About Phuket diving in general

• When is the best time of year to dive?

We dive year round from Phuket. From November to May we enjoy clear skies and calm seas. We have both daytrips and liveaboard trips during this period. This is when the Similan Islands Marine Park is open for liveaboard dive boats to visit. From May to November, winds coming from the southwest often produce choppy sea conditions, and trips to the Similans are no longer offered. Daytrip boats still go out though, and diving is done on the sheltered sides of the islands, where dive conditions are typically very good. However, the boat rides out to the dive sites can be a bit bumpy during that period.

• How much does the weather affect the diving?

Our islands are mainly granite and limestone, and are largely uncultivated. Therefore there is little runoff to cloud the water when it rains. At times, windy conditions require a change in itinerary for the sake of safety. For example, if there are large waves, boats will not visit open ocean sites such as submerged sea mounts and will seek more sheltered areas.

• Are there all-inclusive dive resorts?

Not really. Phuket receives more non-diving visitors than it does divers, so all resorts cater to all sorts of tourists. This isn’t an issue, however, since dive ops typically pick customers up from wherever they are staying.

• Can I rent equipment?

Yes, you can. Gekko has a collection of good quality, well-maintained scuba equipment that includes ScubaPro BCDs and regulators, shorty wetsuits, fins, and masks.

• Should I bring my own equipment or just rent?

It’s always a good idea to use equipment you are familiar with, but we realize that carrying a lot of scuba gear around when you are traveling can be a bother, so you might want to bring some equipment and rent the rest. Talk to us about your needs and we can advise you better.

• Can I get DIN valve fittings for my regs?

Yes, if you let us know in advance, we can arrange for DIN adapters for your equipment. If you dive frequently in areas that use INT yoke-style valve fittings, we would advise you to purchase your own DIN adapter so that you are not caught by surprise and unable to use your equipment for lack of a part.

• Is Nitrox available?

Yes, Nitrox is easily available. If a daytrip boat operator does not have Nitrox on board (most don’t) we can supply it for you and have it put on your boat. Some liveaboards have Nitrox blending capacity on board, but many do not. Ask about Nitrox when you let us know what your needs are.

• What size scuba tanks are standard?
  Can I get larger ones?

Standard scuba tanks here are 12 liter (roughly 80 cu. ft.) aluminum tanks with yoke valves. Larger, 15 liter (100 cu. ft.) tanks are generally available by prior request. There is usually a small additional rental charge for these as we generally need to special-order them. Make sure to let us know if you are interested in using bigger tanks.

• What’s the water temperature?

The water is usually about 28° to 30° C (82° to 86° F). There are occasional thermoclines where currents bring in cooler water, but you generally swim out of them quickly.

• Are jellyfish an issue?

Not usually. There is the occasional occurrence of “stingers” in the water, but the “itch” lasts just a few moments. But if you are especially susceptible and have allergic reactions, we advise you to wear a full length skin or wetsuit to protect yourself.

• What thickness of wetsuit should I bring?

Most people are happy in a 3mm shorty, especially for daytrip diving. But if you are planning a liveaboard trip, you may want a 3mm full suit, if you have one, or even a 5mm if you get chilled easily.

• Am I allowed to wear gloves?

We discourage the use of gloves. The water is simply not that cold, and divers with gloves tend to touch corals and other marine life with less hesitation than those who do not have gloves on.

• Are there currents?

Currents in the Andaman Sea are principally tidal currents. They move from south to north when the tide is rising and in the opposite direction when the tide is falling. So the presence of current can be predicted to a certain extent according to the tide table. Boat captains and tour leaders use the tide tables to time the dives so that the currents won’t be unmanageable. Most of our dives are gentle drifts, so just jump on the magic carpet and let yourself glide over the reef. The boat will pick you up at the end of the dive site. Some sites are more known for currents than others, so if this is a major concern, tell us, and we will advise you which dive sites are best suited to your needs.

• Is there shore diving?

While it is possible to do a few shore dives from Phuket, the visibility at our local sites suffers from the proximity to the island. If you want to try some shore diving we’ll work to set it up for you.

• How do I pay for my dives/dive trip?

Gekko can accept credit card payments, but only on-site, not via internet, fax or phone--we are not able to accept credit card numbers in order to process charges. The reason for this is that there is a great deal of credit card fraud in the region, and this policy protects both you and us from becoming victims. For trips that require pre-payment, you can remit the money to us via wire transfer from your bank to ours, or you can send money through Western Union.

• Are recompression chambers available?

Yes, there are three facilities with recompression chambers on Phuket.

• Can non-divers come with me on a dive trip?

Most often, yes. Many of our daytrips are accessible to snorkelers as well as to divers. There are a few sites that are too deep or too exposed to be interesting/safe for snorkeling, but we can make sure to put you on trips where snorkelers are welcome. It is also possible for non-divers to go along on liveaboard trips, but there are fewer possibilities for snorkeling on these trips.

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