Ah, but South Siam does do pickups at the JW Marriott. And the information I have says it is included in the price of the liveaboard. You will be picked up in the morning (probably around 7:00 a.m.) and transferred to Khao Lak by mini-bus.
I recommend that you read over the FAQs on South Siam's website.
The use of gloves is generally discouraged around here. The water is warm, so there is no need for thermal protection, and in fact, the DMs and Instructors working here don't wear gloves even though we dive a lot. Divers who wear gloves may not intend to touch, but in fact they do touch more often and with less hestitation than divers who are bare-handed. If a diver needs to push off from a rock or stabilize him/herself to take a photo, one or two fingers is sufficient. Gloves only make it easier for divers to use their hands to hold onto things since they won't feel any stings or sharp edges. When you see the wealth of marine life we have here as compared to North Carolina, you will understand better why we want to protect it from stray hands.
