Phuket

Oz_Mike · #1 02-02-2007, 18:10

Hey, I'm not a Cheap Charlie, but I like to get value for my ozzie scuba diving dollar.

I have been on Similans liveaboard trips with West Coast Divers West Coast Divers - four times now. It was marvellous - hence I keep coming back, but is there a more cost-effective way of diving on the Similans?

With an internet search, I came across a diving outfit in Khao Lak Similan Scuba - who offer speed boat transfer out to their live-aboard dive boat on the Similan and Surin Islands from Khao Lak. Interestingly, they offer free Nitrox, and 4 day dives per day - I am not much into night dives, as I usually prefer to crack a tinnie when the sun goes down.

The kicker seems to be that I can get 18 dives in 5 days with this outfit for 338 Euro (= 15,485 Thai Baht) - with Nitrox for free. Nitrox is normally 300 Baht per tank.

Budget live-aboard dive operators out of Phuket (even with my 10 percent repeat customer discount) will cost me a minimum 20,000 Baht for 12 day dives on the Similans in April.

There are a few of issues I need to sort out:
1. Is Similan Scuba a good outfit to dive with?
2. How do I get (economically and comfortably) from Patong to Khao Lak and back? - I have been offered 1,800 Baht one-way to transfer me from Patong to Khao Lak - it seems rather expensive.
3. Any suggestions for accommodation in the 1,000 to 1,500 Baht range at Khao Lak for a day each side of my diving?

\Mike

VirtualGuy · #2 30-07-2007, 04:38

Hi Mike,

I'm just curious how your diving trip turned out. I see you didn't get any replies before your scheduled trip. I'm planning on a course and dive trip with Dive The World in a few weeks. But I would love to hear your experiences and how things worked out with this other dive service.

Any chance you'll be in LoS this August?

seafox · #3 30-07-2007, 07:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirtualGuy

Hi Mike,

I'm just curious how your diving trip turned out. I see you didn't get any replies before your scheduled trip. I'm planning on a course and dive trip with Dive The World in a few weeks. But I would love to hear your experiences and how things worked out with this other dive service.

Any chance you'll be in LoS this August?

wrong time to go diving in Phuket.

ozlover · #4 31-07-2007, 13:35

Hey guys!

I have done some liveaboards on the Similan Islands, but on a bit more upscale boat (Mermaid II). First question, when are you going diving?
The Similand Islands are a marine park only open for diving 6 months a year (Nov - May). However, there are some Thai-owned operators that circumvent this by bribes or connections. In any case, the restrictions are there for a good reason and signing up for diving trips outside season threatens the diving experience for everybody.

In addition, the weather and sea conditions are not very good for diving outside the season. The visibility will be low and the sea will be choppy (at best).

These two reasons might be able to explain why you are getting cheap prices...

My recommendation would be: Book during the season with a reputable operator who takes precautions to preserve the marine life and be ready to cough up the money!

nacha · #5 31-07-2007, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirtualGuy

Hi Mike,

I'm just curious how your diving trip turned out. I see you didn't get any replies before your scheduled trip. I'm planning on a course and dive trip with Dive The World in a few weeks. But I would love to hear your experiences and how things worked out with this other dive service.

Any chance you'll be in LoS this August?

hi VirtualGuy,
i booked my last liveaboard tour via Dive the world...
made a 10 day trip to Burma (Myanmar), can only recommend this to everyone!

but Dive the world is just a "booking agency", so it`s better to search for the owner of the boat and book directly there... you will save alot of money here! (was about 150 USD at the Burma safari

)

dogblower · #6 31-07-2007, 23:39

You won't save any money by going direct to the boat operator as they generally charge exactly the same as the agent - they just don't have to give up any commission if you book direct.

seafox · #7 01-08-2007, 00:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogblower

You won't save any money by going direct to the boat operator as they generally charge exactly the same as the agent - they just don't have to give up any commission if you book direct.

Thank you for pointing that out.

Dive the World might have charged more but I would not.

Really amazes me that people think they can save money going direct. If the boat has a special, I have the same offer as the boat told me about it.

Hotels are a different story, especially in SE Asia, have actually had resorts tell me to book with their website as that is the best price that they can offer me and my clients.

nacha · #8 01-08-2007, 03:05

well, maybe the big difference was due to to USD - EUR currency conversion...

wakeboycam · #9 01-08-2007, 18:46

Just go back to WCD. Milton is a great guy and he deserves the business if you ask me. I went on a life aboard to the Similans 2 years ago and i loved it. I will dive again with them next september althought that won't be around the Similans.

Oz_Mike · #10 04-08-2007, 08:56

Hi guys.

I did end up trying Similan Scuba in Khao Lak last April. It was OK but not fantastic.

I discovered the hard way that the mini-bus return ticket to-from Khao Lak (for which I paid 1200 baht) was a scam. The mini-bus was pure fantasy and it ended up that I paid 1200 baht to be taken from Patong to the bus terminal in Phuket Town. At the bus station the scam-artists put me on the public bus and paid the 100 baht ticket to Khao Lak. The return trip from Khao Lak was the same deal, just outrageous lies from the Patong booking agent about the fantasy mini-bus, so I cut my losses and jumped on the public bus. The public bus was actually very comfortable and I highly recommend it as the best way to get to and from Khao Lak.

It was great to pack 18 Nitrox dives into 5 days, and the Similans are spectacular for sea life. It was certainly a cost-effective way to get a lot of quality dives in. I really like diving with Nitrox when I'm doing successive 4 dive days - it is much kinder on the body and affords a real safety margin.

The speedboat ride from Khao Lak to the dive boat was a rather uncomfortable experience and one of the outboard motors on our speedboat seized half-way out - obviously not their fault but nevertheless a p.i.t.a.. We were eventually picked up by their second speedboat after a radio call to shore. Because we were running late, we were rushed onto the dive boat and got diving straight away. It was fantastic to be back underwater at the Similans but it was a fairly short dive because we had some heavy breathers in a group of six plus guide.

The dive boat Angel One is a bit old and run-down. The dive platform is uncovered and this results in you standing around in scuba gear in the blazing sun waiting for the boat to get to the drop point. There is no air-con at all on the boat and the dormitory sleeping area was very claustrophic and stuffy at night. I tried sleeping outdoors on the top deck but was woken each time by rain. The food was average and the beer was expensive - 100 baht. The diving from Angel One is only on the Similans - though the company operates weekly speedboat day-trips from Khao Lak to Richelieu and Koh Bon. It is a very German-oriented operation with dive briefings in German followed by a shorter English version. Most Germans speak good English and quite a lot of them were friendly and nice. However, most of the conversations on the boat were in German and it took a bit of effort to start up conversations in English. The dive boat becomes very quiet and relaxed when the crowd of day-trippers leaves on the speedboat after dive #3 each day. I really enjoyed the twilight dives where it was often one guide per customer. As usual, I skipped the night dives in favour of a tinnie or six.

I found Khao Lak was mostly populated with German and other European families staying in expensive hotels. There is no nightlife to speak of, but quite a good choice of restaurants with excellent food. The township is dominated by a busy highway running through the middle. I stayed in a nice little guest house for 500 baht near the Similan Scuba dive shop on the main highway. I was happy to get out of Khao Lak and back to Patong.

I subsequently discovered that Scuba Cat in Patong have a similar setup. They pick you up from your hotel and take you by speedboat from Phuket to their Scuba Cat dive boat on the Similans, where you can stay onboard any number of days. When you have had enough, they take you back to Phuket by speedboat and transfer you to your hotel. The price appears identical to Similan Scuba except that Nitrox is an extra 300 baht per tank. I don't know what the Scuba Cat dive boat is like, but it could be a good option for someone who wants to avoid Khao Lak.

I will be back in Patong for my next holiday from 6 November to 1 December 2007 - Yay!!!. My leave is approved and locked-in. I just have to sort out flight details with the travel agent.

\Mike

VirtualGuy · #11 04-08-2007, 19:50

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the great trip report. Does it make any sense at all to do day-trip dives to The Similans? Is it just too far? It doesn't look like it on a map. If any of the dive centers have a boat that could get me there in a couple of hours or so from Patong Beach, I'd rather do several days of that than do a live-aboard with a bunch of people I don't know.

I'll be in LoS soon and it's all I can think about!

seafox · #12 04-08-2007, 23:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by VirtualGuy

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the great trip report. Does it make any sense at all to do day-trip dives to The Similans? Is it just too far? It doesn't look like it on a map. If any of the dive centers have a boat that could get me there in a couple of hours or so from Patong Beach, I'd rather do several days of that than do a live-aboard with a bunch of people I don't know.

I'll be in LoS soon and it's all I can think about!

60 miles (100 KM) from Phuket, which is why he had to go to Khao Lak, which is north of Phuket and almost a straight shot east of the Similans.

Dive boats from Phuket go out of Chalong, the southern end of Phuket, so as far from Similans as you can get and still be on Phuket.

dogblower · #13 05-08-2007, 00:03

High season there are some that do run from Patong, but most shops would rather drive you to Tap Lamu (just south of Khao Lak) and take a speedboat from there. It's an awfully long day though and you're far better off staying in the Similans and doing 4 dives each day for a couple of days, rather than running back and forth for 2 dives each day. Even if you do come back to Patong each evening, you'll be too knackered to go out and enjoy yourself so there's no gain.

Oz_Mike · #14 05-08-2007, 12:26

VirtualGuy,

As pointed out by the others, August is no good for diving on the Similans.

If diving is a priority for you, then you should think about delaying your visit to Phuket by a couple of months. Or if that is not an option, consider going to the East coast of Thailand rather than Phuket. Check out Ko Samui or Ko Tao as alternate destinations.

\Mike