Diving

Diving in Phuket is a wonderful opportunity to diversify your vacation or acquire an exciting new hobby. The underwater world of the Andaman Sea is stunning and diverse: you can enjoy the beauty of coral reefs, encounter fascinating marine creatures, and admire picturesque underwater landscapes. Sometimes, intriguing art installations are placed on the seabed, providing spectacular photo opportunities. Phuket Island has many interesting diving spots in the best locations, including the main ones:

• Racha Yai, Racha Noi, the Phi Phi and the Similan islands;
• King Cruiser – the sunken Japanese ship, and Anemone Reef, where it sank;
• Shark Point – a group of four underwater pinnacles;
• Cheow Lan lake.

Racha Yai Island is the perfect place for beginner divers due to its calm waters and lack of strong currents. Shallow areas allow newcomers to safely learn the basics of diving, while deeper spots reveal vibrant corals, moray eels, and turtles.

Racha Yai is ideal for beginner diving courses, introductory dives, and the PADI Discover Scuba Diving program.

Racha Noi Island is a more “wild” counterpart to Racha Yai. It’s a popular destination for day diving tours from Phuket. Situated almost in open sea, its waters are even clearer and more transparent than those around Racha Yai.

Divers of all skill levels can explore the eastern and western sides of the island, while the southern part is accessible only to experienced divers who can handle strong currents.

The Phi Phi Islands are a popular dive spot for underwater enthusiasts. Here, you can encounter whale sharks, rays, turtles, and a variety of tropical fish. Don’t worry; the local sharks are harmless to humans and peacefully swim in grottos and caves.

Phi Phi offers diverse underwater exploration opportunities, making it a popular destination for the best diving in Phuket. Both beginners and professionals can dive here.

The King Cruiser is a Japanese ship that sank in 1997 and, over the years, has become an artificial reef and home to various marine creatures.

The highest point of the wreck is at a depth of 16 meters, so divers at the Advanced Open Water Diver level and above can explore it. A descent line is attached to the ferry’s stern, making it easier to descend and ascend.

Anemone Reef is an underwater reef covered in anemones. It’s the rock that the King Cruiser collided with before sinking. Here, you can spot lionfish, seahorses, and even a leopard shark. The rock rises from a depth of 25 meters up to 4 meters.

Shark Point is one of the most fascinating dive sites, frequently visited by leopard sharks. It consists of a group of four underwater pinnacles, with the tallest rising 2 meters above sea level, extending north to south underwater at a depth of 25 meters.

The rocks are covered in vibrant soft corals, making them especially picturesque. The first two pinnacles are the most popular, while the third is harder to reach due to strong currents.

The Similan Islands are a paradise for experienced divers, offering excellent visibility and a vast diversity of marine flora and fauna. Diving here is best planned from October to May, when conditions are most favorable.

To fully explore the underwater beauty, it’s worth staying for several days, as there are nine islands to discover.

Cheow Lan Lake is a unique diving site among cliffs with unusual stalactites and an abundance of underwater grottos and caves. The lake, located in Khao Sok National Park in a tectonic rift over 200 square meters, offers a remarkable experience.

Since the park is state-protected, diving in the lake is considered an exclusive dive tour. The lake reaches depths of 150 meters or more in some areas.

All diving excursions generally follow a similar program:

1. Transfer. Most often, tourists need a transfer from the hotel to the pier in Chalong.
2. Meeting with the guide. The guide meets you, accompanies you throughout the trip, and conducts a briefing.
3. Snack. Breakfast and drinks are usually provided on the way to the dive site.
4. First dive. Typically, this dive lasts no more than 30 minutes.
5. Lunch. Lunch usually takes place on the boat or on a nearby beach. After lunch, everyone heads to the second dive spot.
6. Second dive. This dive is also conducted under the instructor’s supervision.
7. Return. You are taken back to the pier and then transferred to your hotel.

This is the typical schedule for a one-day excursion. Longer diving tours have more varied programs and differ from each other.

Diving Training. Many people develop a serious interest in diving after their first experiences and go on to pursue training, enabling them to explore more challenging and deeper sites. Phuket has numerous diving centers where you can learn to dive and earn a certification.

During training, you’ll learn the basics of diving, equipment preparation, and how to behave underwater, including handling emergency situations. Practical skills are honed during introductory dives.

Certification Levels. Without certification, diving is only possible with an instructor and to a depth of no more than 12 meters. A briefing is mandatory.

1. The entry-level certification (Open Water Diver) allows you to dive without a professional instructor to a depth of up to 18 meters, or up to 12 meters for teenagers. This certification can be obtained in 2-3 days.            
2. The Advanced Open Water Diver level allows diving to depths of up to 40 meters without an instructor and provides the ability to explore underwater sites such as sunken ships or caves.
3. The Rescue Diver certification is required if you’re training as a rescue diver. It’s not needed for recreational purposes.
4. The Master Scuba Diver certification is the final level in non-specialized certifications. It’s generally not necessary in Phuket, as lower-level certifications are sufficient for exploring most challenging dive sites.

Prices for diving services vary depending on the chosen program, the pricing policy of the diving center in Phuket, and the dive site location. On average, how much does diving cost:

▫️ One-day diving – from 3500 ฿ per person. The price increases with additional dive sites. Other factors affecting the cost include meal availability, the number of dive spots, and other considerations.

▫️ Open Water Diver course – from 15000 ฿ per person. This allows you to earn an entry-level certification for diving without an instructor.

▫️ Equipment rental – from 1000 ฿ per day. A valid international certificate confirming your right to dive without an instructor is required for equipment rental.

See more top excursions in the Excursions section of our website.