Phuket Reports

[Fast Eddie 48]

I used www.Phuket-scuba-club.com; owner is a guy named Kevan, an ex-pat from South Africa, real nice guy. Here's the reality, though: every dive shop in phuket essentially acts as a "broker" for the dive boats. Anybody can sell you a day of diving and you will end up on a boat that is filled with divers from every dive shop/business in town. There is NO dive shop that has a boat that caters only to its own customers.
So......the thing to do is decide where you want to go, then talk to any dive shop and see who can book you on the dive. Not every boat goes to every dive site every day.
Dive spots I recommend:

Koh Dac Mai
Shark's Point
Anemone Reef
King Cruiser

Some of these dives can be done in one day....in fact, I think I did Koh Dac Mai, shark's Point and King Cruiser on one day most recent trip. I've heard the two dive spots south of Phi Phi island are also good.

I had lousy dives on Ratcha Noi and Ratcha Yai (I think that is what they are called)....not much to see and poor visibility. they are popular, though, so maybe I was there on a bad day.

Any of these dives will be about $60-70 per dive trip, includes the usual tanks, wt belt, weights, snacks and lunch on the boat. If you have to rent gear it will be extra.

Good luck!

to zip head

Most of the best dive is 2-3 day trip to silmilan island or burma banks, many
padi dive operater offer this , shark point and phi phi is a good dive 10 year
ago but too many diver now and the reef is not as good as used to be .

Same go for fishing all bit game is fish out on local water , you need to go far
to silmilan area for good fishing and now is a very good time to go .

fast eddie 48

[WCP]

Zip Head,

Thanks for the dive info. Sounds like you had a good trip.

[Freeler]

Zip Head,

If I'm not mistaken, and I'm not, Ratcha Yai and Noi better known for fishing... Marlin, dolphinfish, that kind of stuff.

Have you looked at the Similan dive trips? Those might be better suited for you.

Just about every agency everywhere just sells someone else's tickets! Fishing in Phi Phi, boat to Koh Lanta, taxi to airport, et cetera, et cetera.

[Zip Head]

I used www.Phuket-scuba-club.com; owner is a guy named Kevan, an ex-pat from South Africa, real nice guy. Here's the reality, though: every dive shop in phuket essentially acts as a "broker" for the dive boats. Anybody can sell you a day of diving and you will end up on a boat that is filled with divers from every dive shop/business in town. There is NO dive shop that has a boat that caters only to its own customers.
So......the thing to do is decide where you want to go, then talk to any dive shop and see who can book you on the dive. Not every boat goes to every dive site every day.
Dive spots I recommend:

Koh Dac Mai
Shark's Point
Anemone Reef
King Cruiser

Some of these dives can be done in one day....in fact, I think I did Koh Dac Mai, shark's Point and King Cruiser on one day most recent trip. I've heard the two dive spots south of Phi Phi island are also good.

I had lousy dives on Ratcha Noi and Ratcha Yai (I think that is what they are called)....not much to see and poor visibility. they are popular, though, so maybe I was there on a bad day.

Any of these dives will be about $60-70 per dive trip, includes the usual tanks, wt belt, weights, snacks and lunch on the boat. If you have to rent gear it will be extra.

Good luck!

[WCP]

Zip Head,

Any more on the day diving. I will be there for 12 days and plan one 2 or 3 day live aboard and would like to do several day trips.

What company did you use?

[Zip Head]

Just returned from a 10 day trip to Phuket via Bangkok.

Stayed for one night at the C&N hotel, 1090 baht, decent place but noisy with music out the window due to street proximity, so moved to the Aloha Villa a block away. Negotiated 1400 baht per night. I REALLY like this place; not luxurious but clean, great service every day, super air conditioning and good water pressure. Excellent staff, and VERY guest friendly, no guest fees, etc. I went on a three day live-aboard diving trip to the Similan islands and the hotel let me keep most of my luggage in their storage room AND my safety deposit box for NOTHING!!

Girls came mostly from beer bars and some freelancers just strolling along Bangla road or nearby. Most will go for 1000 baht short time; I treat them all very well and usually tip a bit extra for great service. Kept one lady overnight for 1500 baht. Had one three way, 2000 baht for both girls short time.

Tracked down one beer bar girl I met last year and thought we would have a great reunion, as we had kept in touch with emails for the past year, but she seemed a bit cool to me for some strange reason. "You can't go home again."

I really like Phuket....much nicer than Bangkok; the pace seems less frantic and the beaches and diving are superb. The air is clean and fresh and the people are just wonderful.

Thanks to everyone who posts here....your info has been invaluable to me and I hope this info will help someone on the board.

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

Blue skies

[Coma Boy]

They are kind of hard to miss.

Everyone of those bars in the Ton Sai area of Phi Phi (Don) is always full of drunk backpackers (the area where the Reggae Bar is). Not sure what that part of the island is called, but the main touristy/diver/backpacker area in the South of the island.

[Papercut]

CB,

Really??, where do their usually hang out that easy for pick up?.

out of curiosity.
Papercut.

Phi Phi is a good place to pick up Farang chicks. It is very easy.

[Coma Boy]

By the way how many bungalows are left and would it be easy to pick up chicks?

Phi Phi is a good place to pick up Farang chicks. It is very easy.

[SE Asia Joe]

I just googled "Fantasia" and "Phuket" and got this link:
http://www.************.com/nightnews.htm

Scroll down to July 2004. Is this the place you mean?

Thanks for the info - yes I guess this must be the place. Am going to go down end of next month and I will certainly check it out and revert to y'all

this is what the article you pointed me to says:

Fantasia in Phuket City is now up and running with singing/dancing shows and lot of pretty girls to entertain you. If you like a girl you can bring her to one of the private karaoke rooms available. This is an upmarket club and expect the prices to be the same. Located at Phang nga road in the old cinema building, between Pearl Bowling and Pink Lady Cafe.

[Papercut]

Hi Trans,

I will be going to Hatyai too on March for 3 nights...where you gonna stay mate?.

thanks

Papercut

Hi Mates,

Thanks and I think I will forget about going to haadyai from phuket this time around. Will go to Haadyai itself maybe in March.

Appreciate your information though and am looking fwd for the trip in 3 weeks time.

Trans

[Member #3173]

Does anyone know if guest houses or hotels are full next week in Phi Phi
and if not full what will be the rates like.
Following the tsunami I think this time bungalows may not be full.
By the way how many bungalows are left and would it be easy to pick up chcks?

[Transaction]

Hi Mates,

Thanks and I think I will forget about going to haadyai from phuket this time around. Will go to Haadyai itself maybe in March.

Appreciate your information though and am looking fwd for the trip in 3 weeks time.

Trans

[Freeler]

Papercut,

I don't know what bus you were on, are you sure it wasn't a mini van?
The aircon bus from HY-Phuket is about B220!
Look for the buses with orange coloring on the sides, I believe the number is around 420(423? - ***********?). Too bad I can't find my notes...

Compare prices:
Nakhon Sri Tammarat-Krabi(fan)= B 70 (2002)
Krabi-Phuket(fan)= B 65 (2002)
Fan bus from HY would be about the same. Traveltime is about 8 hours.

[Beige]

Just back from Phuket. Best quality girls this year are at Dragon a go go on Soi Dragon- top quality- I heartlily recommend no 61! Avoid no 25- incredibly cute but a bit of a rip off merchant! Tiger and Taipan are the best discos to go- trust me, the place is awash with lovelies this year!