This is the fifth and final post in my learn to dive series. In the previous posts I have discussed why you should learn to dive, is one training agency better than another and is it better to learn to dive at home or when on holiday? I have also broke down a PADI Open Water Course to give you an idea what you will do when you learn to dive and what you can do after you gain your dive qualification.

In this final post I’m going to let the pictures do the talking. Now please remember that the pics you see were taken by me and I am by no means a great underwater photographer, nor do i have a proper underwater photographic equipment. I have tried to include images that provide an insight to what it would be like to learn to dive and what you may see. I could waffle on about each image and what is happening in them but I won’t, I will however describe them .

This was a bunch a divers I taught in Ao,Nang Krabi. They are on the way to there first ever open water dive and the 2 people on the left continued after the course to do PADI Advanced Open Water with me.

The image on the left is a diver exploring a reef near Maya Bay off Phi Phi, Krabi. The image on the right is a rare sight indeed, this is me on open water on a safety stop.

A collect of fish swimming over shallow rocks in Donald Duck Bay in the Similan Islands.

A view from inside the King Cruiser Wreck Thailand. This is no longer possible since wreck penetration is not allowed here anymore.

The exit of a swim through near Maya Bay, Phi Phi island.

The next 3 images were all taken during personal dives in the waters around Thailand, I can just about remember their names, do any of you know them? If so you should let other know in the comments.

I hope this series of posts on learning to dive has been helpful in someway and maybe answered a few questions. If you have missed any of these posts there is a list of links at the end targeted to individual posts. If there is anything you would like to know about scuba diving or learning to dive in particular then leave a message in the comments and I’ll try and answer it. That’s enough from me now so what are you waiting for go learn to dive.

Happy Diving!

Learn To Dive – Part 1 Why Learn To Dive?

Learn To Dive – Part 2 Where To Learn To Dive

Learn To Dive – Part 3 What Will I do On The Course

Learn to Dive – Part 4 What To Do After You Become A Diver

If you’re looking for a scuba diving holiday in Thailand one of the most popular options is what I like to call the ‘Andaman Safari‘. This isn’t a light hearted type of holiday and would not be of much interest to non-divers. It normally takes 14 days in total (or it should in my opinion) and would include 6 days and nights on a Thailand liveaboard to the Similans at the heart of the holiday.

You would have the opportunity to do 22 dives in the Similan Marine National Park and beyond but as I said above this is a heavy schedule and not suitable to non-divers. If you have never been on a Liveaboard then maybe 4 dives a day for 5 days wouldn’t be the ideal time to start. Thailand dive centres in Phuket and Kho Lak offer many different types and durations of liveaboard to the Similans, Richeliu Rock and Burma Banks and if it’s your first time I would suggest a shorter trip maybe 3days – 2nights.

If you are a committed diver however and looking for a scuba diving holiday in Thailand have a look at my suggested itinerary:

• Day 1 Depart your home
• Day 2 Arrive Phuket and transfer to your hotel
• Day 3 Take this day to rest and see a little of Phuket sights.
• Day 4 Board your liveaboard, usually in the evening, and travel to the Similans over night
• Day 5 to Day 9 There will be four dives in total offered per day.
• Day 10 After your two early morning dives you will return to your Phuket hotel.
• Day 11 Rest Day
• Day 12 Rest Day
• Day 13 Fly Home
• Day 14 Arrive home

The positive side to this type of holiday in Thailand is that you get to see the best dive sites the country has to offer. The negative side is that you would miss out on all the culture and sites around Thailand, it really depends what you want from a holiday! If you’re like me and many other divers who travel to Thailand often then you can have the best of both worlds. On one trip you can do the liveaboard and on your next trip stick with dayboat diving. The advantage of doing it this way is that you get all the dive sites. Liveaboards don’t often visit the same sites the day boats do.

Scuba diving holidays in Thailand are just as varied as the country itself and after only one visit you should try and get back to somewhere different the next time to dive something new!

It is easy to see why this jungle hearted island, encircled by sweeping beaches has become the most popular beach destination in Thailand. Getting this, the largest island, is now so very easy with direct flights from Europe and other Asian destinations as well as multiple daily flights from Bangkok. Holiday makers also arrive by the causeway linking the island to the mainland, so coaches and minibuses will take you from any other location south of Bangkok to Phuket. The only transport that is missing is the train but many Thailand tours will transfer you by train to Surat Thani then a coach onwards to Phuket if its budget you are after.

I have traveled by coach from Bangkok to Phuket and would say if you can afford it try and avoid this. It’s a very long journey, some 16 hours in total although advertised as 12 hours, even with its many stops and when you finally arrive in Phuket your first day may be catching up on lost sleep. As a diver though any form of road travel allows you an extra days diving, with the flying-diving restrictions, but its best to work this out as the journey time of the bus may also waste a day.

Finding a dive company to take you diving will be no problem here. Phuket has the biggest number of dive centers in Thailand but that does not mean that are all good, in fact with that many about I would say if you’re not careful you will end up with a poor one. Like everything else I suggest you do your research before you arrive and check out some companies web sites. Location is not really a problem as all dive centers will pick up and drop off at your hotel.

Hotel Locations

Patong is the largest beach destination on the island and has hundreds of hotels and guest houses at a variety of prices. Hotels on the beach front or soi’s running off the beach are prime location and as such can demand high prices. Rat-U-Thit Rd runs parallel with the beach road and will get very busy in the evening with traffic, stalls and restaurant markets setting up. A variety of cheap accommodation will be found here but there is also the higher 3-4 star places. My personal choice of hotel in Patong is the Deevana Resort & Spa at the north end of Rat-U-Thit Rd. It’s close enough to all the action of Patong but far enough away that at night it’s quiet. Nanai Rd runs parallel with the other 2 but is set further back so requires transport to the beach. It offers splendid views of Patong as some hotels are set in the hillside.

Karon beach is a very long stretch of white sand with many hotels along most of it. With this number of hotel rooms is can be easier to get a one with a sea view that wont break to bank to do so and it may also be the place to go when Patong fills up. Cheap taxi’s make Patong accessible but you will find plenty of bars and restaurant in north and south ends of Karon beach, so you don’t really need to go anywhere for your evening entertainment. The southern end of the beach has some rock outcrops that can provide a nice day snorkeling just off the beach.

Kata is largely dominated by Club Med, but there are a few other hotels in the area now, many of which have direct beach access. That is to say you can go straight onto the beach from reception without crossing any roads, unlike most other hotels in Phuket. This area is a fast up and coming destination now with many restaurant and bars to keep you suitable watered and feed during your holiday. The rocky outcrops at the north and south tips of this beach offer some nice snorkeling options for those in between dive days.

Other Beach Destinations. With so much beach surrounding this island there are many destinations to Phuket and the 3 I have outlined above are only the main ones in terms of popularity and choice of hotels. Other places you may want to consider include Rawai beach, Kamala beach, Surin beach, Phuket Town and Chalong Bay amongst others.