Jump to content
  • 0

Scuba Diving

Treborz

Asked by Treborz,

 Share

Best Place to Take PADI Open Water Course  

131 members have voted

  1. 1. Best Place to Take PADI Open Water Course

    • Koh Tao
      1
    • Krabi/Phi Phi (please specify)
      2
    • Koh Samui
      1
    • Phuket
      0
    • Samed
      0

Question

Treborz Newbie

Treborz

Posted
Posted

Hi all

Just a quick poll to see what the general consensus is amongst those of you who have learned to/scuba dived in Thailand. The PADI Open Water course is on my to do list when I am in Thailand and I would like to know where people think is the best place to do it.

I don't necessarily want the cheapest, I just want somewhere where the water and underwater scenery is best and good value.

If I have missed somewhere then please feel free to add it in the thread.

Cheers

Rob

Edit - I forgot, also suggest specific Dive Schools in these places if you have experienced any.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 answers to this question

Recommended Posts

  • 0
Treborz Newbie

Treborz

Posted
  • Author
Posted
This time of year Andaman Sea is best side to dive. Similian Islands north of Phuket one of best in world. No recommendations for schools.

Stay away from Gulf of Thailand this time of year.

safe diving to you 8)

Cheers, I forgot to say I will be in Thailand during the second half of the year and will probably look to take the course around November time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
tilaceer Newbie

tilaceer

Posted
Posted

I did one day intro at Warm Waters in Patong (PADI) however, with no disrespect to PADI, suggest you also look at SSI courses. I did SSI certification back here in Oz, and was very impressed.

I thought the Warm Waters was good value for money, and they seemed to offer more time in the pool, than some of the other places.

http://www.warmwaterdivers.com

Good luck..

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
i_love_som_tam Newbie

i_love_som_tam

Posted
Posted

similan is good for november. you can do a live aboard for 4 days and do you open water certification from there. if you don't want to do it that way you can do it from phuket from any of the dive centers there.

it usually consists of one day classroom/pool and two days on the boat at ratcha and phi phi isles.

i have the number for a dive instructor there if you are interested.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
joz_sling Newbie

joz_sling

Posted
Posted
Similan Islands in PANG-NGAR province is the Best place ever in Thailand for me (Surin Island is good for snorkeling).....if you haven't been there yet, don't say other place is better :D

have fun!!

I thought similan islands were closed at that time because it was rainy season??

Guess im wrong AGAIN

i don't know when he or u gonna go. but if i'm not wrong, they might close from May-Oct and' this's rainny season u don't want to jump in the boat...errrrr (but i've heard that this time of the year down under is so amazing a lot more in summer)

i like to go Similan in March, no rain and not to windy and lovely sunshine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
i_love_som_tam Newbie

i_love_som_tam

Posted
Posted
Similan Islands in PANG-NGAR province is the Best place ever in Thailand for me (Surin Island is good for snorkeling).....if you haven't been there yet, don't say other place is better :D

have fun!!

I thought similan islands were closed at that time because it was rainy season??

Guess im wrong AGAIN

similan is closed from april thru november i believe

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 0
Mart2005 Newbie

Mart2005

Posted
Posted

Similans islands close at the end of May through to Mid October, the reason for this is that the weather is too rough and windy to be able to enter and the exit the water safely.

The best time for the Similan islands in from Jan to April when the weather is quietest and the Manta rays and Whale sharks are prevalent. Anytime before January then the chance of seeing these amazing creatures are quite slim and the windy weather makes the trip uncomfortable if you are prone to seasickness.

With regards to doing your Open Water course, it doesn't really matter what location you do it because you don't have much time to look around for things anyway. The majority of your open water dives are spent practicing skills and grasping the fundementals of buoyancy control and conserving air in shallow sandy water. You could liken it to learning to drive, you wouldn't want to learn to drive on busy city streets where too much is going on around you. What I mean is, perfect the skills first before getting out of your depth.

Once the course is completed then you can take time to look around more and go places where the fish and corals are amazing. There is no point in learning to dive in the Similan Islands (pricey) when 4 of your dives are in shallow water where you see relatively nothing.

All dive shops are much of a muchness. Prices are similar and the dive sites are the same. What you do want however, is a dive centre where you feel comfortable with your instructor and that there aren't too many students on the course so you can get plenty of one on one instruction. I prefer teaching 1 on 1 or a maximum of 2 students to 1 instructor. Anymore and you need eyes in the back of head, especially if one student has a problem to overcome.

So basically, if you get the right vibe from the dive shop and you can meet your instructor before committing to the course then thats the way to go, other things like location and cost are minor detail.

Hope this info helps.

By the way, Phuket do have nice day trip locations that are suitable for beginners and the conditions and visibility are good. There are also site suitable for intermediate divers once qualified that offer loads of sea life and corals.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to question listing
×
×
  • Create New...