Day Trips from Khao Lak

[littleguppie]

Well, we've finally decided to stay in Khao Lak and do some day trips versus diving out of Phuket or doing a liveaboard. Anyway, we were pretty settled on diving Khao Lak Scuba for a day trip to Similians and then a day trip to Richeleiu, but it's very expensive. I just wanted to check and see anyone thought I could dive these trips for less?

The cost is $150USD to dive Similians + $170 to dive Richeleiu.

Are there better deals or is this about right?

Thank you!

[stevenl]

Are these prices are including parkfees and/or equipment?

Richelieu Rock (excluding fees and equipment) 5000 Baht, so around 150 US$, Similans (excluding fees and equipment) 4800 Baht, so around 145 US$.

Both are good value for money trips.

[mase]

Long way to travel. You might want to check how long it will take you to reach those destinations.

[wedivebc]

You are paying more per day than I did for a liveaboard out of Khao Lak and as mase mentioned thats a long run out there, which is why liveaboards are so popular there.

[tboxcar]

Wedevbc is correct (sorry for the spelling), how many dives do you get for the day trip price!!!!

[littleguppie]

2 dives on the day trips. 2 dives at Similians and 2 dives at Richelieu. Both take about 1 1/2 hours to get to on a fast speed boat ride to the site. Yes, equipment (except dive computer if you want one) and national park fees are included in the prices above.

I'd LOVE to do a liveaboard but simply do not have the time. Wedivebc - I can't imagine you paid less than $300 USD to do a liveaboard. Who did you use...that would be an amazing deal and we might cancel some things in order to do a liveaboard for that price.

If you had to pick one or the other - Similians or Richelieu - which one would you pick?

Khao Lak Scuba won't let us dive Richelieu without us first diving Similians so they can make sure we are skilled enough to dive Richelieu. Is this common practice? Is there a company we could use out of Khao Lak to just dive Richelieu?

Should we skip a trip to Khao Lak all together and spend all 7 days on Phuket? Day trips out of Phuket instead? I really wanted to dive Similians and Richeleiu though...

[wedivebc]

I'd LOVE to do a liveaboard but simply do not have the time. Wedivebc - I can't imagine you paid less than $300 USD to do a liveaboard. Who did you use...that would be an amazing deal and we might cancel some things in order to do a liveaboard for that price.


these folks Diving Khao Lak - Thailand: Similan Islands Liveaboards (http://www.seadragondivecenter.com/)

[surinboy]

I agree the Nang Nuan is a class act.

However, the base price is $350. ($380 including National Park fees)

There is no doubt that this is still a great value liveaboard for the budget diver.

[littleguppie]

these folks Diving Khao Lak - Thailand: Similan Islands Liveaboards (http://www.seadragondivecenter.com/)

I did look at these guys, but to do similians and richeleiu you have to do at least a 4 night/4day trip and we don't have the time. :(

The 3 day/2 night only dives Similians...

I guess this is the going rate if you want to do day trips. It's a long way out there so we are paying for that speedboat ride.

Anyone know of any other companies out of Khao Lak that dives day trips to Richeleiu? We might just skip Similians and do only one day trip.

Thanks!

[lord khram]

Are these prices are including parkfees and/or equipment?

Richelieu Rock (excluding fees and equipment) 5000 Baht, so around 150 US$, Similans (excluding fees and equipment) 4800 Baht, so around 145 US$.

Both are good value for money trips.

Sounds like ok value to me, particularly compared to my locality in Thailand where I have been asked for up to 4000bt for a boat ride of under 1 hour to quite poor dive sites.
To dive both of these places you have to travel a considerable distance, and at least when you get there the diving is excellent. Hope you enjoy your trip, what ever you decide to do.

[Aeromech]

Do report back from the trip "littleguppie" as others might follow!

[Quero]

Hey littleguppie! It's great that you are coming all the way from Chicago to dive with us here in Thailand!

I see no reason for you to spend all your time on Phuket if your dream is to dive Richelieu Rock. The prices you have been quoted are about right. Speedboat charters to the Similans/Surins are more expensive than the normal daytrips on our big boats out of Phuket since they can take fewer divers and they are expensive to run, so the per-diver cost goes up.

However, if you want to make your money stretch, you might do just one speedboat trip out there (Richelieu) and do one or two more daytrips out of Phuket at somewhat lower rates--you can find trips with 3 dives that lower the per-dive rate further.

[PenBaySailor]

Littleguppie, we are planning a trip in February and are looking at an overnight trip to the Similans with Similan Diving Safaris out of Khao Lak. It looks like a good value and a fun trip.

If anyone has used this operator please pass along your experiences.

[littleguppie]

penbay...thanks, I just emailed Similan Diving Safaris! They dive the Similans everyday so they are a great option. I'd like to get some feedback on the dive op though...anyone every used them?