More on our various snorkeling offerings….check back for more!
Surin Islands Snorkeling
One Day Surin Islands Snorkel Tours
Adults – 3500 Baht (all inclusive)
Children -
Pricing upon Request
The Surin Islands are famous for their crystalline beauty and infrequent visitors. The corals and snorkeling is the very best in Thailand, and yet few people visit. If you are staying in Khao Lak, take this opportunity to celebrate the luscious reefs of the Surin Islands
We travel by both minibus and speedboat to get you the Surin Islands quick so you have more time to enjoy and snorkel. No slow boats here. The spectacular underwater show of is not to be missed. With amazing diversity of corals, fish and more – you’ll be ready for more and more and more. Bring the whole family! With our attention to safety and concern for eveyones well-being you rest assured that when you’re with Wicked – you’re in good hands.
Adults – 3500 Baht (all inclusive)
All Wicked Snorkel guides are passionate about the aquatic realm and it shows! We do far more than just swim around – rather we point out special species, unique coral systems and even some of the rare animals that live on the islands – like the Hairy-legged crabs. Wicked snorkel trips are very family friendly and can be conducted in English, Swedish, German and Thai. We are famous for our thorough
Surin Snorkeling Itinerary
Your guides will be at your resort in the morning, let you know about the specific destinations to be expected and some information about safety and guidelines for safe snorkeling. Soon you’ll be on the white sand beaches and turquoise waters of the Similan Islands. After a Buffet lunch of Thai delicacies we head off to one of the viewpoints for a scenic overview, then more snorkeling (or sunbathing if you prefer). Back to your resort with plenty of time for a sunset drink overlooking the Andaman Sea.
Please look at our Safe snorkeling guidelines page, or the Similan Snorkeling FAQ if you have further questions
Surin Islands Marine life
So what do we see on our trips? We can never guarantee what we will see but we very often see Turtle, Rays, Moray Eels, Octopus. While Manta Rays do visit the Surin Islands they rarely come into the shallows! Turtles – Green and Hawksbill are seen pretty frequently. Enjoy the Snappers, Trevally, Jacks, Sweetlips, Angelfish, Bannerfish, Barracuda, and hundreds of species more. Not to mention the dozens of hard coral species, soft corals, sponges and more.
The trip price includes:
Marine Park Fee
Equipment
Guide – no more than 6 guests per guide!
Lunch – there’s always plenty so bring your appetite!
Water, tea, coffee, electrolytes, juice
Transfers from hotel/guest house (in the Khao Lak Area) to and from the pier
Additional fees:
Soda and Beer (25-80 bht ea)
Private Guide (1250 bht/day)
You could also learn to dive
If you enjoy snorkeling, why not take this opportunity to learning SCUBA diving? Our instructors are not only thorough and understanding, but also very patient and always wiling to go that extra step. We love our underwater world and we want to share it with you! You can do one day introductory dives, or be certified in only 4 days!
If the Surin are interesting …
Surin Islands Snorkeling
Surin Islands Snorkeling
One Day Surin Islands Snorkel Tours
Adults – 3500 Baht (all inclusive)
Children -
Pricing upon Request
The Surin Islands are famous for their crystalline beauty and infrequent visitors. The corals and snorkeling is the very best in Thailand, and yet few people visit. If you are staying in Khao Lak, take this opportunity to celebrate the luscious reefs of the Surin Islands
We travel by both minibus and speedboat to get you the Surin Islands quick so you have more time to enjoy and snorkel. No slow boats here. The spectacular underwater show of is not to be missed. With amazing diversity of corals, fish and more – you’ll be ready for more and more and more. Bring the whole family! With our attention to safety and concern for eveyone’s well-being you rest assured that when you’re with Wicked – you’re in good hands.
Adults – 3500 Baht (all inclusive)
All Wicked Snorkel guides are passionate about the aquatic realm and it shows! We do far more than just swim around – rather we point out special species, unique coral systems and even some of the rare animals that live on the islands – like the Hairy-legged crabs. Wicked snorkel trips are very family friendly and can be conducted in English, Swedish, German and Thai. We are famous for our thorough
Surin Snorkeling Itinerary
Your guides will be at your resort in the morning, let you know about the specific destinations to be expected and some information about safety and guidelines for safe snorkeling. Soon you’ll be on the white sand beaches and turquoise waters of the Similan Islands. After a Buffet lunch of Thai delicacies we head off to one of the viewpoints for a scenic overview, then more snorkeling (or sunbathing if you prefer). Back to your resort with plenty of time for a sunset drink overlooking the Andaman Sea.
Please look at our Safe snorkeling guidelines page, or the Similan Snorkeling FAQ if you have futher questions
Surin Islands Marine life
So what do we see on our trips? We can never guarantee what we will see but we very often see Turtle, Rays, Moray Eels, Octopus. While Manta Rays do visit the Surin islands they rarely come into the shallows! Turtles – Green and Hawksbill are seen pretty frequently. Enjoy the Snappers, Trevally, Jacks, Sweetlips, Angelfish, Bannerfish, Barracuda, and hundreds of species more. Not to mention the dozens of hard coral species, soft corals, sponges and more.
The trip price includes:
Marine Park Fee
Equipment
Guide – no more than 6 guests per guide!
Lunch – there’s always plenty so bring your appetite!
Water, tea, coffee, electrolytes, juice
Transfers from hotel/guest house (in the Khao Lak Area) to and from the pier
Additional fees:
Soda and Beer (25-80 bht ea)
Private Guide (1250 bht/day)
You could also learn to dive
If you enjoy snorkeling, why not take this opportunity to learning SCUBA diving? Our instructors are not only thorough and understanding, but also very patient and always wiling to go that extra step. We love our underwater world and we want to share it with you! You can do one day introductory dives, or be certified in only 4 days!
Manta Ray birth
A manta ray was born at an aquarium in Okinawa, becoming only the world’s second such creature to be born in captivity.
The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Motobu witnessed the birth of the manta ray on Tuesday. The baby was born to the same parents that had also given birth to another baby manta ray in June last year.
Aquarium staff confirmed the pregnancy in June last year, and the baby manta was born after 366 days. The father manta, which was captured by fixed netting in May 1992, has been in an aquarium longer than any other manta in the world.
As the other manta ray died only six days after being born last year due to its father chasing it into the wall of a tank, aquarium staff moved the new baby manta ray to a pond soon after it was born.
The baby manta ray, which measures about 1.8 meters in width, is reportedly healthy.
“We’ll see how it works out and hope to make the baby manta ray open to the public as soon as possible,” said a representative of the aquarium.
Manta rays live in tropical marine waters and grow to more than 6.7 meters in width.
The amazing part of this story – how LARGE the infant Manta Rays are! At birth it is 1.8 meters wide! That’s enormous. We may have been underestimating the maturity of our Manta sightings here!
that’s amazing.
Koh Bon – home of the Manta Rays
Similan dive sites -Fantasy Reef
Similan Dive Sites – fantasy reef
As part of our ongoing series of Similan Island Dive sites, Wicked Diving presents:
This site is off limits to diving. If you are offered this site as part of a trip, please report it directly to the National Park, as the operator is violating the terms and conditions of diving in the Similans. It is still undergoing recovery from to many divers and too much contact.
One of the most bes dive spots in the Similans, these underwater rock formations cover a huge area. The friendliest fish in the Similans hangout here, including clown trigger fish, normally a difficult fish to approach. Depths range from 15 meters down to past 40 meters, and this is one of the best dives for enjoying the grandness of huge boulders.
Diving depths range from 10-35+ meters (30-120+ feet) and most of our time is spent at 15-25 meters (45-80 feet)
Currents are actually to be expected and we dive in for a great ride!
Visibility is usually 20 meters (70 feet).
Experience levels –Advanced and beyond due to both depth and currents
Similan Marine Life – Turtles
Similan Marine Life – Turtles
Sea turtles have lived on this planet for 130 million years. TheAnd now the 7 global species of Marine Turtles are all in serious decline throughout most of their range. Habitat degradation, pollution, egg poaching and over-fishing threaten to make them extinct. Historically, five of these species have been found in Thai waters, although there have been no records of the loggerhead turtle in the last 15 years. The four species of marine turtles that can still be found in Thai waters are below
Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
The green turtle is found in scattered areas in both the Andaman and South China Sea coasts, nesting in both areas. They are listed as globally threatened by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and are protected by International Law (CITES) and Thai Law. Seen occasionally at East of Eden
The Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
Hawksbill turtles are found near off-shore islands in the coastal waters of the Andaman Sea, and the northern Gulf of Thailand. They are listed as “Critically Endangered” in IUCN’s Red List. It is listed in CITES, and is protected by Thai Law. Frequently seen on Breakfast Bend.
The Olive Ridley Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
The number of nests on three major nesting beaches has declined dramatically between 1985 and 2002. Olive Ridley’s are listed as “Endangered” by IUCN, and are protected by CITES and Thai Law. Not observed on Similan Islands many years
The Leatherback Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)
The leatherback is only known to nest on the Andaman Coast. The leatherback has been listed as globally endangered since 1970, and was confirmed as “Critically Endangered in Thailand” in 1996. It is listed in CITES, and is also protected by Thai Law. While not seen on the Similans, they have been observed nesting on several beaches in the area.
The sea turtle is a reptile which spends all of its life in water. It obviously needs to go to the surface from time to time, to breathe air. Bear in mind they can actually drown if frightened by divers.
The natural longevity of the sea turtles is not entirely known, but they grow very slowly taking about 15 years to reach maturity.The sea turtle’s diet includes sponges, marine worms, corals and even jellyfish
The distribution of turtles in Thai waters is spread out along the fine sand quiet beaches of the coastline and islands in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. These two geographical areas also reflect different nesting times of the turtles.
In the Gulf of Thailand the most important nesting areas for green and hawksbill turtles are Khram and adjacent islands which are located in the inner Gulf, Chonburi Province. There are some islands along the east coast from Chonburi, Rayong and Trat Province and some islands in the middle Gulf of Chumphon and Surat Thani Province where sea turtles are occasionally found. In the Gulf areas, green and hawksbill turtles lay their eggs all year round with the peak from May to August.
In the Andaman Sea coastal areas of Thailand, the main nesting areas are north-west coast of Phuket, and Phang Nga provinces. In particular these areas include Thai Muang Beach and Phrathong Island, Maikhao beach Phuket, Tarutao Island and Adang-Rawi Islands of Satun Province . Olive ridley and (occasionally) Leatherback turtles are found in these areas. The green and hawksbill are found at the Similan Islands, Surin Islands and Tarutao Islands. The nesting season of sea turtles in the Andaman Sea region occurs only from October to March with a peak from mid-November to mid-January.
The females come ashore after dusk, but they have been observed nesting until just before dawn. They select their nesting site and dig a small pit 18 inches deep using their rear flippers. A clutch of between 40 to 180 eggs will be laid, after which the pit will be carefully concealed by sand before they return to the sea. The whole process usually takes about one hour. During the egg laying, the eyes of the turtle will be covered by a colrless mucus to prevent dehydration and keep out the sand grains.
After an incubation period of 60 days, the hatchlings dig their way up to the surface of the pit, usually at night when the sand is cooler. Hatchlings locate the water’s edge by orienting themselves to the horizon, but distant house lights can disorient the youngsters so that they actually crawl away from the sea.
Turtles are most commonly seen in shallow reefs on dive sites such as East of Eden or Breakfast Bend but you may see them deeper on rocky sites such as Elephant Head Rock or Deep Six. The usual sightings are Hawksbill and Green turtles.
At Thai Muang (National Park) beach, Leatherback and Olive Ridley are often seen nesting. There is an annual 7 day event here, usually during the first week of March, to release young turtle hatchlings, which have been raised by the Fisheries Department, back into the sea.
THREATS TO MARINE TURTLES IN THAILAND
Sea turtles have lived on this planet for 130 million years, but egg poaching, habitat degradation, pollution, and over-fishing threaten to make them extinct.
The main threats to turtles in Thailand can be summarized as follows:
* Threats to marine turtles from fisheries
* Entanglement (mostly accidental) and drowning in long-line fisheries and shrimp trawling nets
* Much of both the coastal and open seas areas used by turtles is also used by fishermen. Because of this, each year, many turtles are killed (often unintentionally) by entanglement in fishing gear and drowning. Some injured and exhausted turtles are released from nets before they die, but their subsequent fate is uncertain.
* Threats to marine turtles from consumption and trade
* Turtle eggs are also easy to collect, and highly nutritious. In some cultures they are also suggested to have aphrodisiac properties. Turtles have also been hunted for their shells that are used for ornaments, sunglasses and in jewelery. Their hides are cured for leather. In Asia, there has been a long tradition of consuming turtle flesh and eggs for thousands of years. Historically turtle shell has also been traded in the region for hundreds of years.
* Threats to marine turtles from coastal development
* The construction of seawalls, hotels, marinas, and other infrastructure associated with coastal tourism and commerce, have destroyed large areas of turtle nesting beaches around the world.
* Disruptive activities on or near nesting beaches during nesting season, such as activity, noise, lights, etc.
* Turtle reproductive behavior evolved in an environment of deserted, intact beaches. Nowadays, light and noise pollution frequently deter or interrupt many females from successful laying. Hatchlings locate the water’s edge by orienting themselves to the horizon, but house and street lights can disorient newly hatched turtles so that they actually crawl away from the sea.
* Pollution of the oceans, including chemical contamination
* The ingestion of plastic bags and other garbage
GOVERNMENT EFFORTS AND THE ROLE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY
Marine Turtles have been given legal protection in Thailand for many years. A Ministerial Decree for implementation of Article 32 (7) of The Thai Fisheries law of 1947 prohibited turtle fisheries, with a fine and/or imprisonment for offenders.
However, turtle egg collection was still allowed under a concession system, supervised by the Department of Fisheries, and export of turtle shell was not prohibited per se.
In the 1960s and 1970s, WWF funded turtle surveys in Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Western Indonesia. By this time, the situation in Thailand was already very worrying. Turtle eggs were being collected on a commercial basis. The harvest was in steep decline, and regulations to limit the harvest were largely being ignored. Even more threatening was the increase in the number of large commercial fishing vessels that were killing large numbers of adults.
With the proliferation of modern motorized fishing vessels, using trawls and push-nets, a further Ministerial Regulation of 20 July 1972 was issued to exclude certain kinds of fishing vessels and fishing gear (particularly push nets and trawls used by boats with engines) from a 3km zone around the entire coast of Southern Thailand. In addition, many coastal areas were subsequently protected as Marine National Parks. However, between 1976-78, Thailand still exported an average of 35,000 kg of turtle shell/year.
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit initiated specific turtle conservation activities in 1979, with instructions to the government of the day. On August 11, 1979, Her Majesty established Her Turtle Conservation project on Man Nai Island off the cost of Rayong in the Gulf of Thailand, donating the island to the Department of Fisheries for the project, with the objectives to:
* Promote effective and technically appropriate breeding of marine turtles
* Care for adult turtle breeding stock
* Disseminate technical knowledge of breeding and conservation of turtles
On November 19, 1980, in line with Her Majesty’s wish to improve turtle conservation, the Department of Fisheries asked the Ministry of Commerce to prohibit further export of turtle shell
In 1980, WWF provided boats to the Marine National Parks Division to undertake status surveys and combat nest poachers at Turatao National Park.
His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej initiated the Kung Krabaen Bay integrated coastal development research center, established in Chanthaburi 1982, to support and promote sustainable coastal fisheries and aquaculture development.
So What!
Rather than looking bicker over the problems Wicked is very proactive in addressing the problems. We strongly encourage our guests to not feed turtles. We also put no food overboard that might skew the ecosystem. As we are quite strict on our smoking policy, we actively work to avoid cigarette butts in the water. We use only organic products and all our soaps and detergents on the liveaboard are phosphate-free and biodegradable. In addition we have strict no contact rules. Finally our boat is fuelled by biodiesel which – admittedly – does release carbon, but it does not release the pollutants that damage and destroy coral.
Similan Islands Divemaster Course Details
Over at Wicked Diving they are doing a great divemaster program for the next season. Not only just diving, but liveaboards as well. A great course!
Similan Divemaster Internship Course
Divemaster Training on our Similan Island Liveaboard
Live, dive, learn in Thailand’s tropical paradise
Imagine waking up each day eager to start work?
Your office: The azure waters of the Andaman Sea
Your Job: Show people the most amazing places on Earth
End of the Day: Kick Back on the beach and watch the sunset
Tomorrow: Repeat
The Wicked Divemaster Course grants you professional level SCUBA diving certification - the first step on a career that will can take you anywhere in the world. You will be qualified to guide divers, conduct Scuba Reviews (Refreshers) and assist Instructors.
Earn a living, doing what you love!
Wicked Diving’s divemaster training program develops your leadership abilities, qualifying you to supervise divers, plan and prepare dive trips and even lead dive trips! By the end of the course you will no longer be a diver – you will be a leader!
During your Divemaster training you will be joining our liveaboard on trips to the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock as well as our daytrips throughout the region. With the real world experience on our boats, as well as in our busy shop, you will learn what is like to lead the life of a working Divemaster – not just the diving.
This will give you the important skills that dive operators look for in their staff.
Wicked Diving’s DM program guides you through a wide range of skills through both classroom and independent study. You will complete several water skills and stamina exercises, as well as training exercises that stretch your ability to organize and solve problems. Finally all of this practice and theory will come together by the end of your internship when you plan, organize and actually lead dive trips!
Why should I do my Divemaster course with Wicked Diving?
Our Divemaster Training program is one of the best you will find anywhere – the goal of our program is make you a dive leader. With a mind to experience, safety, service and fun we aim to make you one of the Professional diving community.
We have chosen to do the Divemaster program the way we always thought it should be – intense, through and preparing you to work in the dive world. Our team of instructors have lived and dived around the world, with experience on all the continents (except Antarctica). We have seen the “factory” schools and the dive center’s with 20 Divemaster Trainee’s doing all the work. Instead we work side by side with you through the whole course. You are not a slave doing our work for us, you are an intern, treated with respect and soon you will be an equal – possibly even hired on as our team.
Our courses can be conducted in English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Belgian, Bahasa (Indonesian), Thai and even American. Our staff consists of the most qualified instructors in the region – Including Instructor Trainers for SSI, DAN, EFR as well as PADI specialty courses and more thorough training such as Technical diving, Advanced Cardiac Life support and more…
Our liveaboard offers the widest and most diverse selection of dive sites in the region. Of course we do trips to all the popular Similan Island Sites, but also to the less visited Southern sites and of course Richelieu Rock and Koh Tachai. With trips ranging from 3 to 9 days and the ability to join our exciting snorkeling expeditions – we offer a very wide selection of opportunities to gain diverse experience whilst doing your divemaster program.
Wicked Diving operates the ”Greenest” dive boat in Asia. The vessel is fuelled by locally produced biodiesel and low energy appliances. Our soaps and cleaning agents are bio-degradable and do not harm the reef. A portion of all our proceeds go to local NGO’s that promote the improvement of our community at large. Please ask us for more details if you wish to learn or join in these activities.
If the great boat, experienced Instructor team and incredible diving is not enough!!! – Khao lak is only one hour north of Phuket International Airport and home to some of the best resorts in the world. With restaurants and beaches to match – it is a very laid back and comfortable town. Lacking the nightclubs and party atmosphere of places like Phuket and Pattaya, it more than makes up for it with amazing diving, relaxing sunsets and low key lifestyle.
Finally our safety and standards are among the highest in the region. With staff that are actually employed by the hyperbaric chamber to coordinate emergency evacuations in the region. Having the only active Dive Medic in Khao Lak on staff should assure you of our standards (but we actually have two!)
Interested? Send us quick note!
When can I start my Divemaster training?
We only offer this course while our liveaboard is operating – Mid-October until May. The last internship will begin around March 15, so we can assure you of adequate training time. This will give you plenty of time to complete both the practical and theoretical sections of the course.
Our Pledge to you
The Wicked Team of instructors will always be available for consultation during your Divemaster training. If you are unsure of who to complete your course with maybe you should ask yourself the following questions:
1) Is my Divemaster course more than just a few dives from the beach?
2) Do I have 2 experienced Instructor Trainers overseeing my Divemaster training?
3) Can my Divemaster course be taughtin other languages, if needed?
4) Will my Divemaster group size be smaller than that of 4 candidates?
5) Do I get discounts on more liveaboards? Can I assist on more courses if possible?
6) Do I get discounts on future courses – including my instructor course?
7) Are your instructors the owners or just employees?
Is the dive facility I want to be trained in able to offer Instructor courses and specialty training in Wreck diving, Nitrox, Night diving, Deep diving?
9) Will My shop be able to offer all Safety training in ALL the DAN courses? To Instructor level?
10) Are my Instructors able to help me with career advice and are they well connected in the local region and in other dive resorts around the world?
11) Am I confident my Divemaster course will be professional, knowledgeable, interesting, real world and fun?
If you can answer yes to all those questions – then give us a shout. We are eager to have you join our family! Remember it’s important that you feel 100% comfortable with the facility and people where you undertake your Divemaster Training.
Unfortunately the one thing we cannot give you an idea of is sense of family you will feel at Wicked. Our shop is here because we love what we are doing, not to get rich. We started this shop because we thought that a dive shop should be warm, supportive and fun. If your passion is diving then we are here for you!
Interested? Send us quick note!
What we expect of you
You need to meet all the prerequisites for the Divemaster Course (see below). If this is not the case we can do the necessary courses or dives with you, or if you prefer, you can do them somewhere else before you come here for your Internship.
By the end of your Divemaster Training we expect you to have all the equipment required as a Divemaster, this includes the normal complete equipment and articles like a dive knife, compass, marker buoy, etc. What you don’t have we can offer you at very good prices.
You need to provide your own accommodation and food so you need to be able to live here for the time span needed without income. We are happy to help you find accommodation and show you the local markets.
Being of clean mind is paramount in preventing accidents. The well-being of you, our guests and our staff are utmost in our decisions. If you can not show up for your courses and dives with a clear head and sound decision making ability – we will not complete your course and we do not issue refunds.
Most important for us is a professional attitude from you (don’t worry, that also includes having fun), you don’t want to look upon it as a vacation. This includes good appearance, high standards of safety and service when dealing with our guests. If you would a job in the diving industry, we’ll train you! If you want to hang out on the beach and drink beer all day – go for it – just not here!
What you can expect of us
Wicked Diving does not care about your race, religion, color, sex, nationality or orientation. We will try our hardest to mentor you into the career of divemaster. We will conduct frequent and detailed lectures about all topics in your course (and more).
We will you treat you with a professional attitude. We have a lot of fun, but there can be risks associated with diving and we will work our hardest to prevent accidents form happening – THEN we will have fun.
We will offer all the tools, materials and knowledge you need to complete your course . We will celebrate your success and share in your failures. We will treat you as part of our family.
Interested? Send us quick note!
What all is involved in the Divemaster course?
The goal of the Wicked Diving Divemaster training program is to improve your level of diving and diving knowledge. You should feel confident and knowledgeable in both the theory and practical elements of recreational scuba diving. You will assist instructors teaching real courses and get hands on experience supervising and leading dives. You’ll learn mapping techniques and map an actual dive site, guide certified divers, test and hone your rescue skills, learn how to handle stressful situations underwater and learn how to teach some programs.
Our Divemaster course requires you to;
Complete a series of waterskills and stamina exercises in confined and open water environments.
Three required training exercises that test organizational and problem solving abilities.
Mapping a dive site, including underwater and surface features
Equipment exchange: demonstrate the ability to solve unanticipated problems underwater
Conduct a class, under the supervision of a Instructor
Internship or Practical Training Exercises
Internship: hands-on experience supervising and assisting divers in actual programs, under the guidance of a Instructor
Practical Training Exercises: simulated scenarios in supervising and assisting divers, under the supervision of a Instructor
Plan, prepare and lead a dive trip
The training and experience you gain through our Divemaster program helps shape your abilities and attitude toward becoming a professional level diving educator. As such, many Wicked Diving trained Divemasters go on to become Instructors and working Divemasters around the world
There are three phases in the Divemaster programme:
1. Watermanship and skills assessment
- Watermanship and stamina skills
- Rescue evaluation
- General diving skills
- Developing Diver skills to demonstration quality. This we will complete over a number of skills circuits.
- You will have to produce an Emergency Assistance Plan and map for a local dive site.
2. Knowledge Development
- Diving physics
- Diving physiology
- Diving skills and environment
- Supervising students in training
- Supervising certified divers
- Divemaster conducted programs
- Decompression theory and dive planning
- Diving Equipment
- Emergency planning
3. Practical application
This involves training activities using various structured training sessions, simulated scenarios and internship sessions with actual Wicked Diving programs. These training sessions enable you to gain practical experience as an instructional assistant and a supervisor of diving activities, both as a coordinator and as an underwater guide. These involve courses on land, leading divers, preparing longtail, speedboat and liveaboard trips
Conducted as an internship over a minimum of 6 weeks, you will gain practical experience of student and diver supervision while working under the close guidance of our experienced professional staff.
Interested? Send us quick note!
What do I need before I begin the Divemaster Course?
- Advanced Open Water Diver or qualifying certification from another training organization
- Rescue certification or qualifying certification from another training organization
- You must also have completed the Emergency First Responder course or have been certified in First/Aid CPR within the last 2 years (you must provide current certification).
- Medical clearance signed by physician
- 20 logged dives
- 18 years old20
If you are not already an Advanced open water Diver or Rescue Diver, no problem- we can organize that for you. Contact us to let us know your requirements.
What equipment do I need for the Divemaster Course?
To start a Divemaster course, you don’t need any equipment. However, by the time you complete your Divemaster training, you should have a full set. In order to work as a Divemaster, most dive centers expect you to have your own equipment.
We offer advice and great deals on scuba diving gear – please contact us for further information.
What do I need while doing the course?
The Divemaster manuals you will require to buy and read in advance of your Divemaster course are:
- Divemaster manual
- Divemaster Diving Knowledge Workbook
- The Encyclopdia of Recreational Diving
You will be required to have:
- Full set of dive gear (available for rent or purchase at great discounts)
- Surface Marker Buoy
- Whistle or other surface alert device
- Compass
- Some form of Dive knife (Sea Snips are perfect)
Length of the Divemaster package
Over the course of the two liveaboards, you will do a total of at least 18 dives, if you require future dives to reach 60 dives (minimum required before qualifying as a divemaster), you can do further liveaboards for only 5,000 baht!!
There will also be plenty of opportunities to join out trips to local dive sites (and even exploratory dives) as well as joining our speedboat trips, so it should be pretty easy to get your 60 dives in the 6 weeks of your course.
How much does the Divemaster Course cost?
The Divemaster Course costs 35,000 THB. The course materials are 7,700 THB.
A full set of equipment can be rented for 5,000 baht for the 6 weeks of the internship. We offer discounts on all equipment purchased (a very good idea if you are looking for work afterwards).
As this is actually the price of two liveaboards (included in the rpcie), it is an incredible bargain!
Not included in this price:
Room & Board
Transportation
Equipment
Interested? Send us quick note!
Life in khao lak
We can help you organize cheap accommodation in Khaolak. Serviced rooms can range from 8,000 and up per month. Simple bungalows can be found for 5,000 for month and nice houses can be rented for 10-15,000 per month. It is often best to share accommodation while here – both for economic reasons, but also to have a fellow DMT to discuss the lessons with!
Meals will cost between 40-180 (or more) baht per meal & beers are 25-70 baht depending where you buy them (eg 7/11 or a bar). We provide you with meals when you are out diving on the liveaboard, and lunch on the daytrips. Khaolak has a very broad range of restaurants and can cater to all palettes, from Thai to Indian to Swedish to Italian and beyond. Be prepared to pay more for those places!
Our town, Khaolak is only a one hour drive from the Phuket International Airport. But we are light years away from Phuket! The area is small, catering to mostly tourists You will find all the necessities of life here, but not the luxuries. We plan trips to Phuket to visit the Hyperbaric chamber every two weeks and these are great opportunities to pick up any luxury items or treats you might need. We also plan trips to the movie theater when special movies are released.
You might find life here easier if you have a scooter, but be very cautious. It is very common to have accidents, usually not serious, but they can cost you weeks of time out of the water!
You will always have access to free tea, coffee, water & fruit when you are in the dive center and there is a small fridge where you can keep a few essentials.
Divemaster Course – Similan Islands
Over at Wicked Diving they are offering this great deal on divemaster courses in the Similan islands, but not just a course, also plenty of liveaboard diving too!
Similan Divemaster Training Course
Take this unique opportunity and become a professional diver. Join our Similan Divemaster internship program. Dive from our liveaboard in the Similan Islands, while living, diving and learning in the world-famous tropical paradise of Khao Lak, Thailand.
Our Divemaster training program will bring you experience, knowledge and skills that allow you to work as a professional diver any where in the world
All of this AND you still join at least 2 of our Similan liveaboard diving safaris. With these trips you will have the opportunity to see and dive with Manta Rays, Whale Sharks, Turtles, Sharks and the hundreds of other species of Marine Life that make this one of the Top Ten Dive Sties in the world – the Similan Islands!!
Wait! This price is incredible! Only 35,000 Thai baht to become a professional diver!!!
We also offer discounts on Equipment, future Similan Island liveaboards and all our selection of specialty courses. We are also an instructor Training facility, so you can move up to the next level after you complete Thailand’s best Divemaster training course.
We do not offer “short courses” and we are not a factory school. We only enroll a very limited numbers of divemaster interns at one time. We aim for the most thorough training and our goal is to make you an employable, experienced member of the worldwide professional diving community. Our course is twice as long as most other shops, and almost all our former Divemaster students are working as DM’s in the Similan Islands and around the world. Please check here for more details
You will be “immersed” in the world of scuba diving. Not just being taught, but actually working alongside your instructors on our Similan Island liveaboard, on our speedboat and maybe even arranging and conducting trips to Khao Lak’s local shipwrecks! You will learn how a shop runs, how to coordinate a dive trip, to supervise divers in the water – even how to assist in teaching courses! Our Similan Divemaster course is for the passionate diver – who wants more!
You will find your head “swimming” with all the new experiences – imagine showing the incredible dive sites of the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock to “your divers”. You will be tending to our guests safety as you share your passion for the marine life you see on each dive, while readying them and their equipment for the next dive. In the shop you will get hands-on training for the real world – seeing how trips are planned and prepared for, equipment serviced and paperwork (yup, there is STILL paperwork – even in diving) readied for each guest.
When you join our “school”, you’ll see that things are different. We are passionate about safety and service. We conduct lectures every two weeks for the whole diving community in Khao Lak regarding safety, marine life and even the results of our exploratory dives around the region. We are a small school with the personal touch. You will be mentored through the divemaster internship with your own instructor, but all our staff lend a hand in training. More details.
It is not often you can take 6-8 weeks out of your hectic life to live in the tropics, enjoy one of the worlds truly great cuisines, dive some of the best dive sites in the world (Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon , Koh Tachai) , visit white sand beaches for your lunch break and still end up with a career!
Please realize that by joining this diving adventure you are not guaranteeing your certification in any courses since Divemaster course certification is a result of completing/passing required coursework, completing dives and/or examinations. More details here
Please realize that by joining this diving adventure you are not guaranteeing your certification in any courses since course certification is a result of completing/passing required coursework, completing dives and/or examinations.
Staying and living in Khao Lak:
We are happy to help you organize accommodation while doing your course. Living here is inexpensive. Unlike Phuket, this is a small town with lots of relaxed places to live. You can choose from serviced units (like hotel rooms) or actual houses with kitchens. Often times you will find that staying with other DMT’s (Dive Master Trainee’s) is a great way to live cheaply and share study time. More details
Khao Lak is about one hour North of Phuket Airport, but is a world away from the madness and chaos of Phuket. Khao Lak is a small town with lots of beaches and quiet laid-back restaurants. We are surrounded by the Khao Lak – Lamru National Park, and of course the World Famous Khao Sok National Park is just up the road from here.
Please bear this in mind – unlike Phuket, Khao Lak is quiet. Lacking in real nightlife and “go-go” bars, we like it. If you are coming to Thailand to party, this is NOT the town for you. On the other hand if you are here to dive, learn about diving and to see some of the best dive sites in Thailand – come on up!
Want to know more?
You’ll also find that we offer so much more. With Climbing, trekking, golfing, snorkeling, kayaking all within a few minutes of Khao Lak we often take our guests for excursions ourselves. If you need a ride to the airport – we do it!
Don’t just dive with us – experience Khao Lak! Stay for a few weeks and see how things are…maybe just disappear into a hammock for a while…
All our staff have extensive safety training from Diver Safety. We also involve you in our ongoing projects like Whale Shark Conservation, Greenfins and Reef Check.
