Thailand is a beautiful country with a tropical climate and a lot of underwater diversity, making it an ideal tourist attraction and a diver magnet. But what are the places to go for the best scuba diving in Thailand? Continue reading to know everything.
1. Koh Tao
Traveling abroad, taking diving courses, buying gear, and diving can be very expensive. The costs add up very quickly, which is why many beginners on a budget hesitate to get into diving. Not anymore.
Beginners and divers on a budget can go to the world campus of scuba diving, Koh Tao, an island on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand. This island has more than 25 dive sites and 70 dive schools.
Due to its inexpensive diving services, seas of tourists, no pun intended, travel to Koh Tao each year to get certified. What also makes Koh Tao an ideal place for diving is its diverse ecosystem. As its name “Turtle Island” suggests, it’s home to many green turtles and hawksbill.
Its most popular dive location is Chumphon Pinnacle, an underwater paradise for divers who are obsessed with rock formations. However, it’s worth noting that it’s for advanced divers.
With an abundance of large and smaller granite pinnacles, it’s become a home to numerous species, such as batfish, leopard sharks, bull sharks, groupers, Manta rays, snappers, and horse-eye jacks. Also, there are a plethora of beautiful soft corals and barrel sponges.
Another popular dive site is Shark Island. While it may have frequent strong currents, it’s easy to manage them. Also, the shallow waters make it an ideal location for beginners. You’ll find enough soft coral trees to remember forever and, as expected, sharks.
2. Similan Islands
You can’t scuba dive in Thailand and not visit the Similan Islands, an archipelago of 11 islands in the Andaman Sea and a protected national park.
These islands are probably some of the most picturesque places in the world, and we’re not exaggerating. The water, which is surrounded by white sand beaches, is crystal clear, turquoise-colored, and warm. Meanwhile, the rock formations are breath-taking.
Since there’s no accommodation on these islands, you may want to go with a liveaboard. One of its most famous sites is East of Eden. This exotic coral reef is something for underwater photographers to enjoy, as it’s decorated with anemones, table corals, soft and hard corals, and so much more.
Remember to appreciate the fish species, including angelfish, frogfish, stingrays, barracudas, and more.
Another spot worth your time is Christmas Point, which is famous for its massive granite boulders, underwater arches, sea fans, whitetip sharks, jacks, ribbon eels, and more.
3. Koh Dok Mai
If you want to scuba dive in Thailand to meet some seahorses, there’s no better spot than Koh Dok Mai, a small rocky island in Phuket.
It’s known for its massive limestone cliffs that continue underwater, making it the perfect place for wall diving. The 82-feet wall is also home to an abundance of macro life, which is why macro photography thrives in Koh Dok Mai.
Prepare to dive alongside seahorses, nudibranchs, boxer shrimps, white-eyed moray eels, clownfish, ghost pipefish, and titan triggerfish. In addition, remember to enjoy the colorful soft, hard, and bush corals.
Final Thoughts
To recap, the places you should go for the best scuba diving in Thailand are Koh Tao, Similan Islands, and Koh Dok Mai. We hope that the article has been helpful in making decisions for your next diving trip. Happy scuba diving!