DivinRich
Registered
So what did you come up with a total price difference for your intended course (divemaster??) ?
Wasn't trying to be argumentative, just trying to figure out somethings myself, exchange rates, fee's, course materials, etc get confusing trying to track it all. FWIW, I'm looking at going all the way to instructor and that is one of the reasons I'm considering AD in PG.
Also, it's been a while since I've been in Thailand, but you used to be able to get a 30 day visa free by crossing a land border and coming back, from my understanding, they only give you 15 days for the land crossing now (though you can still get the 30 day if you arrive via air). In the Philippines you can extend 59 days at a time for less than $100 each time (it varies from 3-4000p) and is easy to do.
I'm sure there are people using fixers to take care of visa issues, but I've always tried to keep that part of things above board.
When I was in Tao we spent 400 baht a night for a simple room with hot shower but no A/C....that was 5 years ago though. I thought the diving was pretty good and we were there at the end of the low season/beginning of high....spent 2+ weeks.
