Hi
Can anyone suggest which is the best place for diving in August with visibility etc?
I saw prices in Ko Chang are a lot more than Ko Tao. Can you get dive cards with 10 dives prepaid for a discount
Thanks
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Hi
Can anyone suggest which is the best place for diving in August with visibility etc?
I saw prices in Ko Chang are a lot more than Ko Tao. Can you get dive cards with 10 dives prepaid for a discount
Thanks
I have an Aqualung reg is breating a bit wet. Where can i get it serviced is there somewhere in Bangkok?
Thanks
Neither, go to the other side... Phuket, Similan, etc.
Thanks where s agood place for cheap diving. I have to have another 50 logged dives before i can start my commercial diving courseQuote:
Originally Posted by Bettyboo
Thanks
I did a diving instructor course at a place in Kata, Phuket, about 12 years ago, it was really good. I used to come to Thailand every year for diving, and a couple of trips to Egypt, and anywhere else that took me fancy - Phuket was the best value for good diving, anywhere in the world, IMHO.
The boats go from a couple of piers in Phuket, many dive shops all over the island will set you up. I did it here, as I say, about 12 years ago when Kata was great fun, has changed now, but for a diving base, you may well enjoy it (you can stay at numerous cheaper places around the area).
Phuket Marina Divers - 5 Star IDC Scuba Diving Centre Phuket
Koh Chang will have awful visibility in August.
I have to disagree on this one. Went diving 4 days ago (before all the rain) and had viz up to 15m, no current and plenty of fish! Now the viz is less, but that will change over the next couple of days, as we're expecting a dryer period and no significant windspeeds.Quote:
Originally Posted by pickel
Koh Tao will always be cheaper then Koh Chang and the conditions will be better there this time of the year, bringing lots more people there.
I think you got lucky, as the waves are usually quite big in Aug.
The Gulf and the Andemann Sea have opposite best diving seasons. August is about nearing the transiition period from Kho Tao area to Similan. I'm not even sure they are diving in the Similan in August. The liveaboards usually don't start until the end of Oct or early November in the Andemann / Similan. During the Nov-Jan time frame Simmilan in the Andemann is preferable. May-August is best time for Koh Tao. Try Ban's Diving Resort Koh Tao Surattani Thailand in Koh Tao or contact Diving Similans from Khao Lak - Liveaboards & Day Trips to Similan Islands - Thailand if going to the Similan in the Andemann. I've been to both multi times and found them both to work for me. Ask them for the best times of year.
If you go to the National Marine Park this time of the year, you're always sheltered from the wind and the waves. This is basically the only region that allows diving this time of the year here around Koh Chang.Quote:
Originally Posted by pickel
Btw. Waves doesn't necessarily means bad viz. Been diving here with big waves and excellent viz too ;-)
No diving in the Similians until end of October- begin of Nov. Diving off Phuket is an option ...local sites are always accessible and should offer some good viz, prices will be higher than Koh Chang and Koh Tao though.
Urm, think you got that ballsed up matey.Quote:
Originally Posted by SEA Traveler
Best diving on Koh Tao is January till May this being the dry season ( Jan -Feb ) after monsoon and hot season which starts March but brings calm waters till end May.
Season kicks in January after the monsoon and monsoon kicks in again June July and can be shitty in August windy and wet.
Next best time for diving is September October ( transitional time before 2nd monsoon) and monsoon starts again November December.
The last few years the weather has been all over the place as things are changing in Thailand but the info up top is how it should be but aint always so. Much less rain over the last few years on Koh Tao.
I wouldn't be recommending Bans either as its a massive operation turning over masses of students in factory conditions. Diving muppets running everywhere.
Don't take offense to that as I'm one as well.
Much better going for one of the smaller shops which has much smaller classes in a personal atmosphere.
Considering Koh Tao has 52 dive shops its not hard to find one.
OP, the days of seasons are long gone... The weather patterns are unpredictable. I used to go diving in Phuket every Sept/Oct for many years, always good because they have better sites than on the other side (no comparison...). The average sites on an average day on the west coast are still far better than the best sites on the best days on the east... Some of these posters are influenced by the 'trendy' appeak of KPG/K Chang (fuk knows why...), but the diving is distinctly average; I'd rather go to Egypt (cheaper and better)...
The couple of little islands 45 mins off the Phuket coast are always good. 15m vis one poster said as if that was good? mmm, maybe for the English Channel...
Yes, opposite diving seasons, but even when Koh Tao and surroundings are at their best, the Andaman Sea will IMO still offer much better diving.Quote:
Originally Posted by SEA Traveler
BTW, for Similans the timeframe should be (on the conservative side) from November through April, not till January.
One of the advantages of Tao is that you can bang out 4/5 dives a day fairly easily. Other places the norm is 2, or occassionally three a day. Live aboards in similans excepted of course.Quote:
Originally Posted by crackers
Another place is Philippines, great diving, say Peurto Galleria (not sure on spelling). Relatively good price, and some cracking muck diving (better than thailand to be honest).
I took open water and advance open water course in January 2010 in Phuket with Thailand Divers. Great visability, great price for 15 dives. Plan to continue to dive master course.
Tao is great for learning how to dive as its brilliant value with good schools, quality equipment and on a good day has some fine dive sights.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bettyboo
One can never predict the vis as it can change in an instant but this because its in the Gulf and the Similans are open ocean.