Katie L
Contributor
Hi - I am headed to Thailand in a few weeks for a solo trip and am totally overwhelmed. I could really use some help figuring out how to put diving into my itinerary.
I'll have a short version of this question and a long version with more specific concerns! See below.
DETAILS:
- Flying into and out of Bangkok
- 16 days total in Thailand
- I chose Thailand for my travel destination primarily because I wanted to do a dive trip and get more scuba experience, so I am trying to plan my trip around that, but...
- ...I want to leave some adequate time to enjoy Bangkok, Chang Mai & a bit of northern Thailand
- Since I don't own equipment or have regular access to local diving (nor a buddy) at home, the backpacker dive scene is great for me given the group structure and likelihood of there being other solo travelers to learn with or pair up with.
- My first and only dive experience was my Open Water certification in Utila, Honduras a few years ago, so about 5-6 dives
- I'm a 30 year old woman and while I like the social aspect of the backpacker scene, I'm not a hard partier. A fun bar scene would be cool but it's not a priority. I'm not headed to a Full Moon party or anything.
ok!
SHORT VERSION: You have 16 full days in Thailand, an Open Water certificate, and about $1200. You're traveling alone and plan on staying in backpacker-friendly hostels. How do you spend your time? What gear/equipment do you make sure to bring ahead of time? (GoPro, your own mask/snorkel, etc)
LONG VERSION FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO NERD OUT ON THIS:
I have three goals: A liveaboard in the Similan Islands; taking an Advanced Open Water course; trying to get some basic-but-at-least-decent GoPro photography/videography while on the liveaboard (I'm trying to keep reasonable expectations for this given my skill level)
As a diver, I am rusty and inexperienced, but I am very comfortable in the water and a quick learner. I like formal instruction.
The questions (there are a lot, I'll take any answers I can get):
- With 16 days, how would you divide your time between regions of Thailand? Perhaps half water/beach/dive-centric centric and half for Bangkok and a northern region such as Chang Mai?
- Would you head south to dive first or would you save it til the end?
- How may different locations would you try to visit for diving? Stick to one island area or try to do some "hopping?"
- How many days of actual diving would you try to do while leaving some time for beach relaxation?
- Is it too much to try to squeeze in a 3-day/3-night liveaboard AND another dive outing? (A friend told me a 9-dive liveaboard gets to be a lot)
- Should I take the AOW before going on the liveaboard or during? Many dive shops offer it as an add-on, so on one hand, it sounds like I might as well do both at once, but on the other hand, I am very inexperienced and I was thinking that taking the AOW course first would be a good refresher and help me feel more prepared and confident while at the Similan Islands.
- If I'm looking for AOW training, does Koh Tao offer a significant advantage over other dive areas? If I'm planning to go to the Similan Islands, is it worth making the trip there, too?
- Can you recommend any reliable, professional dive companies in particular? Who has a great reputation?
- Should I bring my own mask/snorkel?
Thank you!!!
I'll have a short version of this question and a long version with more specific concerns! See below.
DETAILS:
- Flying into and out of Bangkok
- 16 days total in Thailand
- I chose Thailand for my travel destination primarily because I wanted to do a dive trip and get more scuba experience, so I am trying to plan my trip around that, but...
- ...I want to leave some adequate time to enjoy Bangkok, Chang Mai & a bit of northern Thailand
- Since I don't own equipment or have regular access to local diving (nor a buddy) at home, the backpacker dive scene is great for me given the group structure and likelihood of there being other solo travelers to learn with or pair up with.
- My first and only dive experience was my Open Water certification in Utila, Honduras a few years ago, so about 5-6 dives
- I'm a 30 year old woman and while I like the social aspect of the backpacker scene, I'm not a hard partier. A fun bar scene would be cool but it's not a priority. I'm not headed to a Full Moon party or anything.
ok!
SHORT VERSION: You have 16 full days in Thailand, an Open Water certificate, and about $1200. You're traveling alone and plan on staying in backpacker-friendly hostels. How do you spend your time? What gear/equipment do you make sure to bring ahead of time? (GoPro, your own mask/snorkel, etc)
LONG VERSION FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO NERD OUT ON THIS:
I have three goals: A liveaboard in the Similan Islands; taking an Advanced Open Water course; trying to get some basic-but-at-least-decent GoPro photography/videography while on the liveaboard (I'm trying to keep reasonable expectations for this given my skill level)
As a diver, I am rusty and inexperienced, but I am very comfortable in the water and a quick learner. I like formal instruction.
The questions (there are a lot, I'll take any answers I can get):
- With 16 days, how would you divide your time between regions of Thailand? Perhaps half water/beach/dive-centric centric and half for Bangkok and a northern region such as Chang Mai?
- Would you head south to dive first or would you save it til the end?
- How may different locations would you try to visit for diving? Stick to one island area or try to do some "hopping?"
- How many days of actual diving would you try to do while leaving some time for beach relaxation?
- Is it too much to try to squeeze in a 3-day/3-night liveaboard AND another dive outing? (A friend told me a 9-dive liveaboard gets to be a lot)
- Should I take the AOW before going on the liveaboard or during? Many dive shops offer it as an add-on, so on one hand, it sounds like I might as well do both at once, but on the other hand, I am very inexperienced and I was thinking that taking the AOW course first would be a good refresher and help me feel more prepared and confident while at the Similan Islands.
- If I'm looking for AOW training, does Koh Tao offer a significant advantage over other dive areas? If I'm planning to go to the Similan Islands, is it worth making the trip there, too?
- Can you recommend any reliable, professional dive companies in particular? Who has a great reputation?
- Should I bring my own mask/snorkel?
Thank you!!!
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