Expat Looking To Make Scuba A Regualr Hobby

[corkman]

Hi All,

I am an expat, living in Bangkok. My wife and I are both PADI qualified Advanced Open Water divers.

I would like to take it up as a regular persuit. When I say regular, I wouldn't mind driving a couple of hours to a dive site on say a saturday, and doing that once or twice a month...... then maybe one every other month going down to phi phi or the likes, and staying over night for a day or two.

It seems that going to various scuba dive shops and paying them to take us on fully equiped dive outings aimed at short stay tourists may not be the most economical way for an expat to enjoy this persuit. There must be others in a similar situation to me, and can advise? So are there like any "scuba clubs" sort of thing? Is it worth buying all the gear myself?

I'd love to hear from anyone that could offer some advice on how to get more active on the scuba.

THanks CM

[H2oDunc]

Having your own kit will get you a 10% discount at most shops. You then have the inconvenience of hauling it about with you. If this is only going to be an irregular hobby then it may not be financially beneficial ? Best be is to simply shop about and get the best price you can for your diving. Normally the more dives you pay for the cheaper they are. On Koh Tao a single dive with all kit etc is around the 1000 baht mark. Book 10 dives and you can get it down to around the 700 mark

[Crushdepth]

Economically speaking, renting gear works out a hell of a lot cheaper than buying a full set. I'd suggest just buying the smaller bits (mask/fins/computer, regs if you are keen). You can carry those easily. Rent the suit and BC.

From Bangkok, Pattaya is pretty much the most easily accessible location. Shop prices don't vary that much. Pattaya Dive Centre has a 'frequent diver card' that gives you a free day out if you do 5 dives in 4 months, which is basically a 20% discount if you're a regular.

But if you have a week off, Koh Tao is the place to go. Dives, accommodation and food all half the price, if you don't mind being a titan triggerfish chew-toy.

[FarangBuddha]

Most thai diving is crap...and the places that are anywhere near decent, like the Similans/Surin or Burma Banks, are not convenient to Bangkok, crowded with divers, and expensive to get to and dive. There is some decent wreck diving in the Gulf but much of it is beyond recreational depths and again is expensive (getting to the sites and specialized equipment/gasses/training to dive them). Ko Tao is basically an open-water training school and anyone with more than 20 dives will quickly get bored by the place.

Close to Bangkok your options are Chumporn and Pattaya/Rayong areas. Again, a few wrecks and some pathetic "reefs." (Though our dive club did once see and get up close and dive with a whale-shark off Leam Mae Pim [Rayong] once).

I would say definitely get all your own gear...who wants to put their mouth into a reg mouth-piece that has been another persons' or wear a wetsuit that many other people have pee'd in in the past Plus you know the gear has been serviced properly and you have all the toys you want. Then save-up your vacation time and money and go to Indonesia (Bali, Manado, Lembah, Wakatobi, Malaysia [sipadan and Mabul], and the Philippines (Caron, Puerta Galera) for really world-class diving.

Edited January 23, 2011 by FarangBuddha

[LawrenceAlexWu]

There's definitely plenty of diving in the region. With only a weekend though & having to deal w/ no-fly off gas times, then your pretty limited to Chonburi & the likes. If you can manage 3-4 days holidays, then your options open up much more...Like FarangBuddha said...there's loads of world class diving in the region!

As for diving Pattaya coast, yes, the vis is generally not as good as some places...life underwater is not as spectacular, but some divers are the type to be happy just in the water & diving...especially if one has no time to fly out to other sites for a few days. I've dived in Cambodian rivers, saltwater marshes & the likes & find it exciting to see (or hardly see depending on the vis) what's there & usually come back w/ something that highlights the dive! It's a shame to have the attitude that good diving is ONLY with good vis...or in world class locations.

As for gear, it depends. Some divers don't like to keep using different gear & prefer to know their equipment underwater. Some aren't bothered. Definitely if you have to fly with it, consider weight when your buying though.

Yes, there is a club in BKK through Scubaboard.com & we tend to meet about every month...We're also planning trips together so that we can dive the way we want instead of following the boats schedule or operators dive time limits, etc....The next one we've been talking about is actually to Sattahip to dive the hardeep wreck...but with an expert on the site who probably konws the wreck inside out & almost better than anyone as you can see from his new site here: Looking for the site..will post it back + hte dive club info too....

FarangBuddha...Curiously what club are you part of?

Alex

[LawrenceAlexWu]

BKK divers club:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bkk-divers/273687-bkk-divers-48.html

Detailed NEW website on the Hardeep Wreck

http://www.Pattaya-Scuba.net

[corkman]

This is all exciting stuff, thanks for all the replies guys.

I will digest it propoerly and come back again with another proper reply.

Ko Toa - Yes, I've done probably about 20 dives there, to all the usual sites, including chumpon pinacle. But its not really commutable from bkk, and its not worth taking the time off and flying there, to do more of the same.

[Crushdepth]

The bus down to Chumpon/ferry over to Koh Tao is very cheap. It's just a bit painful.

[LawrenceAlexWu]

The bus down to Chumpon/ferry over to Koh Tao is very cheap. It's just a bit painful.

I prefer the train. Much more comfortable, only slightly slower with about the same price with a sleeper bed.

But yes, with the amount of travel time...it's almost better to fly out of BKK...especially with many sites to choose from around SE Asia!

Alex

[ScubaBuddha]

Most thai diving is crap...

Arai na? Shark point, Anemone reef, Bida Nia/Nok is world class diving.

Philippines (Caron, Puerta Galera) for really world-class diving.

I have dived Anilao and PG. I found them to be less impressive than Phuket-Phi Phi diving.

[h90]

With own equipment, if you know the Thai dive shops, you can be much cheaper.

I now bought a compressor of my own and tanks (all imported)and want to go direct with a small rent boot instead of the dive shops.

[LawrenceAlexWu]

Hi everyone,

Just aside & for those of us in BKK....checkout the Underwater Photography social nite this Tues here:

http://www.meetup.co...vents/16160306/

You don't have to be a member to join. You can just show up or RSVP me so we have some numbers...

Thanks,

Alex Wu

FarangBuddha...i think we've met already...

Edited February 28, 2011 by LawrenceAlexWu

[MRToMRT]

The pattaya scuba net site is awesome, wish there had been something like that for Pattaya when I was a diver

[Whale]

I saw a whaleshark at Laem Mae Phim, and a marlin "spear" a prey fish.

Back in the day.

[FarangBuddha]

Most thai diving is crap...

Arai na? Shark point, Anemone reef, Bida Nia/Nok is world class diving.

Philippines (Caron, Puerta Galera) for really world-class diving.

I have dived Anilao and PG. I found them to be less impressive than Phuket-Phi Phi diving.

Did I say "Anilao"? Where else have you dived in SE Asia...when you have been to all the places I have mentioned, get back to me.

I have also dived Anilao multiple times and certain sites there are much better and more interesting than the Phuket sites you mentioned...as well as not being stuffed with 10-20 other dive boats at the site! There is nothing like Bahura in the Phuket area (or even the Similans). One of the most beautiful and challenging dives around. More interesting macro at Philippines sites too.

Shark Point and Annemone Reef...yeah, decent sites, nothing special, but again crowded and often poor vis. Some interesting sites around Phi-Phi and have seen mantas in the Racha area. So yes, there is decent diving in the Andaman area but not "world class"...maybe just dived them out already and prefer the out of Thailand sites now.

Edited March 10, 2011 by FarangBuddha

[LawrenceAlexWu]

FYI...There's a trip setup during Songkran to dive Anilao in April.

Click herefor more details if you're interested.

Cheers,

Alex

[FarangBuddha]

FYI...There's a trip setup during Songkran to dive Anilao in April.

Click herefor more details if you're interested.

Didn't see any info on the resort...I prefer Aquaventures...great food, lots of it, and the helicopter wreck is straight in from the shore. Also, an amazing nite dive right from shore as well. Also, can one get a single-room rate?

Edited March 12, 2011 by FarangBuddha

[reissuun]

Did I say "Anilao"? Where else have you dived in SE Asia...when you have been to all the places I have mentioned, get back to me.

Why this attitude? Sure your ego isn't bigger than the ocean?