Open water dive PADI in Bangkok HELP!!!

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orangiraffe

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Hi everybody. I am new to diving but I've been interested for years. I've just gotten a chance to go Bangkok and my boyfriend and I want to to take up the PADI open water diving certification, preferably at Koh Tau. Can anybody recommend us a really good centre or association/shop...that can give us a good and cheap quotation?

Regards,
Liyana
 
looks like

Calypso Diving, Koh Samui

is a good choice (have a look at: taucher.net Calypso Diving, Koh Samui, Thailand - this site is mostly in german, but...)

Greetings from Bavaria!
 
With over 50 dive centers operating on Koh Tao, you have a wealth of choices available. The quality of instruction and experience you will enjoy can vary drammatically depending on the care you take to choose.

Different centers have different pros and cons. Some specialise in certain languages (like the German center mentioned by a previous poster). There are shops that serve predominantly scandinavians. japanese etc etc. Centers that specialise in languages...or attempt to cater for many languages may hire less experienced instructors (instructors hired for their language, rather than their skill and experience as scuba teachers).

There are also large and small centers on the island. Small centers may have smaller groups for diving (which is nice), but the quality and customer service of the smaller centers varies considerably. The large dive centers tend to have larger groups of divers/bigger boats etc..so you may get less personal attention - but the upside is that they tend to have more uniform quality standards. Another benefit (depending on your tastes) is that they offer more chance to meet new people, make friends and party.

Another issue is where you want to stay on Koh Tao. The most popular beach area is 'Sairee Beach' and many resorts and dive centers are located along this beachfront strip...along with the main bars, restaurants and clubs. The Mae Haad area is much quieter (especially at night) and cheaper rooms are more readily available. However, you need to get a 5 minute taxi ride to get to the main entertainments.

For the best price/deal on diving and accommodation ....do not book in advance and certainly do not use a booking office in Bangkok (you pay for the middle-man).

If you are not flying via Samui...then just go to any tour operator in Bangkok (most are at Koh San Road) and book a 'Joint Ticket'. The best option on a Joint Ticket is overnight sleeper train (air-con) and then Lompraya Ferry. Take some food and drinks for the train. You are well looked after on the trip and not much can go wrong.

Once you arrive at Koh Tao (and on the ferry) you will be approached by a horde of touts trying to earn commission for booking accomodation and dive courses. Ignore them! Go check out some dive companies...haggle over prices...and ask whether they can offer free accommodation within the course price (some will..depending on season and how busy they are). If you have the energy to shop around, then you can get a good deal.

Be aware that the island gets full immediately after the infamous 'Full Moon Party' at Koh Pangan...so you get less discounts then and may have problems sourcing decent accommodation. The number of people booked onto dive courses is also higher then. Obviously, the 'Full Moon Party' is over the full moon period...so check online when that will be!

The week preceding, and over, the Full Moon Party is normally the quietest and this is a good time to arrive if you have that flexibility in your schedule. You can get better deals and more personal attention on courses.

Another tip for getting a better price is to 'hint' that you might be considering taking the Advanced Open Water course following your Open Water. Be non-commital, but doing this increases your 'value' as a customer. Also, tell them you are very nervous (even if you aren't)...as they will be more inclined to put you with the most experienced instructor.

When considering dive schools....ask these important questions...

1. How experienced is your instructor? (years teaching, number of certifications)

2. Which dive sites will be used for the course? (some schools cut costs by visiting the less interesting, but shorter ranged sites)

3. How many other divers can you expect to be sharing the course and dive boat with?

4. Does the dive boat have emergency oxygen, first aid kit and currently certified first aid trained staff.

If you are happy with these answers....then ask to see their diving equipment. Good schools use well-maintained, clean kit. If the kit looks like it has been dragged behind a bus from Bangkok to Beijing, then steer clear!

Then ask if you can meet your potential diving instructor (if you haven't been introduced already). Ask yourself what vibe you get from him/her? If they look like they spent the last week smoking pot, drinking and dancing...then they probably have...avoid them! If they act like they don't care...then they probably don't! If they are boastful, then they are probably inexperienced.

If they are friendly, professional, informative, establish good rapport with you and develop a sense of trust...then they are probably a good choice.

Chat to them about diving...where they have been (diving) in the world? When did they qualify as a DIVER..and when did they qualify as an INSTRUCTOR (there are some very inexperienced people working as dive pros!). What is there qualification as an Instructor? (it goes, in order,... Open Water Instructor....Master Scuba Diver Trainer...IDC Staff Instructor). The higher the qualification (along with years teaching and number of certifications) indicates (but not guarantees) more capability.

From my personal experience (working for 2 years on Koh Tao as an instructor), I would recommend the following schools...

Mae Haad - Crystal Dive Center (big school...well managed, nice operations).
Mae Haad - Master Divers (small school, long-standing, personal attention).

Sairee Beach - Seashell Resort (small school, good management, personal attention and nice rooms).
Sairee Beach - Davy Jones Locker (medium sized school, very professional)

They all have websites...drop them (and others) an enquiry email and see how they respond. Don't ask for prices...or you may reduce you ability to haggle when you arrive. If you do talk prices or wish to book in advance...do it directly with the school concerned and aim to get a discount and/or free room.

If you have any further questions, feel free to PM me. Have a great time on Koh Tao... I miss that place a lot!
 
Cheap is not always good! Be careful, there are some that will offer a course with hidden charges or cut corners. Make sure you know what you are getting up front with regard to certification agency as well.

What time of year will you be visiting? The Gulf of Thailand (Koh Tao) and the Andaman Sea (Phuket...) have different seasons. That should also help determine location. You should post this sort of question ideally in the Thai regional section.

Good advice from Andy by the way.

PM if you want more info as I am Bangkok based.

Perhaps a MOD can move this thread?

Safe diving,
 
Did I ever meet you when I was in Thailand, Arizona? I can't remember - (lots of hazy memories from pattaya and bangers!!) certainly I know you through mutual friends...

Don't go for cheap on Koh Tao. I'm not saying that cheap is always bad but Koh Tao does have a reputation for 'cowboy' dive operators. There are plenty of places to visit so maybe spend a day wandering around and making enquiries. Compare prices and ask what's offered, how long it will take, what you have to do etc. As Devondiver said - check them out; any half way decent shop will be happy to show you or prove that they have proper facilities and equipment.

Have a good time in Thailand!

C.
 
Crowley,

We may very well have dived together or been on the same boat while you were in Pattaya. I went out of my way to get as much experience as I could while balancing work and family commitments the year between becoming a DM to instructor. As a full time educator, I always make sure I am prepared for class. I wanted to ensure this would be same for scuba, hence diving whenever I could "locally". The training I received was very good, but there is no substitute for experience.

The OP could also consider doing theory and confined at home and taking a referral to Thailand. That could save time and maximize your holiday time. I have helped a few through this process with OW checkout dives in Pattaya. Just make sure you get the complete referral paperwork detailing everything you have done. If it is PADI to PADI the process is very simple.
 
ANDYYY!!!

You're my saviour! :)

Actually, I did email some centres I found online. Thankfully, DJL is one of the centres you mentioned in your reply! I think I'm definitely going to go for it!

And you're right, we are not going to do an online booking and DJL does not have a centre at Bangkok. Nonetheless, I got them to give me a quotation via email. They gave me a price of 9500 THB for 4 nights accomodation plus equipment rental and course fees. Is that costly?

Hmm, I am going to take the course the day after the FMP, I hope accomodation will be available. I could possibly book before hand since I would be arriving at Koh Pangan on the 5th. I could take a ferry ride to Koh Tao and book!

PERFECT!!!

Thank you GUYS!

WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE! :)

Regards,
Liyana (needs some sun-tanning) :D
 
If you are arriving at Koh Tao direct from the FMP, be aware that you will be travelling with maybe 10,000+ other party revellers...and competing with them for accommodation.

For your circumstances, I would definitely recommend booking in advance.

The price quoted by DJL (including accommodation) is very reasonable indeed. You 'may' get a slightly cheaper deal if you don't book in advance - but for the potential saving, you would probably have much more trouble getting a room.
 
9,500 baht for an open water course with 4 night accommodations? How does anyone make money on Koh Tao is beyond me. (I assume the book is not included.)
 
Well, at least some ops sort of include the book. Last time I was there I was diving with an op that "sold" used manuals to students and "repurchased" the same manuals when the students had finished the course.
 

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