I want to plan a trip to Thailand

[OnTheSpot]

There are still not so many boats heading to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, but it has been on the rise over the last few years. The dive sites are great, but you can be unlucky and be there at the same time as a couple of liveaboards plus day trip boats from Lanta and Phi Phi. But if you're in Thailand in April it's not so busy, and yet is the best time of year to dive. The Mermaid II, Colona 6, Pawara and Parinee liveaboards will dive there weekly, all departing from Phuket.

A hat full of options for the Similan islands/Richelieu Rock, departing from Phuket or Khao Lak. Over all Phuket is the best base, but I'd stay flexible. If you want to get some dives at Phi Phi, do it from Phi Phi rather than Phuket. If you want day trips to Similan do it from Khao Lak.

Useful links (even if I do say so myself):

Liveaboards

Thailand Dive Sites

 

[Oceanic Phuket]

Depends on how long you plan on staying and how much you want to spend. I'd agree that Le Mahe is good value as is Dolphin Queen if you want to meet people and have a good time.
If you have the time, it is easy to organise a 6 day trip to Similans & Hin Daeng/Hin Muang. Whatever you choose, the west coast of Thailand is where you really want to be.
http://www.oceanicdivecenter.com

 

[slipslop]

i went to koh tao and koh phangan in february this year. before i went i was warned that it was not as nice as the andaman sea. well i went anyway and had the best holiday i have ever had. its such a beautiful island to just relax and it was so inexpensive. the water around the island was very clear. There are places where the coral is fantastic, like on koh nangyuan, aoe leuk and mango bay. I also spent a week on the western side of koh phangan and the coral reef around koh ma island was spectacular. im going back again in January. while im sure the diving is great on the andaman side of thailand, koh tao and koh phangan will do me just fine.

 

[orangelemon]

I recently stayed in the Kata Beach Resort for 3 weeks with my Mum and Son, its ideally placed right next to beach (as you would expect with a name like Kata beach resort!) with Kata Beach restaurants and Kata Central, for shopping within walking distance. They both loved the hotel but it might be getting a bit more expensive as high season is officially about to begin (October ?) Other places I like are Kata Delight Villas and of course the luxurious Aspasia Hotel at the other end of Kata Beach.

For non diving activities I recommend a trek on an Elephant (Jungle Safari) with a snake show ? perhaps a visit to Wat Chalong (Buddist Temple) as well as Phuket Zoo, Kata Viewpoint, Kata Beach for surfing and how about chilling out with Diving types in Aaron's bar Happy Days bar in Chalong or Daniel's bar / restaurant Baan Suay in Karon

On the subject of exposure protection I would suggest 3mm shorty but I dive in just a rash vest all year around) Have dived in 5 mm two piece here before though

Exposure protection ! hat and tshirt dont believe in cremes containing ingredients I cant pronouce

 

[vincypotskie]

hey people, i'll be going to Thailand in October, hows the weather? my dilema is that i might not have so much time for diving but i WANT to dive...no i need!

so what can you advise?

 

[Quero]

hey people, i'll be going to Thailand in October, hows the weather? my dilema is that i might not have so much time for diving but i WANT to dive...no i need!

so what can you advise?

First you need to tell us where in Thailand you are going to be and what kind of time frame you have for diving. In other words, what are the constraints?