Re: Diving in Phuket

In article <WNi3d.251069$DA5.13026345@phobos.telenet-ops.be>, Bianca
Maes <bianca.maes@pandora.be> wrote:

€ Hello,
€
€ I will be traveling to Thailand end of October - beginning of November.
€ Before joining a friend of mine in Bangkok, would like to go to Phuket to
€ learn how to dive. Does anyone have experience in diving in Phuket? What
€ diving school would you propose? Anyone that can recommand accommodation in
€ Phuket?
€
€ Many thanks in advance,
€ Sandra
€
€

Kata Beach Dive Shop is my favorite - http://www.katadive.com/ (and the
only place offering NAUI instruction in Phuket)

Marina Divers in Karon Beach is also good -
http://www.marinadivers.com/ and if you're staying in Patong, Scuba Cat
- http://www.scubacat.com/ is a decent shop.

Dive organizations in Phuket tend to cater to specific nationalities -
UK, German, Scandinavian, Japanese. If you're more comfortable getting
instruction in a particular language, do a Google search on Phuket
Diving <nationality> and you'll find other shops that might suit you
better. Also, many shops don't include the instruction materials in
their class fees. If you want the book, you'll probably have to buy it
seperately.

Diving around Phuket ranges from decent to incredible. The local sites
are so-so, but the Similans and Burma Banks can be incredible. As a
student, you're almost certain to be going to one of the local sites,
but as a student, you're also going to think it's incredible even if
the experienced divers think it's so-so.

(cross-posted to rec.scuba.locations)

hth

Alan