Online Prices Vs Local Prices?

[wilson7561681]

Howdy everyone

I'm headed to Thailand for the entire month of May and I have a few very important questions. First off.... since this is the start of the rainy season do a lot of the dive shops close up shop and stop diving during this month? Also I went online and found that the prices for diving are astronomical. I have dove all through Hawaii, and the Caribbean for more than half of the prices I have seen online. Is this just commercialized internet pricing, or is this the general price for diving throughout the country? Also what would a general boat dive and a general beach dive cost with equipment. Obviously there are many variables at play but just as a general dive. Thank you for all of your help

[h90]

yes diving is expensive here :-(

[H2oDunc]

I'm sorry but a couple of dives with all your equipment, lunch, tanks and boat etc for around the 50 UK pounds mark isn't what I would call expensive. just where are you looking to dive ?

Koh Tao has some nice dive sites that are close to the island so that makes things cheaper. Here on Samui they are more expensive as you have to take a speedboat to the dive sites and they bump up the costs. Koh Tao also is one of the cheapest places in the world to get certified so again fail to see diving here as expensive

Most places will do you a deal if you walk in off the street.

[redfish44]

On Lanta low season is approaching, although 2 shops stay open in low season, though the boats may not go out every day. Shore diving is possible here, shallow but I like it, just not many places advertise it.

To go out on a boat here they pick you up from wherever you stay, give you breaky and lunch, at least 2 dives, and take you home - is a full day, so a bit different to other places. Most boats are bigger slow boats, though some have speedboats. Price drops if you have you own equipment and do more than one day diving.

I would say prices here might be cheaper than online for some shops, as not everyone updates the net often. Not sure though.

have fun

[h90]

I'm sorry but a couple of dives with all your equipment, lunch, tanks and boat etc for around the 50 UK pounds mark isn't what I would call expensive. just where are you looking to dive ?

Koh Tao has some nice dive sites that are close to the island so that makes things cheaper. Here on Samui they are more expensive as you have to take a speedboat to the dive sites and they bump up the costs. Koh Tao also is one of the cheapest places in the world to get certified so again fail to see diving here as expensive

Most places will do you a deal if you walk in off the street.

I call that expensive. I was diving for 1000 Baht (900 with own equipment) including boat trip and food. That is fair.

I don't know how much gasoline a speedboat takes so that might change the story.

[limbos]

I'm sorry but a couple of dives with all your equipment, lunch, tanks and boat etc for around the 50 UK pounds mark isn't what I would call expensive. just where are you looking to dive ?

Koh Tao has some nice dive sites that are close to the island so that makes things cheaper. Here on Samui they are more expensive as you have to take a speedboat to the dive sites and they bump up the costs. Koh Tao also is one of the cheapest places in the world to get certified so again fail to see diving here as expensive

Most places will do you a deal if you walk in off the street.

I call that expensive. I was diving for 1000 Baht (900 with own equipment) including boat trip and food. That is fair.

I don't know how much gasoline a speedboat takes so that might change the story.

Two or three engines on speedboat make the trip really expensive.

Koh Tao is indeed cheap and open all year round.

Khao Lak is about to close down and you got the lowdown on Koh Lanta and Samui.

Leaves Pattaya which can be cheap if you can make your own way to hard to find fisher villages where Thai run dive boats leave, otherwise there are plenty of other options around Pattaya.

Phuket is another alternative, but by your standards probably not cheap.

[h90]

I'm sorry but a couple of dives with all your equipment, lunch, tanks and boat etc for around the 50 UK pounds mark isn't what I would call expensive. just where are you looking to dive ?

Koh Tao has some nice dive sites that are close to the island so that makes things cheaper. Here on Samui they are more expensive as you have to take a speedboat to the dive sites and they bump up the costs. Koh Tao also is one of the cheapest places in the world to get certified so again fail to see diving here as expensive

Most places will do you a deal if you walk in off the street.

I call that expensive. I was diving for 1000 Baht (900 with own equipment) including boat trip and food. That is fair.

I don't know how much gasoline a speedboat takes so that might change the story.

Two or three engines on speedboat make the trip really expensive.

Koh Tao is indeed cheap and open all year round.

Khao Lak is about to close down and you got the lowdown on Koh Lanta and Samui.

Leaves Pattaya which can be cheap if you can make your own way to hard to find fisher villages where Thai run dive boats leave, otherwise there are plenty of other options around Pattaya.

Phuket is another alternative, but by your standards probably not cheap.

In Pattaya you have the effect:

Many DC don't have a boat and need to rent their place on a dive boat themself

The DC who do have a boat also run them if they have almost no customer

[aonangmrhuw]

Dives in Ao nang Krabi,are 1000 baht per dive, this includes full equipment,lunch,transfers etc.Min 2 dives.

[h90]

Dives in Ao nang Krabi,are 1000 baht per dive, this includes full equipment,lunch,transfers etc.Min 2 dives.

from the beach or going with the boat?

[aonangmrhuw]

Dives in Ao nang Krabi,are 1000 baht per dive, this includes full equipment,lunch,transfers etc.Min 2 dives.

from the beach or going with the boat?

All trips are by boat,you can choose to dive ,the local islands2 dives 2000 baht,normally around 40 mins away.(great for macro shots)Or head off to Phi Phi,for a 3 dive day for 3100 baht(great for sharks)..Both trips include full equipment,insurance,lunch and dive master.kindest regards

[h90]

All trips are by boat,you can choose to dive ,the local islands2 dives 2000 baht,normally around 40 mins away.(great for macro shots)Or head off to Phi Phi,for a 3 dive day for 3100 baht(great for sharks)..Both trips include full equipment,insurance,lunch and dive master.kindest regards

Sounds relative fair in compare with Pattaya prices.

If I recall right in Aonang it is also possible to rent a longtail boat yourself.

[aonangmrhuw]

All trips are by boat,you can choose to dive ,the local islands2 dives 2000 baht,normally around 40 mins away.(great for macro shots)Or head off to Phi Phi,for a 3 dive day for 3100 baht(great for sharks)..Both trips include full equipment,insurance,lunch and dive master.kindest regards

Sounds relative fair in compare with Pattaya prices.

If I recall right in Aonang it is also possible to rent a longtail boat yourself.

Thats right,a private longtail, would cost around 2000/2500 baht.( snorkelling only,)

as no dive center would rent you any tanks ,due to spear fishing etc..If you have all your own equipment ,centers will discount further on the said price....

[h90]

All trips are by boat,you can choose to dive ,the local islands2 dives 2000 baht,normally around 40 mins away.(great for macro shots)Or head off to Phi Phi,for a 3 dive day for 3100 baht(great for sharks)..Both trips include full equipment,insurance,lunch and dive master.kindest regards

Sounds relative fair in compare with Pattaya prices.

If I recall right in Aonang it is also possible to rent a longtail boat yourself.

Thats right,a private longtail, would cost around 2000/2500 baht.( snorkelling only,)

as no dive center would rent you any tanks ,due to spear fishing etc..If you have all your own equipment ,centers will discount further on the said price....

The dive center don't rent tanks because they want the whole business. While in many countries DC have always the same customer which they service well (filling tanks, giving tanks/equipment for rent) in Thailand most focus on tourists and the quick money.

Once I asked there for the longtail, it was somewhere 1500-2500 Baht no matter how many people. I didn't ask for a tank, but I guess it wouldn't be a problem for the longtail guy to organize tanks. In Pattaya the zig zag price was 100 Baht so I guess for 200 Baht it should work.

So it does not pay if you are alone.....+ without guide you may end with a relaxing 1 hour sandy flat bottom dive

[Crushdepth]

So it does not pay if you are alone.....+ without guide you may end with a relaxing 1 hour sandy flat bottom dive

And you better hope the boat is still there when you surface!

Pattaya prices aren't that bad. The outer islands are quite a reasonable distance from shore. Some places also offer a 'frequent diver card' that gives you a free day diving every now and then (works out at about 15-20% off) if you are a regular. For me it works about at around 2,200 for 2 dives/lunch/fast boat, using my own gear (averaging the free day into the price).

Re. the OP, dive shops don't update their websites very often. Call ahead to check the 'real' rates (usually lower than whats on the site) and don't be afraid to hassle them for a discount if you will be doing several days diving.

Put another way, I wouldn't book dives online in Thailand.

[h90]

So it does not pay if you are alone.....+ without guide you may end with a relaxing 1 hour sandy flat bottom dive

And you better hope the boat is still there when you surface!

Pattaya prices aren't that bad. The outer islands are quite a reasonable distance from shore. Some places also offer a 'frequent diver card' that gives you a free day diving every now and then (works out at about 15-20% off) if you are a regular. For me it works about at around 2,200 for 2 dives/lunch/fast boat, using my own gear (averaging the free day into the price).

Re. the OP, dive shops don't update their websites very often. Call ahead to check the 'real' rates (usually lower than whats on the site) and don't be afraid to hassle them for a discount if you will be doing several days diving.

Put another way, I wouldn't book dives online in Thailand.

Well I had that special offer: 4500 Baht for 5 day trips (own equipment, with rental 5000 Baht, incl. Nitrox as I made the Nitrox course there which gaves me free Nitrox for ever) in Pattaya. (can't recall the name, Dive Asia or something like that. The DC which was Paradise before), as I had a good chat with the owner I asked him if he still make a profit at 900 THB/day and he told YYYEEAAAAHHH

But I agree 2200 isn't that bad, a friend of mine who is diving in Philippines is thinking 2200 is complete crazy, as 10 USD per dive is already expensive....(don't know where he is diving exactly)

[Crushdepth]

They really give you free Nitrox? I did a course somewhere else in Pattaya, and I must admit to being a bit annoyed about paying 300 baht per can afterwards.

[h90]

They really give you free Nitrox? I did a course somewhere else in Pattaya, and I must admit to being a bit annoyed about paying 300 baht per can afterwards.

It was this Dive Site Asia (now I recalled) they offered if doing the Nitrox Course with them, they give you Nitrox for free forever.

So I took that 5 dive trips for 5000 Baht

10 % Discount for own equipment=4500 Baht

+ free Nitrox as I did the course with them

So I ended with 900 Baht for a daytrip with Nitrox.

Unfortunately they were bought by Mermaid, so no great deals anymore.

[doingok]

will it be ok to walk in a DC to do a padi cert open water course?