Diving in Thailand - Certification Help

Hi Travelers,

I am in Thailand currently and will be travelling to Southern Thailand (The Islands) sometime between Dec 5 - Dec 14. Travelling to the west coast first (Krabi, Phi Phi) and then to the east (Samui, Tao, Phangan) is the plan as of now. I have never dived before. But I am fascinated by the underwater world and want to try it out. My doubt is in two parts:

1. Which of the two coasts is better for beginners? I am asking this with a perspective of better dives and hence inspiring me to take diving seriously. I am not afraid of water or for safety (Have swam in oceans).

2. Which certification course should I take? Can I take Scuba diver course and then upgrade to advanced open water directly from being a Scuba diver? Or is it Scuba-Open water-Adv. Open water? What will be the time frame and money difference if I take Scuba Diver-Adv. open water diver route rather than the Open water-Adv Open water route?

Thanks :)

Quero - Thanks for the quick reply! Yes, that was my question. Where are the dives better. Classes are anyway going to be one of the rituals to go through I believe :) I maybe wrong! But my question is still with respect to the better diving opportunity for beginners.

Edited by: WannabNomad

For beginning classes it doesn't matter much which area (Andaman Sea side or Gulf of Thailand side) you do your training on. What matters is where you are able to dive afterwards for "fun" dives. The diving over here on the Andaman side near Phuket has been really nice lately, and that's what I'd recommend.

As far as the courses go, just skip the Scuba Diver cert altogether and to straight for the Open Water Diver cert. Once you've done that, you can decide to either do some fun dives or go ahead with the Advanced cert.

I would advise against getting the quickest-duration course you can manage since you do shortchange yourself on training that way.

You're welcome WbN. The general consensus is that the better diving overall is on the Andaman side.

Conditions in the Gulf have been outstanding recently, the dreaded and expected rainy season hasn't set in and it doesn't look like it will start anywhere soon right now. There are almost daily whale shark sightings between Chumpon Pinnacle near Koh Tao and Sail Rock between Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

Whale sharks! Cool! There was one seen last week at Tachai, too. Maybe this will be a great whale shark season (fingers crossed).

Thanks a lot guys. I have now decided that I will learn diving in Tao :) Looking for some good dive schools with accommodation included for 4 nights. Any recommendations? Sairee Cottage and Simple Life divers look decent. Any other recos?

I'm sure you'll enjoy it. And if you've got the time and the disposition afterwards, hop on over here for some fun dives.

Absolutely quero, that is the idea :) But Let me see how many days I can steel from my office :)

LOL, call it "borrowing" time from the office rather than "stealing." I'm sure you work many hours of unpaid "overtime" anyway, right?

Hopefully this is still relevant. My husband and I did our open water course in Koh Tao back in June. We went through Bans diving school, who were really good with professional instructors and great equipment. Accommodation was included, basic but you're out diving all day, so it's decent enough.

As for wildlife, we saw turtles, trigger fish, banner fish, clown fish and plenty more!
I second Quero, def go straight for your open water course, but be warned it's so addictive!

Thanks for the reply mrskask. Its exciting just hearing your experience, especially the addictive part :)