Open Water Andaman side

[dirtfarmer]

My niece is travelling in Thailand and looking for a place to do her open water course, she will be doing some island hopping on the Andaman side so I told her I'd help her out to find a place to get certified. Right now she likes what she has found out about Ko Lanta so that might be a good choice. Any recommendations for a good shop for certs there?
Between Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi which islands good dive sites are closer?
After she gets her certs I will be recommending her to keep diving so she builds her skills and want her to have a good experience.
I know a LOB will give her the best diving but I'm not sure if that's in her budget.
Thanks for any feedback.

 

[divinh]

I've dove with Andaman Dive Adventure on Koh Lanta. They used to be situated inside a resort, on the beach, but they've since moved to the main road. They were using the pool in the resort for classes and refreshers.

Dive sites are about 1-1.5 hrs out from Koh Lanta. Once she finishes the classroom stuff, an open water dive day will be probably like this: free pickup to dive shop will be between 7-7:45 AM (depending on distance from shop), ride to pier and boat, breakfast on boat as it heads toward the dive sites, first dive, fresh fruit during surface interval, second dive, lunch on the way back, back to shop to do logs, drop off to accommodations. Day finishes around 3-4 PM, depending on dive sites.

I was already certified when I dove with them, but did do the refresher in the pool. After that, it was all fun diving, some days with newbies on the boat.

 

[stevenl]

From Phi Phi divesites will be closer.

 

[Centrals]

I know a LOB will give her the best diving but I'm not sure if that's in her budget.

Her uncle should be able to contribute the lion share or the whole lot!!!

 

[Bubble Junky]

Check out Lanta Diver - they run trips to the Phi Phi sites, and to Koh Ha. Koh Ha is a great place for the first Open Water Course dives (less boat traffic and more buoy lines etc.), and is closer to Lanta than to Phi Phi.

 

[dirtfarmer]

Her uncle should be able to contribute the lion share or the whole lot!!!

If I'm right about what your implying, she's not a "niece from Bangkok".

Anyone have recomodations for a shop for her to get her cert from on Phi Phi?

 

[stevenl]

If I'm right about what your implying, she's not a "niece from Bangkok".

Anyone have recomodations for a shop for her to get her cert from on Phi Phi?

I know the owner of Barakuda, so would dive there myself.

But it really does not make much of a difference there, all DC's and prices are very much comparable. The instructor will make or break the quality of the course, and quality there is unpredictable. Again I would trust Barakuda to be above average.

 

[Centrals]

If I'm right about what your implying, she's not a "niece from Bangkok".

This is what I understand the meaning of "niece": daughter of your brother/sister or daughter of your husband's/wife's brother/sister.
I did not imply anything else.

 

[chillyinCanada]

This is what I understand the meaning of "niece": daughter of your brother/sister or daughter of your husband's/wife's brother/sister.
I did not imply anything else.

I could be wrong, but I thought dirtfarmer was joking with you, Centrals

 

[vovanx]

Between Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi which islands good dive sites are closer?

Phi Phi - closer, Lanta - better.