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Scuba Diving in Phuket Thailand
Phuket has a large number of Dive Centers and Resorts that offer beach dives to local walk-in reefs, boat daytrips, and multi night liveaboards.
If you get the opportunity to go snorkeling and scuba diving in Phuket and the nearby islands, you'll be amazed at the superabundant marine life.
When is the Best Season to Dive at Phuket?
There are many reasons why the island of Phuket is one of Southeast Asia's premier destinations for snorkeling and scuba diving:
- The water in the Andaman Sea is clear and warm.
- There are countless high quality dive resorts in Phuket.
- The vibrant and diverse marine life is breathtaking.
Plus, this popular holiday destination has easy access to shallow reefs (ideal for beginners) and world-class dive spots for divers with a scuba certification.
For example, Kata Reef (Phuket's "concrete cube nursery") has some artificial structures that have created superb habitats for resident sea life.
The corals have started growing on these man-made reefs and extended the highlights for divers beyond Kata Bay, Koh Pu, and Karon Rocks.
But wait - there's more:
The nearby islands of Koh Racha Yai and Racha Noi are the most popular locations. This area is ideal for local dive schools to conduct scuba training dives and snorkeling tours around Phuket coral islands.
Some of the favoured locations include the Similan and Surin Islands, renowned for granite boulders, large manta rays, and unclouded visibility.
Join one of the daily boat trips to reach the famous Phi Phi island dive sites, surrounded by colourful coral gardens and steep limestone cliffs.
Key takeaways...
The Phuket dive sites get around three hundred days of sunshine per year and the water temperature rarely drops below 29° Celsius (84° Fahrenheit).
At certain times of the year, the Andaman Sea can produce thirty (30) metres of underwater visibility. So, the best months for divers to enjoy clear water dives are January, February, and March.
It is fair to say diving in Phuket is an annual activity. But, divers need to be mindful that the southwest monsoons usually arrive towards the end of May and continue through to the end of October.
Pro Tip: Our sea wildlife section contains extra details about whale sharks and oceanic manta rays that sometimes make an appearance around the islands during the plankton-rich months between June and October.
Marine Life at Phuket Diving Sites
A combination of stunning scenery, pristine white sand beaches, and cobalt blue water has transformed Koh Phuket into one of the top landing places for Thailand diving destinations.
The remarkable combination of massive rock formations and various types of soft corals create a superb backdrop of underwater topography.
Phuket dive sites are amazing places to see big fishes (e.g. pelagics). Plus, divers should expect to catch sightings of macro marine life as well, including:
- Banded sea krait (Laticauda colubrina
Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)- Blue dragon sea slug (Glaucus atlanticus)
- Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)
- Eagle rays (Myliobatis aquila)
- Marine mammals (dolphins, minke whale, pilot whale)
- Marine reptiles (e.g. green turtle, hawksbill turtle)
- Nudibranchs (e.g. dotted nudibranch)
- Pipefishes (family Syngnathinae)
- Seahorses (Hippocampus)
- Sharks (blacktip reef sharks, leopard sharks, and nurse sharks)
- Titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens)
Some of the southern islands have become key breeding grounds for large marine reptiles (e.g. turtles). In fact, there are regular events to reintroduce juvenile turtles back into the vibrant ecosystems and help stimulate the growth of colourful coral reefs.
List of Phuket Dive Sites
Anemone Reef
King Cruiser Wreck
The ill-fated 85-metre King Cruiser catamaran passenger ferry sank on the 4th of May 1997. The incident occurred during its daily route as it sailed between Phuket and the famous Phi Phi Islands.
This guide contains useful diving information about King Cruiser Wreck, one of the most famous shipwrecks that came to rest at the bottom of the Andaman Sea.
Koh Doc Mai
Koh Racha Noi
Koh Racha Yai
Shark Point
Related Information and Help Guides
- Best Place for Scuba diving in Pattaya Coral Islands
- Koh Samui Diving and Snorkeling Sites for Beginners
- Where are the Best Shipwreck Dives in Thailand?
Getting to Phuket Island
In general, international travelers choose to fly into Bangkok Airport (BKK) and then take a ninety minute connecting flight, either to Phuket or Krabi. The public ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Phuket takes around three (3) hours.
Some of the best diving resorts in Phuket are located at Kata Beach, around 60 minutes (56 km) south of Phuket International Airport.