Scuba Cat Diving was been based on the beach road of Patong for the past 18 years, but this year, things changed.

New Locations

A move away from the tuk tuks, tailors, massage parlours and Muay Thai advertisements (yes those of you who have already been to see us will recall “Monday Night, Monday Night……….” )to a new location inside the Kee Plaza, a fantastic hotel and shopping facility 200m off of the Beach Road. This has enabled us to have a larger retail selection, much more selection for our customers to choose from Scubapro, Aqualung and many more.

Kee Plaza

We have  kept our classrooms in Soi Watanna but opened a second shop putting retail and booking’s on the ground floor, this has allowed us to have our dive centre at both ends of Patong so is more convenient for you all. Our fun pub has moved to the roof top terrace we created this year.

Meet the team

It has been a different 6 months but things are progressing well.

Scuba Cat Diving, 5 * CDC is still under British ownership and management and they have the only female Course Director, Sarah Kench, conducting monthly IDC’s on Phuket. Along side this we are the only DDI (Disabled Diver International) Instructor Trainer Centre in Asia.

Scuba Cat has a long history of being eco aware, from laying artificial reefs, becoming the first National Geographic Centre in Phuket, bi-annual underwater clean ups and winning awards from Project AWARE. This is consolidated with our 5 year commitment to monitor reefs at a local island in conjunction with reef check trainers from China on a yearly basis as we are the only reef check centre on Phuket. Recently we won the Green Star Award, the first dive centre to achieve this on Phuket and quickly followed it up by becoming the first Dive Centre in Phuket to go 100% Aware.

Following the changes we made on the retail side of the business this year Scuba Cat has also made changes in the type diving we are offering.

As always we conduct our courses to the highest standards, with emphasis on quality rather time. IDC’s are available every month along with DSAT Tech diving up to Instructor level.

We are  running 3 Diving boats this year, all of which will have Nitrox available and limited numbers of divers on them, this will enable us to have 3 different schedules which will suit all divers and snorkelers.  Whether you are a snorkeller, brand new to diving or looking to change your life by joining us working in Paradise, no problem, we have a program to suit you and your whole family.

Daytrips to the local islands around Phuket on board MV Scuba Fun will run 3 dives per day at different locations. New for this year there will be freshly cooked meals from our own kitchen cooked by the awesome Chef from Lair Le Tong Restaurant.

Half day trips to the local reefs of Phuket on MV Scuba Sport, new for this year allowing boat diving on mornings, afternoons and night dives. Sightings on the reefs have been beyond our expectations, with things we have not seen around Phuket in many years, the most recent being a free Swimming Ribbon Eel.

Our liveaboard MV Scuba Adventure will run trips to both the North Andaman and South Andaman this season, allowing for 3, 4 or 7 day trips offering the best diving Thailand has to offer. As always she offers un-crowded conditions, by having reduced numbers on the boat and is run by our own Tour leader Kath Ridley and the best Captain and Crew on Phuket. A brand new schedule is being launched for the summer and next high season to give you even more variety.

A new IDC website created by our website designers dedicated to professional level courses and Internships will be launched very shortly.

The Scuba Diving industry over the years has evolved rapidly and more people are becoming involved. There has always been a misconception that it is a sport that is available to the fit and able bodied.  However, in recent years the industry has seen an increase in disabled divers, which has been a major leap forward. Disabled divers have been supported by the introduction of various organization’s that purely work with people with various disabilities, both physical and mental.  Scuba Cat, 5 * CDC Center, is also a DDI Instructor Training Centre (Disabled Divers International). Sarah Kench, the Owner and General Manager, is a Course Director and an  Instructor Trainer for the organization and Hielke Oppers, a Instructor at Scuba Cat Diving is also an Instructor for DDI.  Scuba Cat Diving recently represented the DDI at MIDE, the Malaysian Dive Show in Kuala Lumpur.  Their presence at the show always attracts interest and it is a positive step in promoting the disabled diving community, which is growing.

Scuba Cat representing the DDI at MIDE 2011

Many disabled divers are restricted with their movements  and sensory functions. Can you imagine being a paraplegic, sitting in a wheelchair for most of your waking day? Most people who have been able bodied and due to injury or disease are restricted do have a tendency to suffer from depression. There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. Diving offers hope. It is freedom from a wheelchair. Scuba Cat Diving has offered this freedom  to many people over the years.

Diving for the Disabled

Scuba Cat Diving has facilities that can accommodate disabled  divers. The training center is a multi purpose building, where disabled divers  can enjoy their theory lessons in comfort on the ground floor. Scuba Cat has it’s own swimming pool and day boat, which means that logistics of accommodating a disabled diver is not an issue.  Every disabled diver is assessed and depending on the type of disability a program is put into place to cater for that individual’s needs and wants.

"No Barriers"

This is a wonderful program and with time hopefully more and more disabled divers will enter the sport.  Disabled is a word that tells the world that you can’t do something. Diving ENABLES these people and highlights what they CAN do!!

Scuba Cat Diving is known for many reasons with regard to scuba diving. We offer scuba diving for everybody!

Scuba Cat Diving, Phuket, Thailand is the only  scuba diving school the Asia that can train new DDI INstructors. We havespecialised instructors offering scuba diving and training for people with a physical or mental challenge. Both the instructors and school have been certified by Disabled Divers International, the global scuba dive training specialised in scuba instruction for people with a disability.

Our objective is to integrate the ‘regular’ divers with divers that need special attention and instruction and we succeed well. Both mixed groups friends and families with and without disability come for scuba diving with us, where we will give them all the (extra) help they need to have a wonderful time.

Disabled Divers International is a foundation with a vast global network and presence, teaching scuba professionals how to instruct people with special needs. Due to the natural buoyancy scuba diving is considered to be the most accessible active sport there is. DDI instructors worldwide have been certifying people with paraplegic, tetraplegic, muscular dystrophy, visual and hearing impairment, mental challenge, an amputee, to mention a few.

Scuba Cat Diving is helping DDI Foundation to spread the word…scuba diving for all! Please contact us with any question or doubt you may have. Our instructors have years of experience. Try it and discover there are no barriers!