16 replies to this topic

[scubatom]

I will be going to Thailand in Jan. What Island should I go to, Hotel, and dive shop or liveabaord.

[drbill]

Koh Phi Phi was my favorite island although it is very westernized. Had a great time diving there and lots of friendly people. Just made it out of the country by midnight on the day my visa expired.

Did Koh Tao as well. Enjoyed it but it was crowded with divers. Some nice remote sites though and I loved Pileh Bay.

Obviously I'd recommend the Similans.

Dr. Bill

[rockhound1971]

I'd agree with Dr. Bill, but it all depends on what your looking for...

If your going to dive, go to the similans, I'd do a liveaboard...you'll get more bottom time that way

if you're going to dive and party hard, I'd go to KOh Samui or Koh Pan Jang (Sp?)...full moon parties, etc...

if you're going for the middle ground, I'd go to Koh Tao...its a small island, with plenty of dive shops. you can get Nitrox at Planet SCuba (if you're into that) and I found the westerners (non-thai) to be rather a good mix.

if you're going native...I don't know what to tell you...how long will you be there?

[bluedolphin]

I hear Puket is wonderful. I have never been diving there myself, sadly when i wss there it was for work and was not able to arrange a side trip.

Have fun

[scubatom]

two or three weeks I am not sure yet

[scubatom]

Do i need a visa or just a passport

[TatonkaDive]

I spent about a month on Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Panang...although did all of the diving off of Koh Tao and got my AOW. Like others have said, it depends on what you're looking for as far as the mix of social vs. dive life vs. other stuff. For example kayaking the Anthong National Park, which is what the book 'The Beach' was written about, was tres cool! But the movie was filmed on the Phi Phi side. Also went treking and took a cooking class way up in Chiang Mai which was fantastic. In 3 weeks, you could hit both sides of the south, but it would probably be a bit rushed.

I hope to sail the other coast sometime and hit the Koh Phi Phi / Phuket side along with the Similans, Malaysia, and maybe even Burma/Myanmar someday...maybe even take some additional time off and trek more of India and Nepal more. Ahhh, so much to see.

Apparently you don't need a visa... http://www.mfa.go.th.../12.php#Tourist
Best to check with a travel agent / airline first though.

If you have an overnight layover in Bangkok, try to book a room at The Atlanta (if you are more upscale, the JW Marriott is just up the street)...very cheap basic rooms and not too far off the highway coming from the airport. The food there is UNBELIEVABLE! The menu is a great read.

Have fun!

[GentDiver]

Do i need a visa or just a passport

Yes you need to get a visa (at least I did a few years ago).

[densha99]

I hit Thailand this summer for 2.5 weeks. Fantastic time. Flew into Bankok for a night (Cowson road, backpacker central, really cheap, didn't do reservations), then hit Koh Samui for 2 nights and spent the balance on Koh Tao..... Koh Tao is pretty central to lots of the diving spots in that area. I liked it because it was low key. There are things to do, and some parties if your timing is right. If you want quiet but still want to hit a full moon party, they run boat shuttles to Koh Phangan . One thing to consider is that the Thai people take vacatin in Jan. (according to the dive shop / resort I was staying) and they said they are pretty busy then, so the feel may be different than July when I was there. Reguardless NICE diving BEAUTIFUL country. GREAT food. Fresh fish daily... see them under water daily, eat them nightly

[bluedolphin]

If you have an overnight layover in Bangkok, try to book a room at The Atlanta

If you overnight in Bangkok be sure to take in Pot Pong (think I spelled that correctly), quite an experience. I found the flea market shops interesting, but I am sure you will find what surrounds the market even more interesting. It is an interesting experience (especially if you like to people watch)

[WreckWench]

Tom....I think you should travel with a great group of singles rather then go solo! But hey...what do you expect from me??? LOL!!!

[domino22]

Tom....I think you should travel with a great group of singles rather then go solo! But hey...what do you expect from me??? LOL!!!

she is jealous!

[wuggiman]

hi all

i live and work in Thailand, not to mention doing lotsa bottom time. In light of the disaster that has just happened in Phuket and that side all the way up past Khao Lak, i can recommend going to the inside of the Gulf of Thailand.

Yes, it has happened and is not likely to happen again, but the devastation that the tidal wave has created has wiped out a lot of business in Phuket and coastal areas.

It will take a lot of time to repair and rebuild all that has been damaged.

for further travel advise, i can recommend www.divesiteasia.com, which i normally use to book and arrange my LOB inside Thailand.

If you go to Pattaya to dive, do not expect the best visibility, but it does provide you with a good environment for training, however, from Pattaya, you can access Samae San, where there is good diving to be found, but is really only for advanced divers.

Outside of Pattaya you will find a fairly new wreck, which was sunk by the Thai Navy, an old landing craft (former US), the Kram.

You can also go to the east where you will find Koh (Island) Chang and Koh Samet, they are what Phuket used to be years back, although Koh Chang is rapidly developing.

Go to the inside of the Gulf, you will find Koh Samui, a tropical island with lots of day trip diving as well as good night life, from here you can also reach the nearby islands. Here there is plentifull diving.

If you want info on actual diving check out www.barcodedivers, they help divers for sites in mainly SEA, or again, www.divesiteasia (ask for alex), they are normally quite helpfull.

well thats my two cents worth of not a lot, but if you want more info on the region here, i am more than happy to help, as i go many places here.

wuggi

[scubatom]

Yes I will be going the first week of Feb. I just have to find the best place to go now.

[BradfordNC]

Yes I will be going the first week of Feb. I just have to find the best place to go now.

looks like your gonna have to find a place that still exists. and that doesn't need to be rebuilt.