Back to Thailand to dive the Similan Islands for the third time. What makes this time different is that my son, Max, is taking time away from snowy and cold New York to come with me. It will be his first time diving in 8 years, and his first ever tropical diving, so something good to contrast the overloaded, cold, and usually murky diving of Puget Sound. We have a 1 day/2 dive refresher at an easy place called Racha Yai with an instructor to kick things off followed by a 5 day liveaboard trip up to the Similan and Surin Islands, including my favorite – Richelieu Rock. We also have a day in between to catch the SuperBowl (6:30am kickoff!), spend some time on the beach, and do the whole Patong scene. From there, it’s up north to visit my brother and his wife, see the new house they’re building outside of Chiang Mai on what used to be a rice paddy, and just relax and take in the sights and smells. I keep coming back to Thailand, but with the nice people, warm sun, beautiful beaches, spicy food, cold beers, and laid back culture – why go anywhere else? Hoping Max finds this place as wonderful as I do, and will make his own return trips.
