Where can I find clear blue ocean near Hua Hin?

[exbrit]

I am visiting with my wife this coming winter for a month. Only disappointment on my last visit was the murky water off HH beach. Can anyone advise where is the closest clear blue sea to HH? Do I have to go to Koh Samui?

Cheers,
Exbrit

[Randy Cornhole]

Hi exbrit, I'm not quite sure where the demarcation line is but you will certainly have to head further south than Hua Hin. It was lovely and blue when I went to Koh Samui but that is a fair distance.

I hear tell of scuba diving in Chumphon which would indicate waters of a bluish hue...? Im sure someone will confirm or deny.

Welcome to the board by the way...

[PeteC]

If you do a Google satellite this morning it appears that the coastal water clears up directly east of Nong Ta Taem and remains clear until you get down to about Bo Nok.

Don't know if this is the norm though. Pete

PS: What are all those buildings north-south-west of Khao Daeng? Looks like a huge housing/condo development, military base or something.

[buksida]

Can anyone advise where is the closest clear blue sea to HH? Do I have to go to Koh Samui?

Cheers,
Exbrit

Crystal clear water starts around Chumphon but you can get nice clarity at Koh Talu (Bangsaphan), Ban Krut and even Prachuab now and then.

Clear seas are something you wont get in Hua Hin. Took the kids for a swim around Khao Takiab a week or so ago - bad idea, we were covered in tiny bites from sea-lice that itched for days after and the mrs got stung by a jellyfish ... god knows what else was lurking in that murky brown water.

[johnnyk]

No need to go as far as Samui, friends report good snorkeling off Koh Talu.
HH water is quite shllow and lots of silt from the Chao Phraya river keeps it murky.

[pitsch]

PS: What are all those buildings north-south-west of Khao Daeng? Looks like a huge housing/condo development, military base or something.

These are not buildings, but ponds of shrimp farms. A pity, that the nice landscape is destroyed by this farms inside the Sam Roi Yod national park!

[PeteC]

PS: What are all those buildings north-south-west of Khao Daeng? Looks like a huge housing/condo development, military base or something.

These are not buildings, but ponds of shrimp farms. A pity, that the nice landscape is destroyed by this farms inside the Sam Roi Yod national park!

Thanks. I couldn't zoom in close enough to tell. You're right, they do poison the soil over time and need to be left drained and dry for quite awhile for things to recover. I'm familiar with an area near Chachengsao which has been 'recovering' for a few years now. It looks like barren wasteland. Pete

[exbrit]

I much appreciate your advice about where to find clear blue water. If the missus gets one jellyfish sting, i might have to piss on her, but she would also piss on my plans to live in HH for a few years!

how long a drive is it to Chumphon and Kho Talu?

[migrant]

I remember about 3 hours to Chumphon, without any long stops.

[NOKYAI]

I haven't been to Koh Talu for a few years, but it used to be lovely. Saw small sharks and Barracuda as well as loads of reef fish. I must give it another go on my next trip

[JW]

Koh Talu/Bangsapan is abour 2 hours drive from Hua Hin, was there on Sunday snorkelling, water is not so clear yet, our Boat guy (Khun Suchart) says it will take another month. Some barracuda around, plenty of Parrott fish and loads of others i dont know! When the weather is right its really nice - plenty of decent accomodation there also - check out the Bangsapan guide.

[Rolf Luettich]

Koh Talu is beautiful for relaxing, however snorkelling isnt great. I was there in early June and visibility wasnt more than 2-3 meters. Also nothing to watch underwater, just tiny fish in admittedly huge numbers. Gots tah go further south

[buksida]

The viz at Koh Talu can be bad when the weather is but compared to the water around Hua Hin its stunning, here are some photos:

http://www.bangsaphanguide.com/koh-talu-marine-life.htm

http://bangsaphanguide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=79

I've even spotted eagle rays in the bay there and as you can see, more than 'just tiny fish' can be found under water there.

Agreed though that its not a patch on what you'll see snorkeling on the Andaman side but it is the closest place to Hua Hin (which is what the OP was asking).

[exbrit]

Thanks for the help. Looked for comments about Talu elsewhere, and there appeared to be a common wine about the 900 baht for 20 min. ferry ride. Any way around this?

[buksida]

Looked for comments about Talu elsewhere, and there appeared to be a common wine about the 900 baht for 20 min. ferry ride.

No idea where you got that info from as its pretty inaccurate, there is no 'ferry' to KT.

The two options for a Koh Talu day trip snorkeling are:

350 baht per head with Suchart Tours departing from BS Noi.

2,500-3,000 to charter the boat which can carry about ten people (same operator).

If you go with the Coral Resort and their speedboat expect to pay a bit more.

Info here: http://www.bangsaphanguide.com/bangsaph ... ctions.htm