Hi, used to dive with Sea Bees but this time their schedule doesn't fit our plans. We would rather do two days of Shark Point and Anemone than Racha Noi, Phi-Phi and King Cruiser that fall on the days when we can dive. Also last time we had to dive with really ****ty divers (enough experience but an idiot ) whospoilt the pleasure partially. So which boat would you recommend. Less divers or possibility to get a private guide for the two of us for a reasonable amount of money would be a nice bonus
Shiva,
It looks like you might be making headway with your scheduling. I thought I would just throw out two other possibilities. My brother and I were last in Phuket back in September and had very enjoyable times with these two Dive Operators. My first choice would be Scuba Cat, Phuket Scuba Diving, Liveaboards, PADI Courses, IDC Thailand - About. I first went with Scuba Cat based on a recommendation from a good friend and I was very grateful for the suggestion. While making my reservations and initial fact finding efforts I dealt with Sarah, the on-site owner. She was a dear to work with. For 90% of my time (4 Days) I dove with a fantastic Thai guide named Suchart 'Chart' Komkham. If there is any way possible, ask for Chart. Like most Thai people Chart is extremely outgoing, but he is equally knowledgeable when it come to diving in the Phuket region; he is also an Instructor with more than 10 years experience in Phuket, so you are not going to get some 'super hero' guide taking a '3-month extended work holiday' from Metropolis, USA who can only point out pretty fishies.:fish::fish::fish::goldfish::goldfish::goldfish:
The second dive operator we dove with was also based on a recommendation from a friend who lives in Thailand, Thailand Divers, PADI Scuba Diving Courses | Similan Liveaboards | Phuket Day Trips. It was the old story of I have a friend, who has a friend, who works in a Phuket dive shop. It just so happened on a previous trip to Thailand my daughter and I looked at this same operator and was going to dive with them on our next trip to Phuket anyways. We arranged for a day trip to Shark Point, The King Crusiser and Koh Doc Mai with Thailand Divers. They assigned us a personal guide so it was one guide to two divers. We went on a large "community' boat. While it was not overly crowded as it was in September (and the off season) the boat was not dedicated to just Thailand Divers' customers. We saw about four other dive operators, including Chart, on the boat. I was told that during the off season, many dive operators will utilize a few single large vessels as it is not cost efficient to operate their own vessels with so few customers.
Good luck with your search.
And don't fall in love with the girls on Bang-La Road...they might not really be a girl...D'oh.:gr1:
~Michael~