very
best sites are 4-6 hours out.
The local waters are warm (consistently between 27-31C) and though
visibility can be quite variable, especially during the monsoon season.
In the diving season from October to June visibility ranges from 10-25
meters on good days, even at nearby islands such as Koh Rong Samloem -
better at more distant sites such as Koh Tang. Most of the dive sites
are comparatively shallow (around 15 meters) and gentle currents around
the islands allow drift diving over the reefs and outcroppings.

Some of the more popular diving islands include:
Koh Rong Many good snorkeling areas and near two dozen good dive
sites around the island. Depths of 5-15 meters.
Koh Rong Samloem Rocky reefs host a variety of marine life in
shallow waters and at depths up to 18 meters. Like all of the nearby
islands the best diving and visibility is on the west side. Species
sightings include cobia, puffer fish, moray eels, octopus, rays, crabs,
nudibranch, cuttlefish, scorpion fish, lion fish, barracuda, yellow
goatfish, parrotfish and more.
Koh Kon (‘Baby Island’) is, as the name implies, a small island
sitting just off the north tip of Koh Rong Samloem. Rocky, coral
encrusted outcrops on the west and south sides of the island provide
home to a variety of corals and marine life including anemones, box
fish, parrot fish, yellow goat fish, snappers, stingrays, moray eels and
cat sharks. Visibility is moderate, averaging around 10 meters, though
better on some days.
Koh Tang, Koh Prins, Poulou Wai Some of the best diving in the
area lay 4-8 hours southwest, around Koh Tang, Koh Prins and Poulo Wai.
The area has rocky reefs, depths of 15-40m and much better visibility
than reefs closer to shore, ranging from 10-30m, usually around 15m. Koh
Prins has two shipwrecks to the northwest at 30-40m. Koh Tang is a
favorite diver’s destination. The island played a major role in the 'Mayaguez
Incident' and still shows the scarring of the May 1975 battle between
American and Khmer Rouge forces (see pg 8.) The surrounding waters offer
several reefs and outcroppings displaying a particularly colorful
variety of hard and soft corals, an abundance of other marine life, and
consistently good visibility.
Scuba Outfitters / Dive Centers
There are now a several dive centers in Sihanouk Ville. Most can
organize, outfit and lead almost any sort of diving excursion from
snorkeling trips and introductory dives for beginners to fully outfitted
multi-day scuba expeditions for experienced divers.
Chez Claude
Claude has been running scuba and adventure
tours in Sihanouk Ville since 1992. Offering scuba excursions and
lessons. Island and boating trips.
Tel: +(855)(0)12-824870
+(855)(0)34-934100
Website:
www.claudecambodge.com
The Dive Shop
A
PADI 5 Star Dive Center and has been awarded National
Geographic Dive Center status. Offering dive trips and all PADI
courses - introductory Discover Scuba, PADI Open Water Courses, Advanced
Open Water, Rescue and Dive Master. Fun dives, live aboards, overnights,
custom tours, island accommodations. Equipment rental and sales. Mares
equipment. Socially aware company directly assisting several charitable
projects.
Located on the road to Serendipity Beach.
Tel: +(855)(0)34-933664
E-mail:
info@DiveShopCambodia.com
Website:
www.DiveShopCambodia.com
EcoSea Dive
is an PADI and SSI authorized company in Cambodia offering experienced
guiding and instructing with affordable prices. Starting from
introduction dives and open water courses (285$) to further
certifications all the way to instructor level EcoSea Dive also offers
monthly reef cleaning excursions led by a marine biologist. Daily boat
transfers to Koh Rong Samloem allows non-diving guests too to enjoy
snorkeling or just relaxing on the beach. Special requests and tailored
trips can be arranged and new beachside accommodation options offer a
wide range of opportunities to experience an island getaway that you
will never forget!
Office on the road to Serendipity Beach next
to Utopia.
Tel: +(855)(0)12-654104
+(855)(0)12-606646 (Japanese spoken)
E-mail:
ecoseadive@gmail.com
Website:
www.ecoseadive.com
Island Divers
PADI scuba diving courses with Island
Divers: Beginner to Dive Master. Scuba excursions, tailor made trips.
Experienced guides and instructors. Daily tours to Koh Rong Samloem
Island for diving, snorkeling, relaxing on the beach. Island dive center
and bungalows.
Tel: +(855)(0)86-494716
+(855)(0)34-934100
Website:
www.islandscubadivingcambodia.com
Koh Rong Dive Center
Dive center, offering a full range of PADI
diver training classes, from PADI Open Water Scuba Diving certification
through PADI Dive Master. In addition. Kids programs available. Twice a
day scuba diving and snorkeling trips to areas around Koh Rong. Located
in Koh Rong Island Travel near the Golden Lions and on Koh Rong Island.
Located in Koh Rong Island Travel near
the Golden Lions and on Koh Rong Island.
Tel: +(855)(0)34-934744
Website:
http://kohrong-divecenter.com
Scuba Nation PADI 5 Star
Instructor Development Center
The pioneers of diving in Cambodia,
providing comprehensive diving and snorkeling services, day trips, live-aboards,
nitrox and the full range of PADI courses from beginner to Instructor.
Flexibility is key: You can do training sessions in Phnom Penh or
Sihanouk Ville, then finish with a live-aboard on a custom-made dive
boats in Cambodia.
Phnom Penh Head Office:
#1818Eo, Sothearos Boulevard, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Mobile: +(855)(0)12-715785
Phone/Fax: +(855)(0)23-211850
Sihanouk Ville Serendipity Beach Office:
Mohachai guesthouse, serendipity beach road,
Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia.
Mobile:+(855)(0)12-604680
Phone: +(855)(0)34-933700
E-mail:
info@divecambodia.com
Website:
www.divecambodia.com
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