Are you going on holiday to Phuket? Perhaps you want to try Scuba diving or snorkeling? Here we’ve given you useful information and tips on Scuba diving & snorkeling in Phuket.
Scuba Diving in Phuket
Phuket’s location in the tropical climate of south west Thailand as well as it’s exposure to the calm Andaman Sea with it’s plentiful coral reefs makes it one of the top diving destinations in the world. The Similan Islands and a whole host of interesting reefs and shipwrecks can be easily reached by boat from Phuket within only an hour or so.
Scuba Diving Tourism in Phuket
Phuket has a large scuba diving community permanently based on the Island who work in the well developed scuba diving industry which caters for thousands or scuba diving tourists every year. There are approximately 40 different scuba diving operators based on Phuket Island offering a variety of services from one day diving trips to live aboard diving tours that last several days.
Scuba Diving Infrastructre in Phuket
One of the many reasons that make Phuket such an attractive scuba diving destination is its well developed scuba diving infrastructure. In addition to good quality diving companies who can train you in PADI diving certification, there are three decompression chambers on the Island in addition many doctors specially trained in how to treat diving related injuries.
Scuba Diving operators in Phuket
There are dozens of different Scuba diving operators based in Phuket. While most of them are located in Patong, most diving boats leave harbour on the other side of Phuket from Chalong. Choosing a diving operator can be difficult in Phuket because there are so many. Generally the operations are well run with well qualified expat diving instructors who speak English well. In addition to diving trips you can also learn to dive with most of these operators who run classes weekly and offer PADI certification. An open water PADI diving certification course can be done for as little as 11,000 Baht here which is much cheaper than many other countries.
A couple of questions can be asked when deciding on a diving company. Find out the ratio of diving instructors to divers; this should never be more than 1 to 4. Also ask if the company has it’s own boats. If it doesn’t that means you’re talking to a middle man who is making his money by including a commission in the price he quotes you.
