Scuba diving in Asia forum

Andaman Coast - now!

noflyzone

backpacker
Posts: 11

Hi,

We've just qualified as SCUBA divers from Mermaids (excellent) in Pattaya and are heading down towards Malaysia. We plan to dive the Perhentians in Malay, therefore we'd quite like to dive the other side of the peninsula. However, it seems like the Similan/Surins etc are all off limits at this time.

Is there anywhere good for newly-qualified divers to go on the West coaast of the peninsula in July/August? Nothing too technical or 30m deep, just some slightly different scenery/life maybe and good fun. Thanks for any help,

Oli + Ema

PS we go to India next if anyone knows anything about there...

#1 Posted: 11/7/2010 - 20:03
ayesha

tourist
Posts: 59
Located in:

Private message

Hi there !

The conditions are far better on the East Coast at this time of year - Koh Tao is the place to go.

Dives will still leave from Phi Phi and Lanta but the viz is likely not to be so good and the water choppy....so you can go and check it out but...

Ayesha

#2 Posted: 12/7/2010 - 13:46

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Master Divers, Koh Tao, Thailand
noflyzone

backpacker
Posts: 11

Hi Ayesha,

Thanks for your feedback, that's really helpful. We have been told that the west coast is actually pretty good at the moment - from two dive shops. One was closed and the other open.

We're still puzzling over it though as all classic advice seems to say the East should be better at this time of year.

Oli and Emma

#3 Posted: 13/7/2010 - 18:40
ayesha

tourist
Posts: 59
Located in:

Private message

Hi there !

The east coast should be better than the west coast at the moment but there are always exceptions......its the same here in November when we should be having monsoon .... you can get periods of lovely conditions....

If you have someone there giving you honest information then go and check it out .....

Have fun !

Ayesha

#4 Posted: 14/7/2010 - 09:46

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Master Divers, Koh Tao, Thailand
noflyzone

backpacker
Posts: 11

Well, we visited Tao and weren't knocked out by it to be honest. It's incredibly cheap - some dive shops were almost offering free diving! However, I think diving is not to be judged on cost. The visibility was no better than Pattaya when we went - 8m at most. While these things are obviously seasonal, we were (as I understand) in the good season. Most of the other divers on the boat didn't seem impressed with their (longer) stays in Tao. We had fun because we're new to it and were passsing through anyway.

However, we arrived in Phi Phi and took a boat out today (with Visa) - incredible. The two are not comparable. While the viz wasn't much better - 10m or so - there was so much more under the water. We were really glad to have jumped across and would recommend it to anyone.

#5 Posted: 20/7/2010 - 20:18