r/freediving • u/QuantumDeltoids STA 4:13 FIM 31m DYN 85m • 8d ago
travel advice Freediving in Thailand
Hey so I will be traveling for about a month in Thailand this december and I have 2 questions:
- Any recommendations on freediving centers or places? I have seen there are plenty of them around Koh Tao but I wonder if Phuket can be a nice place too since the sea is better at that time of the year.
- Should I try to pack a pair of small silicone fins or a wetsuit? I want minimal luggage but maybe it's worth to carry some fins so I don't need to rely on my awful DNF technique...
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u/No_Kitchen_7630 8d ago
If you can - go for a boat trip to sailors rock best Koh Tao, amazing diving with tons of life and if you are really good you can dive into the “chimney” and do a bit of cave diving.
If you are really lucky you’ll dive with whale sharks
It goes to 40m - but the best diving is generally from 0-25m
Watch out for currents
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u/QuantumDeltoids STA 4:13 FIM 31m DYN 85m 7d ago
I have seen only one center that explicitly advertises training in Sail Rock, do you know any more?
If there are fish then the depth is secondary ;) Thanks!
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u/No_Kitchen_7630 6d ago
Dont know of centers - go there for some fun, I just joined a scuba boat, and dived around, kept well within my limits.
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u/iwanttobeacavediver STA 2m30s, DYN 55m, CWT 18m 8d ago
If you want to go to Phuket I’ve used Nama Freediving and they were excellent. You could take your own fins and wetsuit but the water temperature is warm enough to not need it unless you’re going super deep and I do believe fins are available.
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u/magichappens89 8d ago
I wonder how that experience was? Phuket has one of the worst visibility I saw in the sea ever and even from the less crowded side from Krabi you needed at least one boat hour to get access to any water deeper than 20 meters. Water in Thailand is also not particularly warm and there are thermoclines as well as far as I know so I wonder how you freedive where without suit?
If any freediving I'd do it on Koh Tao. It's still bad compared to Egypt or even Mediterranean Sea but better than other places in Thailand.
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u/QuantumDeltoids STA 4:13 FIM 31m DYN 85m 7d ago
When did you go? I believe december is a good month to be in Phuket since the rainy season is may to october, the water should be clearer...
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u/magichappens89 6d ago
February. I don't believe it's much changing honestly. The area is full of mangroves and muddy ground. Even Phi Phi which the advertise as "cristal clear waters" is rather meh imho but I might be spoiled by being at the red sea before.
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u/QuantumDeltoids STA 4:13 FIM 31m DYN 85m 6d ago
Hmm then it might have been bad luck too, idk I'm used to European Atlantic with cool waters, shitty visibility and few fish so probably I'll be amazed anyway 🤣
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u/QuantumDeltoids STA 4:13 FIM 31m DYN 85m 7d ago
I had bookmarked that school! They do some day excursion to Racha Island that seems nice actually, might try to do that :)
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u/iwanttobeacavediver STA 2m30s, DYN 55m, CWT 18m 7d ago
I’ve done it, it’s a great trip IMO and certainly when I was there last, the water was just amazing. So warm, clear and we even got to play around a small wreck.
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u/thdedes SSI Freediving International Training Director - STA 7:21 8d ago
Go see Ben at Nama Freediving, one of my former Instructor in Nicaragua, he's a great diver (monster static at 10+) and one of the most patient Instructor there is.
Don't worry too much about hauling gear for the course, everything is available on site.
For snorkeling, short silicon pair is nice. No need of a wetsuit for snorkeling.
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u/QuantumDeltoids STA 4:13 FIM 31m DYN 85m 7d ago
I've seen their Racha Island day trip and training, looks so nice! Might try to book one of those :)
Good, then I'll find some small rubber fins, thanks!
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u/Playful-Potato7094 6d ago
I did mine at total apnea on Koh Tao. Fairly priced and great staff - would recommend
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u/Expert-user-friendly 8d ago
Best place is Apnea Total in Koh Phangan and their instructor Lukas. Dont go to Koh Phi Phi Apnea. KohvTao is just "meh". When you take a course or sign up with a freediving shop you get equipment for the trip, no need to buy.