SCUBA DIVING IN THAILAND
Thailand diving highlights
Hosting divers in both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand from over 1200 miles of coastline, this scuba destination is a great fit for divers of any level. Scuba diving in Thailand is popular due to the opportunity to dive with whale sharks and manta rays. You can see many pelagics but also smaller fish and critters. Many dive sites have beautiful hard and soft coral and abundant marine life.
Thailand dive schools have a great reputation, which is why it is also known as one of the best destinations to learn scuba diving or develop new skills as a certified diver. A combination of big and small marine life, wrecks and dive sites for a variety of levels makes Thailand one of the best scuba diving destinations in Southeast Asia.
THAILANDS' BEST DIVING SPOTS
Pick a destination or scroll down to read the entire list:
1. Koh Tao - Great reputation for dive schools
2. Koh Phi Phi - Many dive sites for spotting leopard sharks
3. Koh Lipe - Most beautiful soft corals
4. Surin Islands - Unique species and diverse hard and soft coral
5. Similan Islands - Great for spotting manta rays and whale sharks
6. Phuket - Variety of options for different tastes
7. Pattaya - Excellent wreck dives
8. Koh Samui - Calm waters, good visibility, and good to see whale sharks
Can't wait to start planning your trip to Thailand? Get in touch with us to help you plan your trip!
1. Koh Tao
Head to the Gulf of Thailand to visit the small island of Koh Tao - the perfect place to try scuba diving for the first time, get your dive certification, or hone your skills underwater. While neighboring Koh Phangan is infamous for its full moon parties and Koh Samui has long been a favorite of backpackers and luxury travelers, Koh Tao is the hotspot for scuba diving in the region.
Great reputation for dive schools
People flock to Koh Tao to begin their underwater journeys and get scuba certified, earning the island a reputation for its great dive schools. With easy conditions, beautiful dive sites, and inexpensive dive courses, it's hard to find a better place to learn to scuba dive or continue your dive education. Diving in Koh Tao is done by boat to various dive sites surrounding the island. Expect good visibility and encounters with colorful reef fish, turtles, barracuda, and macro critters such as nudibranchs, shrimps, and crabs. Lucky divers may even meet a whale shark!
You may also want to check out our list of the Best Liveaboard Destinations for Beginner Scuba Divers.
2. Koh Phi Phi
Visit Thailand's west coast white-sand paradise, the Koh Phi Phi Islands, to experience land-based diving in the Andaman Sea. Shortly after the movie "The Beach" was released in 2000, Koh Phi Phi Don soared in popularity among backpackers and gained a reputation as a party island. However, the island boasts a variety of accommodation options from budget to luxury and attracts all types of tourists seeking picture-perfect white-sand beaches and clear blue waters. Phi Phi is mostly dived from land-based operations, however, some liveaboards offer short itineraries around the islands.
Many dive sites for spotting leopard sharks
Expect to encounter leopard sharks as you explore the dive sites surrounding the Phi Phi Islands, and if you're lucky, you could also see whale sharks and manta rays. Turtles, barracuda, reef sharks, and moray eels are common sightings. Look for macro life on the reefs, where seahorses camouflage and peacock mantis shrimp dart in and out of crevices. Travel by boat to various Phi Phi dive sites boasting beautiful corals and fascinating rock formations. Conditions are suitable for divers of all experience levels, so it's a great place to get your scuba certification or explore deeper dive sites if you're more experienced.
3. Koh Lipe
Travel further south on Thailand's west coast to the small, idyllic island of Koh Lipe to escape the crowds and explore less frequented dive sites. Stay at a budget hostel, a luxury pool villa, or any of a range of accommodation options. Embrace the barefoot lifestyle on picturesque white sand beaches straight from a postcard and dive into the protected dive sites surrounding the island.
Most beautiful soft corals
With fewer visitors than Koh Phi Phi and Phuket, the coral reefs around Koh Lipe are better preserved, which makes it a fantastic diving destination. Dive sites around Koh Lipe boast some of Asia's most beautiful soft corals. Koh Lipe is part of the Tarutao National Marine Park, home to many dive sites suitable for divers of all experience levels. Expect to see various tropical fish species, turtles, and dolphins. If you're really lucky, you could even see dugongs and sperm whales! Besides amazing marine life, it also has nice pinnacles and rock formations. Boat diving from land-based operators is the norm in Koh Lipe, and dive sites are reachable within 20-60 minutes. Some liveaboards offer itineraries that include Koh Lipe.
For another great whale destination, check out diving in the Dominican Republic.
4. Surin Islands
Embark on a liveaboard to the Surin Islands, a remote region in the Andaman Sea that is protected by the UNESCO Environmental Program. Choose from a range of liveaboards from low-budget to ultra-luxurious, with most itineraries between four and seven nights.
Unique species and diverse hard and soft coral
The Surin Islands' dive sites boast amazing hard coral diversity and bountiful soft coral and are rich in marine life. The remote islands are not as popular among tourists, so you can find some fish species here that you cannot see in other dive destinations in Thailand. You might spot bumphead parrotfish, Napoleon wrasse, tomato anemonefish, yellow-masked angelfish, and barramundi. The Surin Islands can be explored by dive liveaboards that mostly run from October to early May. The Mu Ko Surin Marine National Park is closed to divers for the rest of the year.
New to liveaboards? Let's help you get started with our Guide to Liveaboard Diving.
5. Similan Islands
Dive into Thailand's most renowned dive sites around the Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea. Visit the famed Richelieu Rock, a dive site on our list of Top 20 Dive Sites in the World. Join a liveaboard out of Phuket to explore the region on a four to seven-night itinerary.
Great for spotting manta rays and whale sharks
A dive liveaboard is the best way to get the most out of Similan Islands diving. Abundant marine life, big pelagics, soft and hard coral, easy diving conditions, warm waters, and relatively good visibility are reasons many scuba divers are fond of this destination. There are also plenty of macro subjects, but most divers visit the islands to look for manta rays and whale sharks. Moreover, you can see a number of shark species when scuba diving in the Similan Islands.
Interested in diving in the Similan Islands? You can read more about the destination from our Similan Islands Dive Travel Guide or Similan Islands Liveaboards page.
6. Phuket
Diving in Phuket gives scuba divers many options. You can find some secluded luxurious dive resorts or budget-friendly accommodations, make some day trips to the local reefs, or hop on a liveaboard and let local Thai divers show you some of the best dive sites in Thailand.
Variety of options for different tastes
Phuket has great sites for experienced divers and options for total beginners to start their diving journey. When diving in Phuket, you can find some great deep drop-offs, pinnacles covered with coral, some caverns and caves, and even some wrecks. The marine life around Phuket ranges from big animals to small creatures. You can meet manta rays, whale sharks, and leopard sharks, but also anemone fish, harlequin shrimp, and ghost ornate pipefish to name a few.
7. Pattaya
Pattaya is popular with Bangkok residents due to its seaside location, a mere two-hour drive from Thailand's biggest city. Don't mistake Pattaya for a quiet seaside town; it's a large city with pros and cons. The biggest 'pro' is that there is scuba diving in the area, and if you can't make it to the more popular dive regions or just want to sneak in a couple of days of diving on a short trip to Thailand, Pattaya is a convenient option.
Excellent wreck dives
Scuba diving in Pattaya is known for its excellent wreck dives and nice coral dive sites. One of the most famous coral dive sites is at Koh Man Wichai, where the coral resembles a giant hand and thus has been named as the "fingers". While diving around the beautiful corals, you can spot pufferfish, stingrays, angelfish, and many more. The Pattaya wrecks are also covered with reefs, where you can spot rays, barracudas, batfish, and even sharks. The wrecks are most suitable for advanced divers, as they lay around 100ft (30m) or more.
8. Koh Samui
Like nearby Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, Koh Samui is a popular holiday destination and more crowded than some other locations in Thailand. You'll find a huge range of accommodation options, from hostels to the Ritz-Carlton, food options from street markets to fine dining, and plenty of activities. Scuba diving is done by boats making day trips to the beautiful dive sites around Koh Samui and Koh Tao.
Calm waters, good visibility, and good to see whale sharks
Some of the best dive sites in Thailand, like Sail Rock, are very close to Koh Samui. A highlight of diving around Koh Samui is the chance to spot whale sharks. You can also see many barracudas, turtles, jackfish, and various nudibranchs and shrimp for macro lovers. Additionally, the diving conditions in the Gulf of Thailand are great throughout the year, with calm waters and generally good visibility.
Top Dive Sites in Thailand
Hin Daeng & Hin Muang
Many scuba divers will say these are their favorite dive sites. They offer great wall dives and caverns, as well as big pelagics and lots of other beautiful marine life. You may even spot manta rays and whale sharks here. Colorful soft corals are all around, and you can see many schools of fish. Be aware that the currents can be strong; thus, it is recommended for more advanced divers. Both of the dive sites are located outside of the Similan Islands.
Shark Point
If you love sharks, then this is the spot for you! Located about a 90-minute boat ride away from Phuket, the dive site is home to many leopard and bamboo sharks. Besides great shark diving, there are lots of other marine life to see, like moray eels, seahorses, snake eels, mantis shrimp, and more. Plus, the dive site has three main pinnacles covered with soft and hard coral and anemones.
Anemone Reef
As the name says, you can expect to dive past beautiful blue and green colored anemones. As part of a marine sanctuary, Anemone Reefs' marine life is very colorful. The site itself lies near Shark Point, which is why you can encounter reef sharks and leopard sharks at the dive site. Besides the sharks, you can spot some turtles, giant moray eels, lionfish, and even some seahorses, nudibranchs, and porcelain crabs for macro lovers. Along the anemones, you can see some beautiful soft pink and purple corals.
Richelieu Rock
The dive site is located between Surin & Similan Islands and is the best place to see schools of barracudas, many tropical fish, whale sharks, and manta rays. Because of nutrient full planktons, there is a high chance to scuba dive with whale sharks. The dive site is a horseshoe-shaped rock covered with soft corals, anemones, sea fans, and sponges. The dive spot attracts lots of marine life, and you may see cuttlefish, seahorses, and pipefish, just to name a few.
Chumphon Pinnacle
One of the most popular dive sites in Koh Tao, this huge pinnacle is covered with pink anemones, where pink anemonefish come around, as well as some scorpionfish, moray eels, crabs, and shrimp. Besides them, along the pinnacle, you can see some barracuda, bannerfish, mackerels, trevally, big-eyed jacks, and many more. Even whale sharks can make an appearance there.
Sail Rock
Another popular dive site in Koh Tao with a rock wall drop. Being further from the main island and away from the masses, it attracts abundant marine life. Batfish, soldierfish, crabs, giant groupers, giant moray eels, blue spotted trout, and nudibranchs are just a few examples of marine life you might see. What is special about this dive site is that you can actually dive inside a rock! There is an interesting swim-through called the chimney, which is very fun to dive, but it is more suitable for experienced divers, who have good buoyancy control.
HTMS Sattakut wreck
Laying at a depth of 100ft (30m), this wreck is surrounded by colorful marine life and is considered one of Thailand's best wrecks. It has three canons, cabins, and rooms to explore and to see its many resident fish. You can spot groupers, snappers, sweetlips, barracudas, blennies, moray eels, butterflyfish, and more.
DIVING INFORMATION
INTRO TO THAILAND
The Southeast Asian country with a tropical climate and warm waters is known best for its beautiful white-sand beaches, stunning temples, rich culture, and delicious food. It is not hard to guess why many people are attracted to visit Thailand. Most of the best scuba diving sites are in the southeast of Thailand, in the Andaman Sea. On the east coast, on the Gulf of Thailand, lies Koh Tao, one of the most popular destinations for dive certifications.
All around Thailand, you can find diverse marine life and beautiful corals. The destination offers many opportunities for scuba divers to dive at beautiful reefs, explore wrecks, deep drop-offs, caverns, pinnacles, walls, and tunnels. Besides scuba diving, Thailand offers plenty of topside activities. Some of the islands offer great nightlife, while some others are quieter and great for relaxing.
View Location on Google Map
THAILAND MARINE LIFE
In general, the Andaman Sea boasts a larger variety of fish species and coral. As to what you can expect to see - the coastline and islands stretch over a large distance so it greatly depends on where you choose to dive. Manta rays, whale sharks, black/white tips, and turtles are just a few of the "big things" to expect. Not only a great destination to see big fish, but Thailand also has many macro photography subjects.
Here is a list of the marine animals you are likely to see when diving Thailand's best dive spots:
- Whale Shark
- Manta Ray
- Leopard Shark
- Whitetip Shark
- Blacktip Shark
- Spotted Eagle Ray
- Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray
- Pufferfish
- Trevally
- Trumpetfish
- Butterflyfish
- Triggerfish
- Lionfish
- Moray Eel
- Angelfish
- Boxfish
- Turtles
- Barracudas
- Ghost Pipefish
- Seahorses
Diving Conditions
- Water Temperatures: 81-84 F / 27- 86 C
- Visibility: 32 - 131 ft (10 - 40m), depending on the season and location.
- Depth Range: 16 - 131 ft (5 - 40 m)
Travel Information
How to Get There
Thailand currently has six international airports, with Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok being the main gateway to the country. It is easy to get anywhere from Bangkok.
Looking for another hot dive destination in Southeast Asia? Read about scuba diving in Indonesia.
How to Dive Thailand
Liveaboards are available to explore the Andaman Sea and Similan Islands and reach dive sites you otherwise can't reach. Thus, liveaboard diving would be the best option for getting the most out of diving in Thailand. Otherwise, there are also dive resorts available around Thailand. The best resort destinations are Phuket, Phi Phi Islands, and Khao Lak.
Best Time to Dive
Within the Gulf of Thailand, diving is available almost year-round. November is the beginning of the monsoon season in which visibility drops and heavy rainstorms can occur but by the mid/end of December things typically have gone back to normal. On the Andaman side, dive times are more limited. Some areas are only available to dive parts of the year (like the Similians and Koh Lanta). In general October - April is the best time to dive the Andaman Sea.
Topside & Non-Diving Activities
You can try to "island-hop" to different destinations by comparing their offerings. Every island has its own personality, so certain islands would fit best depending on what you are looking for. Looking for a night out in the town? Koh Phi Phi on the Andaman side or Koh Tao in the gulf would be a good start. Prefer a relaxing evening instead? The Andamans, Koh Lanta, or Koh Samui in the Gulf could be better alternatives.
Thailand is known for its beautiful beaches and some impressive temples. Don't forget to visit the famous Grand Palace or Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Some of the other things to do are to see the Muay Thai boxing match, visit a floating market, go hiking, or discover their beautiful nature. Moreover, get all your tension out with a proper Thai massage. In case you have never tried a Thai massage, then just a heads up, don't expect it to be relaxing, but for sure, it will make you feel much better afterward!
LIVEABOARD AVAILABILITY & Booking
Please contact us for the latest availability of the following boats: Diva Andaman, Similan Explorer, MV Hallelujah, Dolphin Queen, Deep Andaman Queen, MV Giamani, DiveRACE, MV Oktavia, and MV Pawara.
Other Useful Information
Practical Information
- Currency: Thai Baht (THB)
- Language: Thai is the national and official language of Thailand
- Main Airport Code: BKK
- Time Zone: UTC+7
- Electricity: The standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.
- Vaccines: Please check the CDC website for updated information on vaccines, health concerns, etc. It is recommended that you are up to date with Typhoid, Tetanus/Diphtheria, Hepatitis and Polio for any trip to the tropics.
- Visa: U.S. citizens carrying a tourist passport and in possession of an onward or return airline ticket do not require a visa to enter Thailand.
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FURTHER READING
Check out these useful resources from our sister websites, Bluewater Photo, and Underwater Photography Guide
Southeast Asia's Best Underwater Photography Destinations
Top 10 Macro Photography Destinations
