Phuket - advice required please

Hi Folks

Looking for some help please :-)
My wife and I are both 56. Live in Toronto, Canada. Due to circumstances, are looking to actively retire in Phuket, Thailand.

We both love hot weather. I am an avid scuba diver. We also lived in Hong Kong many yrs ago and visited Thailand once. Beautiful place.

Had some qs please (and any help/advice would be highly appreciated).

Would approx $2,000-$2,500 be OK to live in Phuket? I have read a lot on some forums, and I think its OK, but just need some advice from someone who's actually in Phuket? We love Thai food, so eating totally local is not an issue at all.

One of my main drivers would be to go diving any time :-). Does anyone on this forum have any tips for diving in Phuket? As I would be living long term, I don't mind helping in the dive shop, if i can get a discounted diving rate :-). But would like to go diving at least 5 days/week :-)

Any tips on housing please? have visited multiple forums and have found multiple rentals. We would prefer to rent a house (rather than a condo), with  3 beds, in a safe neighborhood, and rock solid internet. any suggestions please?

Any tips on motorbikes/scooters please? Both of us have International permits for cars, but not for motor bikes. I had a motorbike license a log time ago, but let it lapse. Initially, I don't know whether it would be better to rent a car, or just a motorbike? Any advice would be much appreciated.

Any tips for the rainy season from long term Phuket expats would be much appreciated. Is diving/swimming still an option?

Both my wife and I are far away from retiring :-). any tips on jobs/volunteering would be highly appreciated. I could work on line, but need something for my wife pls. She could do baby sitting, or senior care. Just something to keep her occupied.

Basically, we are looking to find a place that is hot year round, with sun, sand and diving nearby (for me :-) ), for something that would keep my wife occupied :-) :-), is affordable,  and is relatively away from party central.


Any help or advice would be really appreciated

Thanks vm folks

Kind REgards
Shahrukh