Diving In Thailand - Timeline and Itinerary Help

[Centrals]

@nicnackerz
Have you decided you final itinary yet?
A lot of interesting suggestions but time is your main constraint. Trying to do too many things in too short of time is asking for trouble.
One certain thing: stay well clear of Phuket which is full of scam, rip off, mafia etc etc. Avoid arriving at the airport in the evening because you will be at the mercy of the mafia on transportation. The last airport bus is at 18:30.
Khao Lak is the place.

 

[GregPRoundTheWorld]

If diving is a priority, I agree with the suggestions to either 1) do a short liveaboard from Khao Lak (just make sure it has at least one dive at Richelieu Rock, as it's still a very, very special site and is a good bit better than the other places the liveaboard will visit), or 2) get to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang from Koh Lanta. For me, Richelieu, Hin D, and Hin M are the pick of the diving bunch in Thailand. Koh Bon is nice too, and Tachai can be good. Similans quite nice topography, but not that fishy now.

For you, I guess you could only either do the liveaboard or Lanta, given your other plans. If you want to do more diving, I'd do the liveaboard. If just two days' diving or so, you could do Lanta trips to Hin D, Hin M, and another place (I'd prob pick Koh Haa). I'd go with Lanta Diver (the dive shop) — nice bunch and well run. Hope that helps!