Free longterm visas for Thailand

Get a fee-free Thailand visa until 2010

In an effort to help encourage Thailand’s travel and tourism industry, the Royal Thai Government has agreed to extend the exemption of the Thailand visa fee for tourist visa applications until 4 March 2010.

The exemption will apply to all applicants for a Thailand visa on arrival at all international airports in Thailand as well as those applying at Thai embassies and consulates abroad for stays longer than the period for which they are normally eligible.

Thailand currently gives a Visa on Arrival for citizens of 20 countries for a stay not exceeding 15 days. Citizens of another 42 countries are allowed a visa-free stay in Thailand not over 30 days.

Visitors who wish to stay longer than those periods have to apply for Thailand visas at the Thai embassies or diplomatic missions abroad before their arrival in the country.

The extension is one of several measures taken by the Thailand tourism industry to invigorate itself after a number of global and local events that have led to a temporary drop in visitor arrivals.

TAT Chairman, Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat says, “As a result of the global economic downturn, the worldwide travel and tourism sector has declined as people have become more cautious about spending on leisure and business travel. Hence, the government has implemented many measures to enhance Thailand’s competitive advantage and strengthen our country’s unique qualities.”

This offers a great opportunity to sign up for a 60 or 90 day visa. Stay in Thailand longer, do a Similan Liveaboard or even consider doing your Instructor Training!

Similan Scuba Diving - Ideas and advice

Here is a blurb from the every helpful - Similan Islands - a resource for all information on the Similan Islands. This is the Scuba Diving section

"Listed as one of the Ten best Dive sites on earth, the Similan Islands are the best diving Thailand has to offer. With Huge rocky drop-offs on the Western side, long coral reefs on the East side, and the transition zones in between. More than the just a simple reef - the Similan Islands also have the Greatest marine diversity in the country.

Nearby are the Surin Islands (and Richelieu Rock), Khao Lak, just North are the Burma Banks. South of the Similan Islands are the SCUBA diving centers of Phuket, Phi Phi and Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Right in the middle are the Similan Islands. Please check here for our list of Similan Dive Centers."

If you need help or advice for the Similan Islands - this is the place to go!

Learning to dive in Thailand

Ever wonder what it would be like to jump into the water and look into the face of a passing turtle?? The underwater world is mysterious and yet inviting, the experience of diving it provides and addictive sense of zen. There's no better place to have your first dive experience than Thailand – with good conditions year round. Where to learn to dive in Thailand?

Most dive shops in Thailand offer PADI or SSI certification but it's also possible to find a few offering NAUI or CMAS. Beginners may be more comfortable diving in the calmer and shallower waters off the east coast of Thailand, with destinations such as Koh Tao or Koh Samui being the most popular on that side. The East coast has less marine life and coral though.

As the West coast has much better marine life and coral - you may want to consider this as your destination. However The weather makes diving unsafe from June through October. If you plan on visiting during this time - you will probably have a better time diving around Khao Lak and the Similan Islands. Hotspots for diving around here include Phi Phi and Koh Lipe.

Phuket has several dive operators to chose from, but the conditions near the pollution strewing island can be intolerable. Khao Lak offers an excellent choice of dive shops and also has a good range of accommodation to suit most tastes. It is also the closest jumping off point to the Similan Islands.

Phi Phi is quite popular among the younger crowd but there are hotels catering to older couples and families, which also offer scuba diving courses.

The Similan Islands, technically located in Phang Nga province, provide some of the best dive sites in the world. Protected within a marine national park, the nine islands are still pristine and rich with wildlife above and below the water. Most dive operators will take you ashore at one of the islands, where you can enjoy the powder-white beaches and see exotic birds and monkeys. Under the waves, the colorful reefs and boulder formations are teeming with coral and a variety of marine life. Sometimes whale sharks are even spotted in the waters, as well as rays and other sharks. Visibility is good, varying from 30-50m.

The best way to see the Similans is by liveaboard, and most dive operators will allow you to do your Open Water dives from the boat if you've completed the paper and pool work ashore beforehand.

Much like Phi Phi, Koh Tao is a fun place for backpackers to learn how to scuba dive. This may well be the most affordable place in Thailand to take a PADI Open Water course and to build up your dive log. Unfortunately it's not the best diving in Thailand – but it's not yet the worst either. Koh Tao used to offer frequent whale shark sightings but they are relatively rare these days. It's also conveniently close (2 hours by speed boat) to Samui. In fact you can do diving courses on Samui too.

The number of dive boats on a site is not restricted, so you may find there is too much company around peak dive times. You may find yourself surrounded by 50 to 100 divers at a time, with most of them being Open Water students or day trippers from Samui. Needless to say, Koh Tao might be great for learning and for progressing to instructor – but it's not all that great for just recreational diving. Many people come here specifically to advance through courses and proceed with PADI Advanced, Rescue Diver, Dive Master/Master Scuba Diver and Instructor courses.

There are so many choices on Koh Tao that you should look carefully at each dive shop and make sure they offer you the best value for money. Not all dive instructors are the same, and some are downright scary. Likewise, equipment standards can vary, and you'll want to make sure any shop you choose has quality equipment and maintains it properly and hygienically. You should also check into the insurance policy of the dive shop and enquire as to if you should purchase your own dive insurance for the hyperbaric chamber if you have an accident.

It boils down to this - you get what you pay for. If you think it's a bargain - it's not! Your life depends on well-maintained well equipment and good staff. If you would like to know where to learn to diving in Thailand?

Most the dive operations in Thailand are run by foreigners, which is just as well since Thais have a rather different approach to safety and responsibility, but you'll find yourself diving with plenty of Thai staff who are their usual friendly easy-going selves