Yes, it is not scuba diving but advanced snorkeling which is for those who keen on free-diving and exploring coral reefs in real.
Two couples stayed at Bamboo Cottage Resort joined our soft-adventure small-group snorkeling trip to explore the Coral Jungle Reef which is one of the healthiest coral reefs in Phu Quoc. Josefine & Mikkel from Denmark enjoyed their vacation in Vietnam for the first time, wheras the French couple Lise & Etienne has been living and working in Hanoi, Vietnam for few years, Phu Quoc is their frequently-visiting favorite destination for Christmas holiday. The two couples choose to stay at Bamboo Cottage Resort Vung Bau which is 30 km away from Duong Dong (Phu Quoc center) to enjoy the peaceful and avoid crowded atmosphere. The Onbird-organized Soft-adventure Coral Jungle snorkeling journey (private charter option). came up to their mind when they were searching for a real touristy-avoiding small-group snorkeling to explore healthy coral reefs in Phu Quoc.
OnBird provide free pickup by speedboat from the beach at Bamboo Cottage on the snorkeling trip to explore Coral Jungle Reef, however to enjoy full the experience, guests asked us to pickup from hotel and transfered to the speedboat dock. We had 6 guests in total on the date (the Coral Jungle Trip is now 7 PAX in maximum without under-12-year-old kids and above-65-year-old guests), the other two guests is a Korean couple from Old Town Resort (in the center). After pickup time, we embarked the speedboat we first enjoy the speedboat along a river and breath the local life atmosphere.
The speedboat ride along the river gave guests around 15 minutes to see a local fishing village located on the river bank and estuary, the timing is not long but not too short before speeding up the speedboat when we entered into the sea.
After entering the sea, we headed to Half-moon beach, an untouched beach and spent around 20 minutes relaxing and familiarizing ourselves with the water temperature, water conditions and get used to equipments as well as safety information before snorkeling time. All guests are experienced so everything gone smoothly.
WATER CONDITIONS FORCASTING
As usual, thank to the Onbird-built water condition forecasting model which is our cutting-edge bases on our own internal water conditions forcasting (wave level, water current strength, underwater visibility by date and by hour) therefore we made recommendations as well as proper adjustments toward the best experiences on the date, in the period of time for guests. Before this Coral Jungle Reef snorkeling journey, the 6 guests were informed briefly about the water conditions: calm water, proper light, light current and good underwater visibility of 6-8m. OnBird’s internally-used advanced water condition forecasting model which is considered a cutting-edge advantage in organizing snorkeling & diving plans. If you are concerning about the water conditions, time for snorkeling & diving especially in the rainy time, don’t hesitate to contact us for an advanced consultant.
ASTOUNDING DIVES INTO CORAL JUNGLE
To protect the corals we always stop the speedboat and dropped down the anchor at the sandy area far away from the fringing reef of the Coral Junge Reef where the depth is about 9 – 10m. Mikkel and other guests jumpped off the speedboat under our underwater guide’s instructions into the water of the Coral Jungle Reef.
Guests were very fascinated by the emerald water with very good underwater visibility by the time we arrived the water of the Coral Jungle Reef. We firstly explore the coral garden of thousand square meters of violet, green, pink, read cauliflower corals, greenish table corals, green cabble corals….
Mikkel descended and dive through a coral canyon fully covered by corals and anemone clusters. The light intensity was perfect on the date, so it was much more easier to see corals grow colorful in the water.
Coral Jungle Reef is one of the best places for snorkelers to see coral in macro distance easily. The group of 6 slowly explore the reef, the coral gardens of more than 20 different coral species with our guide. Coral Jungle Reef is one of the typical fringing reef, there are areas on where the coral grow into a very large garden of corals in the shallow water of 0.3 – 2m, so it is very impressive for guests to see coral polyps closely, you have chance to see coral lively in real.
After astounding snorkeling time at the coral garden, the guides took guests to explore another amazing coral colony at the depth of 6m where guests had chance to see fan coral, anemone clusters, leather finger coral, they tried diving and captured amazing moments. Those fascinating moments you can not gain on a scuba diving trip which is supposed to explore the deep water where the coral doesn’t grow strongly.
