Beginner Divers

[Richard]

Hi all !
My partner and I will be traveling to Phuket on the 10/4/10 and we are keen to do the PADI open water diver course. We will be staying at the Merlin Beach during this time, can any one recommend a PADI centre with good credentials and preferably one they have actually experienced. We are complete beginners having only ever snorkeled and so are looking for a great teacher.
Is anyone able to tell us if April is a good time to do this course in respect to weather etc, how much we would expect to pay including equipment and how long the course runs for?
Lastly do we require a medical beforehand and is it safe?
Cheers

[Isak]

Hi Richard

I would recommend Scuba Cat. They may be a bit more expensive than some of the others but their professionalism is great and dive master to pupil / diver ratio is smaller so it may be worth paying more for a better experience.