Learning to Scuba Dive in Phuket
As a new scuba diver, you have three main options suitable for anyone over Ten years old and in good health.
Option 1:
Discover Scuba Diving – Day trip to the Coral Reefs of the Racha Islands.
This is a perfect scuba diving day trip for people with No Prior scuba diving experience who want to explore Phuket’s amazing coral reefs.
A full-day trip starts with breakfast onboard the day trip boat whilst sailing to the Racha Islands, which are located around an hour and a half from Phuket’s mainland. Your scuba instructor will guide you and make sure you are safe whilst showing you along the multi-coloured coral reefs during the day. Try Scuba Diving in Phuket
Option 2:
PADI Scuba Diver – 2 Days – 12-meter worldwide scuba diving licence course.
This course is set over two days and is perfect for anyone short of time and unable to complete the three-day PADI Open Water course. The scuba diver licence is for a maximum of 12 meters and is valid worldwide – you can upgrade at a later point to the open water licence by completing two additional 18-meter training dives at a different time or location.
Option 3:
PADI Open Water Diver – 3 Days – 18-meter worldwide scuba diving licence course.
The PADI Open Water Diver Course is our most popular scuba diving course – set over three days, and at the end, you get your worldwide 18-meter PADI open water diving licence. The first day is spent in a purpose-built scuba diving pool, and the following days on the day trip boat visiting the best coral reef diving sites around. PADI Open Water Phuket
What Is Scuba Diving?
The thought of being underwater in an open ocean might seem terrifying, but it is quite the opposite. It is an exhilarating experience that you will remember for a lifetime, especially when diving in Phuket. There are hundreds of scenic places to scuba dive worldwide, but Phuket is one of the best!
If you are in Phuket and the thought of scuba diving ever piqued your interest, but you are hesitant due to inexperience, have no fear! Today we will be talking about scuba diving for beginners, including what it entails, the best options for diving trips for new divers, and the most scenic diving spots in Phuket. Additionally, we will be answering some questions you may have about scuba diving and some of the history.
Scuba diving is an activity where people use equipment to breathe underwater to explore the ocean. The word SCUBA means “Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus”, which is just a long name for equipment that gives us the ability to breathe underwater for some time.
There are numerous reasons that people love scuba diving. Firstly, it is an extraordinary experience that is unlike no other. People are fascinated by the unknown, and oceans are one of the most unexplored areas of earth that humankind cannot completely take over and control as we cannot naturally breathe underwater. Also, the scenery is stunning, especially in Asia.
Scuba diving is used for educational purposes as well. Marine biologists scuba dive to study the ocean and the organisms that live in it. It allows scientists to understand better the creatures that live underwater and how we can effectively protect them and maintain the aquatic oasis.
Additionally, scuba diving also has many health benefits! A few of these benefits include:
- Stress relief.
- Gaining strength and flexibility.
- Enhance breathing abilities.
- Allows you to get more sunlight exposure which provides your body with Vitamin D.
- Lowers blood pressure.
- Saltwater has healing effects and properties.
- Scuba for beginners
Who Invented Scuba Diving?
Although people think scuba diving is a newer sport, it has been around for hundreds of years. The first person who scuba dived is hard to pinpoint because numerous people created scuba diving equipment. A few of these people include William James, who invented the first open-circuit scuba system in 1824.
Henry Fleiss, who made the rebreather in 1878, which allowed people to breathe underwater for 3 hours; and Doctor Freminet, who created the Machine Hydrostatergatique, the first self-contained scuba system in 1771. But most agree that Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan were the first scuba divers as they invented the Aqua Lung, the same scuba system used today for modern scuba equipment.
Do You Need A Diving License Or Certificate To Scuba Dive?
You do need a license or certificate to scuba dive in certain places, but in Phuket, you don’t! There are alternative dives where you don’t need a license or certificate to participate in a scuba diving excursion. These programs will consist of training that includes scuba diving basics, learning about the equipment and safety information. If you would like to go diving in the Similan Islands, you need a diving licence as it is a National Marine Park of Thailand, but you can go to the Similan islands snorkeling.
What Will You Experience When Scuba Diving In Phuket?
As mentioned before, Phuket is one of the most beautiful places in the world to scuba dive. The ocean consists of crystal clear water filled with soft, white sand, colourful coral, and exotic marine life, including manta rays, whale sharks, turtles, and many types of fish. Another plus to scuba diving in Phuket is many gorgeous places to dive!
Some of the most favourable dive sites in Phuket are:
- Koh Racha Yai
- Koh Racha Noi
- Shark Point
- Phi Phi Islands
- Koh Doc Mai
- Similan Islands
Each dive site has its characteristics, but they are all beautiful and give you a unique experience unlike any other.
What Are The Best Diving Programs For Beginners?
While plenty of companies offers scuba for beginners, Thailand Divers is the absolute best! The company was formed in 2004, and they have been providing the best diving tours, services, and training in Phuket ever since. The instructors and guides are highly professional, and they accommodate scuba divers of all levels. Whether you are an avid diver or just starting, they have a program for you!
There are two programs that Thailand Divers offers for Phuket scuba diving for beginners; the Discover Scuba Diving day trip and the PADI Open Water Course. The Discover Scuba Diving day trip is a one-day excursion for those who have never tried scuba diving before.
You don’t need a scuba divers license or certificate, you can book the dive trip, and your teacher will give you a safety lesson and help you out throughout the day. On this dive trip, you will be picked up from your hotel, go through your safety briefing while enjoying breakfast, dive at Racha Yai island, eat lunch, go for another dive, then be brought back to your hotel.
The other program, the PADI Open Water Course, is one of the most popular ways For new divers to experience diving for the first time. It is a three-day course, where you get taught everything you need to know about scuba diving from highly qualified instructors. On day one, you will do some classroom learning about scuba diving basics and then have a scuba lesson in the scuba swimming pool.
Day two consists of your first dive at the Koh Racha Islands, where you can get comfortable being in the ocean in swallower waters. Then finally, on day three, you will go back to the Koh Racha Islands and be permitted to dive up to 18 Meters with a certified PADI instructor and experience one of the most beautiful dive locations in the whole world.
Both of these programs are great options for Phuket scuba diving for beginners. The only requirement is that anyone who participates is at least ten years old so perfect for the family adventure and scuba diving with the kids. Other than that, anyone can enjoy the beauty of the great and mysterious ocean.
Final Thoughts
Although scuba diving may seem scary or intimidating to some, it is an extraordinary experience loved by many! Getting to observe what lies beneath the crystal clear waters is truly a unique and magical sensation. If you are in Phuket and have ever considered giving scuba diving a shot, you should book one of Thailand Diver’s beginner programs. Not only are they professional, educated, and affordable, but they will also provide you with a skill and experience that you will never forget!
