You’ve decided to book your flights and now you’re wondering if you can do any diving in Thailand? Of course, you can! Thailand might be a big country, but there are also great benefits when it comes to diving.

Depending on the seasons, you could find yourself diving in the Andaman Sea or in the Gulf of Thailand.

Ready To Travel? Don't Go Without Travel Insurance.

I recommend SafetyWing Nomad Insurance, an affordable travel insurance offering automatic monthly payments that you can cancel anytime. I've been using it since 2019, and I can assure you it's the perfect solution for nomads like you and me. Learn more by reading our SafetyWing review.

Wondering where to find the best places to dive in Thailand? I’ve done some research. In this post, you’ll find out more about where to dive in Thailand, what are the best seasons when it comes to diving in Thailand and everything you should know before your trip (including what to pack).

Best Places to Dive in Thailand

Koh Tao Diving

Best Scuba-diving in Thailand

Diving in Andaman Sea, Thailand

Thailand Diving Season – Andaman Sea

Koh Lanta

Best dive sites in Thailand

The best time to dive in the Andaman Sea would be from November to May. It could be possible to dive during the rainy season, but the visibility will be reduced. When it comes to diving, we all want great visibility, isn’t that right?

To make it easier for you, I have divided the dive sites by land locations. That way you can see the options around your destinations.


Planning your upcoming adventures? Travel by bus! (It's cheap!)

Powered by 12Go Asia system

Best Diving Around Koh Lanta, Thailand

Diving from Koh Lanta isn’t necessarily the cheapest as some of the dive sites are located quite far from the island. Some sites are much closer to Koh Phi Phi or Phuket. Although, if you aren’t planning on heading there during your Thailand trip, you can still access these dive sites from Koh Lanta.

You might also like to read about Koh Lanta here.

Best Dive Sites Around Koh Lanta, Thailand:

  • Koh Haa
  • Bida Nok & Bida Nai
  • King Cruiser Wreck
  • Hin Daeng & Muang
  • Koh Rok

What to expect from diving in Koh Lanta, Thailand:

If you’re lucky enough, you might be able to see manta rays and whale sharks from February to April. There’s a lot to see in these waters: batfish, octopus, barracuda schools, colorful fish, etc.

Best Diving Around Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

If Koh Phi Phi is pretty popular for the party animals out there, it’s also well known for its diving opportunities. Koh Phi Phi is also a great base for those who want to scuba dive around as it’s close to many important dive sites.

Best Dive Sites in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand:

  • Bida Nok & Bida Nai
  • Hin Daeng & Muang
  • Hin Dot (also known as Chimney Rock)
  • Malong Bay
  • Kled Gaeow Wreck

What to expect from diving in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand:

Diving in Koh Phi Phi promises a lot of beautiful colorful reefs. You might be able to spot leopard sharks, seahorses and triggerfish. Then if you’re lucky, you might even sea manta rays or whale sharks from February to April.

Best Diving Around Phuket, Thailand

Phuket has great diving options for shore diving as well as boat diving. It’s a popular destination if you’re thinking of going to the popular Similan and Surin Islands. You can also access some of the best dive sites around Koh Phi Phi from Phuket.

Best Dive Sites Around Phuket, Thailand:

  • Shark Point
  • Racha Noi South Tip
  • Koh Dok Mai
  • Anemone Reef
  • Bida Nok & Bida Nai
  • Dive sites around Similan Islands
  • Dive sites around Surin Islands

What to expect from diving in Phuket, Thailand:

Diving around Phuket is surely fascinating. Expect to see tuna, barracuda, butterflyfish, angelfish, turtles and trumpetfish.  You could also see whale sharks from February to May.

Best Diving Around Koh Lipe, Thailand

Koh Lipe is located close to the Malaysian border in the very south of Thailand. The island is basically on the border of the Tarutao National Marine Park which is good news for divers! There are many exciting dive sites in the region as well as great night diving opportunities.

Best Dive Sites Around Koh Lipe, Thailand:

  • Tarutao National Marine Park
  • Stone Henge
  • 8 Mile Rock
  • Koh Taru
  • Far Islands

What to expect from diving in Koh Lipe, Thailand:

There’s a lot to see – dolphins, different types of wales, rays as well as sharks. Imagine tuna, mackerel and barracuda.

PSST. Note that you can also find great diving options from Krabi and Ao Nang.

Diving in the Gulf of Thailand

Thailand Diving Season – Gulf of Thailand

Koh Tao

Best places to dive in Thailand

Diving in the Gulf of Thailand is better at some other time of the year. Its peak would be from May to September. The visibility would be reduced during the rainy season.

Best Diving Around Koh Tao, Thailand

Note that you can also find great diving options from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, although, most dive sites are closer to Koh Tao.

Koh Tao might be a tiny island, but it’s pretty rich in terms of diving sites. Offering over 25 different dive sites, there’s a lot to explore around the island. I personally had my Open Water Course in Koh Tao, you can read about it here.

You might also like to read about Koh Tao here.

Best Dive Sites in Koh Tao, Thailand

Book your dives in Koh Tao on La Bombona Diving Shop:

  • Chumphon Pinnacle
  • HTMS Sattakut Wreck
  • South-West Pinnacle
  • White Rock
  • Shark Island
  • Sail Rock (Close to Koh Phangan)

What to expect from diving around Koh Tao, Thailand

Koh Tao Diving

Best place to scuba dive in Thailand

If you’re lucky enough, you could spot whale sharks in April and May. Expect to see triggerfish, reef fish, as well as macro critters and morays. Koh Tao is also a great destination for night diving.

FAQ About Scuba Diving in Thailand

What are the best scuba diving options in Thailand for beginners?

Finding scuba diving in Thailand for beginners is possible! One of the cheapest places to do your Open Water is in Koh Tao. It’s also a great spot for beginners, as the currents aren’t too strong.

How much does scuba diving cost in Thailand?

It can be super cheap or quite expensive, depending on the dive sites you’re planning on diving too and your location. If you’re planning on diving in a further dive site, you’ll end up paying more as the boat ride will be longer.

In Koh Tao, you can find some of the cheapest diving options. Although, you would have much more to discover in the Andaman sea.

You can expect anything starting from TBH 1000 for one dive. (This is an example of one dive in Koh Tao). If you’re booking more than two dives, it goes to TBH 900 per dive.

What to pack for your diving trip to Thailand?

About Melissa Giroux

Melissa Giroux founded abrokenbackpack.com in 2015. She is been living abroad since 2014. Originally Canadian, she has been living and working online in many destinations around the world. She is passionate about traveling, technology, entrepreneurship, and CrossFit.

She has traveled extensively in Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America. She is now living in Thailand.


☑ Book your flight: Who said you won’t be able to find cheap flights? My top saving tip is flexibility. If you're flexible, you should be able to find a cheaper flight. Check out Skyscanner or Google Flights for the hottest deals.

☑ Book your accommodation: Want the comfort of being at home or the luxury of a hotel? I love using Vrbo and Booking.com for those very reasons. If you're a solo traveler, Hostelworld offers a wide variety of hostels you should take a look at. Alternatively, if you're a budget traveler, sign up for Worldpackers to get FREE accommodation in exchange for work.

☑ Rent a car or an RV: Make your trip more comfortable by renting a car with DiscoverCars.com. This website allows you to compare car rentals around the world. If you're traveling in the United States, find an RV rental on RVshare.

☑ Stay safe: Travel mishaps happen – so, better be safe than sorry by covering your back with travel medical insurance. I would suggest SafetyWing, Genki or Heymondo as they offer the best rates, especially for long-term travelers.

☑ Pack the essentials: Universal charger, check; power bank, check; passport, check! What else could you forget? I've put together this ultimate packing list just for you!

☑ Do you need a visa? If you aren't sure if you need a visa, it’s highly recommended for you to double-check. You can use iVisa - it's super useful and easy to use.

Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.