BB DIVERS KOH CHANG
Bang Bao pier 16/2, Koh Chang, 23170 Trat, Thailand
Lonely Beach 13/17, Koh Chang, 23170 Trat, Thailand
Tel +66 (0)39 55 80 40 - OFFICE Bang Bao , Tel +66 (0)86 155 6212 - KRISTEL , Tel +66 (0)86 129 23 05 - MOBILE

Welcome to BB Divers
BB DIVERS, five star Padi IDC dive center is a Belgian dive school working with an international divers team, we have been diving on Koh Chang since 2003. BB divers was founded by Kristel, who passed Koh Chang on one of her many travels and fell in love with the island. Turning two of her hobbies, diving and traveling, into a successful business and a great lifestyle was a dream come true. She created a professional and fun loving dive school that is known on Koh Chang as one of the better diving schools. The reason why all (but maybe one) customers love to come here is because BB divers has a distinctive style. BB divers are treated as our friends, not as a student number

Our main office is in Bang Bao fishing village, the BB training pool, rooms, restaurant and lounge are in Lonely Beach.

We offer all Padi courses
(well most, ice diving is not a speciality you`ll find here!). Daily fun dives and snorkelling in a relaxed atmosphere and with a personal approach… We offer fair prices, full insurance and safety on board, free pick-up all over the island, all food and drinks included. Our prices also include Padi certification, Padi manual, use of all equipment, licensed dive guide for fun dives, licensed instructor for courses. We sell dive equipment and all Padi materials.

Awards

In April 2007 BB divers was awarded as "PADI 5 star dive centre", thanks to the effort we put to keeping our equipment up to date, our customers happy, and the quality of the diving courses our main priority.

In May 2007 we were awarded a "Reef Check Facility", thanks to the effort we make in working with environment minded divers, and train the new "eco divers course" to help and protect the living reef.

Looking to go pro… want to become a Padi dive instructor during your gap year Since 2007 we started with instructor training, or IDC. BB divers is one of the first facilities to organise Idc on Koh Chang, in cooperation with John Bolle, an experienced course Director who runs his own IDC center in Belgium, ref.

BB Divers Offices & Places
Lonely Beach

Welcome to our BB divers pool, lounge restaurant and rooms
In November 2006 we d outgrown our facilities a bit, so decided to built the new `BB divers Pool` in Lonely beach. It is not just a training pool, but a great meeting place to chill out over a cool fruit shake, enjoy a chilled beer after the dive, and catch up with the dive stories of the day. There is a very cozy lounge, a restaurant serving breakfast, authentic Thai food and pizza, and rooms for our guests. The pool was originally built to accommodate our dive students and allow them to train in a private environment; our original `natural` classroom on top of a rock and with a great view of the jungle also serves as a meeting place or cinema after the dives.

Bang Bao

The main office in Bang Bao gives you a stunning sea view. The original Thai stilt house has been renovated, and is the meeting point for the divers going on the boat in the morning; it is also still used as classroom.

BB divers on Koh Wai

... is the place to retreat or take a diving course in the absolute quiet of a tropical get away

BB diver`s team

All instructors are Padi licensed, and speak several languages. Every instructor or dive master works here out of passion for diving, not just as a job. Most of our `BB-ers` are travelers who started their dive training here and found their place on Koh Chang. It became their second home, and every year more and more familiar faces show up again. The magic of Koh Chang. The boat staff are local Thai; they take care of your safety on the boat, and make sure to ad to the fun…

BB diver`s boat

Our boats are traditonal wooden boats, comfortably adapted for diving. There is plenty of space to relax for the non divers, and to have a nice chat or siesta on the way back from a diving day. We take a small speedboat as well to the dive sites for safety or pick up.

About Koh Chang

The second largest island of Thailand

Koh Chang is situated in the Gulf of Thailand, close to the Cambodian border. It is a real tropical getaway. Being a national park, nature is well protected. Development is mainly around the beautiful sandy beaches; the rest of the Island is very mountainous and covered in green rainforest, one of the oldest in Thailand.

Koh Chang has something to offer for everyone. Some of the activities are: serious sun tanning, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, mountain biking, tree top adventure park, hiking, elephant trekking, fishing, swimming, ... and of course relaxing on one of the many great beaches, tasting the fresh seafood, or even learning how to cook it!

Most development is along the west coast, beaches from North to South are: Hat Sai Khao (White Sand beach), Klong Prao, Kai Bae, Hat Ta Nam (Lonely Beach) and the more secluded beaches past Bang Bao village…

All of these beaches have accommodation and dining facilities, with White Sand beach being the biggest and most developed. Most of the beaches have accommodation ranging from 200 baht for a simple hut to a few thousand baht for a luxury room in a resort.

Places
Bang Bao

Bang Bao is situated in the south of the island. It is a unique fishing village along a pier, completely built on stilts. The pier ends in a picturesque small harbor. The fishermen are still very active, which is why Bang Bao is ‘the’ place to come and taste incredibly fresh seafood.

Our dive shop is almost at the end of the old pier, on the right-hand side, just before the harbor and the extended new pier. Our house offers a superb view of Bang Bao bay, which makes it a great place to spend some time enjoying the peace and quiet. BB divers is ideally situated, we can park our boat on the pier, and the dive sites are only a short boat trip away.

Bang Bao can be reached by taxi, or, if you are an experienced driver, the motorbike trip down here is great. The road is good but very hilly, there are some steep slopes offering great views of the island. Of course, if you are diving or snorkeling with us, we arrange your pick up.

Lonely Beach
Is known as the backpacker`s beach, the tree house being the original `place to be` is very popular. Now more expensive hotels are springing up, so there is a place for all tastes. Our BB pool is on the road side, at the south end of Lonely Beach. The rooms are in the jungle garden behind.

Booking rooms
We can help you to book a hotel of your choice, prices range from 800B to 5000B pp, per night. There are cheaper options on the island; advanced booking however is not possible in most of these huts. We offer accommodation at the BB divers pool for our customers, basic but new fan rooms with bathroom are the only option there at the moment. They are in the jungle garden behind the restaurant; customers have free use of pool, video room and the spacious restaurant.

How to get here ?
From Bangkok

• Busses leave from Bangkok`s Ekkamai bus station every hour, price around 250B, the trip to Trat takes 5 to 6 hours. In Trat taxis are waiting at the bus station to take you to the ferry 30/40 B. There are 2 ferry lines to Koh Chang, 60B, they go on the hour and half hour, the last boat goes at 07.00 pm. Once on the island there are taxis bringing you to the beach where you want to stay.

• There are also tourist buses from Khao San Road, you can book these in any office on KS, they drop you at the car ferry, around 250 to 400 b.

• There are several domestic flights a day from Bangkok to Trat, price at around 2400 Baht one way. From the airport in Trat there are taxis or mini busses to Koh Chang.

From Cambodia
• Once you have crossed the border at Hat Lek, there are minibuses to Trat waiting in the car park on the right hand side, 120B pp. Rest of the route, see above.

Koh Chang dive sites

Hin luk bath
Loc around 3 km southwest of Koh chang
Depth average 11m / max 25m

This is one of the prime dive sites around Koh Chang. Hin Luk Bath is a pinnacle that offers refuge to plenty of shoaling fish. There are moray eels, stingrays, parrotfish, snappers, fusiliers, big groupers, butterfly fish, banner fish, barracuda, angelfish, and many more. On the way to the dive site we sometimes see dolphins. The pinnacle is surrounded by huge uw boulders that offer some great swim throughs… The deepest point is 25 metres, however, most of the dive we spend from 5 to 16m. This dive site has an abundance of Christmas tree worms, which makes it very colourful. Great for night diving
Visibility varies from 3 to 20, also very good for snorkelling.

Hin Raab South (locals call it Hin Laab)
Loc 5 km south of Koh Chang
Depth average 11 / max 16

This is also an underwater rock. There are actually two dive sites in this area, one is a dive around the rock, a good place to spot turtle, batfish, stonefish, porcupine fish, stingrays, moray eels, often we see big barracuda. We also had a few whale shark spottings here. There is an abundance of soft coral. The second one off to the north is a bit deeper and richer in coral and has a lovely small canyon. Here we often see rays, morays, angelfish, groupers, triggerfish, anemone fish, parrotfish, Once in a while we spot a turtle. Visibility varies from 3 to 20m, often very clear water, and good for snorkeling.

Hin Tai Nam (populaire benaming is Blueberry Hill)
Loc 5 km south of Koh Chang
Depth max 16m

Close to Hin Raab, a bare rock full of fish. Only the Southside has coral. Great place for spotting nudibranches, batfish, stingray, eels, groupers…. Visibility 3 to 20m.

Hin rua tek (Banana rock)
Loc 3 km south of Koh Chang
Depth avarage 10m, max 16m

A rocky dive site, with nice crevices to search for shrimp, lobster, nudibranch, ....there are big table corals, gorgonian fans, soft corals, sponges,..... No abundance of coral, but a dive most people love because of the general surroundings. Visibility from 2 to 15m, OK for snorkeling.

Hin saam sao
Depth average 11m / max 16m

Towards the northwest of Koh Chang, this dive site has some nice corals, rich fish life, but sometimes has poor visibility because of its closeness to land. One side of the reef was destroyed by dynamite, it is recovering though. Max. depth 16m. Visibility from 2 to 10m.

Hin laab north
Loc 5 km south of Koh Chang
Depth max 18m

Very close to Hin saam sao, similar dive site. Max. depth 18m. Visibility from 2 to 10m

Koh Khlum
Loc 5 km south of Koh Chang
Depth 5 - 10m

Has a few dive sites around, they are from 5 to 10m, good for beginner divers.

Koh Rang National park sites
Hin ga daeng (Koh Rang pinnacle)
Loc 1 km nw of Koh rang
Depth average 15m / max 30m

This spectacular pinnacle is the deepest dive around Koh Rang, a great multilevel site. The rock itself has a very special structure, looks like an underwater cathedral. There are plenty of fish around it, not so much coral though.. Things to see are big barracuda, porcupine, groupers, triggerfish, turtle, nudibranches, sweet lips, and schools of batfish… The currents here can be quite strong and unpredictable, but it is certainly worth the effort! Great site for photography, vis 5 to30m

Koh Tien West
Loc just nw of Koh Rang
Depth average 10m, max 16

Sadly enough on one side of the island the coral is mostly destroyed by anchoring fishing boats and dynamite fishing, but it is a good spot to see how the reef recovers. On the Southside of the island there is the biggest formation of stag horn coral you re likely to see, forming a stunning view and protection to an abundance of fish. Also great snorkeling site

Hin Kuak Ma (or three finger rock)
Loc about 1 km ne of Koh rang
Depth average 10m, max 16m

This is one of the greatest dives here. The south side is a rock wall, good to spot eels, nudibranches, stone fish,.... the backside of the rock is a slope, covered in coral, and with an abundance of fish. Sometimes we spot a bamboo shark or turtle, every dive we see blue spotted stingrays, moray eels, blue ringed angelfish, parrotfish, ..... good snorkeling if no current.

Koh Yak and Koh Laun
Loc about 1 km ne of Koh Rang, in the south
Depth average 8 m, max 12m

These small islands are ringed with a very beautiful coral reef with a rich abundance of different coral fishes. Both islands are small enough to dive around; because of the shallow depths we have plenty of dive time. Many divers` favourite…
Visibility 5 to 20m

Koh Tong Lang and Koh Kra
Loc about 1.5 km ne of Koh rang, north
Depth avarage 7m, max 12

Although snorkelling is the major appeal here, these islands offer some beautiful diving. The special coloured rocks offer nice crevices rich in fish life; the coral is very healthy and varied, big table corals, stag horn, anemones of al sizes and colours.
Visibility 5 to 30m

Other
Koh Wai

This lovely paradise island south of Koh Chang is great for a day trip or overnight stay, beautiful snorkelling, although for diving the reef is quite shallow. Some diving is done on the pinnacles close to Koh Wai, and also on the rocky side of the island. It is a good spot for trainings dives or protected diving when the weather turns bad.

Koh chang wreck

Is mentioned in many dive guides, but sadly enough it is in silt water, creating zero visibility most of the time.

DIVING, COURSES and SNORKELING
We have daily boat trips on which we visit two different area. Between the sites we have lunch on the boat or on a beach.

Divers are guided by the dive master, we dive in small groups. Full equipment is included. A camera can be hired or we can provide you the pictures of your diving day on cd.
Snorkelers get full equipment, there is a snorkel briefing before you enter the water and a local snorkel guide to show you the best spots.

Diving and snorkeling is done from the same boat, 80% of the dive sites are also very good snorkel sites. If we like to dive the deeper ones then we take the divers there with our small speedboat while the BB boat stays with the smokeless for safety.

Koh Wai pick-up
You want to stay on the tropical paradise island of Koh Wai? We come to pick you up by boat on our way to the dive sites, or can arrange for a course with training from Koh Wai`s lovely beach. Imagine learning how to dive from the balcony of your own bungalow!.

Long beach, Tree House pick-up
You want to stay in the Tree House in Long Beach? We come to pick you up by boat on our way to the dive sites, or drop you of there after the diving day, saves you taking the taxi ride over. We can arrange for a course with training from the beach, no place is more relaxed to learn how to dive…

https://www.padi.com/padi/elearning/

PADI Introductions
DSD, discover scuba diving
1 day - 2 dives
`The experience` for non-divers who want to give diving a try.
First an introduction to the diving and safety, followed by a few exercises in shallow water. Then we guide you for 2 dives on the coral reef. Great introduction to the sea life…

PADI Courses
Scuba diver
2 days - 2 dives
On the first day we show a video and explain diving theory, followed by water training in our own BB pool. The second day is a full diving day, 2 dives. This gives you a limited certificate to dive to 12m, under guidance of a Padi professional.

Open water diver
3 or 4 days - 4 dives
This is the one! OW is the first course that gives you a full diving license, your ticket to the underwater world.
After the theory session with video, there is a half day of training in the BB swimming pool. Then you`re ready to go out on the boat for the next 2 days, the training includes 4 dives on different dive sites. This license allows you to dive in open water to max 18 m.

Advanced open water
2 days - 5 dives
Improve on your diving skills with five specialised training dives. This is the best and most fun way to improve your dive style and feel confident in the water. Core dives are the deep and the navigation dive, for the other 3 you have a choice out of: night dive, digital photography, naturalist, multilevel, peak performance buoyancy, search and recovery…

EFR, Emergency first response
1 day
EFR is a complete training in first aid and readiness to help out in emergencies, useful for every traveller and diver. It is an internationally recognised qualification. No water training, only theory and practical exercises.

Rescue diver
2/3 days
Learn how to manage dive accidents and assist divers in trouble. Training as a rescue diver is the first step in becoming a helpful buddy and a responsible diver. The first day is theory with video, then we go out for 2 diving days, we work you hard, but you will become a confident and strong diver!

Padi specialty courses
2 days -4 dives
There is no better way to make your diving days interesting and learn more about your passion, learn all there is to know about… Nitrox, deep, night, navigation, naturalist, search and rec., uw photography…
It takes 2 days of diving to become a specialist in your field of interest

Dive master
3 to 6 weeks
Dm training is our BB speciality, every year we train many and are proud to bring some of the best dive masters to the diving business. All of them found work easily, and are currently working as divers all over the world. We offer a complete, tough but also fun training course, which covers all the aspects of `the diving job`.
The DM training prepares you to guide divers, organise the diving, maintain equipment, help in the dive shop and assist in training sessions with an instructor. The DM training program can take from 3 to 8 weeks and consists of academic training, and `on the field`? assisting with every possible task there is to be found in and around diving.

AI, assistant instructor
4 days
The assistant instructor (AI) can be organised according to your planning. It is a great prep. for the IDC, and gives you more time to practise your teaching skills and get some experience before an IDC. +GAn AI is a valuable help in any dive centre-G.

IDC or instructor training
4 days
Become a Padi instructor, and work around the world!
The instructor training is given in two parts, 4 days assistant instructor, and 4 days instructor. Please mail for more information on IDC dates, since these are on set dates. Becoming instructor will change your way of life, being able to work any where in the world is for many a dream come true, the Padi license is widely recognised and one of the highest levels you can get in diving.

Staff instructor
8 days
Climb the Padi ladder!
To become a SI you have to assist an a complete IDC, where you ll learn how to teach some of the IDC theory. A SI can train assistent instructors, if they work at an IDC center.

The BB `full package`
10 weeks - 60 dives
Take the challenge, ready to leave all worries behind, ... go for a full dive training from open water to Padi dive master, the start of a new and exciting career…
The full BB package is exactly what the name says..., we train you from beginning non -diver up to dive master, accommodation, books and full set of brand new dive equipment included, guaranteed at least 60 dives
Be sure that these will be 10 exciting weeks you`ll remember for a lifetime…

EFRI, emergency first response instructor
1 or 2 days
EFRI, emergency first response instructor Get ready to teach the world how to save the world. A must for instructors-to-be… but also divemaster can become efri! This course is mandatory for any dive instructor, also very usefull outside of diving. As an efr instructor you can teach anyone to become a valuable aid in emergencies. There is also special training in first aid for infants and children.

Reef check course
Eco diver
4 days - 4 dives
This course is in cooperation with www.reefcheck.org, a coral reef monitoring and protecting organization which operates around the world. We teach you how to recognize coral diseases, how to measure and compare reefs and their condition. If nature interests you, then this course will give you an extra reason to dive, and help preserve our under water beauty.

DAY TRIPS AND BB SPECIALS
Every day we go out on our own boat for a relaxed day trip. We either travel to the local sites around Koh Chang or to Koh Rang National Park, where we enjoy the clear waters and pristine coral reefs of this protected area. Most places are good for diving and snorkeling.
Best time of the year is September to May, in June to August we go out weather permitting.

Koh Wai pick-up
You want to stay on the tropical paradise island of Koh Wai? We come to pick you up by boat on our way to the dive sites, or can arrange for a course with training from Koh Wai`s lovely beach. Imagine learning how to dive from the balcony of your own bungalow…

Long beach, Tree House pick-up
You want to stay in the Tree House in Long Beach? We come to pick you up by boat on our way to the dive sites, or drop you of there after the diving day, saves you taking the taxi ride over. We can arrange for a course with training from the beach, no place is more relaxed to learn how to dive…

BB Specials
Lazy divers trip
1 day - 2 dives and 1 night dive
Every Sunday we go out for two dives in the afternoon and one night dive, no reason to get out of bed early! If you`ve never have done a night dive before, this is your chance to experience the nightlife under the water.

Two Days Trip
2-days trip
Twice a month we organize a 2-day trip. We take the boat out for an adventurous dive holiday to Koh Maak, Koh Kham, Koh Kood or Koh Wai… where we dive some of the known dive sites, but also go exploring for some new sites. For those who prefer some luxury we arrange a bungalow on the island to spend the night, budget travelers can sleep on the boat.
The 30th of every month we go out for our ‘Koh Kood trip Special’; Koh kood is an unspoilt paradise island. On the trip we take our time to visit the lovely scenery of koh kood waterfall, or visit some of the deserted beaches.
Email us for more info on the next trip ..........

BB Diver`s Prices
Prices include

Pick up from your hotel, lunch, soft drinks, coffee and tea, use of equipment, teaching or guiding by a PADI instructor/dive master, insurance, PADI certificate and course book or Cd rom!
… in short, all is included in our prices, no nasty surprises!

Reductions! (10%)

- Multiple days of diving,
- Diving after a course,
- Multiple courses,
- Use of own equipment,
- advanced payment,
- Group booking

Prices List
All prices are in Thai Baht and can be subject to changes. Updated june 2008. Old price lists not valid. Cash payment or advanced payment with creditcard through paypall is possible.

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