Thailand beneath the surface

I often get asked “when is the best time to go” or “where is the best place to go diving in Thailand”. The truth is that you can go anytime and always find good diving – as long as you go to the right place!

Thailand is, as far as diving is concerned, divided into two regions; The Gulf of Thailand, east of the Kra Isthmus, and the Andaman Sea to the west. Both areas have distinct diving seasons complementing each other; The Andaman Sea is at its best between November and April, whereas the Gulf of Thailand is the place to go during the months of May thru October.

Absolute Beginner

If you are a newly certified diver, or perhaps looking to learn, numerous dive centres in Krabi and on Phuket, Phi Phi and Koh Yao Islands offer daily trips to shallow and easy dive sites in this part of the Andaman Sea. Always bustling Phi Phi in particular have got some brilliant sites suitable for novice divers, and with the first dive centre being opened on Koh Yao, there is now an alternative for divers who “just want to get away from it all” for a few days.





Saltwater running through your veins

Hardcore divers, who go to Thailand to spend as much time as possible below the surface, should join a live aboard trip to the Mergui Archipelago or to the Surin or Similan Islands. Or even better; a trip that combines all these destinations – if you have the time that is. Trips range from a couple of days up to two weeks and there are a wide range of options available. Boats depart from Phuket or Khao Lak and trips can be booked well in advance online through a number of operators.

I’m a family man!

You know the feeling; you would love to go diving, but won’t leave the family stranded all day with nothing to do. Dive operators in both Phi Phi and Krabi offer local diving trips that will have you back by lunchtime and on top of that, there are plenty of other activities for the rest of the family here. Daytrips are also offered from Phuket, but they tend to leave very early and return late in the day.

Feeling adventurous?

If you are willing to venture off the beaten track to find some amazing diving, but don’t want to spend your nights on a boat far offshore, Koh Lanta or Koh Muk could be the place for you. Both are idyllic, laid back islands and both have some interesting diving to offer. Don’t expect too much to happen here after 8 pm, so pack a few books with your dive gear. Both islands are fairly close to Hin Dang and Hin Muang, a couple of world class dive sites in the southern part of the Andaman Sea.

Budget

Prices are fairly uniform across this part of Thailand – daytrips tends to range between $50 and $100 depending on the dive sites’ location. Liveaboards, or should we say “Existaboards”, can be found from $100 per day and up, but here you pretty much get what you pay for. If it is really cheap, there is probably a reason for it!

Enjoy your trip, dive safely and don’t forget to respect the fragile marine environment whereever you go!!