I've done some web searches on scuba diving in Phuket. Why Phuket? Because in diving circles, that's the place for world class diving in Thailand, nowhere else in it. So, I'd like to ask if there are any divers on this list who can advise me on a couple of issues.
1. Where on the island is best to stay in terms of proximity to best dive sites? Like which town? Obviously not all dive areas are created equal, so to speak.
2. Which outfitters are good; which should I avoid. I want to avoid cattle boats like what we have here out of LA.
3. Also, all the dive operators I checked, only about 3, seemed to go out for most of the day even though it is only a 2 dive day. Why? Are the sites all so far a ride away?
4.For Dec. diving in the Andaman Sea will I need a shortie or a full suit? Spring suit, 3mm, ok?
4.Are full suits even available to rent?
Well, looks like more than just a couple of questions. I appreciate any help.

Not sure where you got your information from. For scuba diving you need to head away from Phuket island itself to places like the Similan islands, several hours away by boat, most do it on live-aboards Nov-April time, after that you have the Monsoons and people head to Koh Tao for diving. Other diving areas are off Phi Phi and other islands between Phuket and krabi area. Except for some pretty basic snorkeling near Kata you actually head to other islands and areas for scuba.
No one beach area is better as most boats go from Phuket 'Town' and Phuket Town is not a place people stay, most stay on the West Coast beaches, so it doesn't make any real difference where you stay.
On your point '3' is as I mentioned, for scuba there are some day trips but most are for longer due to distance.

Try these:

http://www.phuket-scuba-club.com/

or go to

http://www.phuketgazette.net

and then go to Business in Phuket on right side, click categories and you get all the Dive operators on Phuket.

i will be diving in phuket and koh phi phi at the last week of october. i will report back who and where i dived with...
i have heard the water is quite warm, in the upper 80's so a shorty should suffice...

Thanks JamesA and divediva. I'll be going at Xmas time next year. I research well in advance. James, I guess I'd heard Phuket in a number of conversations with people who obviously didn't go on a liveaboard. I prefer to be land based. DD are you going on a liveaboard? From the little I've read, I'm not sure Phi Phi is much shorter a boat trip than the Similians. I may pass on diving Phuket if it means such looong boat rides. I'll be very interested to hear about your trip in Oct, DD, and I'll check out those websites you mentioned James.

Is Krabi better for scuba than Phuket?

The diving around Phuket really isn't that great but that is where most of the dive schools in the area operate from because of the large number of tourists. I think the closest sites are around Koh Phi Phi.
The best diving is is around the Similan & Surin Islands (or the Burma baks if you really want to go far afield. where it is truly world class. The season starts in nov/dec when the sea starts to getting calmer and runs through to mar/april. I think the best time is around March. Most Phuket operators run liveaboards to Koh Similian - anything from 3-7 days (it is a days sailing to the island).

In 2002 we chose to drive a couple of hours up the coast to Khao Lak which is much quieter (and cheaper!)than Phuket. There were a number of dive schools (10+) in Khao lak and we used Sea Dragon for a 5 day liveaboard- www.seadragondivecenter.com a German run operation whom I can highly recommend. As they are much closer to the Similan islands day trips are available but it is still a long day.

You should bear in mind that this was the area most affected by the tsnami but I understand the reefs are only slightly affected the town is is well on the road to recovery and there are some new hotels opening up in the area.

As far as suits are concerned, I used a 3mm shortie which was fine as the water temp is always around 27c

bonbon....
i plan on diving from phuket and koh phi phi by day boats. i usually would consider a liveaboard but not this trip due to family with me.
i have heard from fellow divers that the liveaboards are excellent and the similan islands are world class.
phuket offers relatively inexpensive
dive classes and tours...last year i went to koh tao and koh phangan...and the weather and seas were less than perfect but i will dive anywhere there is an ocean.

to bonbon5: I am going to Phuket in Nov and going on a liveaboard for 4 days. If you would like some info as to how I booked this and why I chose this over day trips, you can contact me at [email protected]

Agree with the above advice so far. Distances are pretty far for day dives. If you want to stay on land, you might stay on Phi Phi so you can get out to dive sites a it faster. I don’t think there is any advantage to staying in Krabi, it might even be farther from some of the sites.

IMO you are better off hiring your own boat with captain/crew who can take you where you want to go rather than on a set itinerary, and you will avoid the large tourist day trip boats. I can reccco a few for you if you are interested, including private live aboards. IMO a live aboard is really the only way to get to the better sites, esp the Similan islands.

I would buy a diveskin rather than buying or renting a shortie wetsuit, as you sometimes run into schools of stinging nettles and a shortie dive suit won’t protect your legs or arms. The water is very warm, even at 100 feet your oxygen will start to run out before you start to get cold.

Obviously that should be a long sleeve long legged dive skin. . . .

bobbon5
We're also from the states and have heard for years about the diving in Phuket. But like other has previously posted, it isn't Phuket itself, but it's the base for the dive trips. There are 4 of us, two have done live aboards but we wanted a land based trip this time. Have done in depth search of sites/operators/water temp/wet suit info...everything you'll want to know.
The dives we go to are about a 2 hour boat ride each way from Phuket in the area of Phi Phi. Not positive but I believe the Similians are farther off the opposite side of Phuket. We're going in November, so I'll post a thread on diving when we return. Should answer all of your questions from what sounds like the same perspective you have.

Similan Islands are further. It was a good point that Khao lak is somewhat nearer if going to the Similan Islands, quite a few years since I went ( and not for diving ) but it was a long way and that was when they had a Jet powered high speed Jet-Cat doing thr trip.