Diving in south Thailand expensive?

[k374]

I was under the impression that it is quite economical to dive in Thailand but it seems as expensive as Hawaii, if not even more. I dove in December in Dahab and paid only 25 EUR/dive with equipment for shore or boat dives which I thought was a terrific deal, is it possible to get the same deals in Koh Samui? The prices I have looked at on various websites were in the range around 5000 Baht ($165) for 2 dives with equipment in Koh Samui area which is around 80 USD per dive, which I think is really steep! I didn't even pay that much for any of the boat dives in Maui (and the boat trips were about an HOUR there). I was hoping to do some dives on a mid-range budget... or am I dreaming?

 

[lord khram]

I have made the same observations over the years and found that generally diving in Thailand is anything but cheap, on my annual summer trip back to the UK I dive every year and costs there are still very much significantly cheaper than in Thailand for dive trips and courses alike.
Other than some Thai operated boats which I use in the Pattaya area the only exception I have found is Koh Tao. There are some budget operators on this island, as a great deal of the boats operating from Samui dive at the same Koh Tao sites you may want to consider this as an option. The only downside is that koh Tao seems to attract all the backpacker type tourists and you will generally find the 'budget dive trips' will be on overcrowded boats.
Last time I went to Koh Tao I seem to remember paying around 1800bt for a 2 dive day trip with my own equipment. There are others that post on these forums that will be much better able to advise you on the current situation.

 

[jamiemac]

Samui is quite expensive, things cost a lot more because you're on an island, and the boat trip to the dive sites , Koh Tao, is long.

KT is better although not as cheap as it you'd think, again everything is overpriced because of the island factor, rents fuel , noodles. It costs three times as much to live as Bangkok ( if you're a good boy)

I've been working in the dive industry in thailand for over twenty years, and have no idea why i'm not rich!

try Master Divers on Koh Tao, small groups, best dive times, nice crew

 

[AleG]

The cheapest I've dived in Thailand is 7500 for 10 dives at Koh Tao (including rented equipment) with Scuba Junction; I haven't checked their prices this year, but I think they start with 1000 Baht per dive if you only take two, down to 750 with 10 or more.
The last time I went diving was on a liveaboard trip to the Similan islands, 15 dives all in all for 18500 Baht, plus a couple thousand more for gear rental and park fees if I remember correctly. This was with a Thai company called Scuba Jam, I was the only foreigner in the boat (which I don't mind at all).

I don't know about Samui, but further South and on the Andaman side, Koh Lipe seems to be twice as expensive as Koh Tao. Last time I went there each dive went for 1500 Baht or more.

 

[limbo]

I was under the impression that it is quite economical to dive in Thailand but it seems as expensive as Hawaii, if not even more. I dove in December in Dahab and paid only 25 EUR/dive with equipment for shore or boat dives which I thought was a terrific deal, is it possible to get the same deals in Koh Samui? The prices I have looked at on various websites were in the range around 5000 Baht ($165) for 2 dives with equipment in Koh Samui area which is around 80 USD per dive, which I think is really steep! I didn't even pay that much for any of the boat dives in Maui (and the boat trips were about an HOUR there). I was hoping to do some dives on a mid-range budget... or am I dreaming?

Hi k374,

As Jamie already pointed out, diving from Samui is expensive because the dive sites are far away and the fuel costs are high, especially on a speedboat. It is cheaper to dive from either Koh Phangan or Koh Tao, since the same dive sites are visited as when you dive from Samui.
There are 2 companies however on Samui that offer a 3 dive day trip on a slow boat that has better value.

 

[k374]

Thx guys.. Well, apparently I didn't realize that there is no diving on Koh Samui and the ops are actually heading to Ko Tao to do their diving...makes more sense to just be based in Ko Tao as there are many ops there offering dives for around 850 baht per dive all inclusive.

Also, looking for some budget accomodtion options in Samui and Ko tao (pref $30 and under), if you have suggestions please reply

 

[cuyler]

I got my OW in Koh Lanta. It's a lot less touristy (you can day trip to Phi Phi or Phuket if you want) and the diving wasn't too expensive. A day of diving runs you 3000-3500 Bhat (70-82 Euros) for two dives and some of the best Thai food on the boat (Go Dive Lanta has the best food I found). A dive package of 7 days of diving is ~19k bhat ($450 Euro) or about $32 euro/dive and that includes breakfast and lunch for 7 days.

It's 2-4 hours out to the dive sites but leads to a very nice relaxed atmosphere of divers and just some fun times over lunch on the way back home.

The other thing is the cost of living in Thailand is super cheap.

You can get a place for 10 days (7000 bhat), 14 dives (19k), rent a moped (1500) and eat and trinkets (3000) - all in that's 700 euros for a good vacation living very well. It's tough to do that in a lot of other places.

 

[k374]

Thanks, seeing the accomodation prices in the Thai islands (Ko Samui etc.) I now appreciate now ridiculously cheap other places like Cozumel are and how much value they provide. I think the Thai islands have become more expensive now because of all the rich old tourists coming down from Europe prepared to pay pretty much anything to sit and lounge on their beach chairs while Europe is freezing.

 

[paddydiver]

I have made the same observations over the years and found that generally diving in Thailand is anything but cheap, on my annual summer trip back to the UK I dive every year and costs there are still very much significantly cheaper than in Thailand for dive trips and courses alike.
Other than some Thai operated boats which I use in the Pattaya area the only exception I have found is Koh Tao. There are some budget operators on this island, as a great deal of the boats operating from Samui dive at the same Koh Tao sites you may want to consider this as an option. The only downside is that koh Tao seems to attract all the backpacker type tourists and you will generally find the 'budget dive trips' will be on overcrowded boats.
Last time I went to Koh Tao I seem to remember paying around 1800bt for a 2 dive day trip with my own equipment. There are others that post on these forums that will be much better able to advise you on the current situation.

??? A day trip from Phuket costs 3500 to 4000 for 3 dives including a dive guide, breakfast, a good Thai food lunch and often a snack on the way back. You also get a free transfer from your hotel to the boat. You can do this significantly cheaper in the UK?

 

[jamiemac]

you've got that right, i would pay anything right now to be sitting on a beach in the sun in thailand.

cheers from sunny london