Diving in Sea Islands of Cambodia

 

The waters off the coasts of Cambodia offer lots of wonderful scuba diving opportunities. These parts of the warm tropical ocean are home to an astonishing variety of amazing underwater creatures. From the splendors of the lush coral reefs perpetually changing form and colors with the proliferation of life-forms and fishes that frolic around them to the monstrous yet peaceful Whale Shark, and the occasional visit of the majestic sunfish, each diving experience promises a different reward altogether.

The islands of Koh Koun , Koh Rung Samloem, Koh Tang , Koh Domlong, just to name a few, are surrounded by clear emerald green water. These rain forested Islands set in the azure tropical waters off the Bay of Sihanouk Ville have also some of the best beaches in the world; pristine white sand and not over-crowded. Diving in Cambodia offers a sense of adventure over diving elsewhere in the region. For you wanting a more enjoyable dive and not seeing too much of other divers’ bubbles, Cambodia is the place to come to for true diving pleasures. Many dive companies in Cambodia offer authorized PADI and SSI courses from beginner to instructor.


Welcome to the team Luke

The Dive Shop Cambodia welcome Luke, our new (freelance) Divemaster to the team!



Luke started his diving career at the age of 12 in Egypt, where he caught the diving bug, leading him to explore the waters around the world. The decision to become a professional diver was an easy one and he completed his Divemaster training in Cambodia this year.

"Diving as a career choice was something I always thought about, when I finally had the chance to do it in a place as wonderful as Koh Rong it took me about 5 minutes to make the actual decision and I will never look back. Diving is a truly life changing activity that will open up a new and still little discovered world to you."

Nataya Coral Bay Resort and Spa - Cambodia

Welcome

Nataya Roundhouse Coral Bay Resort and Spa is located at beautiful Prek Ampil, Kampot with the graciousness of the old world hospitality blending harmoniously with the contemporary comforts of boutique styled rooms and up to date facilities. Comprising of 8 beachfront 1 Superior Bungalows (2 rooms), 9 Deluxe Bungalows (18 rooms) and 3 Pavilion Suites, the Resort provides the perfetc escape for people seeking rest and relaxation in a quiet, sunny and tranquil environment 

View of the Swimming Pool

  

   

 Located 16 km from Kampot and nestled at the foothills of Bokor Mountain, Nataya Roundhouse Coral Bay Resort and Spa provides something unique to fulfill every traveler's dreams and desires. We have become a popular retreat for romantic escapes, family reunions, destination weddings, Eco vacations as well as small team building workshops and conferences. This primary location is as alluring as it is rich in the history, distinctive culture and creative fare that makes Nataya the next hit vacation spot. For sightseeing tours, we can arrange trips to Teuk Chou, Kampot, Bokor Mountain and other nearby historic and famous attractions.

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View Outside Roundhouse

    

View Inside Roundhouse

      

View of the Garden

     

Sihanoukville - Serendipity Beach ( Cambodia )

 The rocky Serendipity Beach is located at the northern end of Ochheuteal Beach. You can also reach it from Sokha Beach over the small hill.




The tourist beach on the East Side. No beach stands here, just Western style bars and restaurants. One of the few places with rooms right on the beach. Many new internet shops, clothing, MP3 downloads, tour services and boat departures to the islands. Serendipity has turned into the shopping section of town.

                                                                                Serendipity Beach Resort 

                                                                                   We're a new and tastefully decorated resort hotel                                  
                                                                                located mere meters from the sands of Serendipity and Ochheuteal Beaches. We offer both double-bed rooms and single-bed rooms, with pool or ocean view.

Our large and relaxing pool is ideal for relaxing after a long day at the beach or as a refreshing way to start your day. Our rooms all have modern en-suite bathrooms with bathtub, enclosed shower with hot and cold running water and clean, modern fixtures.





We offer our guests free wi-fi, and breakfast is included in the price. Our restaurant and bar are opening soon.

Sihanoukville - Otres Beach ( Cambodia )

Outside of town, Otres is the quietest beach in town. Several small beach stands with food and umbrellas are available. There's no public electricity here yet, so many places use a generator when necessary. Also, sailboat and kayak rentals and windsurfing.

(Otres Beach is more relaxed and quiet than the other main beaches)

Otres Beach south of Ochheuteal is with its 3 km nearly white sand one of Sihanoukvilles nicest and relaxed beaches. There are restaurants and also bungalows right on the beach but it is still less developed and crowded than the other main beaches.

Otres Beach Sihanoukville

Well, it’s been awhile, but I just ran across another completely misinformed article about Sihanoukville in a major newspaper. This time it was the San Francisco Chronicle’s SF Gate. The title, Cambodia’s coast is hidden treasure, sounded promising, but the author felt knowledgeable enough to comment on Sihanoukville when he didn’t even bother to visit it. The article was about Kampot.

While there was some truth to his statement that Sihanoukville is a “chaotic beach party town,” it’s just one small section of the city that fits that description and he was completely unaware of how radically this town has changed just in the past two years.


Beach in front of Oochc

I only mention the article because it just happened to come to me today, after I spent a blissful morning at Otres Beach. It takes all of 10 minutes to get there from Ochheuteal Beach, but as you can see, it’s another world. In the past, there wasn’t much there in the way of amenities, but that’s all changed. There are perhaps a dozen bungalow-style guesthouses, some of them very nicely appointed, and dozens of restaurants. There is also a long strip of completely undeveloped beach.

Entrance to Oochc

My morning started with a cup of coffee and a chat with Dave, the Australian owner of “Oochc”, which boasts the distinction of being the “First Bar on Otres Beach.” That’s the first bar you come to on the beach, not the first established bar on the beach. Oochc is made for backpackers and has a semi-psychedelic atmosphere. Dave shows movies Monday nights and has DJs on “Psy-ville Saturdays” and “DrumF.U” Tuesday nights.


Cruising at Otres Beach

From there, I moved on down the beach, stopping first near this “home on wheels” in the middle of the long empty stretch. The guy outside playing with his juggling bowling pin looked so serene, I didn’t want to disturb him, but I parked close enough to be within earshot of the old acoustic Bob Dylan CD he was playing. It was the perfect music for the setting and set the tone for the rest of my morning.

Cinderella's at Otres

After about 15 minutes of just wandering around snapping photos, I proceeded to the very end of Otres Beach where Reiner, the owner of the lovely Cinderella Golden Lodge on Mithona Road on the Serendipity strip, has his funkier but absurdly mellow Cinderella Dive Resort & Beach Bungalows. It’s my ambition in life to stay there for a few nights, to get away from the family and recharge my batteries. Today I settled for a swim nearby and a blissful hour walking in the ankle deep water that extends for about 10 metres before getting slowly deeper.

The inland route to Otres Beach

There are two ways to get to Otres Beach. If you hire a tuk-tuk or take a taxi, you go the inland route, down a bumpy dirt road. If you go by bicycle or motorbike, you can follow the coast. After crossing the bridge at the end of Ochheuteal Beach, you go up to the grounds of the wonderful Queen Hill Resort (sorry, I don’t have a booking link) and then down a steep hill. You’ll notice a green fence at the end of an empty stretch of beach (save for Queen Hill’s great beachfront bar/restaurant. That marks the end of the land that is owned by Queenco and one day will become a mega-resort. The fence has an opening, though and you pop out on the other side right in front of Oochc.

I could jabber on forever about how mellow Otres Beach is, but I think my photos tell the story better than I can.

Sihanoukville - INDEPENDENCE BEACH ( Cambodia )

INDEPENDENCE BEACH

Independence Beach was named after the long closed down Independence hotel. Although used by weekenders it is less crowded than the other beaches. Long and narrow this beach is better at low tide. The northwest end is better because it's wider there. A seafood restaurant and fresh water lake can be found there but don't swim there as you might meet an old crocodile. A grassy park with many kinds of statues is there for your relaxation as well as a few monkeys along the road to the decaying Independence hotel.

Sihanoukville - Sokha Beach Resort ( Cambodia )

(dragon tail beach called by young people in Sihanoukville) eventhough this beach is occupied by Sokha Beach Resort but it still remains open for public as well as guests of the resort. The Sokha Beach Resort offers beachside luxury accommodation. Sokha is a beautiful beach, a crescent of sand located about one kilometer from Sihanouville downtown and comparatively wide so that there is plenty of sand left during high tide. The fine off-white sand is perfectly groomed these days, but the beach is fairly quiet by comparison to nearby Ochheuteal and Serendipity, frequented primarily but Sokha resort guests. There aren’t any little seafood shacks on Sokha like the other beaches but a series of gazebos and upscale beach bars/restaurants run by the Sokha Beach Resort.

Sihanoukville - Ochheuteal Beach ( Cambodia )

Some of these Sihanoukville beaches are crowded with beach chairs, umbrellas, bars, and people. Some are just filled with sand. A few beaches are rocky, and nice to look at, but not for swimming. From most Cambodia beaches, you can take trips to the islands, and rent boats for snorkeling and fishing.

O’Cheuteal Beach is located in Sankat No 3. large and long with white sand and shallow water, it is the most popular beach in Sihanoukville, attracting many foreigners. There are a number of food stalls along the beach, in addition to fruit and seafood vendors.