Need help - Diving in Thailand??

[Maxx]

Hi,
I’m beginner & did my open water last year (June 2005). I’m currently working in Culcatta, India and my coming home trip to Malaysia, via Bangkok Airport on 22/01/2006 (Arriving Bangkok @ 4am).
I’m thinking of spending 2-3 nights on Thailand to do some leisure dives before returning to my beloved homeland. Any suggestions eg dive sites to go or avoid during that period (hope not too expensive)? How to get there? Accommodation??
Would appreciate your comments & recommendations.

 

[Batfish]

Hi,
I’m beginner & did my open water last year (June 2005). I’m currently working in Culcatta, India and my coming home trip to Malaysia, via Bangkok Airport on 22/01/2006 (Arriving Bangkok @ 4am).
I’m thinking of spending 2-3 nights on Thailand to do some leisure dives before returning to my beloved homeland. Any suggestions eg dive sites to go or avoid during that period (hope not too expensive)? How to get there? Accommodation??
Would appreciate your comments & recommendations.

A few days diving from Phuket would get you the most variety of dive sites. If you did not dive since your Open Water course, I'd recommend you do a refresher with a couple of dives at Racha Yai island, then maybe a day trip to Phi Phi, and then to Shark Point/Anemone reef. Would not recommend the King Cruiser Wreck.

Some ideas :

Phuket Day Trips

Phuket Dive Sites

Phuket Tourist Information

 

[SteveDiver]

This is who we are using in April.. .http://divetheworldthailand.com/

 

[andibk]

You might want to consider Aquanauts Dive Center in Pattaya. Pattaya is only 2 hours from Bangkok, you can get there without having to hop on another plane.

andibk

 

[Ringo]

Phuket or Phi Phi both offer great variety of diving such as daytrips, overnight cruises, shore or 1/2 day dives and Liveaboards. Also recommend that you do a refresher. Re: accommodation you should be able to find something on arrival. Whatever you decide - happy diving.

 

[JonnieB]

sorry to be a downer but if you only have 2-3 days in thailand, you really don't have enough time to do any diving, especially considering the 24 hr no fly period after your last dive. there are no really good dive sites close to bangkok. you would have to go to the andaman region (the samui and tao sites in the gulf are in monsoon season now). the andaman is a flight away and takes at least a half day to get there (don't forget the return trip too).

closer to bangkok are chumporn or pattya/rayong areas but the diving in both places is not that good (wrecks in pattaya/rayong area are decent, however, if you like that but are for more experienced divers)

maybe best to just dive when you get back to malaysia... the divesites are better there anyway.

 

[danno]

JonnieB, Don't be such a downer on Pattaya. The wrecks are good as you say. The far islands can be very good if you like a good coral dive and the operator knows the tides and schedules dive time around them.
2-3 days is not a lot of time but 2 hours from Bangkok, a good day or two of diving and still have the 24 hour no fly before heading home. You get to take a look, add a new dive site to you log book and be able to say 'been there, done that'.

 

[waterpigglett]

check out thaitravelcard.com they have extensive trips and courses all at wholesale rates they save you heaps.