My daughter and I are going to spend a week in Thailand. It's our first time and we are primarily going as tourists. However, she is a diver and would like to go out for a day. We were told by our stateside tour agency that the coastal area is still too damaged. That's not the impression I'm getting from this site-but i just found it a day or 2 ago. Anyone have first hand info?

When are you traveling ( what time of year ) and which areas, the Gulf of Thailand has lots of diving areas and of course they were not 'touched' by the Tsunami, I am no diving expert but from what I know dive operators and operating as normal even around Phuket / Phi Phi / Similan Islands and there is certainly lots of people going out diving as normal. Not sure where you agent gets such information.

If you are heading for Phuket area just check with the local dive operators you can find on


www.phuketgazette.net ( many have websites you will find there ).

But if you were going between May and October for diving that would probably mean Koh Tao area in the Gulf and that was never touched whatsoever by the Tsunami.

Thank you James. We will be in Thailand the end of Feb and know we'll be in Bangkok for a couple days. We are trying to decide what to do/where to go on the other days.

We even thought if there was a need for relief workers still, we could volunteer for a day or 2 if we go to the coast.

marathon....if you are travelling to the koh samui/koh tao side of thailand...they were not affected by the tsunami at all.

i went diving last week on koh phi phi...the ocean was calm./..clear water...the dive sites were the two little islands of koh phi phi lea and near maya beach (site of the movie "the beach". there were zillions of fish, the coral appeared undamaged (although i am sure there are sites that were heavily damaged).

i have dived all around the world and was delighted by the diving. maybe coastal areas around phuket might not be as good but the islands appear to be world class diving.
most day dive trips from phuket go to koh phi phi by fast boat...go with her and you can snorkel the sites she is diving. its beautiful

Thanks, divediva. I'm glad to hear it is still good. I will probably go snorkel, too.