Andaman Sea
The Andaman Sea, with the Similan Islands, Hin Daeng and Burma as centre pieces, offers the best diving in Thailand by far.
Excellent visibility, superb underwater scenery, great marine diversity - fish life and corals, big drop-offs, swim-throughs, wall diving, caves and caverns. All set around stunningly beautiful tropical islands. You name it, all this makes Phuket, Khao Lak, Ao Nang - Krabi or Phi Phi Islands the best resort areas for a Thailand scuba diving holiday.
The picturesque Similan Islands with clear aquamarine waters and powdery white sands, has huge deep water boulder formations, creating daring swim-throughs as well dramatic back-drops to its vibrant coral gardens and reef slopes. Choose to dive by Phuket liveaboard or day trips.
Richelieu Rock rates as one of the best places in the world for diving with whale sharks.
Koh Bon and Koh Tachai are great for manta rays and white tip reef shark encounters.
Hin Daeng - Hin Muang is your best chance to see grey reef sharks, patrolling the walls. Besides that, it's also the second home in Thailand for whale sharks and mantas. Dive Hin Daeng and you'll experience the thrill of diving Thailand's highest vertical wall.
Diving Season
You can dive in Thailand all year round. The best diving conditions exist from November to April, with whale sharks visiting from February to May, and manta rays all year round.
Late May to October brings monsoon winds and surface swells to the Andaman Sea, making some remote sites inaccessible, such as Richelieu Rock and Hin Daeng, and reducing visibility in general by about 30% at the open dive sites. October can also see heavy rains in the Andaman Sea.
The Phuket liveaboard diving season runs from early October to mid May, but there are a limited number of cruises to Similan Islands and Phi Phi Islands all year round.
Thailand Diving Reef Basics
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 5 - 40m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface Conditions: Can be rough
Water Temperature: 26 - 31°C
Experience Level: Beginner - advanced
PADI Course Suitability: Great for underwater videography and deep diving
Access: Phuket liveaboards and day trips, or from Khao Lak, Krabi and Phi Phi
Dive Sites
For more detailed information on Thailand dive sites, click on the links below:
Dive The World Recommendations: Similan Islands - Christmas Point and Elephant Head Rock, Koh Tachai, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang.
Other dive sites that can be dived as part of a liveaboards cruise in Thailand:
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