Hello everyone,
Why Mr J Valve do you continue to stay in an area that you quite clearly have grown tired of ? I think you need a break. Tell you what why don't you come in and see me & I'll show you a lovely liveaboard with a good reputation and an extremely hard working staff that actually really enjoy staying here & working here. We can go out on the Queen Scuba, the liveaboard operated by Coral Grand Divers for 4 days & nights and when you come back you may even like what you did. Wouldn't that be a new feeling for you. Enjoying something you do, instead of *****ing about it!
And Wetsuit- a proper answer to your question.
The Similans & Surin Islands are the best places in Thailand for diving and certainly for Liveaboard cruises. I recommend at least a 4 night cruise which would allow enough time to experience & enjoy the best divesites in the area.
Of the diveshops you named here is an honest answer-
Sea dragon- the longest established diveshop in Khao Lak. They call themselves the Liveaboard specialists & with 11 years behind them you can't really argue that. They also have 4 boats from which to choose. They have agreat reputation for their staff- staff who are friendly , experienced and enjoy their jobs.
Phuket Divers- Also a long established business here in Khao Lak. Again they also have a good reputation, helpful staff and price themselves in the backpacker category.
Kontiki- very scandanavian, and specialists in snorkelling and daytrips to the Similans. They don't have their own Liveaboard in Khao Lak.
And finally Coral Grand Divers- well- simply lovely people, fantastic boat, great reputation and possibly "the Baddest to the core manager" in Thailand!( Yup that's me folks!). A little more expensive than most liveaboard operations in Khao Lak, but it has a nicer boat , a lot nicer cabins all with ensuite, and one of the biggest dive decks on any liveaboard in Thailand.
So, Wetsuit, Your question has caused quite a stir. I hope though that you will see through the negativity of some and realise that these wouldn't want to be the sort of people you want to be surrounded by for 4 days !
And J Valve... go home!
jvalve:
To be honest, skip Khao Lak mate! I live there and have for several years. The place is
done. The business owners are greedy, seedy, and sadly after your $ at whatever cost
to the nature. Three years ago, this place was nice, now its rapidly heading in the development direction of Phuket, Samui, Pattaya, etc...
The Similan Islands are being turned into the Kho Tao of the Andaman Sea. Live-aboards and 2-strokes swarm the Islands, dumping 20-30 divers into the sea at a time. Just forget it, do not start, do not pass go, do not contribute to the destruction of nature...
If u have unfortunately already booked a flight and must travel to Thailand. Of the shops u listed in your message I can recommend Phuket Divers, and Sea Dragon. The others are total cons. They have cheated their way up to the companies they are today by stealing the hard work of honest business, and do not deserve any recognition at all. One is owned by a rich Thai politician, but is fronted by foreign management. Dont be fooled, they are bad people to the core. The other company went so far as to steal the name from the original founding operator forcing them to change to IQ Divers. Just Forget them! Give your business to the hard working operators that deserve your business.
Sorry to be so neg. I have been here too long and am sick of the crap. You are unlikely to be screwed by a Thai, just watch out for the Ferang!
hope this helps!
/jvalve
