Hope you can help?
Three of us are coming to Thailand this December and are discussing the adavanatages and disadvantages with regards Koh Lak and Koh Lanta.
I'm an advanced diver, one friend passed his open water last year on Koh Tao, my other friend has never been diving but may be interested in learning.
I am keen to dive the similians on a liveaboard, but my friends may find Koh Lak 'too dive orientated'.
Is the diving in Koh Lanta comparible with the Similians?
Is there much to do in Koh Lak except diving? We may be there for Christmas and may fancy the odd late night
Can you recommend any dive operators in Koh Lak or Koh Lanta?
Cheers pb
paulbscuba
2
stevenl
At the Similans you will find divesites of different levels, from Koh Lanta the main divesites, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, are IMO not recommended for a newly certified open water diver.
What you could also do, is a short liveaboard to the Similans while your friends stay on land anywhere else. Maybe make a trip to Khao Sok?
It sounds like you're not contemplating Phuket, but that may also be an option. From there you can also make daytrips to the Similans (albeit with more traveltime than from Khao Lak), but for non diving people there is a lot to do as well.
3
anonymous
Khao Lak is not what I'd call 'dive orientated" - not like Koh Tao for example. Khao Lak has miles of beach, some nice places to stay and some dive centers, but the diving is just a small part of the place. For the better diving, you want Khao Lak over Lanta. Dive centers based there that I can recommend: Similan Diving Safaris, Siam Adventure Divers. They have Similan trips and can teach your friend to dive.
You can do short liveaboards of 2 - 3 days. Siam Adventure Divers does overnight trips where you camp on the island and are good for divers or non divers.
Enjoy it!
Jamie
Phuket
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
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