Scuba Nation Cambodia - PADI Diving and Instruction in the Gulf of Thailand (Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh)

Routes to get to Sihanouville from Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and from within Cambodia

From Laos to Cambodia, you can cross the border by road or river - open 08:00-17:00. Expect extra fees for “stamps” on both sides of the border. Cambodian visas are available at the border (don't forget to bring a photo). Some travelers report that visas are only available at the road crossing, not at the river crossing. No special permits required from either Cambodia or Laos.


By River

Take a boat from Don Khone or Don Khong to Voeung Kam ($2-$5). From Voeung Kam, get a Cambodian boat to Stung Treng for $10. (There had been several reports of price gouging by the boats to Stung Treng, but there have been fewer reports of this as of late.)


By Road

Travelers report that people who bought package tickets from their guesthouse in Laos to travel from Laos through to Stung Treng, Cambodia have been met by onward transportation at the border after they cross into Cambodia. Otherwise, there is no regularly scheduled onward transportation available on the Cambodian side of the border. Travelers that arrive without pre-arranged onward transportation report that there are sometimes private taxis and motos waiting at the border but there are times when no transportation is available, requiring a long wait for transport to show up to get to Stung Treng.

Once at Stung Treng you can then choose to go to Kratie and from there to PP or take a bus straight through to Phnom Penh on the Phnom Penh Sorya Transport for 42,000 riel. The road from Stung Treng all the way through to Phnom Penh has recently been improved and is currently in comparatively good condition. Travelers used to take the ferry most of the way from Kratie to PP, but now with the improved road conditions, most people go by road.

   
PADI Scuba Diving Tips of The Day » It may sound hippy hype, but you can enhance your buoyancy through visualization. Mentally rehearse the performance you want (ideally -gliding through the water stream-lined and horizontal and breathing with perfect buoyancy control!) then try to make your buoyancy on the real dive match the dive that you imagined. Multiple studies show that mental practice improves performance – give it a try (and you don’t have to let anyone know you’re doing it!).