![Dive Sites You Just Can’t Miss [UPDATED]](https://k7g2e5d2.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/anna-and-tom-cz-1.jpg "Dive Sites You Just Can’t Miss [UPDATED]")
Looking for the very best scuba diving in Thailand? In this text, I’m going to stroll you thru a number of of the very best dive websites in addition to tips about when to finest go.
Thailand, one of many world’s high vacationers’ locations, receiving over 1,000,000 individuals per yr. It goes with out saying that lots of people flock right here because of its ridiculously beautiful seashores. Located within the coronary heart of South Asia, it affords miles of tropical seashores, exhilarating cultural experiences, and implausible marine and reef life for underwater lovers.
These locations differ from wild present swept rocky landscapes to light sloping coral reef. To enable you to plan your subsequent underwater vacation, listed here are a number of of the very best scuba diving websites in Thailand ready to be explored!
We spent months scuba diving our means round Thailand, in actual fact, Thailand is the place Tom (founding father of this weblog) received licensed. If you take pleasure in diving in heat waters and seeing colourful fish and reefs, Thailand is for you.
Thailand Diving
To rapidly reply your questions, right here’s our record of the highest dive websites throughout Thailand and the varied areas for each. In this text, I’ll give data on every location and go into specifics on what you’ll be able to see in every vacation spot.
One of the the reason why Thailand is so well-liked is because of the truth that it’s located within the Andaman Sea.
Scuba diving within the Andaman Sea is a must-do expertise for any diving fanatic. Located on the west coast of Thailand, the Andaman Sea is dwelling to a number of the finest diving spots on the planet, with crystal clear waters and a wealthy variety of marine life.
Divers can discover beautiful coral reefs, deep underwater canyons, and the stays of shipwrecks.
In a nutshell, listed here are essentially the most well-known islands in Thailand, together with the very best dive spots close to them. Please notice that since a few of these islands are positioned close to one another, you’ll be able to attain a few of these dive websites from totally different locations.
- Similan Islands: East of Eden, Elephant Head Rock, North Point, Deep Six, Boulder City, Shark Fin Reef, Christmas Point.
- Koh Tao: Chumphon Pinnacle, Southwest Pinnacle, Sail Rock, Shark Island, White Rock, Green Rock, HTMS Sattakut Wreck
- Phuket: Richelieu Rock, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, Shark Point
- Koh Phi Phi: Bida Nok, Bida Nai, King Cruiser Wreck, Palong Wall, Koh Dok Mai.
- Koh Lanta: Koh Haa, Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Bida Nok, Koh Bida Nai, Koh Rok.
- Koh Phangan: Mae Haad, Haad Salat and Haad Yao Reefs
✨The 1 Thing We Never Leave Home Without…✨
Coming from somebody who has been touring the world for the final 8 years AND has been within the hospital 2x, journey insurance coverage is one thing everybody NEEDS to get. Get a quote beneath!
Best Time to Scuba Dive in Thailand
Thailand is in a tropical area and subsequently one can go diving anytime, all yr spherical. However, the very best situations exist between November and April as Sharks go to from February to May. With bathtub like temperatures of 28-31 levels, your diving situations couldn’t be higher.
If you wish to be a bit extra particular, in case you are visiting dive websites within the Andaman Sea, it’s best to come back from October to April. You have the Giant Manta Rays which arrive on the Similan Islands in March or April.
During the months of May, count on heavy rainfall which is why a variety of the marine reserves are closed (till mid-October). During these instances, diving in locations alongside the Gulf of Thailand is much more really useful.
Best Dive Sites and Locations in Thailand
1. Hin Daeng and Hin Muang
Location: 50km off of Ko Lanta (2 hours by boat or 1 hour 20 minutes from Koh Phi Phi)
Highlights: Large pelagics, cave dive, Grey Reef, and Leopard Shark sightings, and in the event you’re fortunate, you can even spot a whale shark that often hangs round this spot.
To begin issues off, I’ll start with my private favourite, Hin-Daeng and Hin-Muang often known as the crimson and purple rock. If you’re a ‘life-below-water’ fan, that is your finest shot to see grey sharks and manta rays.
However, that’s not all you get as on the crimson and purple rock; you get an thrilling expertise of diving Thailand’s greatest vertical wall, subsequent to caverns and caves that add a thrill to the journey.
These dive websites are feeding grounds for pelagic fish, permitting you to see a number of massive creatures throughout your dive. Leopard Sharks are recognized to hold round these waters and in the event you’re fortunate, you’ll be able to spot a number of of them throughout your dive.
The currents in these areas might be fairly robust so skilled divers are really useful. Alternatively, goal to go throughout calmer days.
2. Koh Dok Mai
Location: In the center of Phuket and Koh Phi Phi (about 90 minutes by boat from Phuket)
Highlights: Several species of moray eels, massive smooth corals, sea horse, and leopard sharks which frequently lurk round.
Another nice dive is the Koh Dok Mai, an excellent wall and drift dive with crevices lurking, hidden caves and limestone rock face. If you wish to have an electrical expertise, that is the place to go. When you’re diving, maintain an eye fixed out otherwise you may miss an eel peeking out of the yellow tube corals.
The finest time to dive at this particular place is round noon because the solar gives an illuminating impact, supplying you with the proper glimpse of child sharks nursing, relying on the season.
There are three sides of partitions making up this massive limestone rock, boasting of various creatures which might be present in each nook and cranny. Because of its attention-grabbing formation, this can be executed as an evening dive.
A small cave (about 5m straight in) results in an enormous cavern with pretty robust currents including to the entire thrill and pleasure of this dive spot.
Diving in Phi Phi and Phuket Island: If you wish to attempt scuba diving in these areas, listed here are a few of our really useful excursions and dive firms. Introductory Dive Session in Koh Phi Phi and PADI Open Water Course in Phuket.
2. Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, and Koh Bon
Location: Located between Similan and Surin Islands (accessible by way of Liveaboard of from Khao Lak)
Highlights: Possibility of seeing whale sharks, manta rays, and eagle rays.
Richelieu Rock is a horseshoe-shaped rock within the Andaman Sea and is likely one of the finest dive websites in Thailand. If you might be out to search for barracuda tornadoes and colleges of tropical fish, that is the place to be.
Be positive to identify seahorses, pipefish, cuttlefish and even shovelnose rays when you are there. The large middle pinnacle surrounded by small rocks is roofed by smooth corals, anemones, sponges and huge sea followers. It is actually a sight to see!
Although there are many dive websites in Thailand the place you’ll be able to see whale sharks, the nutrient-rich waters include a great deal of planktons which attracts whale sharks on a regular basis.
This dive web site is HUGE attracting a variety of massive and small creatures ready to be found. The currents in these dive websites generally is a bit robust so once more, solely superior or skilled divers are really useful to present it a attempt.
Similarly, Koh Tachai and Koh Bon are websites which can be a part of the Similan Island National Park. It is well-known for being among the best dive websites in Thailand the place you’ll be able to spot mantas. Apart from this, you can even typically discover black suggestions reef sharks and eagle rays.
Koh Tachai can also be recognized for its epic swim-throughs and channels which you’ll drift round in. Together, these islands within the North of Similan are referred to as the very best scuba diving in Thailand. Altogether, they boast of huge pelagics like barracudas, trevally, and tuna.
3. Similan Islands
Location: Similan National Marine Park (Mostly explored on liveaboards)
Highlights: The untouched waters, the wide range of corals and fish, leopard sharks, turtles, and the difficult maze-like swim-throughs and currents.
Scuba diving within the Similan Islands is taken into account to be one of many high diving experiences on the planet. The Similan Islands are a gaggle of 9 islands positioned within the Andaman Sea, roughly 70 km northwest of Phuket.
The islands are a part of a nationwide marine park and are recognized for his or her crystal clear waters, beautiful coral reefs, and plentiful marine life.
Divers can discover a wide range of dive websites across the Similan Islands, every with its personal distinctive options. The most well-known dive websites embody Elephant Head Rock, East of Eden, and Richelieu Rock.
Expect to see an array of marine life, together with colleges of colourful fish, sea turtles, rays, and even whale sharks throughout the season. The visibility is usually distinctive, starting from 20 to 40 meters.
Located inside the premises of the National Park, the Similan Islands affords among the best diving websites in the whole of Thailand. Within the realm, there are about 20 totally different dive websites that you may discover, all boasting of all kinds of creatures.
Elephant head or (Hin Pusar) is thought to be considered one of their finest dive websites inside the space because of its intricate maze-like rocks composed of swim-throughs, channels and gorges reaching depths of over 40m. It is actually one thing else and is fairly out of this world! Other notable websites inside the space are Christmas Point and Fantasea Reef.
If you wish to expertise liveaboard diving, click on the button beneath to learn our full Similan Liveaboard information which has particulars on the very best boats, when to go, and extra.
4. Chumphon Pinnacle
Location: Koh Tao
Highlights: Large colleges of fish, colourful reef, and marine life.
If you’re in search of nice diving alongside the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Tao might be your finest guess. Popular amongst individuals doing PADI certification classes, no dive is full in Koh Tao with out visiting the Chumphon pinnacle.
The complete high little bit of the top is filled with anemone, making it dwelling to a great deal of fish, white ethical eels, crabs, and shrimps.
The deeper you go, you get to see extra holes as you descend down this wall. Along the best way, you will notice juvenile barracudas, trevallies, bannerfish and much more. Whale sharks typically come for a go to, relying on the season. Other kinds of sharks used to frequent this space however they aren’t so frequent anymore.
Getting PADI licensed in Koh Tao: For us, in the event you’re focused on scuba diving, Koh Tao, Thailand is likely one of the finest locations to do it because of the calm waters and the beautiful dive websites. If you’re not licensed but, think about getting licensed in Koh Tao as additionally it is one of many least expensive locations on the planet!
5. HTMS Sattakut Wreck
Location: Off of Koh Tao
Highlights: Aside from the wreck itself, Grey Reef Shark, Great Barracudas, Pufferfish and numerous Flatworms.
For historical past lovers and college students, we’ve not forgotten you. HTMS Sattakut is considered one of Thailand’s premier wrecks which was sunk on 18th June 2011 close to Koh Tao. Furthermore, the touchdown craft infantry, often known as (LCI) was one of many notorious assault ships throughout world warfare two.
This synthetic reef harbors each of the 2 historic vessels which has was a house for numerous kinds of marine life. Additionally, it’s the dwelling to barracudas, groupers, colleges of Fusiliers, blennies and moray eels. For these of you who haven’t executed any kind of wreck dive, this can be a good level to begin and is unquestionably one thing that’s out of the odd.
6. Sail Rock
Location: North of Koh Samui, in between Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao
Highlights: Large colleges of Yellow Fusiliers, Trevally, Giant Morays, Large Groupers, Batfish, and in the event you’re fortunate, Whale Sharks.
Sail Rock is a well-liked dive web site positioned within the Gulf of Thailand, between Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. It is thought for its distinctive pinnacle rock formation that rises up from the depths and is roofed in vibrant coral and teeming with marine life.
Divers can count on to see colleges of barracuda, trevally, and snapper, in addition to bigger pelagic species like whale sharks and bull sharks. The dive web site is appropriate for divers of all ranges and affords each shallow and deep dives.
Hin Bai or Sail Rock is considered one of Thailand’s finest wall dives. Lots of colleges supply journeys right here which is one thing we extremely suggest doing as diving is simply implausible.
People flock to Sail Rock as its vertical chimney is a enjoyable ascend. The complete web site is massive sufficient to be explored by each college students and extra superior divers because it plunges to round 40 meters.
Types of Diving in Thailand
Diving in Thailand is a deal with because of its tropical waters. It is dwelling to over 
2125 totally different species of fish and has a number of the finest reef dives in Southeast Asia. Lots of people decide to be taught scuba diving in Thailand because of its affordable charges in addition to its calm and clear waters.
Reef Diving
Reef diving in Thailand is nothing wanting lovely! The reefs listed here are plentiful and nicely preserved, making it a hotspot for dive lovers world wide. Although diving in Thailand is thought for big fish and pelagics, there are additionally a number of areas the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in macro diving.
Wreck Diving
If you take pleasure in wreck diving, you may wish to think about heading to Pattaya, a spot which is loosely labeled because the “wreck diving capital of Thailand” Pattaya is dwelling to 5 wrecks, specifically the HTMS Kut, HTMS Khram and HTMS Mataphon that are all World War II-era ships from the US Navy that have been decommissioned and given to the Thai Navy.
The navy, in a while, sank these ships to function synthetic reefs. You may also see the S.S Suddhadib and the Bremen Wreck not more than 1hr down the coast from Pattaya.
Located not too removed from Pattaya is an island known as Koh Chang which is dwelling to the biggest shipwreck dive spot in all of Thailand! The HTMS Chang is 100m in size and might be explored totally!
Liveaboard Diving in Thailand
Liveaboard diving is insanely well-liked in Thailand and is a good way to profit from the very best dive websites in Thailand. Most of the liveaboard in Thailand are often 5 days and 4 nights, crusing to a number of the most lovely waters within the nation.
While the itinerary varies, a lot of the boats take you to the Similan Islands the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in dives in secluded areas.
We’ve executed a number of liveaboards in Southeast Asia and should say that they’re among the best methods to actually take advantage of out of your diving journey!
Search in your dream liveaboard in Thailand right here!
Scuba Diving Safety in Thailand
Generally talking, scuba diving in Thailand is extraordinarily secure as there are many simple newbie dives. While some dives have currents, the divemasters you might be diving with ought to have the ability to provide you with a full breakdown of how technical every dive is.
There you’ve gotten it! Hopefully, this text has given you an incredible overview of all the very best scuba diving in Thailand and has inspired you to discover the underwater marine life on this nation.
For the last word diving journey, you should definitely take a look at liveaboards in Thailand!
Planning to journey across the Thai Islands? Check out a number of of our guides
Inspired? Pin it!
