Phuket Travel Forum

Greetings,
i was wonderin if anyone knows about any good deals on a day dive trip. I plan to dive in phuket during my upcomin visit from the 8th till the 13th. i've got a few questions to ask as this will be my 1st trip :-

1)any customised dive package??Covering Shark Point and Phi Phi?
2)Better to book online or go to the operator itself??
3)i'm only diving in the day..any cool places to chill at night?I'm stayin at Deewana by the way...
4)anyone here going to be there during that period??wanna meet up??Dun worry...me and my friends dun bite~

Thanks in advance..

Hi, there is a good dive company that operates from both Karon and Kata Beaches. I've heard several recommendations from people that have done courses with them. Contact Chantal and Kevan with any enquiries.

chantal@Phuket-Scuba-Club.com

Thanks...will email chantal soon enuff
:P

Hey there. I work in the dive industry here on the island, and I'd be glad to advise you. Just shoot me an email through VT mail.

Essentially, we all book with the same boats, and the prices are the same no matter who you book with. In my opinion, it's better to book with an independent dive-specialist agent (not just some tour desk that sells a bit of everything) rather than with a boat operator. The boat operator will only want to sell trips on their own boat, and you will go where they are going, regardless of whether that's the site you prefer to dive. With me (and other independent operators) there is the flexibility to book with any of the boats, and most of the time we can get you to the site you want to dive on the day you want to dive.

My recommendations for dive sites are Anemone Reef, Shark Point, Koh Bida Nok and Koh Bida Nai. We also have a wreck, the King Cruiser, at recreational dive depth.

Hey divefy,

Let me know if you want me to customize your day dives for you.

Marcia (VT Travel Guru for Phuket and PADI instructor)

thanks..would very much appreciate that. But i need to know a few things 1st.

1) travellin in a grp of 4 ( 1 diver and 3 non diver)...so, when i dive, what will my frens be doin?
2) cost is also important
3) how many dives can i do in a day (how many dive sites??are the places near or far??)
4)any easier way to correspond??i dunno where's VT mail??haha
5)i'm new~

"1) travellin in a grp of 4 ( 1 diver and 3 non diver)...so, when i dive, what will my frens be doin?
2) cost is also important
3) how many dives can i do in a day (how many dive sites??are the places near or far??)"

1) Do you mean you want them to go along on the boat trip with you? Non-divers are welcome on all trips. Many of the sites are appropriate for snorkelers, but some are not. If you choose to dive at a site where snorkeling is not possible, they just stay on the boat and chill (or toast, if they like to get tan). If they don't go on the boat trip with you, they stay on Phuket and chill (or toast) or join in a different tour, like on a river boat or something else.

2) Every dive boat operator sets its own rates, but generally speaking the further the dive sites are, the more expensive it is. This is because of fuel costs. Also a day with three dives typically costs more than a day with two. Finally, there is one dive speedboat trip I recommend, and it is about 35% more expensive than the least expensive slow boat to the same dive sites.

There are two- and three-dive outings. If you choose a three-dive day, you cannot just do two dives and pay less. If you choose a two-dive day, you cannot just pay more and do a third dive. It's fixed price. No bargaining either. Prices for scuba diving stay the same year round.

3) Most dive sites are a distance away. The nearest ones (at Racha Yai) take about an hour to reach by slow boat. The furthest ones (Phi Phi) take three hours. Others take some time between those.

Sorry Marcia, I didn't realise you were into diving. I remembered you having a boat or something, but I thought you were an author.

I may have misread your response, but it appears from the way your response is worded, that you consider Phuket Scuba Club to be a tour desk type operator, which is misleading. Since you work in the Industry there, I'm sure you have an understanding of how they operate. Desk tour operators are not accepted by PADI as 5 Star Centers with all the criteria that has to be met.

Anyway, for further information, here is their website.

http://www.phuket-scuba-club.com/

Hi Divefy in answer to your questions:

1)any customised dive package??Covering Shark Point and Phi Phi?

Sorry during this season (may - October) there is no such thing as a customised dive package unless you charter your very own boat. All the daytrip dive boats go out to the Sharkpoint and Phi Phi areas (as well as the other daytrip options)on different days. There is however an excellent value for money package - an Overnight Cruise to these areas every Fri/Sat and Mon/Tues. 7 dives, inc accommodation on Phi Phi. This package gives you the opportunity to see the best daytrip sites that both Phuket and Phi Phi have to offer. Non divers do get a discount.

2)Better to book online or go to the operator itself??

Better to go to the operator itself instead of booking on line. You would want to check out who you are diving with, your equipment if you want to rent some etc etc. Also since the weather is so erratic then it would be best to select the dive sites according to the best conditions available at the time. Your daytrip dive schedule can easily be arranged by the many Dive centers on Phuket upon your arrival.

3)i'm only diving in the day..any cool places to chill at night?I'm stayin at Deewana by the way...

Plenty of places to chill around Phuket. Your hotel is located in Patong which is commonly the party area. Also it is close enough by tuk tuk or taxi to the Kata/ Karon areas if you prefer something a little more laid back.

4)anyone here going to be there during that period??wanna meet up??Dun worry...me and my friends dun bite~

Yes, we live and work here - you are more than welcome. We dun bite as well :))

Hope this helps.
Regards
Chantal

"Sorry Marcia, I didn't realise you were into diving. I remembered you having a boat or something, but I thought you were an author.

I may have misread your response, but it appears from the way your response is worded, that you consider Phuket Scuba Club to be a tour desk type operator, which is misleading. Since you work in the Industry there, I'm sure you have an understanding of how they operate. Desk tour operators are not accepted by PADI as 5 Star Centers with all the criteria that has to be met."

Yes, indeed, Tina, you DID misread. Chantal's shop is definitely not a tour desk type of op, nor is it a boat owner. Neither is mine. We both run independent dive-specialist agencies/training schools whereas tour desks sell all sorts of tours, including diving, but are not specialist in anything (much less diving). My reply was not in response to your post, but instead to the OPs original question. I did not make any mention of specific operators, agencies, or tour desks at all.

As to your understanding of what I do in terms of career, years ago, at the time I first joined VT, I did work primarily as an educational writer and teacher educator. At the time I was attached to the Ministry of Education of Malaysia as a Senior Lecturer. While I lived in Malaysia, I also worked from time to time as a Dive Master. I came to Thailand specifically to become a scuba Instructor and to employ my teaching and diving skills in a new way. Now I work primarily in the scuba diving industry.

And yes, I do own a dive boat. But it is in Malaysia, not here in Thailand.

I'm glad everything's cleared up for everyone.

No problem, Tina. I was never confused, and I'd guess neither was Chantal. She and I have had a long and amicable acquaintance on a number of scuba-related discussion boards, and when I saw she had joined VT, I posted a note on her VT home page welcoming her to our friendly group here. :-)

Hi Marcia, do u customise for both diving and snorkelling? and rental of eqpt as well? for diving lessons how much do u charge and for how long are the lessons?

Hi Divefy! Im gg on the 7th till the 12th!! maybe we cld meet up ya?

ya sure...we'll meet up~~
Staying at Deewana by the way. Ermmm...u dive as well??
Anyway,i just got back from Tioman and i cant wait for the phuket trip this week.
I still have not cleared the issue of the Dive thingy~~
Will try to clear it up soon enough~

Hey vanitykills, you asked:
"Hi Marcia, do u customise for both diving and snorkelling? and rental of eqpt as well? for diving lessons how much do u charge and for how long are the lessons?"

Check your VT mailbox.