[GROUP] SCUBA DIVING for Certified Divers in Phu Quoc Island

Phu Quoc’s southern islands are the main attraction here. You leave the hotel early, ride out by shared van and wooden boat, then make two underwater sessions around the An Thoi Islands, where colorful fish and reef scenery are the payoff. It is a practical way to get underwater without arranging equipment, transport, and boat space separately.

I like that all scuba equipment is provided, and that an English-speaking instructor stays with you during each session. I also like the simple boat setup: lunch, cold water, and an icebox are included, so you can spend the day focused on the sea rather than buying supplies at each stop.

The main consideration is the shared nature of the trip. Pickup times can shift, the group may be larger than expected, and the wooden boat is functional rather than polished. Sea conditions can also change the locations without advance notice.

Key points to know before you book

• Two underwater sessions around An Thoi: The day is built around two separate reef stops, not one short swim.
• Up to 18 meters: The first session is planned for 40 to 50 minutes with the instructor.
• Certified divers only: You need existing certification because no beginner course is included.
• Hotel pickup is limited by area: Central Duong Dong hotels are included, while several outer areas cost extra.
• Shared wooden boat: The boat gets you to the sites, but comfort and finish are modest.
• Weather controls the plan: Poor conditions can lead to a new date, refund, or changed underwater locations.

Why this Phu Quoc boat trip works well for certified divers

This is a full-day outing rather than a quick activity squeezed between beach time and dinner. From hotel pickup around 7:30 or 8:30 in the morning to the return transfer, you should allow roughly eight hours.

That longer schedule matters because the best underwater areas are around the An Thoi Islands, south of the main hotel zone. You are not simply walking from a beach to a shallow swimming area. The operator handles the van, pier transfer, shared boat, equipment, food, and instructor support.

I like this arrangement for a visitor who wants a single, straightforward booking. You do not need to find a separate equipment shop, negotiate a boat ride, or work out how to reach the pier. The price is listed at $108 per person, which is reasonable if you would otherwise need to pay separately for transport, boat access, equipment, two sessions, lunch, and an instructor.

Still, this is not a private charter. You share the vehicle and boat with other customers, and the group size information is not perfectly consistent. One part of the details allows up to 15 adults, while the formal maximum is 12 people. I would plan for a group of up to 12 and confirm the final number if space matters to you.

The early pickup from Duong Dong and beyond

Pickup begins around 7:30 a.m., with the stated pickup window extending to about 8:30. The exact time depends on your hotel and the day’s transport plan. You should be ready early, since shared vans need to collect several people before reaching the pier.

Hotels from central Duong Dong to the harbor receive shared pickup and drop-off without an added transport charge. If you stay farther out, the extra cost can change the value of the trip:

• Ong Lang and The Shells Resort: 250,000 Vietnamese dong per booking
• Cua Can and Movenpick Resort: 350,000 Vietnamese dong per booking
• Ham Ninh: 300,000 Vietnamese dong per booking
• Vinpearl and Mai Phuong Resort: 450,000 Vietnamese dong per booking
• Ganh Dau: 500,000 Vietnamese dong per booking

These are booking-level charges, not per-person charges, according to the supplied details. Check the amount before you pay, especially if you are traveling alone or as a couple.

Communication before pickup is one of the stronger practical points. You can expect confirmation the day before, including the pickup time. The operator has also been known to send a photo of the vehicle and ask about wetsuit and fin sizes, which helps reduce the usual morning confusion.

Reaching the An Thoi Islands by shared wooden boat

After the van reaches either the northern or southern pier, you transfer to a shared wooden boat. The trip then continues toward the first underwater location, with the listed schedule placing that transfer around 9:30 a.m.

The boat is included, along with cold water and an icebox. That sounds basic, and it is, but it matters in a hot coastal climate. You will have drinking water available and a place to keep items cool without needing to buy supplies along the way.

Set your expectations correctly about the boat. It has been described as older and somewhat worn, though the crew’s organization and professionalism help keep the day moving. If you want a private, modern vessel with a quiet cabin and plenty of personal space, this is not that product.

If you are comfortable with a working local boat and a social group setting, the boat ride becomes part of the day’s character. You get time on the water and a chance to meet the other people sharing the trip. Bring only what you need, since space on a shared boat may be limited.

First session: up to 18 meters with an instructor

At the first site, the instructor gives a safety briefing before you prepare your equipment. You then enter the water for the first session, which is listed at 40 to 50 minutes and a maximum depth of 18 meters.

That depth limit is useful information. This is not an open-ended attempt to reach the deepest possible water around Phu Quoc. The plan keeps the group within a stated limit, with the instructor leading underwater. For certified participants, the format lets you get back into familiar routines without spending the morning taking an entry-level class.

You should still be ready to show your certification and answer health-related questions. The activity asks for a moderate level of physical fitness. Nothing in the supplied details suggests that this is suited to someone who has never learned to use scuba equipment.

The underwater scenery is described in practical terms: reef and colorful fish around the An Thoi Islands. Visibility, marine life, and the exact character of the reef will depend on the sea conditions and the site chosen that day. The operator can change locations without advance notice when weather or water conditions require it.

That flexibility is sensible, even if it means you cannot select a specific reef in advance. A changed site may be less exciting than the one you had in mind, but the ability to adjust is better than forcing a boat trip into poor conditions.

Lunch on board and the long middle of the day

Lunch is served on the boat between the two sessions, with the schedule placing it between roughly 11 a.m. and noon. Cold water is also provided. This is a simple meal rather than a restaurant stop, but it keeps the day self-contained.

I like having lunch on board because it avoids another transfer to shore. You can eat, rest, and prepare for the afternoon session without losing time to a portside restaurant. It also means you should not expect a wide choice of dishes or a special meal for every dietary need. The supplied information does not list the menu, so ask ahead if you have food restrictions.

The break is also important physically. Two underwater sessions, heat, boat movement, and early transportation make this more tiring than the word half-day might suggest. Use the pause to drink water, eat enough, and listen carefully to the instructor’s plan for the second stop.

Second session: more water time, less schedule certainty

The boat proceeds to a second location around 1 p.m., followed by equipment preparation and another entry into the water. The second session is the reason this trip offers better value than a short introductory outing. You get another chance to see the reef, adjust to the water, and spend more time in the sea after the first session has settled your nerves.

The supplied schedule places the return to the harbor around 2 p.m., with the hotel transfer afterward. Another line gives a 1:30 p.m. finish, so the exact return time is clearly not fixed. Treat the schedule as an outline, not a promise. Do not book a tight dinner reservation, airport transfer, or other afternoon activity immediately afterward.

One useful detail from the operator’s response to a customer is that fun sessions can run about 45 to 60 minutes each. That does not guarantee a particular duration for your group, but it suggests the actual time underwater may differ from the simple timetable. Your instructor, air supply, sea conditions, and group pace will determine what happens.

Equipment, safety, and instructor support

The included equipment is a major convenience. You do not need to locate a rental shop in Phu Quoc, carry equipment across the island, or wonder if the boat has the basics waiting for you. The operator may ask for your suit and fin sizes before departure, so respond carefully and give accurate measurements if requested.

The English-speaking instructor leads the group underwater and remains with you during each session. That is especially valuable on a shared trip, where participants may have different experience levels and comfort in the water. The instructor can explain the plan, keep the group together, and help manage the practical details before entry.

The trip is for certified divers only. The phrase try scuba appears in one scheduling note, but the main description clearly identifies this as an outing for certified people, and the experience does not include a certification course. If you have no certification, this is the wrong booking.

You should also be honest about your fitness and health. The stated requirement is moderate physical fitness, and you will need to manage equipment, boat movement, water entry, and two sessions. If you have concerns, raise them during the pre-trip communication rather than waiting until the pier.

What the $108 price really includes

At $108 per person, the cost covers more than underwater time. It includes shared hotel transport for eligible central locations, the shared wooden boat, scuba equipment, an English-speaking instructor, two reef sessions, lunch, cold water, and an icebox.

That package makes the price easier to justify for a visitor without local contacts. The boat and transport alone would be awkward to arrange independently, and buying equipment for a single holiday outing would make little sense. The instructor support also adds value, particularly if you want a guided group rather than exploring without direction.

The value is weaker if you stay in one of the outer hotel zones and must add a large transfer fee. The extra charge may still be fair for a group, but compare the total cost rather than the advertised base price.

Holiday surcharges also apply on September 1 and 2, at 150,000 Vietnamese dong per person. Personal expenses are not included. Bring suitable spending money, though the main day’s food and water are covered.

Who will enjoy this more, and who should skip it

I would choose this trip if you:

• Already hold scuba certification
• Want two reef sessions rather than a brief introduction
• Prefer having equipment, transport, lunch, and boat arrangements handled
• Are comfortable with a shared group of up to about 12 people
• Can keep your schedule flexible because of weather and changing return times
• Stay near central Duong Dong or accept the extra pickup fee

I would hesitate if you want a private boat, a guaranteed site, a luxury vessel, or a precise return time. I would also skip it if you are not certified, have very limited physical stamina, or dislike older shared boats.

The 95 percent recommendation rate and 4.9 rating from 20 reviews point to a strong overall experience, but the practical details matter more than the headline score. The praise centers on communication, organization, and the care taken with transport and equipment sizing. The weaker points are the boat’s age and uncertainty around exact underwater and pickup times.

Booking, weather, and cancellation advice

You receive confirmation at booking, followed by a pickup reconfirmation one day before departure. Keep your phone available that day, since the final pickup time depends on the shared route.

Weather can alter the plan. The locations may change without advance notice, and if poor conditions force cancellation, you can take a different date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

The best approach is to book this early in your Phu Quoc stay rather than on your final day. That leaves room for a weather change and protects you from losing the chance to go underwater if the sea does not cooperate.

Should you book this Phu Quoc scuba tour?

Yes, if you are certified and want a practical, guided day around the An Thoi Islands. The strongest reasons are the two sessions, included equipment, instructor support, lunch, and hotel transport. You get a lot of the day’s logistics handled for one price.

Book with realistic expectations. This is a shared outing on an older wooden boat, not a private luxury charter. Sites, pickup times, group size, and the exact return can shift. If those limits suit you, the tour offers a sensible way to see Phu Quoc’s underwater world without spending your holiday arranging every part yourself.

FAQ

Is this tour suitable for beginners?

No. The experience is intended for certified divers, and no beginner certification course is included.

How many underwater sessions are included?

Two sessions are included. The first is listed at 40 to 50 minutes, with a maximum depth of 18 meters. The exact length of the second session depends on the day’s conditions and group plan.

What time does the tour start?

Pickup begins around 7:30 a.m., with the stated pickup window extending to about 8:30 a.m. The meeting start time is listed as 7:30 a.m., but your exact hotel pickup time is confirmed before departure.

Is hotel pickup included?

Shared pickup and drop-off are included for hotels from central Duong Dong to the harbor. Extra charges apply for several areas, including Ong Lang, Cua Can, Vinpearl, Ganh Dau, and Ham Ninh.

What is included in the price?

The price includes shared van transport for eligible hotels, a shared wooden boat, scuba equipment, an English-speaking instructor, lunch, cold water, and an icebox.

Can the underwater locations change?

Yes. The locations may change without advance notice because of sea weather and operating conditions.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

You can be offered another date or a full refund if poor weather causes cancellation. You can also cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.