Scuba diving in South Asia

[Geoff]

Hi

I'm living in Hong Kong and fancy learning to scuba dive somewhere, maybe taking a week break at the start of October and flying to Malaysia or the Phillipines...

Anyone done this and have any tips? Or can recommend any good websites or travel agents in HK?

I have never been scuba diving before so fancy taking a days course in Hong Kong first, as I know some people have problems with their ears leaking at depth or not being able to "pop".... any good places in HK where I could do this on a weekend?

Cheers
Geoff

[Peapea]

Hi Geoff
I would highly recommend the company I learned to dive with, Mandarin Divers near Aberdeen.
The course you need to do first is the Open Water course, it usually lasts four evenings and then two full days as far as I know. They're quite a small company with a lot of experience at what they do. Very professional and helpful if it's your first time.
Would advise you to give them a call on 2554 7110 or take a look at the website http://www.mandarin-divers.com

Hope this helps!

[granville]

Hi Geoff,

For your information, there is quite a number of local dive shops offering training and course for first-time divers. I just have finished my dive trip in East Malaysia (Sabah). The dive sites include those near Sipandan and Mabul Island where you can see big fishes (such as turtles, hammer-head shark etc). Also near the Mataking Island, you can see a lot beautiful small fishes. For my dive in Mataking Reef Dive Resort, they offer dive trip and training course for first-time divers. The cost of a training course for open water dive is about $1000R (~HK$2000) up to 19 July. Details can see the following website.

http://www.pinganchorage.com.my/saba..._reef_dive.htm

You can also contact the following dive shop they offer local and oversea dive course and trip. Wanderlust Vacations Company Ltd at 28682268.

I got my license in HK but my experience is the visbility under water in HK is about 8~9 meter (the best) where in Sipandan is about 20~22m), in Mataking is about 18~23m.

I hope the above information may help. When you do know the scuba diving, you will find it is one of the best activities you will enjoy most. If you need any further information or about my dive trip in Mataking Island, you can post it on web.

Chris

[travelem]

Many HK dive shops also have a travel department arranging dive trips.
Just name a few:
http://www.sunnseaholidays.com/en/
http://www.prodive.com.hk/pd/Travel/...l/holiday.html
http://www.divinghk.com/public_html/eng/index.htm
http://www.planetholidayhk.com/site-dive_left.htm

Puerto Galera near Manila is the most common dive trips from HK. Because it is close and reasonable priced.

[travelem]

There is also a forum for HK divers discussing any dive-related topics:
http://hkdiver.com/viewforum.php?f=22

List of HK dive shops:
http://www.dogsbreathdivers.com/HongKong.htm

http://www.splashhk.com/upcoming.html
Splash is catered to English speaking divers.

[Mars]

Geoff, hi

Yes you can do it in a weekend - a long weeked. My neighbor learned to dive here in HK. He advised me that for less money, I could took a long weekend to Thailand (Koh Samui (cheap flight), stay in a 5 star resort and learn to dive (PADI Openwater) for less money in great conditions (coral, sealife, clean water) than it wpould cost me to get polluted in HK gunky water with lousy visibility, no decent coral or sealife and get the nasty skin rash that he got. I did just that and I can throughly recommend it.

It cost me HK$2000 to get to Koh Samui (plane)
HK$1300 for the 3 day Open Water course http://www.planet-scuba.net/
HK$900 for three nights at new luxury hotel at www.norabeachresort.com

Of course you have to have the time - but it really is SOO worth it, experience and finance-wise - but you'll get addicted to diving! If you want to get diving out of your system then HK is probably a good bet - my neighbors words were diving in HK is a triumph of optimism over reality...

If you want any help - I'm on [email protected]

[travelem]

I have dived in Samui and Koh Tao. Koh Tao is the diving factory. But PG is cheaper if you leave from HK. A roundtrip fare from HK to Manila is around HK$1000. Then you take the bus+ferry combo to Puerto Galera. PG is closer, cheaper than Samui. More important diving in PG is a lot better than Samui/Koh Tao. Better visibility and more marine life.

Info on PG:
http://www.about-scuba-diving.com/co...puerto-galera/

Packages:
http://www.southseadivers.com/
http://www.frontierscuba.com/
http://www.actiondivers.com/about.html

PG photos:
http://hkdiver.com/viewtopic.php?t=8090

[Geoff]

Thanks for all the great help.

I think we are going to go to Puerto Galera, a friend has just come back and he says he had a great time there.

Will report back with a few pictures when we get back (going end Sept)

Thanks again all
Geoff

[kombuchakid]

I have been drawn to this thread as I like diving and exploring beaches in South Asia.
Alas I find that only dive sites in South East Asia are covered.

Anyone one been under in Bordi and Goa?

http://www.tourismofindia.com/hi_old/beaandaman.htm