Courses in Phuket
A holiday spent lying on the beach and eating at the hotel’s restaurant might be all that some people need, while others prefer to have a little adventure. If you want to come back from your holiday with more than a tan, there is a good choice of courses in Phuket.
Scuba diving
If the thought of being 30m below the surface and checking out the marine life excites you, there’s no better place to learn to scuba dive than Phuket. A PADI open water course takes about four days, and afterwards you will be certified to scuba dive with a buddy. Thailand is one of the cheapest places to get certified. It’s best to walk into several shops to compare prices and find the one that best suits your needs...more on dive courses.
There are many beautiful and easy dive sites around Phuket island, and those looking for a bit more adventure can take an advanced course aboard a liveaboard dive boat to the Similan Islands. An advanced course will better prepare you for the more difficult dives in the Similans and takes just two days. Almost all liveaboard boats offer the course in a package with the trip. Of course, Phuket’s many dive shops provide courses in scuba diving all the way to instructor level.
Thai cooking
One of the best ways to spend a day or two of your holiday in Phuket is by joining a Thai cooking class, where you’ll learn how to make a few of the most popular dishes and enjoy eating them. Pat’s Home is a good place to stay and/or learn Thai cooking in a home environment.
Thai massage and reflexology
If you’ve experienced Thai massage and want to take the skills home to give your friends massages, there are a few places offering courses in Phuket. Phuket Traditional Thai Massage School is one of the largest and also teaches the art of reflexology. You should budget at least one week to get a good understanding of Thai massage, but becoming truly proficient could take months.
Sailing
Phuket is an ideal place to learn how to sail, with ASA and RYA certifications available. Phang Nga Bay, to the east of the island, is sheltered and provides year round sailing while the open ocean of the west coast also provides superb sailing during the high season. Some courses are taught as liveaboards, which provide you with optimal learning combined with a week-long trip. Sunsail Thailand is one of the larger companies offering sailing tuition.
Golf
Phuket is almost as famous for its golf courses as for its water sports. There is a choice of world class courses, including: Blue Canyon Country Club; Loch Palm Golf Club; Banyan Tree Phuket Golf Club; Phuket Country Club and Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa. Golf holiday packages as well as lessons for beginners though advanced players are offered at the Nicklaus-designed Mission Hills course.
Muay Thai (boxing)
Many visitors come to Phuket for months at a time to learn Muay Thai. There are plenty of schools around the island with Muay Thai courses to suit a variety of needs, even simply for fitness or weight loss. Most gyms offer accommodation packages and are flexible to suit your needs. If you prefer a quiet gym, try Rawai Muay Thai Camp at the south of the island.
Yoga
Courses in yoga can be found at Atsumi Healing in Rawai. This is also the only place on the island where you can do a fasting and detoxing programme.
Cultural courses
Well worth a mention is the new Sukko Spa, which offers ‘Thai cultural courses’ and spa packages. You can learn Thai cooking, yoga, massage, Muay Thai Chaiya, fruit carving, jasmine garland making, stretching exercises, meditation, water yoga, Thai beauty secrets and Thai scent making here. They also offer a kids’ programme to keep the little ones busy and learning while you are taking your course or enjoying spa treatments. Email: sukko@sukkospa.com, Website: www.sukkospa.com Address: Sukko Cultural Spa & Wellness, 5/10 Moo 3 , Tumbon Vichit, Amphur Muang, Phuket, Thailand 83000 Tel: +66 7626 3222, Fax: +66 7626 4533
