Thailand Diving is an experience to match the best in the world though not all reefs and seas are equal. The
Similan islands enjoy the premier diving sites but are out in the Ocean and so many visitors end up diving the Thailand's inland reefs which are closer to the main resort destinations of
Phuket, Phi Phi,
Krabi,
Samui,
Koh Phangan and
Koh Tao. These diving sites are more variable and are more influenced by local conditions such as the state
of the moon/ tide, weather and season and their position in the greater ocean reefs.
Often diving is organised and pre-booked before departure. It gives you a chance to research the dive company, and work on any reviews, good or bad that might make your decision easier. Having said that, if you are staying a luxury island 4 and 5 star hotel or resort then you will be able to organise your diving 'in house'.
Euphoria. Loving it
Thailand's most famous diving islands.
The
Similan diving experience is perhaps the stand out dive location in
Thailand as it is a series of small islands surrounded by beautiful reefs far from the mainland shores of
Phang Nga Province. Diving in the
Similans give you the best waters in Thailand, clear and free from any fishing debris and any of the coastal villages. The western coast is on the Indian Ocean and shares a similar but diverse habitat of all the islands that stretch from
Koh Tao in the south, Past the vast array of islands off Burma and up to the Bay of Bengal.
Similan Islands
Turtle in the Similans... beautiful sand!
In the deep waters off the
Similans there are a series of migratory paths for some of the Thailand's migratory pelagic species and whale shark, manta are a common sight. Many dive boats leave
Phuket island or
Khao Lak (
Tapla Mu) to reach the
Similan islands which lay out to sea and just over the horizon. It is only recently that day diving from the mainland has been made possible with the introduction of large and fast speedboats to take divers out as for nearly all the history of diving in the
Similans diving has been done by
live aboard. There are many
live aboard operations that cater from simple to the high end luxury diving experience.
Phuket Diving
One of Thailand's key tourist destinations,
Phuket has has a wealth of
diving sites though there is very minimal diving from the shore. Most diving centers on taking the day boats from
Chalong Bay going out to
Racha Island, Shark Point and Phi Phi Islands. On
Racha island the visibility is excellent with 40 meters being common. This is one of
Phuket's closest reefs and enjoy all year conditions.
Phuket Shark Point is one of Thailand's
iconic dive days where you are able to dive 2 submerged reefs and the Wreck all within a 600m square.
The wreck dive. Reached from Phuket or Phi Phi
Cuttlefish off Shark Point
Phi Phi Island.
The famous Thailand island of Koh Phi Phi lies some 45km-48km from
Phuket and
Krabi respectively and is home to more reefs, rock walls, caves
underwater pinnacles than most other areas of Thailand. It has the reputation of a mecca for divers. Not only does it have an extraordinary array of
dive sites, they are often no more than 15-20
minutes by boat from the shore. On top of this and with speedboat transfers you can get to
Koh Ha or
Hin Daeng with in a days dive where you can get to see
Whale Sharks in the right season.
PADI courses are taught at the 15 or so dive schools on the islands.
Day Dives off Phi Phi Island
Manta off Hin Muang
Swim through Phi Phi Island
Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Diving off
Koh Samui,
Koh Phangan and
Koh Tao is diving in the southern reaches of the Gulf of Siam and part of the Pacific Rim diving experience. This zone of diving is nearer the historic start of marine life and is open to more variety of sea life than the Thailand's western shore. However
geographically this area is at the end of the diving
archipelago starting nearer
Papua New Guinea and
Indoneasia. Although excellent diving it has less migratory traffic from the larger species of marine life.
Off Sail Rock
One of the key dive sites
is Sail Rock, a large granite pinnacle that breaks the surface. Far from land it is an obvious location for schools of
trevally to feed off the juveniles that cloud together in defense of these dangerous
predators. It is also home to large schools of long fin
batfish. 30 meters deep it has a glorious swim through that can be entered at 20 m and left at 5 m. This cavern like structure can be full of
glassfish, confusing the way through. Home to
morey eel and the occasional passing whale shark, Sail Rock is one of Thailand's key dive sites.
Whale shark off Sail Rock
PADI Courses to learn diving are taught at
Koh Samui,
Koh Phangan and
Koh Tao.
Dancing Durban Shrimp
