Discover Scuba Diving Similan Islands

Discover Scuba Diving Similan Islands.

You don't need to be certified to dive to enjoy diving at the Similan Islands. You can do a days diving at the Similan Islands departing from Khao Lak A one day 2 dive day trip by speedboat from Khao Lak is 6,400 baht.

Discover Scuba Diving on a Similan liveaboard. 

Most Similan diving liveaboards don't provide Discover Scuba Diving onboard, you should be certified before joining the boat. Most snorkeling liveaboards do not have scuba cylinders or PADI Dive Instructors on board who can teach diving.

MV Oktavia is a dive and snorkeling liveaboard that runs 2 day 2 night liveaboard trips to the Similan Islands. With Oktavia you can join the boat as a snorkeler and if you fancy trying diving a PADI Instructors can take you on a dive for 1,500 baht. Any further dives are just 1,000 baht each. This is the perfect boat for diver and snorkeler couples or groups with mixed interests.

Phuket Discover Scuba Diving options:

These are our DSD options available from Phuket:

• Beach Dive. 2,900 baht. 
• Boat dives. Full day with 2 or 3 dives. Group Instruction. 4,900 baht.
• Boat dives. Full day with 2 or 3 dives. Private 1 to 1 diving. 5,500 baht.
• Half day swimming pool then 1 day boat with 2 dives. Group Instruction 5,900 baht.
• Half day swimming pool then 1 day boat with 2 dives. Private 1 to 1 diving. 6,500 baht. 
• Snorkeling day trip to Racha Yai with 1 dive. 4,100 baht

SSI Dive Courses on Thailand Liveaboards

Following on from last week's post about PADI Dive Courses on liveaboards I should also mention that there are a few liveaboards teaching SSI (Scuba Schools International) courses on liveaboards too.

Fewer people will have heard of SSI than PADI and while PADI is still the most popular dive certification agency to train with SSI they seem to be on the way up. They have been popular in Phi Phi and Koh Tao for a while and we are getting more requests now in Phuket and in Khao Lak for SSI training. 

One reason for this will be price. SSI courses are basically the same as PADI courses in terms of standards (you can cross over from one to the other) but the SSI courses have cheaper materials and cheaper certification costs. So for example, liveaboards with SSI instructors can offer the Advanced PADI or the Advanced SSI course to their divers with the SSI course being 1,000 baht cheaper than the PADI course. Which one would you choose?

We know of three boats that can currently offer SSI courses on board. They are MV Giamani, MV Saimai and MV Hallelujah. Giamani and Saimai can teach courses in English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. It is essential to book these courses in advance as there are far fewer available SSI instructors than PADI instructors.

Phuket day trip dive boat feedback

Here is a very constructive review of two Phuket day trip dive boats from Christian who dived on them this weekend.

Hi Paul,

Just wanted to thank you for your help with the dive bookings. It was
easy and nice to have someone knowing the schedule of all the boats
and the payment went swiftly.

We had a great time both days, even though visibility was much better
on the saturday.

If any of your future customers ask, then as for boats, the Kamala
Dive Center boat was really great, with a lot of space (3 decks) and
great food. We got a big breakfast (scrambled eggs, sausages,
hashbrowns, fruit, toast), a nice lunch and banana-pancakes after the
3rd dive, and fruit all day. And the staff was nice to :)

The SSD boat was smaller, felt quite small, not especially well laid
out. The breakfast was sandwiches (the divemasters on the boat made
scrambled eggs to, but for themselves only... ) , the lunch was
average, and the fruit only watermelon. They had a nice coffee machine
on board though, with real coffee beans!

From the two days of diving I would recommend the Kamala boat.

Thanks again, and if I come back to Phuket, I will not hesitate to
contact you again.

Best regards,
Christian

Confirmed Hin Daeng Liveaboard in August

MV Saimai Hin Daeng Liveaboard

MV Saimai

21-23 August 2013
3 days 2 nights to Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Haa and Phi Phi Islands
10 Dives
Price: 18,900 baht

It is also possible to join this Saimai trip for just 2 or 3 nights.

Please contact us for more details

Boat Inspections

Every low season we take the chance to inspect the boats that we sell. We like to keep our knowledge of our boats current. Every year we drop some boats and add some new ones. This week we were up at Ao Por Grand Marina in north east Phuket to inspect a fleet of luxury motor yachts that are available for private charter, either day charter or overnight charter.

The fleet includes a Sunseeker 60ft, Azimut 50ft, Integrity 55ft and a Riviera 45ft among others. Most of the boats are ideal for 4-6 guests on an overnight cruise or 10-15 guests for a day trip.

If you have a group looking for a charter ask us for our recommendations. We can provide all inclusive packages with diving, snorkeling, fishing, gourmet meals, hotel transfers etc. Depending on the boat and charter duration you can go anywhere you want.

We can also offer fun day trips on two fast RIB's. Both are equipped with 250hp 4 stroke engines that power the boats to over 40 knots speed. They can take up to 10 passengers plus captain and one crew. They are ideal for a fun day trip to Phang Nga Bay, Koh Khai, Koh Yao or other nearby islands. At just 28,000 baht all inclusive for a group day charter they are very good value too.

Please contact us for charter rates

Ao Por Grand Marina

Free Nitrox on day trips

Our favourite Phuket day trip dive boat is MV Chocksomporn. Why?

• Small Groups: Max 20 divers. Lots of room on the dive deck. Space for everyone to sit onboard. Small dive groups based on experience level
• Experienced supervisors and guides: Full boat, safety and dive briefings. All dives guided by PADI divemasters
• Safety: All divers carry an SMB, full fiest aid kit on board plus emergency DAN O2, life jackets, fire extinguishers and all other legally required safety features.
• Service: Don't want to set up your gear, we'll do it for you.
• AC saloon: There is a big shaded upper deck plus plenty of room to sun bake but if you like to stay cool there is an AC saloon.
• Great food: and ots of it.
• Free soft drinks: Plus drinking water, tea, coffee, milo and snacks.
• Good transfers: By AC luxury minifans from your hotel to the boat. Fewer passengers means quicker transfers.
• Longer dives: Normally 60 minute dives but you can stay longer if your air allows. You won't be limited to 50 minutes like on the other boats.
• FREE Nitrox!!!: Nitrox 32 free to all certified divers. (If you are not certified you can take the PADI Nitrox specialty).

White Manta Liveaboard Review

White Manta has just finished it's second season in Thailand and is now on it's way round to Layang Layang. The feedback from White Manta guests is always excellent and it will be one of our top recommendations for next season. But book early because most trips were full months in advance this season. 

This feedback from Linda who was on the boat in February is typical:

Hello Paul!

The trip was AWESOME!!!!  The White Manta was beautiful, the staff wonderful, the food amazing!!! Oliver Fitch was our dive master and he was a delight.  Our room was roomy and very comfortable.  The diving was memorable.

I would highly recommend the White Manta!!

Deep Andaman Queen Images

Here are some photos of Deep Andaman Queen liveaboard.