Diving in Thailand (4)

Instruction Location

Of all the above companies PADI is certainly the most famous. PADI, NAUI and SSI offer diving instruction at every major diving site in Thailand, they are:

- Phuket
- Ko Tao
- Krabi
- Similan Islands
- Ko Samui
- Ko Chang

The BSAC - The British Sub-Aqua only offers instruction on Phuket.
Out of the entire above diving course location, Ko Tao has turned into the major destination for taking a diving course in Thailand.

Types of Instruction Courses Available

PADI, NAUI and SSI offer the following courses in Thailand:

1. Scuba Diver
2. Skin Diver
3. Open Water Diver
4. Adventure Diver
5. Advanced Open Water Diver
6. Emergency First Response
7. Rescue Diver
8. Dive Master
9. Search & Recovery Diver
10.Training Assistant
11.Underwater Archeologist
12.Master Scuba Diver
13.Instructor Course
14.Advanced Scuba Diver
15.Deep Diver
16.Dry Suit Diver
17.Enriched Air Nitrox Diver

Out of all these courses offered by in Thailand, the basic Scuba Diver course is the most popular.

Types of Diving Available in Thailand

1. Snorkeling
2. Free diving
3. Scuba diving
4. Eco diving
5. Wreck diving
6. Night diving
7. Rescue diving
8. Cave Diving
9. Diving with disabilities

All of the above types of diving can be experienced in Thailand at all major diving sites except number 5. Wreck Diving can be found at The Similans, Ko Phi Phi and Pattaya.

Of all the types of diving available in Thailand snorkeling and scuba diving are the most popular. Since people are becoming more and more aware of man-made destruction of natural coral etc. The popularity of Eco-diving has been soaring over the past few years.


4. Diving Vacation in Thailand

Day Trips

Usually, day trips itinerary and timetable are designed to allow the diver access to select his favorite local dive sites. With 2 or 3 dive options, he can choose the trip best suitable to him. The trips usually include hotel transfers, a dive master or instructor, tanks, weights, and belts, lunch, and three to four dives--depending on the day, the destination, and the boat.

Two-day trips are also available which usually include 7-dives, hotel accommodation, and meals. They are similar to mini-liveaboards

http://siamdivers.com/dive/greta/index.htm

http://diveasia.com/daytrips/index.htm

Diving Holiday Package

Diving packages are designed for tourists who want to either stay for a longer period of time or have come to Thailand especially to dive. There are various kind of packages designed for the diver. Various diving operators or agents have a variety of different packages with different cost range of accommodation.

For e.g.:

Khao Lak Resort Packages

High Budget – Baan Khao Lak Resort
Medium Budget – Best Western Palm Galleria Resort
Low Budget – Khao Lak Mohin Tara Hotel

Koh Phi Phi Resort Packages

High Budget – Holiday Inn
Medium Budget – PP Erawan Palms Resort
Low Budget – PP Banyan Villa

Krabi Resort Packages

High Budget – The Cliff Ao Nang Resort
Medium Budget – Ao Nang Villa Resort
Low Budget – Ao Nang Paradise Resort

Koh Samui Resort Packages

High Budget – Banburi Resort and Spa
Medium Budget – Chaweng Villa Beach Resort
Low Budget – AI’s Hut Hotel

Liveaboard

Liveaboard dive boats offer the opportunity to visit various locations for 3 – 10 days at a time. They usually require overnight travel before arriving at their destinations. All trips usually include dive masters.

These boats travel to the following locations:

1. The Similan Islands
2. Ko Bon, Ko Tachai, and Richelieu Rock
3. Hin Daeng
4. The Mergui Archipelago
5. The Andaman Islands