Phuket day trip & DC recommendations

[asphyrna]

I'll be in Phuket from Dec. 31 - Jan 5 and am looking for a good DC to do either one or two day trips. Any recommendations? I've done the big tourist boats in the Great Barrier Reef and I did see a lot, but am not a huge fan of the "40 people on board and in the water" experience. Anyone know of any DCs of equal quality or caliber, but with smaller boats or dive groups?

Thanks!

 

[Quero]

You have to realize that you will be in the region exactly during high peak season. All boats will be full. However, even on full boats, the dive groups are small. It's nothing like what you are probably accustomed to from Mexico with big boats and one DM.

 

[stevenl]

Also take into account that on some boats the number of divers will be limited, whereas on others they simply pile up until nobody can be sqeezed in anymore.

 

[Scuba Cat Diving]

Ask the dive center the maximum number of divers they take on the boat with staff, some centers here have almost as many staff as customers on board.