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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)Thailand - Scuba Diving - Livaboard - in
Phuket Thailand
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| Q | What kind of temperatures can I expect? |
| A | Water is typically around 84F (29C) and the air, well, hot is the best word to describe it, around 86F to 104F or 30C to 40C. Wear light clothing but bring a light sweater or jacket in case you get cool in the evenings. |
| Q | What thickness wet suit should I bring? |
| A | If you are not a person who gets chilly then a 3mm long suit with an extra top for night dives should be sufficient. If you are some one who likes to dive without a wet suit then you should at least wear a Lycra long suit so that you are protected against sting cells in the water. |
| Q | What kind of equipment should I bring? |
| A | We provide weights, weight belts and 12 liter aluminum tanks with INT valves. If you bring you own diving equipment, you will need to bring the basics, i.e. a regulator with depth and air gauges, BCD, dive computer which tells you your bottom time, a wet suit, fins, mask and snorkel. If you use regulators with DIN valves, please make sure you bring a DIN-Adapter. A surface safety marker that can be inflated 5m or 15ft below the surface at the beginning of your safety stop is required for each diver. We try and stock enough on board for our guests to use but we recommend you bring one if possible. We have flashlights for rent for night dives if needed. |
| Q | Can I rent equipment? |
| A | Of course we have a good selection of rental equipment but
please let us know what you need, and the size, when you send in
your reservation form. The boat only carries spare equipment for
emergencies. Do you have Nitrox? Most of the vessels in our selection have NITROX onboard as well as you can do your PADI Nitrox Course. Please keep in mind that NITROX Tank will be charged on board by the end of the trip. |
| Q | What kind of fins should I bring? |
| A | Open Heel fins are best to help you deal with currents. We don't have the same kind of currents that you get in the Maldives or Indonesia. Most of our sites are pinnacles or submerged reefs and not drift dives. We find people who use split fins generally don't do well with currents and some have a tendency to dive vertically and hit the corals more often, stirring up the bottom. |
| Q | Can I fish or use a spear gun? |
| A | It is against the law for anything to be taken from the Mergui Archipelago or the Thailand National Marine Parks. |
| Q | How are the dive sites reached? |
| A | Most of the vessels are using both ways the big boat and via dinghy to access the dive sites. The boat crew will help you in and out. Please make sure you help them by removing your integrated weights before handing up your BCD on returning from a dive. |
| Q | How many Divemasters are there? |
| A | Generally in small groups of no more than 4 or 5 with each Divemaster. You don't have to dive with them but remember, they know the area and where special creatures were last spotted. If you would like to dive alone with your dive buddy it is OK. Remember insurance policies don't cover solo diving, deco diving or dives deeper than 39 meters. |
| Q | Is there a Glove Policy? |
| A | Gloves are generally discouraged in Similan & Surin islands as well as the Mergui Archipelago. Divemasters don't use them and they do a lot more diving then our guests. The only acceptations are made during wreck dives. People who use gloves generally use their hands to dive and, when they lose their buoyancy, instead of using a finger or two to push themselves away from corals, they will use the whole hand because they feel nothing. They will also be prone to resting their hands on hard and soft corals when looking at the sea life. If you are in the current to see the big fish then two bare fingers are usually enough. An alternative is a reef hook hooked into the rock (not the coral). |
| Q | What languages are spoken on the boat? |
| A | Mainly the boat crew speaks Thai and a little English. Since English is not the first language of our Thai staff, please keep it in mind, when you speak to them and make an effort to speak clearly. The local Thais are very easy-going people; for a smile they will walk a mile. Please treat the staff with the respect they deserve and they will do everything in their power to make your trip the best ever. The Cruise Director, Instructors and Divemasters are foreigners and Thaïs with multiple language skills. If you have a special request, please inform us in advanced, so we are able to give you more detailed information on the specific cruise. |
| Q | Can I take a PADI course on a cruise? |
| A | Yes, we offer the following PADI-certified courses (advance
reservation required): PADI NITROX Course PADI Advanced Open Water Diver PADI Specialty Courses PADI EFR Courses PADI Rescue Course Price includes certification fee and the courses material will be provided. |
| Q | What if I need a hotel before or after the cruise? |
| A | We generally recommend some Hotels around Phuket. Please check on our website for some option. We are happy to arrange a reservation there for you, or at any other local hotel of your choice. |
| Q | Will I be sharing a cabin? |
| A | All prices are quoted on a double occupancy basis and it is very likely you will be sharing your cabin with a guest of the same gender. If you want to guarantee a room by yourself, most of the vessels are charging up to a 90% additional supplement. |
| Q | What about my non-diving companion? |
| A | Non divers are given a 10% discount when booking on an individual basis. |
| Q | Should I take out insurance? |
| A | Trip insurance is recommended and Medical Dive insurance is compulsory. (The decompression chamber can be as far as 26hrs away). We strongly recommend obtaining a suitable level of medical/diving insurance and travel cancellation insurance, which is covering all traveling problems like loss of luggage, cancellation of airlines…etc, valued for the duration of the trip. |
| Q | What entry/exit paperwork is required? |
| A | For Thailand a valid passport for six months is all you require;
one month visas are issued at the airport on arrival. Please
make sure, if you need a visa for Thailand to get one with two
entries or a multiple visa, so you are able to enter Thailand
again after coming back from Myanmar (Burma). We recommend that
you contact your travel agent or your local Thai embassy for the
most up to date information on visa and passport requirements.
For Myanmar (Burma), we have to fill out some paperwork, which will be already prepared on your arrival day. We also will collect the Entry Fee in US$ (new, unmarked bills), four passport photos and one copy of your passport for the Myanmar Immigration. |
| Q | Do you provide land transfers? |
| A | We provide complimentary transfers from/to the vessels as described in the schedule and price lists. Please call our office after hotel check in to confirm pickup times at 076 398 364 (when dialing locally). Please inform our office if you need any additional transfers. These Transfers are available for a fee. Please arrange this in advance and send flight details. |
| Q | What do we do with our luggage? |
| A | Pack your dive gear separately from your clothing and personal items before boarding the boat. Use soft bags for your clothing and personal items. If possible, please don't bring large hard cover suitcases on board. Storage of unwanted luggage during the cruise is available in office. Early arrivals on cruise departure day can leave their luggage in the office and either hang out (one little guestroom with showers and clean towels are available) or walk around the area. |
| Q | How do I pay for my purchases on board? |
| A | Credit Card payments are available on most of the boat's. There are also many ATM machines in Phuket (also close to our office) and Bangkok for acquiring Thai Baht (local currency) before the cruise. Euros, US dollars and Thai Baht are accepted on board. |
| Q | Are immunizations required? |
| A | Please consult your doctor about this. |
| Q | If your question is not answered yet? |
| A | Please send us an email, we are more than pleased to support you. |
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