Getting There

Many international airlines service Thailand on a daily basis.
There  are plenty of bargain basement flights to take advantage of for domestic flights in Thailand,  and also for onward travel.
Bear in mind that flights in and out of Thailand are often overbooked,  so confirm and reconfirm.

A host of international carriers land  at Don Muang, Bangkok’s major airport terminal. Flights in and out of Thailand can be overbooked, so it’s imperative to reconfirm ongoing flights as soon as you arrive.
This can be done at the airport.
A good option is to bypass the Bangkok madness and fly directly into Phuket.  Keep in mind that when leaving the small Phuket airport, things can bog down even getting in the door past a checkpoint can cause a major bottleneck.
Get there  early to save the bother.

It’s a nice enough airport  inside and has some  good food stands.

Divers, especially those with diving photography gear, will be well catered for on flights originating in the US, as baggage restrictions allow for a reasonable amount of gear and equipment.
Usually two 50-pound bags are allowed for check-in, plus a carry on and a computer.
Some divers now carry their housings.
If you’re flying in from Asia or Australia, prepare to pay through the nose or not bring anything of substance.
The baggage allowance  is only 20kg, with maybe an extra 10kg if you’re lucky.

(Strangely,  only golfers can bring extra baggage without charge.)
Extra baggage fees can often add up to More than the ticket.
Also, be aware that if you travel through Hong Kong you may be confronted with haggling over a carryon bag being a centimeter too long in as you enter customs and security.
Most airlines will only cover up to US$2500 (usually less), which may just cover a single camera, so explain the circumstance and insist on taking a bag with your digital gear and computer on board.
Make  as many advance preparations for this as possible and work with the airlines.
There are plenty of land entry pointsinto Thailand between Myanmar, Laos  and Cambodia.
There is a Bt500 departure tax for all international departures. Transit passengers  (those in the country for less than 12 hours) and children under two years of age are exempt.