Phuket Thailand

Spector · #1 23-05-2006, 01:42

Thought I would stop by and say hello from Toronto, Canada. I’m coming to Phuket from October 10-21/06 and Bangkok from Oct 8-10th for some diving and to immerse myself in the nightlife. Gee…does diving and stay up drinking work together?

I have spent hours and hours reading the board and feel I know some of you already. After reading so much I’m ready to leave tomorrow!

Thought I would stay at the K-Hotel, as it appears to have everything I want. Close to nightlife, Pool, Wi Fi, Balcony and G.F. Is this a good choice? Also I’m lugging my dive equipment half way around the world, so if anyone could recommend a good dive operator I can purchase a dive package from that would we wonderful? Any other tour recommendations would also be appreciated.

seafox · #2 23-05-2006, 01:47

not the best time to go diving out there as usually the Similans are closed until November due to weather but southern dive sites will still be open, just not quite as good.

As to making a bunch of plans for tours, wait until you get there as you might be busy and not have time for the tours.

Sea Bees diving is a good group.

Iltis · #3 23-05-2006, 02:05

welcome to the board searanger. maybe you just want to check out the dive operators once your there and like seafox said, you should see if nightlife and diving will go together

i'm sure you'll enjoy your trip.
iltis

Tyfon · #4 23-05-2006, 02:44

Drinking and diving obviously don't go together, but even if, like me, you don't drink alcohol anyway, it's a pain getting up for the dive trip because most operators collect you from your hotel around 0700-0730 (return to hotel about 1800). So, it's either an early short-time or do without.

If you have a few non-diving days to begin with, in addition to giving you time to walk around and assess the dozens of dive shops in Patong, you have the chance to find a long term girl who will fall in with your early bird routine and might even go along as a non-diver with you. Rare is the TG who will scuba...

Another strategy is to have one day diving, one night mongering, one day off, early night... repeat.

I had a late night before I dived Phi-Phi and the dive guide was quite amused at my constant cat-napping on the ferry out there - wake me up for the dive briefing, wake up for the gear check, wake me up for the transfer to the dive boat... I got the next few days off because the next morning the tsunami hit...

It was almost three days before I got back in the water

Pace yourself, find a rhythm and you can have the best of both worlds...

Cheers,

K.

Spector · #5 23-05-2006, 06:00

Thank you...Seafox, Iltis and Tyfon for your warm welcomes. Well it certainly appears that I will have to pace myself. It appears the Liveaboard diving boats start up again in early October so I'm hoping the diving meets my expectations. Mongering.....wo me

I'm here for the diving...even it involves the Muff variety.

seafox · #6 23-05-2006, 06:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Searanger

Thank you...Seafox, Iltis and Tyfon for your warm welcomes. Well it certainly appears that I will have to pace myself. It appears the Liveaboard diving boats start up again in early October so I'm hoping the diving meets my expectations. Mongering.....wo me

I'm here for the diving...even it involves the Muff variety.

yes some boats start in October but a little bit dicey at that time.

Just did one from Phuket to Richilieu Rock and that was very nice but was in late April when things are still good. You will not do Burma or Northern Thailand in Mid October.

jay ozpom · #7 24-05-2006, 14:48

Hi Searanger,welcome aboard,im a semi newbie myself,just 2 trips under my belt,first trip last October,liked it so much found myself back this February,Im back again this October so well probably bump in2 each other at the MTB...or therabouts....jay..

cybernator_uk · #8 24-05-2006, 16:01

Hi Searanger and welcome to the board. Hummmmm drinking and diving will that go together

. Hope you have a good time out there (which i am sure you will)

ruby123 · #9 24-05-2006, 18:14

Hi Searanger

Welcome to the board. The time you will be coming isn't a great time to dive. I've done many dives over the years around phuket and you will find the visibilty in the water to be generally quite bad/low compared with between Dec - April.

If you want some great diving head off to Sabah in Malaysia they have some incredible reefs with fantastic visibility

Crustasian · #10 24-05-2006, 20:30

Welcome Searanger.

In my early holidays I used to try and cram in nightlife and dive days.It was hard work.I then slowed down and did the three day cycle as suggested by Tyfon.

The weather in October can be very stormy and liveabords can be forced to change their shedules.The local dive shops still will be doing day trips so there is an alternative.

Most the dive shops have good quality dive kit.So you don't have to lug all your gear if you don't want to.(Saying that I always prefer my own equipment)

Spector · #11 25-05-2006, 20:28

Now you have me worried that the diving won’t be that good! Personally I don’t care if it’s a little rough getting out to the dive site….but poor visibility and strong currents aren’t my idea of a fun. Obviously I have to do a little more research.