Diving in Thailand with 10 year old

[orioncyg]

Hi all. My 10 year old and I are interested in diving in Thailand (we will be spending about 12 days in the South in the second half of December). Neither of us are experienced. In fact, we've only went diving once..in Belize. I may try to get certified or at least the elearning/pool done before arriving in Thailand.

I was hoping for recommendations for dive shops in Southern Thailand, both for day trips, as well as for liveaboards. I would be very interested to do a live aboard to Similan islands, but from speaking with one tour agency (Khaolak Scuba Adventures), it seems that we don't meet the reqs to do the liveaboard because we aren't certified and they go to depth that aren't appropriate for a 10 year old.

 

[Centrals]

Christmas is dead busy anywhere within the Kingdom.
The kid is only allowed to enrol for Junior Open Water Dive Cert(PADI).
Koh Chang is my suggestion as most of the sites are easy and shallow. The island is only about 5hrs by bus from Bangkok and has accommodation to suit any budget. However, the departure point for most dive boats is on the southern end of the island(Bang Bao Pier) which is also the central location of many dive operators. But they arrange free transfer from most beaches on the west coast.

BTW, Koh Chang is the third largest island in the Kingdom.

 

[orioncyg]

Oh when I say South, I mean in the Phuket/Krabi area.

 

[Centrals]

Oh when I say South, I mean in the Phuket/Krabi area.

It is NOT that south in the Kingdom. Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe are further south than those two mentioned places.
Anyway, it does not matter because none of those two places is really suitable to both of you especially the younger one.
The depth limit for Junior Open Water qualification ie 12m. is the deciding factor.
If you really want to visit either place then you better contact the operator and raise the question.

 

[Christian]

Most sites in the Andaman Sea, Surin / Similan / Raya / Phi Phi / Phuket, are not really suitable for absolute beginners. The only place I can think of is Koh Haa, an hour or two by dive boat outside Lanta.

It is like a big swimming pool surrounded by limestone islands. Don’t know what the diving is like there now, but it used to be pretty nice, lots of soft corals, clouds of glass fish and sometimes squids in schools. I personally know people who trained there. Maybe an option?

Lanta is easiest reached by a car via a bridge from Krabi (used to be, someone with more recent info can step in). Or a few hours by ferry south of Phuket, about one from Krabi. Pretty easy and pleasant ride if weather co-operates. Several departures daily. This is a good DC:

Dive Sites Koh Lanta

Dive sites Koh Lanta in the Andaman Sea. Trips to Koh Haa, Hin Daeng/Hin Meuang, Koh Bida and Koh Rok operated by Lanta Diver Koh Lanta.

lantadiver.com

As @Centrals said — it’s going to be pretty hectic until second week of January. Better reach out and book in advance. And (Addition) do an OW referral—you do the reading, writing and 5x pool sessions with a DC in your home town. They then ”refer” you to e.g. Lanta Divers and they will make the four open water dives.

Good luck and have fun

 

[KBlack]

Phuket is perfect for learning to dive. It has the full range of dive spots from local beach dives to local islands with big sandy bays and calm water for dive training. It also has advanced dive sites and even good technical dive sites.

If visiting Phuket I would recommend Aussie Divers. They are a PADI 5 Star Instructor Training facility based in Chalong where all the dive boats leave from. They have experienced Instructors. They own there own boat which is less crowded than most of the other shared boats. Their team is very professional and very friendly.

You wont get on a liveaboard until a little more experienced but there are equally good dive sites available with day trips from Phuket.

(Full disclosure: Although I dont work for Aussie Divers, I do use their boat sometimes and they do refer technical or CCR customers to me.)

 

[orioncyg]

It is NOT that south in the Kingdom. Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe are further south than those two mentioned places.
Anyway, it does not matter because none of those two places is really suitable to both of you especially the younger one.
The depth limit for Junior Open Water qualification ie 12m. is the deciding factor.
If you really want to visit either place then you better contact the operator and raise the question.

A couple places are willing to take us on a liveaboard, but yeah it doesn't sound suitable for us, so I don't think we'll do it.

I wonder if we can do a live aboard snorkeling trip, perhaps to Surin?

 

[orioncyg]

Most sites in the Andaman Sea, Surin / Similan / Raya / Phi Phi / Phuket, are not really suitable for absolute beginners. The only place I can think of is Koh Haa, an hour or two by dive boat outside Lanta.

View attachment 922062

It is like a big swimming pool surrounded by limestone islands. Don’t know what the diving is like there now, but it used to be pretty nice, lots of soft corals, clouds of glass fish and sometimes squids in schools. I personally know people who trained there. Maybe an option?

View attachment 922060
View attachment 922061
Lanta is easiest reached by a car via a bridge from Krabi (used to be, someone with more recent info can step in). Or a few hours by ferry south of Phuket, about one from Krabi. Pretty easy and pleasant ride if weather co-operates. Several departures daily. This is a good DC:

Dive Sites Koh Lanta

Dive sites Koh Lanta in the Andaman Sea. Trips to Koh Haa, Hin Daeng/Hin Meuang, Koh Bida and Koh Rok operated by Lanta Diver Koh Lanta.

lantadiver.com

As @Centrals said — it’s going to be pretty hectic until second week of January. Better reach out and book in advance. And (Addition) do an OW referral—you do the reading, writing and 5x pool sessions with a DC in your home town. They then ”refer” you to e.g. Lanta Divers and they will make the four open water dives.

Good luck and have fun

Do you think places like Phi Phi are with guides even? We might consider sticking to snorkeling if diving really isn't suitable for us in that area

 

[orioncyg]

Phuket is perfect for learning to dive. It has the full range of dive spots from local beach dives to local islands with big sandy bays and calm water for dive training. It also has advanced dive sites and even good technical dive sites.

If visiting Phuket I would recommend Aussie Divers. They are a PADI 5 Star Instructor Training facility based in Chalong where all the dive boats leave from. They have experienced Instructors. They own there own boat which is less crowded than most of the other shared boats. Their team is very professional and very friendly.

You wont get on a liveaboard until a little more experienced but there are equally good dive sites available with day trips from Phuket.

(Full disclosure: Although I dont work for Aussie Divers, I do use their boat sometimes and they do refer technical or CCR customers to me.)

Thanks. We might give that a try.
My plan was/is to do the elearning and pool training at home so I don't waste time in Thailand on the basics.

Do you by any chance know if there are snorkeling liveaboards to Surin? I'm having a hard time finding this...

I heard Surin is great for snorkeling and would like to experience it

 

[Christian]

Do you think places like Phi Phi are with guides even? We might consider sticking to snorkeling if diving really isn't suitable for us in that area

Yes, it is with guides. There are a couple of easy dives, but also a couple that can have current and are a little too deep. So definitely doable. But Ko Haa inmo would be a combination of a fun and safe OW dives. You can then take it from there.