Spots, gear and classes to pick up scuba diving.

“My world extends beyond the earth you walk on—it’s a world full of colorful reefs and fantastic creatures,” says Titalee Bunkoednamphon, a 25-year-old soon-to-be dive-master studying with diving center Living Sea. If you’d like your world to be a little bit less dreary and a whole lot more like an acid trip, it’s time to get into a wetsuit, strap some bottled air onto your back and sink to the ocean floor.

Getting Your Diver’s License

Most dives in and around Thailand are designed for people with a basic diving certification like the PADI Open Water or NAUI Scuba Diver. These entry-level certifications allow you to go to roughly 30 meters and see plenty of beautiful underwater flora and fauna. The PADI is usually considered more recreational than the more rigorous NAUI (particularly on theory). Whichever one you choose, they take a little time and some studying, so it’s not a bad idea to get that out of the way before you go on your trip. Otherwise, you’ll spend precious vacation time learning how to dive in a pool and reading books on diving theory.

“To dive is basically to sink gracefully,” says Titalee. “Therefore, you don’t have to be a very strong swimmer.” The pool is a good place to start dealing with the tricky business of “equalizing your body,” meaning to neither sink straight to the bottom, nor float back up to the surface. Titalee’s tip: “Be sure to challenge your body safely, don’t force it.”

All these certifications end with a dive in the real ocean, where you’ll demonstrate what you learned in the comfort of the pool. Just relax and you’ll do great. Panic is the one most dangerous thing when diving. Here are a few options to get certified:

Wahoo Diving Center (114 Sukhumvit 26, 02-260-7901/2, www.wahoodivingcenter.com) offers a two-weekend dive lesson for B5,900. On the first weekend you will learn the theory at the Sukhumvit 26 center on Saturday and Sunday, 10am-3pm (materials included). The following weekend you will do the open water lessons in the pool of Chuan Chuen Community pool in Pattanakarn 53 Rd., 10am-5pm. After that you will travel with the dive center staff on a two-day trip by boat from Pattaya where you will be tested under the ocean (B1,200 per day). Certification: PADI Open Water.

Dumnaam (282 Soi Duangtawan, Charoenkrung Rd., Taladnoi Sampantawong, 02-639-5577, www.dumnaam.net) offers a B9,900 package with four classes of theory, pool lessons with flexible schedule, a free mask by Mares and a snorkel by Oceanic. The pool lessons are taught at the center’s private pool and you can pick the rounds, whether it’s 9am-noon, 12:30-3:30pm, 3:30-6:30pm, or 6:30-9:30pm everyday. This price includes the boat trip from Pattaya where you will be tested (lunch on the boat included). Certification: NAUI Scuba Diver.

At Living Sea (2/426 Moo 1 Makmai Village, Rattanakosinsompote Rd., 08-1666-6161. www.livingsea.co.th) it’s a B9,000 for five classes of theory and five dive lessons in the pool, 2.5 hours each (equipment included). This package also includes the boat trip from Pattaya and a one-night stay in Lee Garden Hotel, breakfast included. Certification: PADI Open Water or NAUI Scuba Diver.

Dive Away

“Once you’re through with certification, you’re free to dive,” says Sermsak Posayajinda, mentor of Titalee and owner of Living Sea. “Select your dive master well, he or she will have your life in their hands.” Here, Sermsak’s all-time favorite diving spots:

The Similan Islands. Located in the North Andaman Sea, you can dive here from mid-November to the end of April. Considered one of the most beautiful dive spots in the world, you will meet whale sharks and manta rays here. Suitable for beginner divers.

Moving south of the Andaman Sea we have Phi Phi Island, King Cruiser’s Wreck, and Hin Muang Hin Daeng, where manta rays are found spreading their wings as colorful tiny fish surround them.

Down below, in the sea of Chumphon, you will meet bull sharks, barracuda fish and beautiful coral reefs. Koh Losin is favorite of divers; it is in Pattani Province and is known to have the clearest water in the gulf. Bow mouth guitarfish, although on the verge of extinction, can be found there.

In between Koh Tao and Koh Samui is Hin Bai, another dive spot where massive rocks plunge into the sea. Fish dig Hin Bai from July to August.

If you’re not up for a long drive or a flight, you can try going to Pattaya. Koh Pai, Koh Laan, and Koh Sak are three dive spots in the area. In Koh Sak, you can visit wrecked ships of the Thai army. However, it is not recommend for beginners.