"Privat" Diving Asia (Thailand/Indonesia)

[japan-diver]

In Japan only on Okinawa is cheap shore diving without guides available - almost impossible to find up in mainland. Not to insult the guys from Thailand but the shore diving here is much better than anything you will find in Thailand more corals, more nudis, more fish species. Everything from soft coral reefs at 12 meters to deep walls at 40+ meters all just a few meters from shore.

 

[stevenl]

Most places here on Phuket won't rent you tanks, but on the smaller islands you might get to know a shop by talking with the staff and explaining your background, and then maybe they'd let you take their tanks. If you're going to be in the area for 6 months, you could just buy a couple of tanks and get fills pretty easily then sell them. We don't do much shore diving in Thailand, though it's possible to get a longtail boat if you're staying at a place with dive sites nearby enough to drive out to them in a small boat.

I can't say much about Indonesia and the customary procedures there, but there is an SB member who has been active on the board recently and who's based in Indonesia at a place where there's plenty of close-in diving--instructorinasia is [-]his[/-] her username. I'll let [-]him[/-] her know about this thread and maybe [-]he[/-] she can offer some insight.

Don't know about most, but do know that a lot of places on Phuket will rent you tanks. However, the options for divesites are limited, and you will need transport. You can also rent a longtailboat and do some diving that way, but also there the options are limited. The better sites are further away, and for those sites you'd need to rent a speedboat, so an organised divetrip via a shop would be much cheaper.

 

[KIbuu]

However, the options for divesites are limited...

Of course. That is normal. And there is no need to do all dives independent. But i need the opportunity to do it.

The first dives in an area, special places, far away spots are reasons for a guided dive.

Independent diving isnt easy-peasy. You need reliable buddys, dive shop and boatowner. You need time to do that.

It is possible to do. Not always but often enough.