Aus or south east asia

Hi Guys

I am planning on doing my PADI license whilst i am away. Does anybody have any recommendations for where is best in south east asia to do it? I will be there in about March time.

Many thanks

At this time of year, for sure in SE asia. At this time, the perentians in malaysia are just beginning to open up so visibility and weather might be a bit iffy, but still better fish life than Thailand. Any place in Thailand will be good at this time , whether on the east or west coast. The cheapest, (don't read this as the best) will be koh tao, then the perentians, then w. coast of Thailand or east coast other than koh tao, , and finally Indonesia. For some reason, Indonesia has always been more expensive than all the others but pretty much you get what you pay for in terms of fish life ....Koh Tao can be a crap shoot in my opinion, since it is a launching point for brand new instructors although many long termers are there as well.l The advantage is their low price and most of the times accommodation included. I've always heard very good things about Haad Yao divers if you go to Koh Pha Gnan which is run by swiss/germans and has a great boat.. Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe are well know for their dive courses, although the west coast islands are always more expensive then they deserve to be.

happy diving... I'm pretty sure anywhere in AUS will be atleast 100 dollars more than anyplace in SE asia..

Koh Tao is your cheapest option to take your Open Water Course and it will cost around 9800B.

There are over 40 dive centres here and this choice can be a little off putting - I assume this is why poster 1 refers to it as a 'crap shoot'. But if you take the time to choose the right centre for you then you will have a safe and fun expereince and have aquired a new hobby that might just change your life.

I've worked here as a dive instructor over the past 6 years and am writing this to help make your choice easier and hopefully more informed.

Ask yourself what you want from your course....and this actually applies to anywhere you choose to go diving and not just Koh Tao - they are important points to keep in mind wherever you go. This will make sure that you get the right centre for you !

Are you happy in a large group or would you prefer smaller groups? On the whole the biggest dive centres teach in the biggest groups, great if you are travelling on your own and want to meet new people. However if you are a little nervous and want some more personal attention then check out the smaller dive centres, these often guarantee a maximum of four and are happy to teach in classes of 1 or 2 also.

Do you want a lively resort who will offer a busy after dive party scene or do you want to chill, then choose your location carefully.

What kind of accommodation do you want? Most places offer rooms within the resort and are happy to recommend somewhere else too if you would like something a bit different.
What sort of location do you want; the main and central area of Sairee which has a wide range of food, accommodation and nightlife but can be a bit too busy and noisy for some; your arrival point of Mae Haad which is certainly quieter at night but ensures you have easy access to everything or Chalok Ban Khao which is a quieter beach located on the south side.

What language would you like to complete your course in? On Koh Tao you are very likely to be able to find an instructor to teach you in your own language.

Do not worry that there is a choice of PADI and SSI courses. Each are valid licences and most SSI instructors are PADI instructors too - so you will benefit from the same experience which ever you choose.

Booking before arrival is a good idea as it ensures you have the accommodation reserved for you and a free taxi from the pier. This means you dont have to deal with touts and haggle with taxi drivers upon arrival after a long journey. But why not just book one nights accommodation at a resort of your choice , this will also get you a free transfer. You will have somewhere to stay and then can have a relaxed wander around a few dive centres and choose for yourself.

Remember it is the cheap accommodation that gets snapped up first and not the availability of dive courses so atleast this way you get to have a look around for yourself.

How are your questions answered in the dive centre, are the staff friendly and patient? Do they take the time to explain what you will be doing? If the person you talk to is going to be your instructor, are they enthusiastic and passionate? What exactly is included in the course? What is their refund policy if you can’t complete the course and what happens if you have difficulty with some exercises and need more time? Do you warm to the environment?
To choose your dive centre before arrival I would advise speaking to fellow travellers and getting their recommendations and thoughts, look for reviews on online forums and check out websites. Bear in mind though that as the biggest centres have the more students then there will be more references made to them.

Prices vary little but I would not advise simply booking the cheapest, would you bungee jump with the cheapest operator?

Look for what you want based on the answers to the above questions and if you have to pay a few hundred Baht more to get it, then thats not so bad. You will only learn to dive once so make sure you are in the environment that you want not simply the cheapest one !

Dont be pushed and take your time - when you have spoken to a few - go and grab yourself a well earned beer, have a little think and decide.

I recently did my PADI course while travelling in SE Asia and would highly recommend doing it in Ko Tao. I stayed at Ban's dive resort and had a fantastic time with them. I was a little anxious about diving prior to commencing, but my instructor was totally reassuring and he guided all of our group through the experience with great encouragement. There's great fun around Ban's in the evening too and it's a good place to get to know the other divers.

Best of luck you will have a ball!

Wow, nice post #2. He obviosly understands!! What was really cool is he didn't plug the shop he works for. You should track this guy down and get a course from him!!! Its my opionion that long term instructors make a new diver a much better diver...

Thanks Andi !

I am a girl though ....lol !

To me - Id rather visitors to Koh Tao get what they want from the experience - that way they have fun and are more likely to return - which is good for the island as a whole !

The dive centre I work for might not be right for everyone and if you want to check out what we offer - then the links at the bottom in my signature .....no need to be pushy really .... I have a lot of expereince and have lived here for a while and am happy to offer advice !

See ya at Sail Rock ( I'll be the one wondering why that guy's is blowing bubble rings while missing the whaleshark that just swam passed .......lol !)

Hi Guys many thanks for all of your help. some really good advice