In desperate and immediate need of Phuket recommendations

[vovanx]

Patong is a "nightlife" area, a Phuket's little Patthaya IYKWIM. My personal favourite is Kata beach.

Yes, dive shops have free transfer from most south beaches, but will charge you for transfer from Bang Tao or Mai Khao beaches.

 

[lowwall]

Talk to stevenl. He's an excellent guide (and instructor if you want a class). WhatsApp is a good way to reach him.

Shops don't have their own boats there. The sites are not close so for day trips big boats take out multiple groups that are organised and led by DMs from the various shops. I've done a few trips with stevenl and the number of people in our group was between 2 and 6. The day boats leave from Chalong pier which is a 20 minutes drive, but your shop will normally provide transportation.

The other option for diving from Phuket is liveaboards. Almost all of them can be booked through the shops. Most leave from a town around 90 minutes north of the Patong/Kata/Karon beaches, but they'll all pick you up at your hotel and return you at the end.

Which town you stay in depends on what you are looking for. Patong is the most developed and the only choice if girly bars are a priority, Karon the least developed. Steven's shop is in Kata which I think is a nice medium.

There's a clean, modern and relatively inexpensive hotel literally across the street from his shop that I stayed in my last two times there that I can recommend.

Jazz U Garden Resort
A. Muang 18/1-4 Moo 2 Kate Kade Kwan Rd, Karon, Phuket 83100, Thailand
+66 91 037 4047
https://maps.app.goo.gl/dxgGLaqPp3SWavv37

Steven's shop:
Phuket dash Scuba dot Com
53 Kade Kwan Rd, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Chang Wat Phuket 83100, Thailand
+66 76 284 580
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Et23JvaedaDURoXs7

 

[Pillpusher]

Quick question regarding the wifi listed on some of the liveaboards... Does it actually work, or does that depend on the destination? I'm sure it's just a cell phone tethered hot spot, and I plan on getting a SIM card for my hotspot when I land. Speaking of which, any network recommendations? I'm sure they both work in town, but I'm more concerned about remote signal coverage.

Normally, I don't mind unplugging from the world for a while... But I'm having some renovations done to my house, and, if possible, I need to at least be able to check email/texts once a day, at a minimum. If it can't be done, I'll hold off of a liveaboard until later in the trip where hopefully most of the work will have already been done.

 

[diveUAE]

We went on MV Lapat with Similan Seven Seas divers in April 2018, going back this coming April They now have a new boat: MV Camic.

They have small dive groups our group was 3 and our dive guide was “eagle eyed” Tik.

Don’t miss Richelieu Rock! Koh Tarchai and Koh Bon are great as well.

We did not have a chance to dive Surin, but I heard that’s also a nice place.

 

[Pillpusher]

We went on MV Lapat with Similan Seven Seas divers in April 2018, going back this coming April They now have a new boat: MV Camic.

They have small dive groups our group was 3 and our dive guide was “eagle eyed” Tik.

Don’t miss Richelieu Rock! Koh Tarchai and Koh Bon are great as well.

We did not have a chance to dive Surin, but I heard that’s also a nice place.

Thanks. I forgot to mention it, but small groups are definitely important to me as well since I'll be doing some photography.

 

[Efka76]

No reason in particular. I just initially chose it (the result of a 15 minute research session as the plane taxied) since I figure it will be the easiest to get to from Bangkok, most dive spots are within reach of it, one way or another, and it will likely have more options and flexibility on short notice. But, I'm clearly open to suggestions.

If you will be diving from Phuket, it will take you appr 1.5 h to reach diving spots by boat.

 

[Pillpusher]

If you will be diving from Phuket, it will take you appr 1.5 h to reach diving spots by boat.

3 hours on a boat > 3 hours at work

 

[lowwall]

Quick question regarding the wifi listed on some of the liveaboards... Does it actually work, or does that depend on the destination? I'm sure it's just a cell phone tethered hot spot, and I plan on getting a SIM card for my hotspot when I land. Speaking of which, any network recommendations? I'm sure they both work in town, but I'm more concerned about remote signal coverage.

You want dtac or AIS. Both have kiosks at the airports. Coverage on land is fast and ubiquitous. On the water, I've had nearly full coverage on day trips and even had good coverage near the Similans as there are cell towers on a couple of the islands. The wifi never worked on the 2 liveaboards I've been on, but I haven't been on the higher-end boats so can't comment there.

 

[Pillpusher]

You want dtac or AIS. Both have kiosks at the airports. Coverage on land is fast and ubiquitous. On the water, I've had nearly full coverage on day trips and even had good coverage near the Similans as there are cell towers on a couple of the islands. The wifi never worked on the 2 liveaboards I've been on, but I haven't been on the higher-end boats so can't comment there.

Good to know, thanks. If you have cell service, you can have wifi. Most of the itineraries I'm looking at (5-6 days) cover Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, and Richelieu Rock. I'm guessing that's probably the way to roll?

 

[outofofficebrb]

You can try to get a transfer up to Khao Lak and hop onto some liveaboards that may have last minute openings and/or deals. You can hit up the Similan Islands, some of if not the best diving in Thailand. The park will still be open this time of year.

What was the reason for your diversion and change in travel plans? Was it because of the airport you were connecting to and the Philippines not allowing anyone to enter from that transit airport? What was your original routing?