You are planning to go diving with us in Thailand but still have a lot of questions? No problem, here are answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive.
FAQ – Diving in Thailand
– What is the water temperature like?
The water temperature is 26 – 29 degrees celsius all year round
– What kind of wetsuit is recommended?
3mm shorty is normally sufficient and is our standard rental suit. If you plan on diving on the liveaboard you might want to consider bringing a long 3mm suit.
– Best time to visit Phuket, Khao Lak?
Overall the best time of the year to dive on Thailands west coast is between November to April. The weather conditions are most stable during this time of the year and all dive sites are open. However, as this is the main tourist season prices tend to be higher and the dive sites more frequented.
– Is diving from Khao Lak possible between May and November?
Unfortunately, the dive sites around the Similan Islands, which are the spots we dive from Khao Lak are closed during green season. This is a regulation by the National Park authority to allow the national park and its dive sites to recover for a few month a year.
Diving is, however, possible all year from Phuket.
– Do you have DIN or INT connection?
All tanks use INT valves, DIN adapters can be rented in our office
– Do you cater to vegetarians?
Yes, we do. If you have any special dietary requirements it would be best to let us know in advance so that our cooks can plan ahead accordingly.
– Can I book a private guide, and how much is the charge?
Yes, this possible. The price is 1500,- Baht per day.
– Can you recommend a hotel?
As there is such a large variety of hotels in Phuket & Khao Lak and every guest has different requirements and price budgets it is hard to give a general recommendation. Of course, we recommend our own resorts in Phuket and Khao Lak, as well as our partner hotels in Nai Yang, Pak Meng, and Phi Phi Island.
But there is plenty of other hotels. Just take a look here.
– Are daily hotel transfers included on Phuket?
Yes, from Kata Beach, Karon Beach and Patong Beach. All other areas are subject to a surcharge.
– Do you offer free Nitrox?
Yes, on our livebaoard trips we offer free Nitrox. On daytrips we ask for a surcharge of Baht 250,-per tank
– Can non-divers join daytrips?
Yes, of course. However, please note that not all daytrips are suitable for swimming and snorkeling.
– Are all divesites suitable for snorkelling?
No, not all sites are suitable for snorkeling. Best are the daytrips to Racha Yai, Racha Noi and the Phi Phi islands.
– Do you accept credit card payments?
Yes, we accept Visa and Mastercard.
– Is snorkeling of the beach possible?
Yes, at some of the beaches there is good snorkeling. Mostly at the northern and southern ends of the beaches where there are rock formations. Some more information can be found here.
– Where can I exchange money?
There are several exchange counter close to our dive centers and resorts.
– Is equipment included?
Equipment is not included on liveaboard or daytrips, unless it is a special package, or the OWD course was completed at one of our Sea Bees Dive centers.
– How are the diving and weather conditions in the low season on Phuket?
The weather in low season is pretty good most of the time, although the humidity is much higher than normal. We have the occasional rain shower during the day, but this usually lasts only for a short time. The visibility and current under water is not much different compared to the rest of the year. Many people prefer the low season, because there are not as many boats and divers at the varies dive spots. Due to the location of our Phuket dive sites are we able to offer day trips year round from our Island.
You can find more information about diving in the low season in this blog post.
How many divers are in each group?
We dive in small groups with a maximum ratio of 4 guests per guide.
What are the criteria when organsising diving groups?
Experience and air consumption are the main criteria for our
decisions.
How many dives do you do in a day?
The minimum number of dives on our daytrips is two. In Phuket, we also offer daytrips with three or four dives.
On the liveaboards there are usually 3 day dives and 1 night dive per day.
What is the maximum dive depth?
The maximum depth is 30m but, with the appropriate qualification can be to 40m.
How long are the surface intervals?
Safety is the highest priority at Sea Bees and therefore the surface interval is a minimum of 1.5 hours.
How long does a dive last?
We plan all our dives for a duration of one hour.
What is the experience of my instructor/dive guide?
Sea Bees does not employ temporary guides or young divemaster trainees! We guarantee highly experienced guides with excellent local knowledge.
Do you have English speaking guides on the boats?
All our guides speak English.
What makes you different?
Contrary to many other suppliers, we are not a diving agency but a real diving company with our own instructors and diving boats.
Are you one of those “factory production line dive companies“?
Absolutely NOT! We collaborate with only a handful of specially selected partners to ensure things run smoothly onbard. This is the only way to provide you with the best possible service during your diving holiday.
How do you handle groceries on board?
Most of it is purchased fresh daily, all groceries on board are stored and prepared to western standards.
Do you take into consideration special meal requirements?
The onboard galley on our vessels allows us to provide for any special requirements.
I would like to have a private guide. Is this possible?
We can arrange for a private guide upon request for a surcharge.
Environmental protection, do you do more than others ?
We consider this issue extremely important and our guides are very environmentally conscious, and not just when diving. As all our boats are equipped with septic tanks, the dive sites are kept clean.
What kind or emergency equipment is provided on the vessel?
All our vessels are equipped with sufficient emergency oxygen with an “ON Demand“ System which guarantees maximum possible O2 care in the event of an emergency.
Are your employees trained for emergency cases ?
All our instructors, guides and boat staff are regularly trained and are all qualified O2 and First Aid providers.
Am I covered by accident insurance on board?
Yes, all our guests automatically enjoy accident insurance coverage. In addition, you can also sign up for diving accident insurance coverage.
Are your vessels, even in rough seas safe?
All our daytrip boats are equipped with 2 engines, and with a particular design making them very stable in the water and safe, even in rough seas.
What about the general safety on board?
Our boats are inspected annually using general safety tests. Our DIN / EUF Certification includes this inspection as well.