Diving In Thailand - Timeline and Itinerary Help

[stryker_852]

As someone who recently dove with Silent Divers in Koh Samui, I can confidently say it's one of the best decisions for anyone looking to dive in the area. While Koh Tao is famous for its diving, I found that staying on Koh Samui offers more flexibility and comfort. Accommodation on Koh Tao can be limited and pricey, especially during peak seasons, whereas Koh Samui has a wide range of options, from budget hostels to luxury resorts, making it easier to find something that fits your style and budget. Plus, the same dive sites around Koh Tao, like the famous Sail Rock, are only just over an hour away from Koh Samui by boat!

If you're looking for a top-notch dive center, I highly recommend checking out Silent Divers. Their professional and friendly instructors made the experience unforgettable, and the convenience of staying on Samui without sacrificing great dive sites is unbeatable.

 

[Cornbread O'Malley]

@nicnackerz

If Bangkok then definitely do a city food tour and an evening watching muay thai fights at Rajadamnern Stadium.

 

[MacDuyver]

Hi all!

My husband and I are planning a trip to Thailand! This is a dream destination for us, and we have a lot we want to do, including spending a few days in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and of course, diving!

We are AOW certified and have done quite a few dive-centered trips (most recent was to Cozumel - it was phenomenal). I want to do a LOT of diving in Thailand (honestly, if I could, I'd be underwater all the time!), but we have quite a few other non-diving things we want to do, too. This brings me to my question: We could go to Thailand for 2 weeks over the holidays (December / January), when I've heard the diving and weather is best. However, we'd be limited to two weeks (more like 10 days on the ground, with the travel time from Idaho), and it's quite pricey. This would mean, if we spend a couple days in Bangkok and a couple days in the northern area, we'd have maybe five days of diving. If we were to do this, where would be the best place to dive at, with travel considerations (ease of access from Bangkok, flight restrictions for 24 hours after our last dive, etc.). I'm considering scratching Chiang Mai, and maybe we can go on another trip if need be, to get more diving. I love sharks, and wanted to visit the Similan islands and Koh Tao potentially. So, best places to go? Should we scratch Chiang Mai (too much in one trip) and just dive?

The other option we've got is to go in the summer. I'm a teacher so I have almost unlimited time off. If we did this, we could spend a couple weeks diving if we wanted to (husband can work flexibly and remotely), and see the other stuff. However, I have heard the diving is not as good in summer.

I guess I'm mostly reaching out to see what you all think about the two options, and look for recommendations regarding which is better. I'd be glad to shorten our trip to prioritize diving if we go in December, especially if the diving is that much better that time of year. Thoughts?

One thing you have to keep in mind is that Thailand is much bigger than it looks.

I recommend flying Nok or Air Asia from CM to Bangkok, it takes about an hour versus 10hrs by an or train.

Pattaya/ Koh Chang is the most accessible from Bangkok. It’s about 2-3hrs drive. That said, the conditions there tend to be pretty bad. I recommend it if you want to do deep wrecks though. The algae stops at about 30ft

Koh Samui has some okay diving. It’s a great tourist location, and is a short plane flight from Bangkok or about a 4hr train ride plus a ferry.

Both the above sites are Gulf Of Thailand which tends to be somewhat murky.

Koh Phi Phi is WAY down south, on the Andeman Sea side and very much worth the trip. To get there you fly into Phuket (about an hour plane ride from Bangkok… or a 12hr train ride)

I have not been diving in Koh Tao or Phuket proper.

Phuket has a pretty big airport just like Chiang Mai that you could depart from. Phuket tho is Phuket. It’s a tourist beach city. Tons of Russians. It’s like going to Myrtle Beach.

 

[MacDuyver]

According to that schedule, you're only leaving yourself enough opportunity to get scammed 5 times in Bangkok.

Stay away from the 150 Baht Tuk Tuks, yo.

Actually OP, great time to mention: use Grab for everything. It’s like Uber, Uber Eats, and PayPal rolled into one app and it’s the pro move for getting around locally

 

[JonnieB]

Y

One thing you have to keep in mind is that Thailand is much bigger than it looks.

I recommend flying Nok or Air Asia from CM to Bangkok, it takes about an hour versus 10hrs by an or train.

Pattaya/ Koh Chang is the most accessible from Bangkok. It’s about 2-3hrs drive. That said, the conditions there tend to be pretty bad. I recommend it if you want to do deep wrecks though. The algae stops at about 30ft

Koh Samui has some okay diving. It’s a great tourist location, and is a short plane flight from Bangkok or about a 4hr train ride plus a ferry.

Both the above sites are Gulf Of Thailand which tends to be somewhat murky.

Koh Phi Phi is WAY down south, on the Andeman Sea side and very much worth the trip. To get there you fly into Phuket (about an hour plane ride from Bangkok… or a 12hr train ride)

I have not been diving in Koh Tao or Phuket proper.

Phuket has a pretty big airport just like Chiang Mai that you could depart from.

The travel times you quote sound like you've never been to Thailand...have you ever been? You can at least double the travel times you quote, when you factor in getting to and from train, bus, or airplane stations and waiting times. A trip anywhere from Bangkok basically takes a day (at least) each way.

 

[MacDuyver]

Y

The travel times you quote sound like you've never been to Thailand...have you ever been? You can at least double the travel times you quote, when you factor in getting to and from train, bus, or airplane stations and waiting times. A trip anywhere from Bangkok basically takes a day (at least) each way.

I’ve not just visited Thailand, I’ve lived there (Bangkok).

Twice.

Don Mueang is easy money. Particularly if you plan it around rush hour. Grab over to DMK, hop a flight, you’re there. If it’s gonna be rush hour, take BTS. It takes a morning or an afternoon to get anywhere by plane in Thailand from Bangkok.

I don’t recommend Suvarnabuhmi (BKK) for anything domestic.

 

[passeparici]

The conditions in Pattaya are bad most of the time but in Koh Chang it is different. Sometime good sometime bad but not as clear as Cozumel or red sea for instance

 

[JonnieB]

I’ve not just visited Thailand, I’ve lived there (Bangkok).

Twice.

Don Mueang is easy money. Particularly if you plan it around rush hour. Grab over to DMK, hop a flight, you’re there. If it’s gonna be rush hour, take BTS. It takes a morning or an afternoon to get anywhere by plane in Thailand from Bangkok.

I don’t recommend Suvarnabuhmi (BKK) for anything domestic.

BTS doesn't go to Don Muang...factor in more walking up and down stairs in the 90% humidity dragging all your luggage and dive gear and catching another taxi to the airport departures deck.

 

[amclaughlin200]

Hi all!

My husband and I are planning a trip to Thailand! This is a dream destination for us, and we have a lot we want to do, including spending a few days in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and of course, diving!

We are AOW certified and have done quite a few dive-centered trips (most recent was to Cozumel - it was phenomenal). I want to do a LOT of diving in Thailand (honestly, if I could, I'd be underwater all the time!), but we have quite a few other non-diving things we want to do, too. This brings me to my question: We could go to Thailand for 2 weeks over the holidays (December / January), when I've heard the diving and weather is best. However, we'd be limited to two weeks (more like 10 days on the ground, with the travel time from Idaho), and it's quite pricey. This would mean, if we spend a couple days in Bangkok and a couple days in the northern area, we'd have maybe five days of diving. If we were to do this, where would be the best place to dive at, with travel considerations (ease of access from Bangkok, flight restrictions for 24 hours after our last dive, etc.). I'm considering scratching Chiang Mai, and maybe we can go on another trip if need be, to get more diving. I love sharks, and wanted to visit the Similan islands and Koh Tao potentially. So, best places to go? Should we scratch Chiang Mai (too much in one trip) and just dive?

The other option we've got is to go in the summer. I'm a teacher so I have almost unlimited time off. If we did this, we could spend a couple weeks diving if we wanted to (husband can work flexibly and remotely), and see the other stuff. However, I have heard the diving is not as good in summer.

I guess I'm mostly reaching out to see what you all think about the two options, and look for recommendations regarding which is better. I'd be glad to shorten our trip to prioritize diving if we go in December, especially if the diving is that much better that time of year. Thoughts?

I have dived all over Thailand. Personally I'd skip Koh Tao. Sail rock and a few others are impressive dive sites on their own, but you will most likely have an uncomfortable amount of other dive boats in the area. It feels more like a tour guide with 50 other people than diving. However I must say, there really is an impressive amount of large fish on the sites. It is literally swarming with fish. I did 3 weeks in Similan and it was solid. Not the best viz around 5-10m depending on the dive but i think we were unlucky. Had some dives where it was closer to 15m but don't expect crystal clear and otherwise it's nice. I'm lucky enough to do everything privately so I can't speak to a dive company but I saw some liveaboards that seemed to be efficient. I had some really insane night dives there and West of Eden was our favorite site.

However.... I've dived all over the world and in my opinion, Thailand is home to what i consider the most underrated reef I've ever dived. It's not Similan, or Richelieu, or Koh Tao.

Koh Lipe is incredible. Particularly Stonehenge Reef. I dived some other spots and then just did 5 days in a row on Stonehenge because it was that good. The most beautiful soft coral reef I've ever seen. And absolute macro heaven which is what I like. I spotted more seahorses there than I've seen diving everywhere else in the world combined. (And it wasn't just the same one over and over again)... also some really cool nudis and weird devilfish, octopus on every night dive, coral cat shark which i had never seen before. It was incredible and stunningly beautiful. It's also a chilled out island and perfect for a more relaxed atmosphere than koh Tao in my opinion.

Anyway, I love to rant about diving. If you decide on Similan or Koh Tao you'll enjoy it. If it was me I'd go for similan and Koh Lipe.

Cheers

 

[MacDuyver]

BTS doesn't go to Don Muang...factor in more walking up and down stairs in the 90% humidity dragging all your luggage and dive gear and catching another taxi to the airport departures deck.

sorry. SRT to Don Mueang (Red Line from city center), BTS to BKK. Don Mueang is still the money maker in Bangkok and is very easily accessible with Grab. Like anything else with bangkok, it's up to you to beat traffic. If you manage your travel, it takes a morning to get to anywhere in Thailand. if you don't you'll be in traffic forever and will be waiting in line at the airport just as long.

you could always ride the train and be guaranteed a 10-12hr train ride on top of fighting traffic though. Better get that sleeper car.... purchased ahead of time.