Phuket diving center

[Manta]

Slightly confused!
Is Seabees (Phoenix suggestion) the same company as phuket-scuba (Stevenl suggests). The reason I'm asking is because when I visited phuket-scuba website on the top it says Sea Bees Kata and the boat is the same as on Seabees website.

Liveaboard might not be an option as I'm going on a package tour and hotel room is already paid and no discount can be made for clearing the room to go on a liveaboard so we'll stick to the daily diving option

[Batfish]

Not the same. Only stevenl can explain the exact relationship.


Similan in the summer debates happen every summer. I have been in August on The Junk (does not do summer Similan trips now) and had a great trip, though we were kind of confined to hiding behind islands 7,8 and 9 and the ride out was quite rolling. In general I (and the people I work for) do not promote Similan in the low season. There is a risk of either a) cancelled trip and pissed off customer or b) something worse. If it was a big boat with a IMHO certificate or something, great, but a small boat? The boats I know are planning trips this summer are not big at all.

I would not plan a whole trip around it. I had a couple of English customers last summer who planned a Similan trip and it was called off due to lack of customers by the operator on the day of departure. I would see what the weather is like when you get here and then make plans. VERY unlikely that anything will be fully booked, that's for sure. if you really want to see the Similan Islands, try to come again another time. Best time is February - early May, but regular trips start up in October/early November. What you can do in July is a whole bunch of day trips, or something like The Junk liveaboard, which does 5 night trips to all the local dive sites - a good way to dive them.

Anyway, have a good trip!

On a non diving note, I started a Phuket blog last month. Kind of a personal view of the island, places we (my wife and I) like, places we like to eat, mostly off the beaten tourist path. I also started a Phuket Weather blog which I aim to keep updated regularly.

Jamie's Phuket Blog

Phuket Weather Blog

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by Batfish

On a non diving note, I started a Phuket blog last month. Kind of a personal view of the island, places we (my wife and I) like, places we like to eat, mostly off the beaten tourist path. I also started a Phuket Weather blog which I aim to keep updated regularly.

Jamie's Phuket Blog

Great blog Jamie, certainly brings back memories of Cape Panwa. We were there in 97, We used a great little place to eat at the bottom of some steps just over the hill from the hotel. Plenty of locals using it and great food.

[stevenl]

Is Seabees (Phoenix suggestion) the same company as phuket-scuba (Stevenl suggests). The reason I'm asking is because when I visited phuket-scuba website on the top it says Sea Bees Kata and the boat is the same as on Seabees website.

We work closely together, but are not the same company. We prefer to book our guests with sea bees, but will book with others as well if the schedule of the sea bees boat does not fit e.g., so that gives us a lot of flexibility. We also 'service' the sea bees guests staying in Kata, hence the name sea bees kata.

If a (short) liveaboard is not an option: plenty of daytrip diving done in the area, and some very nice sites as well. So I'm sure you'll enjoy the diving here.

[Manta]

Thanks everyone for your input. I've emailed the dive centers and I'm focusing on Sea bees or Calypso. I'll have to decide which one or pay them a visit once I'm there.
I'll come back with more questions about Phuket, if safety measures are to be taken in regards with eating and drinking compared to the Red Sea.

Thanks again.

[Batfish]

more questions about Phuket, if safety measures are to be taken in regards with eating and drinking

Well, safety measures should always be taken with drinking

Look out for Beer Chang. Nasty hangovers.

Food - Phuket has anything you could want. I normally stick to Thai food, but here you can find Italian, Mexican, Arabic, German, British, Yankee, Indian, Swedish, Belgian, you name it! Would not worry about the safety of food.

PS of the two you mentioned, I would recommend Calypso - more international.