Scuba diving Travel Guide

Yes. A Discover Scuba experience is designed for people who cannot swim well or have never dived. The instructor fits your gear, teaches the basics in shallow water, and keeps a hand on you for a shallow guided dive. You do need to be comfortable putting your face in water and staying calm, so tell your instructor how you feel and go slowly. If you truly panic in water, it may not be for you, but most nervous first-timers manage it fine.

Not for a beginner Discover Scuba dive, which an instructor supervises the whole time and which does not certify you. You only need a certification card if you want to do a deeper fun dive on your own with a buddy, or a course such as PADI Open Water if you want to become certified. If you are already certified, carry your card, because some shops ask to see it before a fun dive.

Pick a PADI or SSI certified dive centre, not the cheapest boat on the pier. Ask how many divers each instructor takes, and favour small groups for beginners. Check that the rental gear looks well maintained, that they insist on a medical questionnaire, and that the briefing covers equalising, hand signals and mask clearing. A good operator welcomes your questions. If they seem rushed or annoyed, choose another shop.

Anyone with a heavy cold or blocked ears on the day should skip it, because you cannot equalise. Conditions like asthma, heart problems, epilepsy, recent ear or sinus surgery, and pregnancy usually need a doctor's clearance before diving, so declare them on the medical form rather than hiding them. Never dive after drinking alcohol. If in doubt about a health condition, get a medical opinion before you travel.

The shop provides all the dive gear, so you bring the small comforts: swimwear worn under your clothes, a towel and a dry change of clothes, reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard, motion-sickness tablets if boats bother you, cash in Thai baht for fees and tips, water and a light snack, and your certification card and logbook if you have them. A waterproof phone case is handy for photos.

Not straight away. Wait at least 18 to 24 hours after your last dive before flying, so your body can offload the nitrogen absorbed underwater. This matters in Krabi because many travellers fly out from Krabi airport, so plan your diving for earlier in the trip, not the day you leave. When in doubt, leave a full day between your last dive and your flight.