Diving near Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hi,
I will be in Chiang Mai for some days in the next month, to train
for Muay Thai. I was thinking of getting diving certification, while I
am in Thailand. Can anybody tell me what is the nearest place (w.r.t
travel cost) from Chiang Mai where I can get my certification.
In case it is not possible to day commute, I am willing to stay a few
days.
thanks in advance
regards
Sandy

Sandy wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I will be in Chiang Mai for some days in the next month, to train
> for Muay Thai. I was thinking of getting diving certification, while I
> am in Thailand. Can anybody tell me what is the nearest place (w.r.t
> travel cost) from Chiang Mai where I can get my certification.
> In case it is not possible to day commute, I am willing to stay a few
> days.
> thanks in advance
> regards
> Sandy

Chiang Mai is in the mountains in the north of Thailand. There is NO
diving anywhere within 12 hours driving time. You would need to fly down
to Bangkok, then take a bus or train further on to Pattaya to get to the
closest dive site. But diving Pattaya is like diving in a sterile pond.
There is virtually no coral, few fish, and one advertised wreck of an
old fishing boat (can be snorkeled just as easily. The mast is out of
the water at low tide.) However, I did hear in the past few months that
they were (or did) scuttle a large boat just for a dive site there. If
you want better diving, you will have to fly further south to Koh Samui
or Phuket, and then take a boat further on to get to any good dive
venue. This time of year it will not make a difference weather-wise if
you go to an island in the Gulf, such as Koh Tao, or to an island on the
west coast such as Koh Phi Phi or Krabi. Both will have some rain and
some sun.

Steve Kramer
Chiang Mai, Thailand

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