Koh Chang: A 3-Day, 2-Night Scuba Diving Trip at Chivapuri Beach Resort

I purchased a diving package from Chivapuri Beach Resort on Koh Chang with my friends at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) fair at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. We finally had time to go after a long wait. Traveling from Bangkok to Koh Chang is not difficult. You can take a van or a bus. For vans, you can board at both Mo Chit and Ekkamai. You can also buy additional van tickets at Khao San Road.

We then boarded a ferry at Pineapple Bay. After a 30-40 minute boat ride, we arrived at Koh Chang. From there, it was a simple matter of taking a shared taxi to Chiva Puri Resort on Klong Koi Beach.

Koh Chang Viewpoint and Chiva Puri Beach Resort

While traveling, if we hire a songthaew, even if it is a bit far, we may be able to ask the driver to stop at some tourist attractions along the way, such as scenic viewpoints or the radar station with stunning views. From there, we can also see Koh Mun.

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Chiva Puri Beach Resort

Chiva Puri Beach Resort: A Tranquil Oasis on the Coast

Chiva Puri Beach Resort offers a modern Thai-style retreat with a diverse selection of rooms, ranging from oceanfront to garden views. Lush greenery and meticulously landscaped gardens create a serene atmosphere, while the resort's private beach ensures tranquility and seclusion. Ideal for relaxation, the resort boasts a stylish swimming pool nestled alongside the soft, sandy beach.

Ideal for families and friends, the park offers dedicated areas for children and exciting activities like kayaking. Unfortunately, it rained on the day of our visit, preventing us from enjoying a kayaking adventure.

Reception and Restaurant of Chiva Puri Beach Resort

Check in at the counter, which is located in a section of the resort's restaurant. The counter is mostly decorated with bamboo and wood, and it is open-air, allowing for a refreshing sea breeze. A short walk away, you will find a long stretch of beach with a small bar at the edge. Several foreign tourists (4-5) are relaxing, reading books, while children are having fun playing in the water.

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Deluxe Garden View Room

After enjoying the welcome drink, the staff escorted us to our room, a Deluxe Garden View room on the ground floor of the two-story building, as per our package. We had time to relax and unpack before heading out for dinner at 7:00 PM, as included in our package.

Inside the Deluxe Garden View Room

A stylishly designed swimming pool, beautiful both day and night.

Dinner Time and a Refreshing Cocktail

As the sun began to set, it was time for our long-awaited dinner. Included in our package was a refreshing cocktail for each of us, instantly whetting our appetites. Mine, the "Chiva Puri Summer Rose," offered a delightful balance of sweet and tart flavors. The rum and peach schnapps base tantalized the taste buds, while the various fruit juices added a burst of freshness. The sweet cherries, a delightful surprise, sparked a playful competition among us as we vied for the last one.

Dinner tonight, as per the hotel package.

The served dishes were even more enticing. The braised pork bone with lotus root had a sweet and savory broth, tender and crunchy pork bones, and perfectly cooked lotus root that was neither too young nor too old. The lotus root, with its cooling properties, helped to alleviate heatiness and reduce body temperature.

This dish, Yum Nua Goong, resembles a fruit salad with crispy fried shrimp. The sweet and sour flavors of the fruit salad perfectly complement the richness of the shrimp and fried shallots, creating a delightful balance. The crunchy texture adds another layer of enjoyment to this refreshing dish.

The "Crazy Spicy Seafood" is a stir-fry dish featuring a variety of fresh seafood, including shrimp, shellfish, and squid, cooked in a special spicy sauce. The sauce incorporates aromatic ingredients like curry paste, wild eggplant, chilies, and kaffir lime leaves, creating a complex and intense flavor profile. This dish is not for the faint of heart, as its spiciness can bring tears to your eyes. However, the combination of fresh seafood and the flavorful sauce creates an addictive and unforgettable culinary experience. To balance the heat, the meal is served with rice, a fried egg (for those who prefer a milder option), and seasonal fruits.

A delightful atmosphere for dinner by the beach

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Chiva Restaurant, Puri Beach Resort

In the morning, we hurriedly packed our belongings and had breakfast, as we were scheduled to go scuba diving to see the coral reefs. A tour boat picked us up from the beach and took us to a larger boat at Khlong Bang Baeng.

Breakfast Buffet

5-Island Snorkeling Boat Tour

We waited at the resort's beach for a short time before a small boat picked us up to take us to the larger boat, which was already full of passengers and ready to depart. Our coral reef snorkeling tour today was on a large, two-story boat that would take us to snorkel at five islands in the Koh Chang National Park and visit one island to see the park's beauty. We set sail in the morning.

The boat provides self-service water and coffee throughout the trip, as well as a buffet lunch. In addition, chicken barbecue and refreshing fruits are provided as snacks. The five islands where we will go snorkeling are Koh Yak Lek, Koh Mapring, Koh Rang Yai, Koh Yak Yai, and Koh Rang. On the last island, we will go ashore to admire the beautiful beach and the stunning sea.

Beautiful coral reefs at Koh Chang

As we approached the first island for diving, Koh Yak Lek, the boat staff distributed diving equipment, including life jackets and snorkels. Each dive was accompanied by a boat staff member to ensure safety and convenience. Often, they would guide us, amateur divers, to spots with beautiful coral to save time.

In addition, underwater camera rentals are available. However, the coral images we are presenting were not taken by us but were provided by the tour operator's staff.

National Park Ranger Unit, Koh Rang

The boat brought us to the 5th island, which is the National Park Protection Unit No. 5 (Rang Island). We docked at a bridge that was an air pontoon, making it bounce up and down all the time when we got on, which the children enjoyed very much. This place is special because only tours from this company can play on the inflatable slide, which the tour company has invested in to float for tourists to play on Rang Island. Rang Island has a coastline that is suitable for swimming or sitting and enjoying the view, with beautiful trees. So we went ashore to sit and play in the sea.

Bang Baea Pier and Lighthouse

Departing from Koh Rang, the boat headed straight for Bang Bao Pier, a large pier where we would transfer to a smaller boat to take us back to our resort, Chiva Puri Beach Resort. However, before the boat took us to the resort, we requested to be the last in line so that we could have time to walk around and shop at Bang Bao Pier.

Shops at the Bang Baen Pier Community Market

After returning from a scuba diving tour, we arrived at the Cheeva Puri Beach Resort in the late afternoon. After resting for a while, we took a shower and got ready for dinner, which was included in our scuba diving package.

Dinner tonight

After returning from the hot and salty sea, we craved a refreshing drink. We ordered three smoothies (not included in the package): mango, pineapple, and watermelon. For our meal, we had **crispy fried chicken wings** with a salty and savory flavor that reminded us of beer.

Yesterday, we enjoyed a spicy stir-fry of various seafood, known as "Crazy Spicy Sea." Today, we tried "Crazy Boiling Sea," which was equally delicious and spicy. The hot broth was a welcome addition, soothing our throats. The freshness of the seafood and the blend of spices created a harmonious balance of sour, spicy, and salty flavors. As I mentioned before, although it was spicy, it was incredibly delicious.

Stir-fried chicken with cardamom root is a rare dish to find, as cardamom root is a local herb that has been adapted for use in cooking. Its crunchy texture enhances the already delicious stir-fried chicken. We also had a vegetable stir-fry, and as usual, we couldn't resist ordering an extra plate of fried eggs.

After a satisfying meal, we rested well, recharging from our full day of scuba diving. Although the morning air was slightly hazy, it was peaceful and refreshing, preparing us for a new day. We headed to the dining room, where we were greeted by another buffet breakfast. The spread was diverse and changed daily, offering a different selection from the previous day.

Breakfast Buffet at Cheeva Puri Resort

Enjoy your meal.

After a satisfying lunch, I took a leisurely stroll to the beach, where I snapped some photos. Initially, I had planned to go kayaking, but considering the sky and the time, relaxing on the shore seemed like the optimal choice. This would allow me to return to my room to pack my belongings in preparation for my departure.

When it was time to leave, the shared taxi that the hotel had arranged for us arrived to pick us up. We also stopped by the market to buy fresh fruits from Trat to take home and eat on the way. The ferry departed on time, as did the car, which meant we didn't have to wait long for the boat. Soon, the boat was moving on the water to reach the shore, braving the small rain clouds without hesitation, bringing us safely back to shore.