Recommendations on a place to get certified in Thailand

[DaveMorris]

I am going to be traveling to China at the end of May for business and will be done the second week of June. I am looking for some advice on where I can get PADI certified. There are so many different shops that I would like some help deciding on which one to go to. I have been wanting to get certified for a long time but haven't been able to do it. I thought it would be nice to dive while I am out there. I haven't bought tickets yet so I am open to going to different places. Any recommendations out there?

 

[randini]

You might get more responses in the Thailand section of the forums. I've seen a few similar threads there addressing the same topic.

Look up the SB user Quero. She has a dive operation in Thailand (Phuket IIRC) and I've seen her give pretty good advice on the boards loads of times. I haven't actually met her or dove with her, but if she even practices a quarter of what she preaches I'm willing to bet that she'll be pretty good.

Without knowing how long you'll be in Thailand, I'd also suggest that you look into getting cert'ed before you go. That way you won't be rushed to finish on a vacation schedule. Instead you can take your time to absorb the material and get some practice diving. Don't knock your local diving, I really miss diving CA kelp forests. Then once you get to Thailand, look into a charter, rent some gear and go have fun diving. I think you'll get more mileage out of your vacation dollars this way.

 

[windapp]

Where in Thailand? Mermaids in Pattaya is very good.

 

[macado]

Really depends where you are planning to go in Thailand. I don't have much experience with Phuket so I can't comment. Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea has some fantastic diving but unfortunately I believe June is in the middle of monsoon season so I don't think most liveaboards/charters are running.

Master Divers on Ko Tao is a solid operation. Ko Tao is one of those islands where there are about a hundred dive shops so you would have no trouble finding a place to get certified. It's in the gulf of Thailand.

Ko Tao is probably one of the cheaper places in Thailand to get certified due to all the competition on the island. That doesn't mean the experience will be poor but you definitely want to research options before selecting a diving operator.

Depending on what you're looking for, Ko Tao is a backpacker type island with a younger crowd. Most people are there to dive, party, and/or drink. May or may not be your cup of tea but it can be exactly what you want to make of it.

 

[buddhasummer]

Really depends where you are planning to go in Thailand. I don't have much experience with Phuket so I can't comment. Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea has some fantastic diving but unfortunately I believe June is in the middle of monsoon season so I don't think most liveaboards/charters are running.

Master Divers on Ko Tao is a solid operation. Ko Tao is one of those islands where there are about a hundred dive shops so you would have no trouble finding a place to get certified. It's in the gulf of Thailand.

Ko Tao is probably one of the cheaper places in Thailand to get certified due to all the competition on the island. That doesn't mean the experience will be poor but you definitely want to research options before selecting a diving operator.

Depending on what you're looking for, Ko Tao is a backpacker type island with a younger crowd. Most people are there to dive, party, and/or drink. May or may not be your cup of tea but it can be exactly what you want to make of it.

Yes, Similans shut in April and don't re open until October from memory.

I second Thailand forum and Quero.

 

[farsidefan1]

+ 1 for contacting Quero. Very knowledgeable and always willing to help.