PADI Cert in Thailand or Malaysia?

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wwsmith

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I will be going to Kuala Lumpur the end of November for about 3 weeks. I was looking into getting my PADI open water cert…which I hear only takes 3-4 days. A couple of questions: can you still dive that time of year? I have researched quite a bit and it sounds like the other island of Malaysia or somewhere in Thailand would be my best bet. Any suggestions on which area I should look into?

It seems there are hundreds of different places to choose from. I have also noticed several resorts that have everything included (lodging, dive, etc). Any comments on these? Another option is to try and get my open water in the states before I head out and get my advanced when in SE Asia. I know absolutely nothing about what makes for a good dive and what to look for.

I will be by myself doing the course, so obviously price is a concern, but then so is the quality and safety. Recommendations on companies to use, places to stay, etc would be very much appreciated! Thanks!
 
I'd look into getting a cheap flight up to Phuket or Krabi, in Thailand and find a dive shop there. For that time of year most of the islands around Peninsula Malaysia will be in Monsoon season e.g Perhentians or Tioman.
My personal choice would be to get up to Krabi and find a chilled dive Op on Koh Lanta.
 
I would recommend you do the course while at home that way you can actually spend more of your trip actually diving. Courses run at tourist destinations can be sub par due high volume, "get em in get em out", of course not all. I only have experience in Thailand so cannot comment on Malaysia. Good luck.
 
I would recommend you do the course while at home that way you can actually spend more of your trip actually diving.

Providing you had enough money left to actually take the trip. :rofl3:

Cost of a course in the USA or Europe can be 4x that of the same course in Asia.


Courses run at tourist destinations can be sub par due high volume, "get em in get em out", of course not all.

Of course. It'd be very wrong to generalise about quality of training with a territorial prejudice.

I've seem some atrociously run courses in the UK. Same also for Thailand and Malaysia. If the customer researches their options and is selective of their course providers, then they'll get a good course wherever they might be. If they just walk into the first (or cheapest) dive centre, without any evaluation, then they stand a chance of getting sub-par training...again, wherever they might be.

It's wrong to assume that western-run courses will automatically be superior to 'holiday destination' training. Likewise, thinking that 'cold-water' diving is superior to 'warm-water' training is also flawed and short-sighted.

For the OP: In addition to the recommendations give by Wart, I'd also recommend investigating training courses at Mabul, Borneo. It's an hour's (cheap) flight from KL (dest: Tawau airport, Sabah). Some of the best diving in the world (better than anything on peninsular Malaysia or Thailand) Backpacker operators working alongside 5* resorts - so price/value is good.

Have a look at: Borneo Divers and Scuba Junkies
 
Have a look here ...

Gekko Scuba Divers | Phuket Thailand

Marcia, who is the owner/instructor, is also "Quero", a Scubaboard moderator. You can get you cert and vacation in Phuket at the same time.
 
Hi,

Personally I would fly up to Phuket, Thailand for the course, It's a very easy flight (1 hour) and then look around yourself - At the end of November the weather (should) be pretty good - the winds usually change (and thus the monsoon has gone) in late October, so conditions should be good.

It won't be too busy in November, so you can easily arrange accomodation when you get there and there are hundreds of dive shops all down the west coast, such as Kamala, Patong, Kata and down to Chalong.

Find a shop you like, you should get a pretty good feel just from talking to the staff in the shop ,most of the dive shops in Phuket do a reasonable job, (I won't push my shop on you!) but find one where you have a good rapport with the instructor and the shop seems professional and not just out to grab your money. The diving is great for both beginners and the more advanced divers, for Open Water courses Racha Yai to the sout or Koh Weo, just off the west coast at Kamala are ideal.

Good Luck

Paul
 
For the OP: In addition to the recommendations give by Wart, I'd also recommend investigating training courses at Mabul, Borneo. It's an hour's (cheap) flight from KL (dest: Tawau airport, Sabah). Some of the best diving in the world (better than anything on peninsular Malaysia or Thailand) Backpacker operators working alongside 5* resorts - so price/value is good.

Have a look at: Borneo Divers and Scuba Junkies

Flight is almost 3 hrs to Tawau, then at least another 45 mins to Semporna and another 45 mins to Mabul
 

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