Scuba Diving In Thailand: The 10 Most Fascinating Dive Sites

If you are tired of walking on the beach, try putting on a swimsuit with an oxygen tank to dive to the bottom of the ocean and discover the secrets of the sea. Beaches in Thailand are not only impressive with their azure waters accompanied by a long stretch of white sand, but there are also coral reefs sheltering hundreds of species, considered to be the most diverse in the world.

To help you have interesting and meaningful experiences while diving, our article presents the 10 most beautiful scuba diving sites, answering your questions such as: Where to do the most beautiful dives in Thailand? How much does diving cost? When is it recommended to dive in Thailand? How to choose a quality diving cruise?

Written by Preetika Narula (Local Expert)Updated on 28-06-2024

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Where Are the Best Diving Spots in Thailand?

Most of the best scuba diving sites are found in the southeast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. On the east coast, in the Gulf of Thailand, is one of the most popular destinations for diving certifications: Koh Tao. Throughout Thailand, you will find diverse marine life and beautiful corals. The destination offers numerous opportunities for divers to explore magnificent reefs, wrecks, deep drop-offs, caverns, pinnacles and tunnels.

What Are the Best Dive Sites in Koh Tao?

A small island located in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Tao is well known as one of the best diving sites in the world and attracts thousands of divers every year.Locals call it divers island because of the influx of divers seen every year. A famous destination for learning to scuba dive, Koh Tao is particularly popular for PADI Discover Scuba Diving and Open Water Diver courses.

Koh Tao has a much longer season than many other popular dive sites and even other dive destinations in Thailand. The dive sites on Koh Tao are incredibly varied, and you don't have to go far for the underwater topography to completely change! 

With nearly 50 dive sites ranging from shallow spots to deeper pinnacles, there is something for every diver. Here are some of the best dive sites on Koh Tao:

• Chumphon Pinnacle: an iconic dive site with underwater rock formations and a wide variety of marine life, including blacktip sharks and rays. Chumphon is a magnificent dive site that goes down to over 40 meters deep. Due to the depth of the site, it is particularly suitable for advanced divers.
• Southwest Pinnacle: the second deep peak, about an hour from Koh Tao. The marine life is similar to Chumphon: barracudas, trevally and other fish in large schools, etc. The southwest is a little shallower than Chumphon, with a maximum depth of over 30 meters. Whale sharks are also seen here!

• Sail Rock: Known for its unique underwater vent, Sail Rock offers frequent encounters with schools of fish and sometimes whale sharks.
• Green Rock: A spectacular dive site offering adventurous crossings through large archways, caverns, caves and crevices that cut through the submerged rocks. Home to the Yellow-margined Triggerfish, divers can experience a 'trigger attack' during the spawning season as they become very territorial and protective of their nests, making this an exciting dive.
• Shark Island: Despite its name, this is a place where you might be lucky enough to spot blacktip sharks and other species of fish.
• HTMS Sattakut Wreck: The wreck of a former Thai navy ship, this is an interesting site for divers who like to explore wrecks.

Where to Dive on Koh Phi Phi?

Koh Phi Phi is located approximately 45 km east of Phuket and offers excellent dive sites suitable for all levels of divers. In many places, you will find shallow hard coral gardens, which makes Phi Phi a good place for snorkeling as well as scuba diving. 

At the southern end of the Phi Phi island chain are two small rocky islands, Koh Bida Nok and Koh Bida Nai, both of which offer excellent and varied diving experiences, suitable for both beginners and experienced divers. There are shallow reefs and steep walls, with depths ranging from 8 to 28 meters. 

At Koh Bida Nai, a beautiful archway filled with tiny baitfish leads to a shallow hard coral garden. Bida Nok has several passages on the west side where you will find a complex cluster of giant rocks. Turtles are sometimes seen on this reef.

Loh Samah Bay, east of the Koh Phi Phi , offers excellent shallow diving often used for night dives. Inside the bay is an extensive hard coral garden with many anemones, at depths of 2 to 12 meters, which also makes it an ideal place for snorkeling. 

The dive generally follows a small limestone island located in the bay. The sheer walls of this rock are reflected underwater, creating a perfect place for soft corals, sea whips and fan corals. On the east side is a long canyon filled with delicate marine life. Seahorses are sometimes found there.

Maya Bay, the famous setting of the movie “The Beach,” can be crowded on the surface, but offers interesting diving opportunities, including a large cavern. The north side of the bay features a sloping reef, dramatic rock formations and a good chance of spotting turtles. A popular dive site, but now closed to visitors opening only once a year (2024: will remain open till 30 July).

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Where to Dive in Koh Lanta?

Are you looking for the ideal destination to recharge your batteries, relax and dive with whale sharks? Then Koh Lanta is made for you. This island belongs to Mu Ko Surin National Park, located about 200 km off the coast of Phuket in the Andaman Sea.

The best and most famous diving sites in the world are Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Both are listed among the best diving spots in Thailand and the world. Hin Daeng is famous for its fantastic marine life along a sheer wall, while Hin Muang is notable for its stunning purple coral. But what will take your breath away are the oceanic manta rays and whale sharks which frequent these two sites during the high season and which are observed regularly.

Another of the best dive sites that Koh Lanta offers is Koh Haa, a small group of 5 islands offering a wide variety of dives suitable for all levels. From a spectacular shallow bay of white sand and coral for beginner divers, to a series of easily accessible emerald caves, to a series of deep dives and passes through rock formations, which will delight even the most experienced divers.

Is Koh Lipe a Good Place to Dive?

With around 25% of the world's tropical fish species as well as dugongs, dolphins, whale sharks, minke whales and sperm whales, Koh Lipe is a true utopia for divers. Koh Lipe is surrounded by more than 30 islands and is the most famous island in Tarutao National Park, one of the oldest marine parks in Asia. This means that the reefs and islands surrounding Koh Lipe are in very good condition.

Koh Lipe dive sites include spots around the island itself, as well as Koh Adang, Koh Rawi, Koh Tong, Koh Lek and other smaller islands. The best dive sites Koh Lipe has to offer include 8 Mile Rock – an exposed pinnacle attracting pelagics, large rays and schools of fish. There is also Stonehenge which features several large pinnacles rising from the seabed. Divers with a passion for wrecks will particularly appreciate the wreck of Yong Hua, a former fish processing boat measuring 75 meters. 

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What are the best dive sites in the Similan Islands?

The Similan Islands are a fabulous archipelago located in the Andaman Sea, just 120 km northwest of Phuket. The eastern coast of the Similan Islands features white sandy beaches stretching towards elegant coral gardens, drop-offs adorned with impressive sea anemone gardens, thriving hard and soft corals, and teeming fish populations. .

The west side of the Similans is quite different. Here, huge rocks slope down to the seabed, reaching more than 40 meters deep. The currents prevented the accumulation of sand between the rocks, creating tunnels, arches, and caverns that offer exciting passages.

The most renowned dive sites in the Similans are Elephant Head Rock and Christmas Point. For night dives, Donald Duck Bay is a unique spot, named after the titular cartoon character. Here, emperor shrimps, decorator crabs and triton shells call the boulder home. All dive spots offer astonishing underwater topography with numerous crossings and very rich fauna. Specifically, the Similan Islands are closed for more than five months a year, allowing wildlife to regenerate, from May to October.

The Similan Islands also offer liveaboard diving options, taking diving to a whole new meaning. Liveaboards offer an enhanced diving experience, with more dives especially night dives giving you the chance to explore this beautiful area of Thailand. 

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Richelieu Rock and Surin Islands

The Surin Islands officially constitute Mu Ko Surin National Park. They are located approximately 100 km north of the Similan Islands, making them the northernmost Thai islands on the west coast (Andaman). If you are wondering which is the best island between Surin and Similan, you should know that traveling from Phuket and Khao Lak islands to Surins is more expensive than to Similan Islands.

With much less traffic proportionally for much more space, the flora and fauna of Mu Koh Surin National Park are in much better condition than in the famous Similan Islands. These islands are home to one of the best diving sites in the world: Richelieu Rock. It is globally recognized as one of the best diving sites, where one can encounter giant creatures such as whale sharks and manta rays.

The best way to experience the Surin Islands is on a diving cruise. Most dive operators will take you to several islands in the Andaman Sea. The classic route starts with Koh Bon, then Koh Tachai and Koh Surin. You conclude your journey with world-class diving at Richelieu Rock.

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Wreck Diving Around Pattaya

Pattaya offers some of the best wreck diving in Thailand and with some of the most famous wrecks in the world, specialist divers have plenty to be excited about. The nearest wreck is 40 minutes from shore. Less time traveling to the sites means more time swimming around the ships and imagining their captivating stories. Some wrecks have become thriving reefs, encrusted with a healthy mix of hard and soft corals. While exploring the interiors, keep an eye out for blue-spotted rays, resting bamboo sharks, groupers, scorpionfish and cruising hawksbill turtles.

Pattaya's three main diving areas are located in close proximity (Near Islands, Far Islands and Samae San Islands) and offer incredible opportunities to explore Pattaya's most iconic shipwrecks, such as HTMS Khram, HTMS Khut, Hardeep Wreck, Petchburi Bremen Wreck and HTMS Mataphon Wreck.

Koh Chang: An Ideal Diving Site for Beginners

Koh Chang is a beautiful island in the Gulf of Thailand. It offers around 10 varied and enjoyable diving and snorkeling sites, with beautiful coral reefs and interesting rocky dives. The lack of strong currents or great depths on Koh Chang makes it an ideal place to learn to dive or brush up on your skills.

Wreck diving in Koh Chang is also very popular: these waters are home to Thailand's largest ship, the HTMS Chang, a 100 meter long ship sunk by the Thai Navy in 2012. In addition to exploring the wrecks, there are pinnacles to swim around, pretty reefs to drift around and marine life you could come face to face with. More than 20 sites captivate you dive after dive.

For a fun and easy diving experience, Koh Rang National Park is the perfect place. A group of 12 unhabited islands, featuring  It features an incredible coral reef and shallow depths that are definitely worth exploring. It is a perfect area for family outings, combining divers and snorkeling enthusiasts.

How Good Is Diving in Phuket?

Diving around Phuket is a must-do experience for many scuba diving enthusiasts. The region offers warm, crystal-clearcrystal clear waters, abundant marine life and stunning underwater landscapes. With plenty of dive sites to explore, there is something for everyone, from beginner divers to the most experienced underwater photographers.

Racha Yai is Phuket's most famous scuba diving site, with its sloping rocky reefs and a multitude of hard corals. There is also Ter Bay where an exciting shipwreck lies in depths of 25 to 35 meters.

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The area south of Racha Yai, Racha Noi, is a paradise for experienced divers as the depths are greater and the currents stronger. The topography of Racha Noi differs considerably from that of Racha Yai, with huge granite boulders. Diving at Racha Noi is significantly more demanding than diving at Racha Yai, but the rewards are even greater.

Shark Point, aptly named due to the popularity of leopard sharks in the area, is one of Phuket's most popular dive sites, which means it can get crowded, especially during peak season of November to April. The site is formed by the combination of three small reefs which form a unique submerged limestone structure covered in corals. It is part of the most famous marine sanctuary for leopard sharks, which are often found on the region's sandy bottoms.

Best Dive Sites in Khao Lak

As well as being a great jumping off point for some of the world's best diving destinations - Similan and Surin Islands - Khao Lak has its own exceptional local dive sites, all easily accessible for a day of diving. 

Khao Lak is located in Phang Nga province, 60 km north of Phuket. While other top dive sites in Thailand are becoming busier, unexplored and offbeat sites such as Khao Lak are gaining popularity as a prime base for underwater sports.

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Due to its distance from the mainland, diving in Khao Lak is usually conducted as full-day excursions. There are also a few dive sites closer to the mainland, but the most magnificent spots are all a little further away. 

Dive sites in Khao Lak are on average at a maximum depth of 18 to 40 meters and generally range in difficulty level from easy to medium. For some sites like Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and the wrecks, more advanced experience is entirely appropriate.

When Is the Best Time to Go Scuba Diving in Thailand?

Thailand's tropical location guarantees a warm climate and optimal diving conditions all year round. Air temperatures range from 30 to 35°C, while water temperatures hover around 29°C, creating consistently comfortable diving conditions. Thailand is a large country with two distinct diving areas: the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, each with opposing diving seasons.

To the east, the Gulf of Thailand offers incredible visibility from May to September, while the Andaman Sea on the west side offers the best diving conditions from October to April. This means that scuba diving in Thailand can be enjoyed all year round.

Whale sharks are most likely to be seen between March and June. The period from mid-October to mid-May is the best for diving with manta rays.

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Diving Cruise or Day Trip: What to Choose?

If you want to explore the most remote and magnificent dive sites in Thailand, opting for a Thailand diving liveaboard is the ideal choice. This allows you to dive up to 4 times per day, with morning dives and night dives also available.

Liveaboard diving is particularly concentrated on the western side of the Andaman Sea. The islands and rock formations of this region are home to some of Thailand's most fascinating marine life. Dive liveaboard itineraries vary in length, depending on how many sites you want to visit. 

 A diving cruise in the Andaman Islands includes but is not limited to Thailand's diving gems (Similans and Richelieu). The lush Surin Islands are another highlight of these trips, where divers and non-divers alike are spellbound by the peaceful coves, island wildlife and accessible snorkeling sites. Not forgetting the greatest diversity of hard corals in Thailand.

Diving cruises in the Andaman Islands usually depart from Khao Lak or Phuket. Getting to Phuket is easy with one-hour flights from Bangkok or direct international flights from Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Singapore and other Southeast Asian destinations. Here are some dive cruises to consider if you're ready to immerse yourself in Thailand's aquatic world for several days:

• The MV Gentle Giant
• Sea World 1
• The Junk
• The Phinisi
• Genesis I
• Manta Queen 7
• Sawasdee Fasai
• Deep Andaman Queen
• Thailand Aggressor
• DiveRACE Class E

If multi-day dive cruises are not what you are looking for, you can opt for day dive trips to more accessible sites such as Krabi, Khao Lak, Koh Phi Phi, Phuket and Koh Samui - Koh Tao.

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How Much Does It Cost to Dive in Thailand?

Diving in Thailand is relatively affordable, especially when compared to other diving destinations around the world. Scuba diving costs in Thailand usually start from 1000 to 3000 baht (around 25 to 80 euros). Diving cruises cost around 100 to 300 euros per day per diver.

If you're on a budget, Koh Tao is probably the ideal choice for saving money. The price of a dive in Koh Tao can be as low as 800 baht (around 21 euros). Thanks to the large number of diving centers, prices for courses and recreational dives are notoriously low here. 

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Our last words 

For enthusiasts of the enchanting underwater world, Thailand is truly a diving paradise thanks to its perfect weather conditions throughout the year and relatively affordable travel and discovery costs compared to many other destinations. If you are also a diver and love exploring marine life, don't forget to add Thailand's best dive sites to your itinerary!

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