Kiwidivers
The best SCUBA shop in Phuket for dive tours and instruction

My sister and I took the open water course at Kiwidiver. The staff are wonderful! They are extremely friendly and have extensive knowledge on diving. Our instructor, Darren, has a passion for diving that he was excited to share with us. He was patient and calm which was helpful with our learning and first dives. He clearly explained the learning objectives and expectations. He has a lot of background knowledge on diving that added to the open water course. The owner, Kevin, was in and out of the shop and checked in with us frequently. He was very hands on and always willing to answer questions and make recommendations. If I’m ever back in Phuket I will return to Kiwidiver for another course!

My friend and I decided to take diving lessons during our holiday in Thailand last week and we had the most amazing time doing a PADI Open Water course. Our instructor was great and took care of us the whole time, making us feel comfortable with all the equipment, helping us get in and out of the water and being very patient while we did all the exercises. For the course we went to practice in the pool and at the beach and on the third day we went to Racha Noi island with the dive boat. You should know that all the beginner courses are done at the dive spots of the Racha Noi and Racha Yai islands because the conditions are easy and there is no current in the bays. There are nice and shallow spots with good visibility, which really lets you get comfortable being underwater. We really wanted to see the Phi Phi islands, but since they are a protected marine park, beginners are not allowed to dive there so that they do not damage the corals. Once you are certified however, you can book the trip and this is what we did. The boat ride there is around 3 hours from Phuket, but it is very enjoyable, as there are big sun decks where you can soak up the sun. The diving was beautiful - we saw a shark, Nemo fish and many colourful corals. The dive center is very professional and quite big. They have a retail store in case you want to get your own mask or snorkel. Also a separate equipment room, 2 classrooms and showers. We can only recommend the school and will come back to go to the other dive sites next time we're in Phuket.

Charles was the best diving teacher and instructor one can wish for. I started my Open Water course really scared and unsure if diving was for me. But Charles was incredibly patient with me, answering all my questions in detail and made me feel safe and confident to try my first ever dive. His calmness and patience helped me stay relaxed. He knows the area really well and what species to look out for at each dive site. He knows how to get away from other divers, finding our own routes which is why we got lucky to see sharks, leopard sharks, cuttle fish, sea horses and turtles. But each dive was special as Charles finds and points out even the smallest shrimp in their holes. I had such a great time I booked another dive the week after finishing my course.

I booked a day trip with Kiwidiver in Jan 2018 and had an awesome day. Other than the main street dive centres, Kiwidiver uses higher end equipment, as they are specialised in Technical diving. So for all courses and day trips they use Frog BCDs and APEKS regulators, which are owned by and serviced at the dive shop (and not rented). I booked 3 fun dives at Racha Noi and Racha Yai. Meeting point is the Kiwidiver shop, where you'll be fitted in your scuba gear and from there transferred to the peer, which is a mere 5min drive from the dive center. The dive boat was large and did not feel crowded. There is breakfast, lunch, snacks, water, tea and coffee provided. Dive time is 50min at each site, so make sure you've set up your equipment and are ready to jump. Your instructor will tell you the boat time before starting the briefing. Between dives you can stretch out on the sun decks and enjoy the cruise. Don't forget to take your own towel, sun lotion, sun glasses and maybe a book if you're travelling solo. Also some cash, so you can leave a tip for the boat crew!

Charles is great. If you looking to see some of the best underwater in Thailand give them a call. Good English communication if needed.

We had great dives with kiwidiver! Although we came a day in advance kiwidiver made sure we would have a place on the boat! We went to racha noi and had great visibility. Would definitely recommend!