OnBird is dedicated to developing comprehensive knowledge and data regarding the waters and coral reefs surrounding Phu Quoc Island. Our forecasts boast an impressive accuracy rate of 95-96%, enabling us to provide cost-effective recommendations on optimal timeframes, ideal dates, and the best snorkeling and diving locations within the coral reefs of Phu Quoc. This proactive approach aims to minimize safety risks and enhance the overall experience for our guests. We consider various water conditions, including wave height, underwater visibility, water currents, tides, and temperature, all of which significantly impact snorkeling and diving experiences.
As a specialized diving and snorkeling operator, OnBird recognizes the critical role that water conditions play in shaping the overall snorkeling and diving experience. Accurate forecasts regarding these conditions are essential not only for ensuring an exceptional experience but also for maintaining safety, thereby reflecting the operator’s reliability to guests. Phu Quoc is home to 21 coral reefs; however, the ability to explore these remarkable and often hidden coral reefs is contingent upon favorable water conditions.
Only advanced and professional snorkeling & diving operator can tell you know how water conditions will be prior to the tour date to recommend alternatives (change the coral spots: Northern or Southern coral reefs…).
MAIN CONTENTS
COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS IN SNORKELING & DIVING
Having organized snorkeling and diving experiences for many years in Phu Quoc, we frequently receive inquiries from guests regarding weather and water conditions, particularly when changes in the weather arise shortly before tour departure times.
- It is raining if we can cancel the snorkeling today because the water will be cloudy?
- The sky is cloudy now so the snorkeling & diving will be not good or Morning is better for snorkeling?
- It is cloudy so it is difficult to see corals than sunny day?
- Is South Phu Quoc good for snorkeling & diving?
- Is North Phu Quoc good for snorkeling & diving?
- Is rainy season bad to do snorkeling & diving in Phu Quoc?
- Scuba Diving is better than Snorkeling in Phu Quoc or you see more corals in Scuba Diving experience than Snorkeling?
- We think this water in December is warm and nothing to us as we are from very cold country
- Is it advisable to cancel today’s snorkeling due to the rain, as the water may become cloudy?
- Given the overcast sky, will snorkeling and diving conditions be suboptimal, or is the morning typically better for these activities?
- Furthermore, does cloudy weather make it more challenging to see corals compared to a sunny day?
- Could you provide insights into the snorkeling and diving experiences in South Phu Quoc?
- How does North Phu Quoc compare to South Phu Quoc in terms of snorkeling?
- Is the rainy season detrimental to snorkeling and diving in Phu Quoc?
- Additionally, is scuba diving generally considered superior to snorkeling in Phu Quoc in terms of coral visibility?
- Lastly, we find the water in December to be warm, which is quite pleasant for us, as we hail from a much colder climate.
It is commonly believed that the dry season, which spans from October to April, is the optimal time for snorkeling and diving in Phu Quoc, as highlighted by numerous tour companies in Phu Quoc in various online posts. However, this assertion is misleading. During the dry season, certain areas may also experience poor water conditions which is around 1-3m. By analyzing water condition data throughout the year across various regions, OnBird Phu Quoc can gain a comprehensive understanding of the specific environmental conditions affecting coral reefs in Phu Quoc at different times of the year. This analysis will enable us to develop a water conditions forecasting model, facilitating highly accurate predictions of underwater visibility throughout the year on Phu Quoc Island. Additionally, it will assist in evaluating other critical factors such as wave level, wave direction, water current strength for effective open water safety management.
CLEAR VAGUE MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT WATER CONDITIONS?
- Raining is not matter to snorkeling & diving but we track how the wave level will be, if water is calm enough so we can do snorkeling without needing to care about rains (Snorkeling in the rain? Take a watch)
- Rain has minimal impact on underwater visibility; however, we observed that the current plays a more significant role. Despite heavy rainfall, the underwater visibility at the coral reef remains pretty good.
- Excessive sunlight or bright morning lighting can significantly diminish the vibrant colors of coral, resulting in a phenomenon known as coral color fading or bleaching. This issue is often overlooked by many snorkelers and divers. It occurs when the pigments produced by zooxanthellae cells, which reside within coral polyps, lose their molecular attraction. These pigments absorb various types of light based on their chemical structure.Ultraviolet (UV) light, a form of radiation emitted by the sun and present in sunlight, is the primary culprit behind color fading. The technical term for this process is photodegradation. Within dyes, there are light-absorbing entities known as chromophores. The colors we perceive depend on these chemical bonds and the specific wavelengths of light they absorb. UV rays, which possess a short wavelength and high energy, are capable of breaking down these chemical bonds, leading to color fading in various objects.It is particularly important to note that UV rays are most intense between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, a timeframe that is not ideal for snorkeling and diving for several reasons.
- Cloudy weather, distinct from partly cloudy conditions that create the “broken cloud effect,” can actually enhance coral viewing experiences. The UV Index, which measures the intensity of ultraviolet radiation received at a given time of day and year, indicates that clouds can block 70-90% of UV-B rays. These rays are known to cause coral coloration to fade during periods of extreme overcast.Corals possess various pigments, which are distributed differently within their structure. For instance, pigments that absorb visible light (ranging from 400 to 800 nanometers) are primarily located at the tips of corals, closer to the surface where light is abundant. The visible spectrum represents the range of electromagnetic wavelengths detectable by the human eye, typically from 380 to 750 nanometers.During daylight hours, sunlight is more intense and predominantly contains blue light, whereas at sunrise and sunset, sunlight becomes less intense and exhibits a higher proportion of red light, which appears neutral with hues of greenish, red, yellow, pink, and brown. Our bodies naturally respond to these daily variations in color and light intensity. Contrary to common belief, excessive sunlight can actually lead to a fading of coral colors rather than enhancing their vibrancy. Thus, it is more advantageous to observe corals during the afternoon when they exhibit richer colors.
- It is hard to compare Northern Phu Quoc coral reefs with Southern Phu Quoc coral reefs, but it is subject to the water conditions that we can visit more biodiversed coral reefs. Even
- Is North Phu Quoc good for snorkeling & diving?
- Is rainy season bad to do snorkeling & diving in Phu Quoc?
- Scuba Diving is not better than Snorkeling in Phu Quoc to see diversified coral reefs: Nope, for sure. But It depends on the underwater terrain
- We think this water in December is warm and nothing to us as we are from very cold country
How Does Onbird Organize Professional Snorkeling Experiences?
Unlike traditional tour operators, we provide detailed forecasts of water conditions 5 to 7 days prior to snorkeling and diving experiences. Additionally, we can offer predictions for underwater visibility at any specific time of the year, which is particularly important for snorkeling aimed at observing coral reefs. OnBird continuously updates water condition data throughout the year, including wave levels, underwater visibility, optimal coral reefs by date, water currents, and water temperature, achieving an impressive accuracy rate of 95-96%. OnBird guided discovery snorkeling experiences are meticulously arranged to avoid periods of strong UV radiation, thereby enhancing the overall experience for both snorkelers and divers.
Thereby we are able to make the best recommendations of coral reefs suitable for your expectations, tell you water conditions and the best timeframe to do snorkeling & diving on the date.
CUTTING-EDGE CONSULTATION ON WATER CONDITION IN PHU QUOC ISLAND?
For professional underwater works (filming, photography, video), it is indispensable to timming it in an ideal water condition. It requires a compelling understanding about the water condition in specific area. Bad water condition will definitely ruin your work and waste your budget and time, OnBird is the only company offering this cutting-edge consultation to clientele working on projects in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. We have been developing our understanding and data on water conditions in Phu Quoc Island, from that we are capable of making high accuracy of forecasting about underwater visibility in any given month and year.
Underwater visibility in Phu Quoc ranges from 2 – 12m, with average from 4-5m in whole year but there are also very good days of 7-9m which offer pretty ideal condition for underwater photography and filming. OnBird is the sole operator capable of delivering highly accurate underwater visibility forecasts for Phu Quoc, specifying particular hours, dates, and times throughout the year.