Thailand: first ever dive info/advice

rc <rconnors@its.leeds.ac.uk> wrote:

> I realise I'll need to have some training before diving in the sea (and
> that even then this will be with a guide) but if this is only e.g. an
> hour in a pool or in the shallows, before I can go out for a "proper"
> dive in the sea with a guide, that's great.

You have just described exactly the "Discover Scuba Diving (DSD)"
procedure except that you would be doing your "proper" dive with an
instructor.

The cost on for this on Koh Tao is 26 UKP
But if you go to do the Open Water course most shops will not charge you
for the DSD

> If I am going to have to go through a full day (or more) in a pool
> before I get out to swim with the fish, this sounds worth doing in the
> UK beforehand.

Although the referal procedure works you will spend much more doing it
that way. The Open Water course is sold at a really low price, so you
will pay almost the full price. You will save time only.

The usual schedule for a 4 day course is
arrive in your resort check in chill out and watch the The Open Water
movie.

Day 1
morning in the Pool or class room (about 2 hours) afternoon class room
or pool (about 2 hours)

Day 2
Morning in the classroom (about 2 hours) afternoon in confined water
(about 1 hour)

Day 3
Morning Final exam (45 mins) afternoon Dive 1 and 2

Day 4
Morning dive 3 and 4

The usual price for this on Koh-Tao is 115 UKP with an accomidation
discount of about 10 UKP
Accomidation ranges from 4 pounds to 30 pounds per night
http://www.asia-divers.com/home.htm

On Phuket the price is about 122 UKP for the course
Accomidation ranges from 8 pounds to 50 pounds per night
http://www.marinadivers.com/

On Kao Lak currently you can get rooms in world class hotels at a 75
percent discount. Most of the the dive centers and hotels back from the
beach have not been touched by the Tsunami. But there are still few
people going there so the prices are wonderful now
http://www.mythaivacation.com/khao-lak.html

> Doing a 'try dive' locally sounds like it could be worthwhile anyway,
> so I have the first clue what I am doing!
>
> As to where I'll be - it is totally flexible. I'll have to fly to the
> coast from Bangkok anyway so can head wherever is good.

For Koh Tao you would take a bus and boat.
For Phuket and Kao Lak you can fly to Phuket airport then take a
taxi/mini bus about 90 Km to either Phuket beaches or Kao Lak

>
> Thanks. rc


--
>replace spamblock with my family name to e-mail me

rc <rconnors@its.leeds.ac.uk> wrote:

> I realise I'll need to have some training before diving in the sea (and
> that even then this will be with a guide) but if this is only e.g. an
> hour in a pool or in the shallows, before I can go out for a "proper"
> dive in the sea with a guide, that's great.

You have just described exactly the "Discover Scuba Diving (DSD)"
procedure except that you would be doing your "proper" dive with an
instructor.

The cost on for this on Koh Tao is 26 UKP
But if you go to do the Open Water course most shops will not charge you
for the DSD

> If I am going to have to go through a full day (or more) in a pool
> before I get out to swim with the fish, this sounds worth doing in the
> UK beforehand.

Although the referal procedure works you will spend much more doing it
that way. The Open Water course is sold at a really low price, so you
will pay almost the full price. You will save time only.

The usual schedule for a 4 day course is
arrive in your resort check in chill out and watch the The Open Water
movie.

Day 1
morning in the Pool or class room (about 2 hours) afternoon class room
or pool (about 2 hours)

Day 2
Morning in the classroom (about 2 hours) afternoon in confined water
(about 1 hour)

Day 3
Morning Final exam (45 mins) afternoon Dive 1 and 2

Day 4
Morning dive 3 and 4

The usual price for this on Koh-Tao is 115 UKP with an accomidation
discount of about 10 UKP
Accomidation ranges from 4 pounds to 30 pounds per night
http://www.asia-divers.com/home.htm

On Phuket the price is about 122 UKP for the course
Accomidation ranges from 8 pounds to 50 pounds per night
http://www.marinadivers.com/

On Kao Lak currently you can get rooms in world class hotels at a 75
percent discount. Most of the the dive centers and hotels back from the
beach have not been touched by the Tsunami. But there are still few
people going there so the prices are wonderful now
http://www.mythaivacation.com/khao-lak.html

> Doing a 'try dive' locally sounds like it could be worthwhile anyway,
> so I have the first clue what I am doing!
>
> As to where I'll be - it is totally flexible. I'll have to fly to the
> coast from Bangkok anyway so can head wherever is good.

For Koh Tao you would take a bus and boat.
For Phuket and Kao Lak you can fly to Phuket airport then take a
taxi/mini bus about 90 Km to either Phuket beaches or Kao Lak

>
> Thanks. rc


--
>replace spamblock with my family name to e-mail me

rc <rconnors@its.leeds.ac.uk> wrote:

> I realise I'll need to have some training before diving in the sea (and
> that even then this will be with a guide) but if this is only e.g. an
> hour in a pool or in the shallows, before I can go out for a "proper"
> dive in the sea with a guide, that's great.

You have just described exactly the "Discover Scuba Diving (DSD)"
procedure except that you would be doing your "proper" dive with an
instructor.

The cost on for this on Koh Tao is 26 UKP
But if you go to do the Open Water course most shops will not charge you
for the DSD

> If I am going to have to go through a full day (or more) in a pool
> before I get out to swim with the fish, this sounds worth doing in the
> UK beforehand.

Although the referal procedure works you will spend much more doing it
that way. The Open Water course is sold at a really low price, so you
will pay almost the full price. You will save time only.

The usual schedule for a 4 day course is
arrive in your resort check in chill out and watch the The Open Water
movie.

Day 1
morning in the Pool or class room (about 2 hours) afternoon class room
or pool (about 2 hours)

Day 2
Morning in the classroom (about 2 hours) afternoon in confined water
(about 1 hour)

Day 3
Morning Final exam (45 mins) afternoon Dive 1 and 2

Day 4
Morning dive 3 and 4

The usual price for this on Koh-Tao is 115 UKP with an accomidation
discount of about 10 UKP
Accomidation ranges from 4 pounds to 30 pounds per night
http://www.asia-divers.com/home.htm

On Phuket the price is about 122 UKP for the course
Accomidation ranges from 8 pounds to 50 pounds per night
http://www.marinadivers.com/

On Kao Lak currently you can get rooms in world class hotels at a 75
percent discount. Most of the the dive centers and hotels back from the
beach have not been touched by the Tsunami. But there are still few
people going there so the prices are wonderful now
http://www.mythaivacation.com/khao-lak.html

> Doing a 'try dive' locally sounds like it could be worthwhile anyway,
> so I have the first clue what I am doing!
>
> As to where I'll be - it is totally flexible. I'll have to fly to the
> coast from Bangkok anyway so can head wherever is good.

For Koh Tao you would take a bus and boat.
For Phuket and Kao Lak you can fly to Phuket airport then take a
taxi/mini bus about 90 Km to either Phuket beaches or Kao Lak

>
> Thanks. rc


--
>replace spamblock with my family name to e-mail me

rc <rconnors@its.leeds.ac.uk> wrote:

> I realise I'll need to have some training before diving in the sea (and
> that even then this will be with a guide) but if this is only e.g. an
> hour in a pool or in the shallows, before I can go out for a "proper"
> dive in the sea with a guide, that's great.

You have just described exactly the "Discover Scuba Diving (DSD)"
procedure except that you would be doing your "proper" dive with an
instructor.

The cost on for this on Koh Tao is 26 UKP
But if you go to do the Open Water course most shops will not charge you
for the DSD

> If I am going to have to go through a full day (or more) in a pool
> before I get out to swim with the fish, this sounds worth doing in the
> UK beforehand.

Although the referal procedure works you will spend much more doing it
that way. The Open Water course is sold at a really low price, so you
will pay almost the full price. You will save time only.

The usual schedule for a 4 day course is
arrive in your resort check in chill out and watch the The Open Water
movie.

Day 1
morning in the Pool or class room (about 2 hours) afternoon class room
or pool (about 2 hours)

Day 2
Morning in the classroom (about 2 hours) afternoon in confined water
(about 1 hour)

Day 3
Morning Final exam (45 mins) afternoon Dive 1 and 2

Day 4
Morning dive 3 and 4

The usual price for this on Koh-Tao is 115 UKP with an accomidation
discount of about 10 UKP
Accomidation ranges from 4 pounds to 30 pounds per night
http://www.asia-divers.com/home.htm

On Phuket the price is about 122 UKP for the course
Accomidation ranges from 8 pounds to 50 pounds per night
http://www.marinadivers.com/

On Kao Lak currently you can get rooms in world class hotels at a 75
percent discount. Most of the the dive centers and hotels back from the
beach have not been touched by the Tsunami. But there are still few
people going there so the prices are wonderful now
http://www.mythaivacation.com/khao-lak.html

> Doing a 'try dive' locally sounds like it could be worthwhile anyway,
> so I have the first clue what I am doing!
>
> As to where I'll be - it is totally flexible. I'll have to fly to the
> coast from Bangkok anyway so can head wherever is good.

For Koh Tao you would take a bus and boat.
For Phuket and Kao Lak you can fly to Phuket airport then take a
taxi/mini bus about 90 Km to either Phuket beaches or Kao Lak

>
> Thanks. rc


--
>replace spamblock with my family name to e-mail me

rc <rconnors@its.leeds.ac.uk> wrote:

> I realise I'll need to have some training before diving in the sea (and
> that even then this will be with a guide) but if this is only e.g. an
> hour in a pool or in the shallows, before I can go out for a "proper"
> dive in the sea with a guide, that's great.

You have just described exactly the "Discover Scuba Diving (DSD)"
procedure except that you would be doing your "proper" dive with an
instructor.

The cost on for this on Koh Tao is 26 UKP
But if you go to do the Open Water course most shops will not charge you
for the DSD

> If I am going to have to go through a full day (or more) in a pool
> before I get out to swim with the fish, this sounds worth doing in the
> UK beforehand.

Although the referal procedure works you will spend much more doing it
that way. The Open Water course is sold at a really low price, so you
will pay almost the full price. You will save time only.

The usual schedule for a 4 day course is
arrive in your resort check in chill out and watch the The Open Water
movie.

Day 1
morning in the Pool or class room (about 2 hours) afternoon class room
or pool (about 2 hours)

Day 2
Morning in the classroom (about 2 hours) afternoon in confined water
(about 1 hour)

Day 3
Morning Final exam (45 mins) afternoon Dive 1 and 2

Day 4
Morning dive 3 and 4

The usual price for this on Koh-Tao is 115 UKP with an accomidation
discount of about 10 UKP
Accomidation ranges from 4 pounds to 30 pounds per night
http://www.asia-divers.com/home.htm

On Phuket the price is about 122 UKP for the course
Accomidation ranges from 8 pounds to 50 pounds per night
http://www.marinadivers.com/

On Kao Lak currently you can get rooms in world class hotels at a 75
percent discount. Most of the the dive centers and hotels back from the
beach have not been touched by the Tsunami. But there are still few
people going there so the prices are wonderful now
http://www.mythaivacation.com/khao-lak.html

> Doing a 'try dive' locally sounds like it could be worthwhile anyway,
> so I have the first clue what I am doing!
>
> As to where I'll be - it is totally flexible. I'll have to fly to the
> coast from Bangkok anyway so can head wherever is good.

For Koh Tao you would take a bus and boat.
For Phuket and Kao Lak you can fly to Phuket airport then take a
taxi/mini bus about 90 Km to either Phuket beaches or Kao Lak

>
> Thanks. rc


--
>replace spamblock with my family name to e-mail me

rc <rconnors@its.leeds.ac.uk> wrote:

> I realise I'll need to have some training before diving in the sea (and
> that even then this will be with a guide) but if this is only e.g. an
> hour in a pool or in the shallows, before I can go out for a "proper"
> dive in the sea with a guide, that's great.

You have just described exactly the "Discover Scuba Diving (DSD)"
procedure except that you would be doing your "proper" dive with an
instructor.

The cost on for this on Koh Tao is 26 UKP
But if you go to do the Open Water course most shops will not charge you
for the DSD

> If I am going to have to go through a full day (or more) in a pool
> before I get out to swim with the fish, this sounds worth doing in the
> UK beforehand.

Although the referal procedure works you will spend much more doing it
that way. The Open Water course is sold at a really low price, so you
will pay almost the full price. You will save time only.

The usual schedule for a 4 day course is
arrive in your resort check in chill out and watch the The Open Water
movie.

Day 1
morning in the Pool or class room (about 2 hours) afternoon class room
or pool (about 2 hours)

Day 2
Morning in the classroom (about 2 hours) afternoon in confined water
(about 1 hour)

Day 3
Morning Final exam (45 mins) afternoon Dive 1 and 2

Day 4
Morning dive 3 and 4

The usual price for this on Koh-Tao is 115 UKP with an accomidation
discount of about 10 UKP
Accomidation ranges from 4 pounds to 30 pounds per night
http://www.asia-divers.com/home.htm

On Phuket the price is about 122 UKP for the course
Accomidation ranges from 8 pounds to 50 pounds per night
http://www.marinadivers.com/

On Kao Lak currently you can get rooms in world class hotels at a 75
percent discount. Most of the the dive centers and hotels back from the
beach have not been touched by the Tsunami. But there are still few
people going there so the prices are wonderful now
http://www.mythaivacation.com/khao-lak.html

> Doing a 'try dive' locally sounds like it could be worthwhile anyway,
> so I have the first clue what I am doing!
>
> As to where I'll be - it is totally flexible. I'll have to fly to the
> coast from Bangkok anyway so can head wherever is good.

For Koh Tao you would take a bus and boat.
For Phuket and Kao Lak you can fly to Phuket airport then take a
taxi/mini bus about 90 Km to either Phuket beaches or Kao Lak

>
> Thanks. rc


--
>replace spamblock with my family name to e-mail me

Evening All,

I am looking at going out to Thailand in November / December as well. I
have found a great looking site and dive boat that I will probably book
up with.

Have a look at www.UnderSeaDiving.com and look at the Thailand page.
You can get all the training, relaxation and even a massage thrown in
aswell.

Makes me wonder what the hell I'm doing sitting in an office like this
when there are people living the life of luxury onboard in Thailand


Anyone else agree?

Richard.

Evening All,

I am looking at going out to Thailand in November / December as well. I
have found a great looking site and dive boat that I will probably book
up with.

Have a look at www.UnderSeaDiving.com and look at the Thailand page.
You can get all the training, relaxation and even a massage thrown in
aswell.

Makes me wonder what the hell I'm doing sitting in an office like this
when there are people living the life of luxury onboard in Thailand


Anyone else agree?

Richard.

Evening All,

I am looking at going out to Thailand in November / December as well. I
have found a great looking site and dive boat that I will probably book
up with.

Have a look at www.UnderSeaDiving.com and look at the Thailand page.
You can get all the training, relaxation and even a massage thrown in
aswell.

Makes me wonder what the hell I'm doing sitting in an office like this
when there are people living the life of luxury onboard in Thailand


Anyone else agree?

Richard.

Evening All,

I am looking at going out to Thailand in November / December as well. I
have found a great looking site and dive boat that I will probably book
up with.

Have a look at www.UnderSeaDiving.com and look at the Thailand page.
You can get all the training, relaxation and even a massage thrown in
aswell.

Makes me wonder what the hell I'm doing sitting in an office like this
when there are people living the life of luxury onboard in Thailand


Anyone else agree?

Richard.