Diving Phuket: Fun and Safety Do Go Together

Diving Phuket is extremely fun these days, as the industry now provides divers with the best of equipment and the best tours available on the planet.

For example, watching giant schools of glassfish swing about as they are being terrorised by the hungry jacks at Shark Point is an unforgettable sight, and jumping off one of the liveaboard ships, like the MV Nautica that patrols the Similans, is an adventure remembered for a lifetime.

And then there is always the King Cruiser Wreck, easily reached from Phuket or Phi Phi Island that offers a diver's paradise in a "man-made" coral and aquatic wonderland.

But there are a few rules that need to be followed for a safe as well as fun dive:

First, you should always hydrate yourself to the max, as dehydration is one cause of Decompression Sickness (DCS), and can lead to the more serious Decompression Illness (DCI).

Next, get yourself a decent dive computer that will ultimately help you in your ascent, so you do not rise too quickly or dive too deep, at least not without a bunch of alarms going off!

Then, be aware of these most common symptoms of DCS/DCI, so you can recognise when you need medical help:

• A feeling of nausea.
• A change in complexion (blotchy skin).
• Weakness and joint pain.
• An uncontrollable bladder.
• Shortness in breath, with dizziness.
• An altered mood swing.
• A feeling of unusual fatigue, combined with restlessness.
• Uncontrollable coughing spasms
• A numbness of fingers, toes, or even paralysis.

If any or all of these symptoms are present after your dive, you may be in need of treatment in a decompression chamber. But not to worry, a decompression chamber is not as scary a place as it sounds.

In Phuket and surrounding area, decompression chambers are run by the Hyperbaric Services of Thailand (HST), and are very comfortable and modern devices that will slowly recompress you back to health.

The units themselves have been designed and are certified the Sub-aquatic Safety Services International Recompression Chamber Network (SSIRCN), which is based in Texas USA, and looks after chambers located around the world.

Each chamber in Phuket (there are two) is roomy, and large enough to accommodate two or three patients at a time, and have portals that allow medical staff to help you without entering (and thus disturbing) the decompression process.

All HST run chambers have a fire deluge system installed, and are designed to give access even to folks in wheelchairs or on gurneys. In short, if you need help, the most modern of facilities is just a phone call away.

For more information about decompression chambers or DCI/DSI, contact HST Thailand:

HST Phuket Town (in the Andaman Sea): 44/1 Moo 5, Chalermprakiat Ror 9 Road, Vichit, Muang, 83000 Phuket. Phone: +66 (0)810 819000, Fax +66 (0)76 612660

HST Koh Samui (in the Gulf of Thailand): 34/8 Moo 4 Bophut, Koh Samui, 84320 Surat Thani. Phone: 0810 819555, Fax: 077 427377


The author lives and works on the popular tourist island of Phuket, where he operates a car hire business. Find out about officially vetted car hire companies in Thailand at the Tourism Authority of Thailand website which includes all vetted car rental companies. The author's site is available at CarHirePhuket.com and users can contact the author via his site.