Scuba Diving in Thailand is one of the most popular activities among travelers and in this guide you’ll find out why.
Scuba Diving in Thailand
There are dozens of fantastic dive spots in Thailand, with great conditions, both for those who have never dived and want to try it for the first time and also for seasoned divers.
There are 2 major diving areas in Thailand:
- Gulf of Thailand
- Andaman Sea
Diving in the Gulf of Thailand
Diving in the Gulf of Thailand is ideal for beginners, as the conditions for learning and practicing are ideal: crystal clear water with perfect temperature (27-29 degrees) and very little current.
↪ Koh Tao
Within the Gulf of Thailand stands out the island of Koh Tao, one of the most popular places in the world to learn to dive and get your diving certificate (the world-famous Open Water certificate).
If you are thinking of doing your first scuba diving course or trying it for the first time, Koh Tao is the perfect destination for you.
In addition, from Koh Tao you can visit two of the best dive sites in Thailand: Chumphon Pinnacle and Sail Rock. You can also dive on a wreck from the Second World War.
The best time to dive in the Gulf of Thailand is from February to October, but don’t be discouraged if you travel at other times, as you can enjoy a good dive at any time of the year.
Andaman Sea
Diving in the Andaman Sea meets somewhat more complex conditions, with stronger currents and dive sites further from the shore.
This does not mean that you should discard it from your diving itinerary in Thailand. On the contrary, if you already have some experience, diving in the Andaman Sea will be one of the best experiences of your trip.
The Andaman Sea is on the west coast of Thailand, and features 2 main dive destinations: Koh Lipe and Koh Phi Phi Phi.
You can also consider joining a liveaboard trip that visits some of Thailand’s most famous dive sites such as Richelieu Rock. Normally the liveaboards will be 4 or 5 days long with prices ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 baht (approx. 650 to 1300 euros).
The best time to dive in the Andaman Sea is from October to April. Between May and September the monsoon season hits quite hard in this area, and even many national parks remain closed and it is not possible to dive in them.
↪ Koh Lipe
Koh Lipe, also known as the Thai Maldives, is a paradise both out and in the water. If you have the opportunity to visit this wonderful island, you can’t miss the diving which is one of the best in Thailand.
In Koh Lipe you can take your first diving courses or even do a try dive in some of the calmest areas. The seabed of Koh Lipe is super colorful with a great quantity and variety of fish, so you will enjoy it to the fullest.
If you are already certified and have some experience you can access more complex dives. At some divesites of Koh Lipe the current is very strong, so we recommend you to pay maximum attention to the briefing of your dive guide and always stay close to your group.
Among the most outstanding dive sites of Koh Lipe are Koh Adang, Stonehenge and Koh Usen.
↪ Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi is most known for its amazing scenery and great nightlife, but what not many know is that its waters hide some of the best dive sites in Thailand.
The diving conditions in Koh Phi Phi are usually quite calm, and although in some spots the current can be quite strong, there are several sites suitable for beginners or inexperienced divers.
If you want to dive in Koh Phi Phi Phi but you don’t know who to dive with, drop us a message and we will recommend you a dive center you can trust.
Diving Courses in Thailand
If you are planning to travel to Thailand, don’t miss the opportunity to take a scuba diving course.
Why take your scuba diving course in Thailand?
One of the main reasons to take a diving course in Thailand is the incredible marine life that you can enjoy while learning to dive.
Moreover, the prices are slightly cheaper than in other parts of the world, and the conditions for learning are ideal.
Where to do your diving course in Thailand?
Undoubtedly the best choice to do your diving course in Thailand is in Koh Tao. The diving conditions are the easiest in Thailand and the prices are the lowest you can find.
What is the best diving course for beginners?
Long story short: the Open Water Course
For beginners, there are 2 options: the try scuba diving experience and the Open Water course.
↪ Try Scuba Diving
The try scuba or try dive is a 1 day experience for beginners, in which you will do 2 dives, always accompanied and under the strict supervision of your instructor.
The try dive is not really a course and does not give you any certification, so the next time you want to dive you will have to start again from scratch.
↪ Open Water Course
The Open Water course is the ideal option for beginners, it is the most popular diving course in the world and if you are in Thailand, you can’t miss it!
In only 3 days you will learn everything you need to dive naturally and confidently underwater, and at the end you will get a certification that enables you to dive anywhere in the world to a maximum depth of 18 meters.
In addition, the Open Water certification does not expire, it is valid for life!
Another reason why the Open Water course is so popular is that it is a program designed specifically for beginners and requires no previous experience.
The course consists of theory classes, a training session in the pool or shallow water and 4 dives in the sea (the first dives to a maximum of 12 meters and on the third day to 18 meters!)
Open Water Course Details
Length: 3 days
Certification: international and lifetime
Experience required: none
Maximum depth: 18 meters
Price: 11,000 THB (approx. 285 euros)
If you are thinking about doing a diving course in Thailand, do not hesitate and contact us, we will help you to find the perfect course for you.
Thailand Marine Life
If diving in Thailand is so popular, it is mainly because Thailand’s marine life is simply spectacular.
These are some of the wonders of Thailand’s marine life:
- Coral reefs
- Clown fish
- Puffer fish
- Nudibranchs
- Cuttlefish
- Octopuses
- Sea Turtles
- Reef sharks
- Whale sharks
- Rays
- Mantas
- Barracudas
- Sea horses
- Yellow Boxfish
The list could be endless, as there are more than 2,000 marine species in Thailand.
Top Dive Sites in Thailand
There are so many amazing dive spots in Thailand that it is hard to makee a short list, but if we had to recommend a few, these are some of our favorites:
- Sail Rock (Koh Tao)
- Chumphon Pinnacle (Koh Tao)
- Stonehenge (Koh Lipe)
- Koh Bida Nok (Koh Phi Phi)
- Richelieu Rock (Andaman, Liveaboard)
Sail Rock – Koh Tao
- Maximum depth: 40 meters
- Travel time: 90 minutes
- Current: low-medium
- Difficulty: low-medium
- Marine life highlights: giant groupers, barracudas, batfish, whale sharks.
Chumphon Pinnacle – Koh Tao
- Maximum depth: 35 meters
- Travel time: 40 minutes
- Current: low-medium
- Difficulty: low-medium
- Marine life highlights: giant groupers, barracudas, batfish, whale sharks.
Stonehenge – Koh Lipe
- Maximum depth: 30 meters
- Travel time: 10 minutes
- Current: medium-strong
- Difficulty: medium
- Outstanding marine life: barracudas, seahorses, nudibranchs, yellow snapper.
Koh Bida Nok – Koh Phi Phi
- Maximum depth: 33 meters
- Travel time: 20 minutes
- Current: medium-strong
- Difficulty: medium
- Marine life highlights: leopard sharks, moray eels, turtles, whale sharks, manta rays.
Richelieu Rock – Andaman Sea
- Maximum depth: 35 meters
- Travel time: 60 minutes
- Current: medium-strong
- Difficulty: medium
- Marine life highlights: whale shark, manta rays, seahorse, frogfish
Scuba Diving Prices in Thailand
Diving prices in Thailand can vary a lot depending on the area. Here are the diving prices in Koh Tao, Koh Lipe and Koh Phi Phi Phi.
Prices in Koh Tao
- Try Scuba Diving (2 dives): 3,500 THB
- Open Water Course: 11,000 THB
- Advanced Course: 10,000 THB
- First Aid Course: 4,000 THB
- React Right Course: 10,000 THB
- Divemaster: 35,000 THB
- Diving Instructor Course: 70,000 THB
- Dives for certified divers (2 dives): 1800 THB
Prices in Koh Lipe
- Try Scuba Diving (2 dives): 4,500 THB
- Open Water Course: 14,500 THB
- Advanced Course: 12,000 THB
- React Right Course: 6,000 THB
- Rescue Course: 14,500 THB
- Divemaster: 40,000 THB
- Dive Instructor Course: not available
- Dives for certified divers (2 dives): 3,000 THB
Prices in Koh Phi Phi
- Try Scuba Diving: 3,500 THB
- Open Water Course: 13,000 THB
- Advanced Course: 10,500 THB
- React Right Course: 5,000 THB
- Rescue Course: 12,000 THB
- Divemaster: 40,000 THB
- Dive Instructor Course: not available
- Dives for certified divers (2 dives): 3500 THB
Are you up for it?
Now that you know why you can´t miss diving in Thailand, you know where to dive and what are the prices of each activity, tell us, will you dive on your next trip to Thailand?
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to send us a message, we will be happy to help you!