Dive Location
Is Thailand a Good Destination for Scuba Diving?
By Sorrasek Phiboonthammasak Date 13 Feb 2025
If you are still deciding whether to go scuba diving in Thailand, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I will break down the details of scuba diving in Thailand for both beginners and certified divers. By the end of this article, you will know exactly where to go, when to go, and what to expect during your dream scuba diving trip in Thailand.
Is Thailand Good for Scuba Diving?
In my personal experience, the answer is “yes.” Thailand is not just “good” but “great” for scuba diving. However, the definition of “great” is subjective and depends on each person's past experience and what they compare it to.
If you have never dived before or have only been diving in Europe or America, scuba diving in Thailand will be a fantastic experience. Just imagine diving in a world-class aquarium surrounded by vivid coral and colorful fish.
However, if you are an experienced diver who has explored world-class dive sites like Raja Ampat, Komodo, Palau, or the Galápagos, Thailand is a good place to satisfy your scuba diving itch but may not be as spectacular as those destinations. You might not be guaranteed a whale shark or manta ray sighting, but the underwater topography, rock formations, soft coral, and large schools of fish could still blow your mind.
In the next section, I will break down the different types of diving activities available in Thailand for both non-certified and certified divers.
Scuba Diving Activities for Non-Certified Divers in Thailand
Non-certified divers can definitely enjoy scuba diving in Thailand. They can dive in amazing locations such as Koh Tao, Krabi, Phuket, or Phang Nga. There are two main options: Try Dive or the Open Water Diver Certification.
Try Dive
Try diving is a one-day scuba diving experience where you learn about scuba diving in the morning and then dive with an instructor for one or two dives.
Pros: Perfect for divers who only have one day for scuba diving and no prior experience.
Cons: You will not receive any certification, and you can only dive up to 12 meters.
Duration: 1 Day
Cost: 3,000 - 5,000 THB (depending on location)
Dives: 1-2 Dives
Open Water Diver Course
The Open Water Diver certification course is the entry-level certification for scuba divers worldwide. Upon completion, you will be able to dive up to 18 meters anywhere in the world. The course typically takes 3-4 days and includes classroom sessions, pool training, and open water dives. Open Water Diver courses are available in all major diving locations in Thailand.
Pros: You get certified and gain the skills to dive anywhere in the world without repeating the course.
Cons: It requires 3-4 full days of your vacation time.
Duration: 3-4 Days
Cost: 10,000 - 15,000 THB (depending on location)
Dives: 4 Dives
Scuba Diving Activities for Certified Divers in Thailand
For certified scuba divers, especially Advanced Open Water Divers, Thailand offers plenty of diving options. You will need to decide whether you prefer a liveaboard or a day diving trip from shore.
Liveaboard
The best way to explore Thailand’s waters is by liveaboard, where you stay 3-6 nights on a boat in the Andaman Sea, diving in remote locations. The most common liveaboard itinerary is North Andaman, home to famous dive sites like Richelieu Rock, the Similan Islands, and Koh Bon. On a liveaboard, you eat, sleep, and dive from the boat, saving energy by avoiding travel between the shore and dive sites.
Pros: Access to remote locations, no need to travel back and forth from shore, and more dives per day.
Cons: You must stay on the boat for 3-7 days.
Duration: 3-7 Days
Cost: 20,000 - 70,000 THB (depending on the liveaboard)
Dives: 12-20 Dives (depending on trip length)
Day Trip
A scuba diving day trip is a convenient option for divers with only one day available to explore Thailand’s underwater world. Day trips are available in all major diving locations. However, reaching remote dive sites like Richelieu Rock, the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, or Koh Lipe may require long speedboat rides.
Pros: Can be done in one day, allows you to stay onshore, and is easy to book.
Cons: Long travel times and a limited number of dives per day.
Duration: 1 Day
Cost: 3,000 - 5,000 THB (depending on location)
Dives: 2-3 Dives (depending on location)
What are the best parts to dive in Thailand? Andaman Sea or Gulf of Thailand
The best region for diving in Thailand is the North Andaman. If it's your first time diving in Thailand or the only opportunity you'll have to dive here, North Andaman is the top choice. This area is home to world-renowned dive sites like Richelieu Rock, Similan Islands, and Koh Bon. These sites live up to their reputation with excellent visibility, the chance to see large marine animals, schools of fish, stunning rock formations, and more.
However, Thailand also has many hidden gem dive sites that are less known, either due to their remote locations or because they are not heavily promoted. My personal favorite is South Andaman, including Koh Lipe. South Andaman offers an equal, if not better, chance of encountering large marine life. It also features dive sites with near-guaranteed leopard shark sightings and breathtaking soft coral fields.
Now, you might be wondering about the Gulf of Thailand, particularly Koh Tao and Koh Samui. Each of these locations has its own charm and offers great diving experiences. Let me break down the highlights of each destination, along with the trade-offs of diving there.
Andaman Sea
If you choose to go on a liveaboard, there are two main itineraries: North Andaman (Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Richelieu Rock) and South Andaman (Koh Phi Phi, Hin Muang & Hin Daeng, sometimes including Koh Lipe). However, each of these areas can also be explored via day trips.
North Andaman
Similan Islands
Pros: Excellent water visibility, stunning rock formations, healthy coral reefs, easy dives, and abundant reef fish.
Cons: Low chance of encountering large marine animals, difficult to access.
Koh Bon
Pros: High chance of manta ray sightings.
Cons: Strong currents, lack of colorful coral.
Richelieu Rock – Must Not Miss
Pros: Excellent visibility, high chance of whale shark and manta ray sightings, large schools of fish, vibrant soft corals, fascinating rock formations, and diverse macro life.
Cons: Long travel time for day trips.
Koh Surin
Pros: Large colonies of hard coral, abundant reef fish, excellent visibility.
Cons: No big marine animals, long travel time for day trips.
Koh Tachai
Pros: Chance of manta rays, large beautiful sea fans, unique rock formations.
Cons: Strong currents, occasionally poor visibility.
South Andaman
Koh Phi Phi
Pros: Healthy soft corals, frequent shark sightings (including leopard sharks).
Cons: Strong currents at some dive sites, moderate visibility.
Hin Muang & Hin Daeng – Must Not Miss
Pros: Stunning red and purple soft corals on two large pinnacles, chance of whale sharks and manta rays.
Cons: Strong currents at times, remote location.
Phuket
Pros: Easy to access, good visibility, shipwreck dive sites, beginner-friendly.
Cons: Some sites lack marine life, low chance of large animals.
Krabi
Pros: Easy access, good visibility, healthy coral reefs, excellent macro diving.
Cons: Low chance of large marine animals, no large coral colonies.
Koh Lipe – My Personal Favorite
Pros: World-class soft coral dive sites, high chance of encountering large marine life, great visibility.
Cons: Strong currents at times, limited variety of dive sites.
Gulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand is well known for budget-friendly diving, especially in Koh Tao, which hosts over 70 dive centers and is a hub for beginner divers. Most diving here is done via day trips, but few people realize that liveaboard trips are available from June to October, allowing divers to explore all the top sites in one trip.
Koh Tao
Pros: Highly accessible, budget-friendly, beginner-friendly, occasional whale shark sightings.
Cons: Coral health is not as strong as in the Andaman Sea, limited top-tier dive sites.
Koh Samui
Pros: Easy access, excellent hotel options.
Cons: No dive sites of its own; divers must travel to Koh Tao.
Chumphon – Hidden Gem
Pros: Great wreck diving, high chance of whale shark sightings, abundant anemone corals.
Cons: Moderate visibility, difficult to access, limited dive centers.
Losin
Pros: Frequent whale shark sightings, vast fields of staghorn coral.
Cons: Limited marine diversity beyond whale sharks and hard corals.
Koh Chang
Pros: Fantastic wreck diving, diverse dive sites.
Cons: Moderate visibility, average coral reefs.
Pattaya
Pros: Extremely accessible, great wreck diving, beginner-friendly.
Cons: Limited marine life, crowded with tourist divers
When is the best time to dive in Thailand?
The best time to dive in Thailand is from December to April, especially in the Andaman Sea, as most national parks in the region are open for diving from November to May.
However, Thailand offers year-round diving due to its unique geographical location. The Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand have alternating high seasons—when one region experiences ideal diving conditions, the other is in its rainy season. This means you can always find a great place to dive, no matter the time of year.
Best Diving Seasons by Location
Andaman Sea
Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Richelieu Rock: November – May
Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi: November – May (diveable year-round)
Koh Lipe: November – May (diveable year-round)
Gulf of Thailand
Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Chumphon, Losin: April – August (diveable year-round)
Pattaya, Koh Chang: November – May (diveable year-round)
This seasonal variation makes Thailand one of the most versatile diving destinations in the world, offering excellent underwater experiences regardless of when you visit.
What You Can See While Scuba Diving in Thailand
The major highlights of scuba diving in Thailand include whale sharks, manta rays, and stunning rock formations covered in vibrant soft corals. However, Thailand's underwater world offers much more—ranging from macro marine life and large schools of fish to cavern dives, shipwrecks, and hard coral fields. Each dive site has its own unique charm, allowing divers to choose their experience based on their preferences.
Below is a breakdown of where to find each of these underwater highlights in Thailand:
Marine Life & Dive Site Guide
Whale Sharks
Best Locations: Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Hin Muang & Hin Daeng, Koh Lipe, Chumphon, Koh Tao
Manta Rays
Best Locations: Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Hin Muang & Hin Daeng, Koh Lipe, Racha Island
Leopard Sharks
Best Locations: Similan Islands, Koh Phi Phi
Large Schools of Fish (Giant Trevally, Barracuda, Batfish, Trevally)
Best Locations: Richelieu Rock, Sail Rock (Koh Tao), HTMS Chang, Koh Tachai, Similan Islands
Macro Life (Frogfish, Ghost Pipefish, Seahorses, Nudibranchs, Harlequin Shrimp)
Best Locations: Richelieu Rock, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lipe, Koh Tao
Soft Coral Gardens
Best Locations: Koh Lipe, Hin Muang & Hin Daeng, Richelieu Rock
Cavern Diving
Best Location: Koh Haa
Shipwrecks
Best Locations: HTMS Chang, HTMS Prab, Boon Sung Wreck, King Cruiser Wreck
Hard Coral Fields
Best Locations: Losin, Koh Surin, Similan Islands
Dramatic Rock Formations
Best Locations: Richelieu Rock, Similan Islands, Koh Tachai
As you can see, Richelieu Rock stands out as a must-visit dive site due to its incredible biodiversity and variety of marine life. However, it's important to remember that all marine life in Thailand is wild, meaning sightings can never be guaranteed
Diving Conditions in Thailand: Is It Safe?
Scuba diving in Thailand is very safe. The diving conditions are ideal, with warm, calm waters and minimal risks, making it an excellent destination for both beginners and experienced divers.
Diving Conditions
Depth
Most dive sites in Thailand have an average depth of 15–25 meters, which allows divers to enjoy the highlights of each site without worrying too much about air consumption or nitrogen limitations.
Water Temperature
The water remains warm year-round, ranging between 27–29°C.
A 3mm wetsuit is generally sufficient for comfort.
Current
Most dive sites experience mild to moderate currents, making navigation easy.
However, some sites, like Koh Tachai and Koh Lipe, may have strong or shifting currents, requiring awareness and proper planning.
Visibility
While Thailand’s visibility is not as crystal clear as the Maldives or the Bahamas, it can still reach 20–30 meters, depending on the conditions.
Weather Conditions
High season (November–April): Expect little to no rain and stable diving conditions.
Shoulder season: Some rainfall may occur, but underwater conditions remain diveable.
Air temperature: Typically 28–35°C, with a pleasant sea breeze for a relaxing surface interval.
Conclusion
By now, you should have a good idea of whether Thailand is the right diving destination for you. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced diver, Thailand offers a mix of fun, excitement, and relaxation. Beyond diving, Thailand is also known for its delicious food, great accommodations, and top-notch service, making your vacation even more enjoyable.
If you're interested in booking a scuba diving trip in Thailand but are unsure where to start, contact us for a free consultation. We'll help you find the best dive services based on your needs, budget, and preferences. Or, if you already know what you want, feel free to explore our services here [Insert link].
I hope this article provides all the information you need for your next underwater adventure in Thailand!
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