Diving in Thailand has become very popular as the Kingdom is home to some of the finest and most beautiful beaches and islands in the world, surrounded by water and coral. And that is the main reason why the number of divers coming to Thailand has escalated over the past decade or so.
The sea visibility in some places of Thailand means talking about distances of up to 30 meters; the sights of underwater mountains, coral gardens, undersea rock formations, hard and soft coral, whale sharks, silver tip sharks, manta rays and even sunken battleships.
Diving destinations and diving sites in Thailand
The Andaman Sea
The visibility in the Andaman is similar to that of the Gulf of Thailand but the area has more extensive coral reefs. Due to the influence of the southwest monsoon, most of the reefs surrounding the offshore islands occur on the east side of the islands.
Phuket
Phuket Island has some decent dive sites and the largest diving center in Thailand. The reefs around the area are in a healthy condition with both solid and colorfully soft corals. There is also an abundance of marine life. Most of the dive locations are suitable for all levels of divers but there are also some that are quite deep.
The most well-known dive site in the Phuket area is Racha Yai with its sloping rocky reefs and its plentitude of solid coral forests. There is also Ter Bay where there is an exciting wreck in the depths of 25-35 meters. The area south Racha Yai, Racha Noi, is a haven for experienced divers as the depths are greater and the currents stronger. The overall topography is strikingly different from Racha Yai with huge granite boulders and the chance to see Manta Rays and Whale Sharks.
Just off Phuket, is the limestone island of Koh Doc Mai which soars vertically from the seabed. It is home to a diversity of fish and offers the opportunity to view leopard sharks, moray eels, octopus and turtles.
Krabi
Krabi Province has the largest range of dive sites available in Thailand, offering beautiful diving and snorkeling with plenty of succulent soft coral, limestone outcrops and an enormous diversity of marine life. Although the region was struck badly by the 2004 Tsunami disaster, the area has recovered impressively and divers are coming back in flocks.
The main diving bases for the many sites in the Krabi area are Ao Nang and Railay beaches on the Krabi mainland, Phukets Chalong Bay and the Islands of Phi Phi and Ko Lanta. Ao Nang beach has the highest concentration of Dive centers and accommodation, as it has access to all the sites at Phi Phi, Shark Point marine sanctuary, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, the Ko Ha Islands and also a group of 10 small island dive sites in Ao Nang Bay.
Phi Phi Island attracts a younger crowd of revellers but offers easier access to the dive sites around it's shores. The island has two remarkable limestone crops divided by a narrow flat isthmus and it is there where most of the visitors stay. Ko Phi Phi has an abundance of succulent coral and colorful schools of fish.
Shark Point Marine Sanctuary, which lies directly between Krabi, Phi Phi and Phuket, is a popular group of 3 dive sites which are usually all dived together in a single trip. The King Cruiser Wreck is the remains of an 85 meter long twin hulled passenger ship which sunk in 1997 after running aground on Anemone reef. The Anemone reef itself is a unique dive site with a massive limestone pinnacle soaring 30 meters from the seabed to just 4 meters beneath the surface. The site is well-known for its abundance of sea anemones that cling to every surface while attracting enormous schools of fish. Different types of fish to be seen include schooling reef fish, trevally, snappers, groupers and colorful clown fish, along with larger game-fish like tuna and barracuda as well as the occasional leopard shark.
The third site is the site which gives the group it's name -Shark Point. This is a reef that comprises three pinnacles, the largest of which breaks the surface appearing as a barren rock outcropping. The reef is home to a delightful abundance of colorful soft corals and vibrant sea fans that decorate the limestone pinnacles, giving hoe to many Morays, Sea Horses, schooling reef fish and larger pelagics.
In the south of Krabi is Ko Lanta, with many dive shops in and around the main tourist areas of Saladan Town and Klong Dao beach. Although it has limited access to the northern sites in Krabi, it is close to some of the best dive sites in Thailand (ranked in the top ten in the world); the underwater pinnacles of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, and the Ko Ha group of Islets. Although these sites are reserved for the more experienced diver, with strong currents, the deepest wall dive in Thailand, and large underwater caverns to explore, the rewards are tangible with frequent visits by Whale Sharks and Manta Rays, an enormous variety of fringing reefs, as well as pelagic and reef fishes.
Similan Islands
Located in Pha-nga province, 90 km north-west of Phuket, the Similan Islands has one of Thailand’s most famous diving sites and can lay claim to having one of the best diving sites in Asia. The Similans consist of 9 islands (Similan means 9 in Malay language) Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang (two adjoining islands), Ko Payan, Ko Payang, and Ko Huyong. The islands are famed for their thriving reefs and abundance of delicate coral and variety of exciting marine life. It is possible to see chevron barracuda, giant trevally, manta rays, leopard sharks and rainbow runners.
Of all the islands, one of the most popular with divers is Ko Bo. This island has a sheer wall 35 meters deep which is followed by a stepped ridge descending to 45 meters. Located roughly 25km north of here, but not actually part of the Similans, is Ko Tachai with its lush tropical foliage and underwater ridge which juts out at 90 degrees. Divers may experience the opportunity to encounter leopard sharks, nurse sharks or whale sharks.
Other popular diving sites in Similans include:
Stonehenge: This is a large towering rock formation with a variety of marine life. Divers can spot barrel sponges, lionfish, gorgonian sea fans, barracuda, wrasse, ghost pipefish and long nose butterfly fish.
Snapper Alley: This site is popular for night dives its solid healthy table and sheet provides marine life places to hide and sleep.
Sharkfin Reef: This is a dive site for experienced divers. It is possible to spot clown trigger fish, half-moon trigger fish, bat fish and surgeon fish.
Elephant Head Rock: This rock is simply a massive boulder and is ideal for experienced and daring divers. Silver trevally, jet black trevally, small reef sharks, hawksbill turtle, lionfish, grouper and snapopers can all be seen.
East of Eden: Here is the most spectacular bommie in the Similans and the violet and blue corals can be seen.
Donald Duck Bay: This rock was named after the cartoon character it resembles and it is another great site for marine life where one can also see crabs, octopus and cuttlefish running across the sea bed.
Surin Islands
The Surin Islands are virtually untouched with pristine virgin reefs that meticulously slope to the seabed. The islands are situated 80 km west of Ranong province along the west cost of Thailand.
Located near the Surin islands is the horseshoe shaped Richelieu Rock. The sheer diversity of marine life contains schooling chevron barracuda, numerous types of moray eels, abundant lionfish and scorpion fish and 5 types of anemone fish, juvenile emperor angel fish, sea horses, ornate ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimps and even whale sharks, manta rays and shovelnose rays.
Khao Lak
Khao Lak Marine National Park a palm fringed coastline with newly discovered reefs. The area is home to a plentitude of marine life and even a couple of wrecks.
The Gulf of Thailand
This coast of Thailand is a gigantic shallow depression just south of Cambodia. It is roughly 60 meters deep with a maximum of 85. The area has 112 islands with countless fringing reefs with rocks and succulent seabed. The reefs are not as varied as that of the Andaman Sea but the marine life is still prolific.
Ko Tao
Ko Tao meaning Turtle Island, has grown into the hottest diving area in the country. The island with only an area of 21sq km lies north of Ko Samui and Ko Phang-ngan.
The Chumphon Pinnacle, located 11km from Ko Tao, consists of a massive granite pinnacle and a series of smaller one. It starts at 14m underwater and drops to a low of 26, covered with sea anemones and pink anemones fish. Divers can even see schools of barracuda, jacks and batfish, then during the right season whale sharks and mantas appear.
Green Rock between just one and 28 meters deep are boulder formations with an array of short tunnels and swim throws. Diving at the rock lets a view of parrot fish breeding, white eyed morays and blue spotted rays. The area is safe and is perfect for everyone of every level.
The Nangyuan Pinnacle Its granite boulder formations have a diversity of swim-throughs and tropical reef fish such as groupers, longfin, bannerfin and blue spotted stingrays.
Shark Island just off the south-west coast is another dive with depths of almost 30 meters and hawksbill turtle, blue ridged angel, longfin banner, leopard sharks and reef sharks. The area is suitable for any standard of diving.
The South-west Pinnacle offers diving ranges between 5 and 30 meters deep. The series of steep pinnacles rise from the sandy seabed and offer an ample variety of colorful marine life, such as butterfly fish, blue-ringed angelfish, jacks, barracudas and occasional whale sharks.
Twins which lies just to the west of Ko Nangyuan is made of rocks with depths of 6 to 18 meters. Among the hard corals are big grouper, white-eyed morak eels, pink anemone, clown fish, blue spotted rays, wrasse and black and white sergeant major fish.
White Rock near Twins offers decent depths for all levels of divers and is suitable place for night dives. Marine life there includes butterfly fish, parrot fish, angel fish, large barracuda titan trigger fish and red breasted wrasse.
Ko Pha Ngan
This ‘hippy’ hideout of an island famous for its full-moon parties is a departure point for the northern most part of the Ang Thong Marine National Park. The visibility in the area is just 4 meters with a highest of 25.
Ko Samui
Ko Samui is more renowned for its long sandy beaches and sizzling nightlife than its diving, but there are some enjoyable sites nearby.
Sail Rock is by far and away the most well-known dive site in the Ko Samui area. It is a rock pinnacle shaped like an iceberg which emerges from a sandy seabed at 40m to tower 15m above the surface. It is also a magnet for fish and there are schools of anemones and pink anemones.
Koh Yippon consists of 50 different islands. The visibility is lower than that of the other sites in the area.
Chumphon
Chumphon province has an array of natural attractions and healthy diversity of marine life and fringing reefs. This place is also famous for night diving.
Ko Lak Ngam located just 15km north-east of Chumphon, is one of 40 islands which belong to the Chumphon Marine National Park. There is plenty of hard and soft corals and hosts home to a large amount of sea life such as bat fish, trevally, fusiliers, turtle and seasonal whale sharks.
Pattaya
Undoubtedly, the most popular destination in Pattaya for diving buffs is the Hardeep Wreck which was sunk by the allies in the Second World War. The wreck lies on its starboard side at a maximum depth of 26 meters.
Ko Chang Marine National Park Ko Chang It is just one of a total 52 islands in the Marine National Park. Even though the area has previously been victim to man-made wrongs, there is still the chance to enjoy fringing reefs, marine life, a wreck, giant clams and snorkeling.
Hin Kuak Maa has a huge variety of solid and soft corals which are home to the likes of moray eels, blue spotted sting rays, sea turtles, starfish, stonefish and puffer fish.
Hin Luk Bath has turned into one of the most favored dive sites around with its boulder formations which appear from a sandy seabed 15 meters down The way they jut out allows a vast array of corals and barrel sponges. It is also possible to spot angel fish and barracuda.
Hin Rap South is an 18 meter rock pinnacle which can be dived by anyone of every level. It is covered with staghorn corals, barrel sponges and delicate corals. AT 200 meters lies a group of group of rocks known as Blue Mountains which often glow from the sun.
Hin Run Tek with an average depth of 12 meters, is a huge rock formation site with a diversity of colorful marine life such parrotfish, wrasse and angelfish.
