Dive centers of Koh Tao / Pulau Perhentian?

Hi there!

We're heading to Koh Tao at the end of this month and I've been comparing
the local dive centers a bit. My girlfriend has planned to take part on OWD
course there, while I already have CMAS*** and Deep Diver certifications
myself. So, I have some plans for recreational dives. All the dive centers
seem to have the same prices, so I would appreciate if someone could offer
some first-hand information about different centers, their courses, dives,
accommodation, boats, equipment etc.

We'll also spend some time at Pulau Perhentian, so if someone knows similar
things about local dive centers, please share =)

Thanks in advance!

- Miika -

"Miika Härkönen" wrote:
>
> Hi there!
>
> We're heading to Koh Tao at the end of this month and I've been comparing
> the local dive centers a bit. My girlfriend has planned to take part on OWD
> course there, while I already have CMAS*** and Deep Diver certifications
> myself. So, I have some plans for recreational dives. All the dive centers
> seem to have the same prices, so I would appreciate if someone could offer
> some first-hand information about different centers, their courses, dives,
> accommodation, boats, equipment etc.
>
> We'll also spend some time at Pulau Perhentian, so if someone knows similar
> things about local dive centers, please share =)
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> - Miika -

Do a 'Google' usenet search on 'Koh Tao' and my name and you'll find
dozens of posts about it, as well as photos.

Steve Kramer
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Four years, ten months, three weeks, 1 hour, 40 minutes and 51 seconds.
53582 cigarettes not smoked, saving $13,395.52. Time used for a better
purpose: 26 weeks, 4 days, 1 hour, 10 minutes.

--
"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons,
but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust

> Do a 'Google' usenet search on 'Koh Tao' and my name and you'll find
> dozens of posts about it, as well as photos.

I already did that before I posted the first message, and it was the helluva
load of information that made me to ask these further questions =) You've
done great job of sharing all this info to fellow divers, and thanks to you,
Ban's was the first (and so far the best) center I contacted.

Is there some web site or faq where one can compare diver's experiences
about different centers? That would be helpful for lazy people like
myself...

- Miika -

"Miika Härkönen" wrote:
>
> > Do a 'Google' usenet search on 'Koh Tao' and my name and you'll find
> > dozens of posts about it, as well as photos.
>
> I already did that before I posted the first message, and it was the helluva
> load of information that made me to ask these further questions =) You've
> done great job of sharing all this info to fellow divers, and thanks to you,
> Ban's was the first (and so far the best) center I contacted.

They do a very good job a Ban's for people who are interested in getting
started or taking further lessons. And Scuba Junction is great for the
more experienced diver OR those looking for lessons. I dive with Ban's
just because I've been diving with them for so many years and am
friendly with all the staff who have also been there almost as long as I
have. I just make sure not to go with one of the groups. My wife and
dive dive alone, or if I'm there myself, dive with a DM trainee as a
buddy. Otherwise, I'd probably dive with Scuba Junction again. I was
diving with Kevin (the owner) since he was managing Big Blue (another
good outfit) and hadn't yet opened his own place.

> Is there some web site or faq where one can compare diver's experiences
> about different centers? That would be helpful for lazy people like
> myself...

Not that I'm aware of.

Steve Kramer
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Four years, ten months, three weeks, 15 hours, 3 minutes and 6 seconds.
53598 cigarettes not smoked, saving $13,399.70. Time used for a better
purpose: 26 weeks, 4 days, 2 hours, 30 minutes.


--
"The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons,
but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust

Hopefull the info below will help:-

Ban's! the largest dive operator on Koh Tao I think, biggest and
best facilities, but I find that they can't provide the personal
touch as a result.

Be aware that there are minimum dive levels for the varoius courses that
most dive shops stick to. Plan to do upto DM with one place then Shop
around for the IDC and IE.

I used LV Dive - for a number of reasons, they are smaller and are
there far more personal, rarely conducting calsses of more than 6 at
the OW and AOW levels and getting smaller, ususaly 1 or 2 at the MFA,
Rescue and DM levels. They have a good boat which is simple and never
overcrowded. They operate the boat from the Mae Hat port/village
which is better/easier than from the Siree beach (DM skills). You
will get a discount by doing the lot with/through them and
accommodation will be cheaper.

Accomodation - I have stayed in the same area over the years for good
reason -there is an outcrop of land between the village Mae Hat and the
main Siree beach, if you take the old road/track from Mae Hat it is
about 10 mins walk, up a steep but short hill then it sort of flattens
out, walk for 5 mins more and on your right is LV Dive, opposite side of
the track the owner of LV has his bar and accommodatin Called Tommy's,
50 yrds on you have the View Cliff accomodation, which is where I stay,
walk 100 yards further and you go down a steep but short hill and are
then on Siree beach which streaches for about a mile with restaurants,
cafes, bars, accommodation and Dive shops all along it. I would highly
recommend either Tommy's or View Cliff to stay at as they have a good
range off accom, from the very cheep to the moderate ie, 300bht / night
to 600bht / night. because you are staying longer you must barter for
discount whatever level you settle on. I know that View Cliff have
monthly rates of 6000bht and 12000bht respectfully, but you will be
staying longer - negociate hard! You can also get some basic accom for
as little as 3000bht per month elseware on the island but you will then
HAVE to hire a motorbike about 3000bht / month - ask Clous and Gary at
LV Dive for more info.

Visas - When you enter Thailand you will get a 60 day visa, but you must
have an exit flight! get around this by buying a flight from Phukett to
Penang and getting it refunded in Bangkok once you are in (an adimn fee
is charged approx £10) this means that you will have an outbound ticket
to show them and you are free to get either a one way ticket or a return
that is for longer thatn the 60 days. Once there youwill need to get
your visa renewed, 2 options - 1 - pay someone like Mr J (you'll find
out) to take your passport and get it stamped -you dont have to leave
the island, it costs around 1500bht and you must get copies of the
relavant pages before you let you passport out of your sight (you should
do this before you leave this country anyway option 2 - do a visa run
yourself, quickest is a boat to Chumpon 300bht, bus to Ranong >100bht,
stay over night in the Tanatwan Palacein Ranong and ask the owner
'Wiliwan' to tell you the cheapest way to cross the border to Myanmar
for the day, back to Chumpon, overnight ready for the 7 am ferry to Koh
Tao. Works out mutch the same in cost but you get to see some more of
Thailand, Ranong is a great town almost no tourists and very cheap.

Not sure that you're expectaions to work will be met, it will depend on
how busy the ilsand and therefore the dive shops are. A DM working in LV
Dvie may earn 18 - 20,000 bht / month.


My recomendation - Dive with LV, Stay at View Clif, do the visa run
yourself, and dive till you drop (I to am pushing the big 40)

Enjoy and let me know if I can help with anything else, I'm off
to Bangkok in March and desperatly trying to make time to get to
the turtle.



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