If you’re looking for a scuba diving holiday in Thailand one of the most popular options is what I like to call the ‘Andaman Safari‘. This isn’t a light hearted type of holiday and would not be of much interest to non-divers. It normally takes 14 days in total (or it should in my opinion) and would include 6 days and nights on a Thailand liveaboard to the Similans at the heart of the holiday.

You would have the opportunity to do 22 dives in the Similan Marine National Park and beyond but as I said above this is a heavy schedule and not suitable to non-divers. If you have never been on a Liveaboard then maybe 4 dives a day for 5 days wouldn’t be the ideal time to start. Thailand dive centres in Phuket and Kho Lak offer many different types and durations of liveaboard to the Similans, Richeliu Rock and Burma Banks and if it’s your first time I would suggest a shorter trip maybe 3days – 2nights.

If you are a committed diver however and looking for a scuba diving holiday in Thailand have a look at my suggested itinerary:

• Day 1 Depart your home
• Day 2 Arrive Phuket and transfer to your hotel
• Day 3 Take this day to rest and see a little of Phuket sights.
• Day 4 Board your liveaboard, usually in the evening, and travel to the Similans over night
• Day 5 to Day 9 There will be four dives in total offered per day.
• Day 10 After your two early morning dives you will return to your Phuket hotel.
• Day 11 Rest Day
• Day 12 Rest Day
• Day 13 Fly Home
• Day 14 Arrive home

The positive side to this type of holiday in Thailand is that you get to see the best dive sites the country has to offer. The negative side is that you would miss out on all the culture and sites around Thailand, it really depends what you want from a holiday! If you’re like me and many other divers who travel to Thailand often then you can have the best of both worlds. On one trip you can do the liveaboard and on your next trip stick with dayboat diving. The advantage of doing it this way is that you get all the dive sites. Liveaboards don’t often visit the same sites the day boats do.

Scuba diving holidays in Thailand are just as varied as the country itself and after only one visit you should try and get back to somewhere different the next time to dive something new!

It is easy to see why this jungle hearted island, encircled by sweeping beaches has become the most popular beach destination in Thailand. Getting this, the largest island, is now so very easy with direct flights from Europe and other Asian destinations as well as multiple daily flights from Bangkok. Holiday makers also arrive by the causeway linking the island to the mainland, so coaches and minibuses will take you from any other location south of Bangkok to Phuket. The only transport that is missing is the train but many Thailand tours will transfer you by train to Surat Thani then a coach onwards to Phuket if its budget you are after.

I have traveled by coach from Bangkok to Phuket and would say if you can afford it try and avoid this. It’s a very long journey, some 16 hours in total although advertised as 12 hours, even with its many stops and when you finally arrive in Phuket your first day may be catching up on lost sleep. As a diver though any form of road travel allows you an extra days diving, with the flying-diving restrictions, but its best to work this out as the journey time of the bus may also waste a day.

Finding a dive company to take you diving will be no problem here. Phuket has the biggest number of dive centers in Thailand but that does not mean that are all good, in fact with that many about I would say if you’re not careful you will end up with a poor one. Like everything else I suggest you do your research before you arrive and check out some companies web sites. Location is not really a problem as all dive centers will pick up and drop off at your hotel.

Hotel Locations

Patong is the largest beach destination on the island and has hundreds of hotels and guest houses at a variety of prices. Hotels on the beach front or soi’s running off the beach are prime location and as such can demand high prices. Rat-U-Thit Rd runs parallel with the beach road and will get very busy in the evening with traffic, stalls and restaurant markets setting up. A variety of cheap accommodation will be found here but there is also the higher 3-4 star places. My personal choice of hotel in Patong is the Deevana Resort & Spa at the north end of Rat-U-Thit Rd. It’s close enough to all the action of Patong but far enough away that at night it’s quiet. Nanai Rd runs parallel with the other 2 but is set further back so requires transport to the beach. It offers splendid views of Patong as some hotels are set in the hillside.

Karon beach is a very long stretch of white sand with many hotels along most of it. With this number of hotel rooms is can be easier to get a one with a sea view that wont break to bank to do so and it may also be the place to go when Patong fills up. Cheap taxi’s make Patong accessible but you will find plenty of bars and restaurant in north and south ends of Karon beach, so you don’t really need to go anywhere for your evening entertainment. The southern end of the beach has some rock outcrops that can provide a nice day snorkeling just off the beach.

Kata is largely dominated by Club Med, but there are a few other hotels in the area now, many of which have direct beach access. That is to say you can go straight onto the beach from reception without crossing any roads, unlike most other hotels in Phuket. This area is a fast up and coming destination now with many restaurant and bars to keep you suitable watered and feed during your holiday. The rocky outcrops at the north and south tips of this beach offer some nice snorkeling options for those in between dive days.

Other Beach Destinations. With so much beach surrounding this island there are many destinations to Phuket and the 3 I have outlined above are only the main ones in terms of popularity and choice of hotels. Other places you may want to consider include Rawai beach, Kamala beach, Surin beach, Phuket Town and Chalong Bay amongst others.

Scuba diving in Thailand offers some of the most spectacular dives in Asia and with the monsoon patterns affecting different parts of the country at different times, the diving here is available all year. There is something to excite all levels of divers, whether they are in the Gulf of Thailand or the Andaman Coast dives range from shallow reef dives to deep wreck dives.

In Thailand however it’s not all about the diving and topside destinations are just as important in selecting your holiday dive destination. If you want to dive in the Gulf of Thailand your best option for topside happiness would be in Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Chumphon & Pattaya these are all popular Thailand diving destinations.

If diving in the Andaman Sea is you decision then you should base yourself in Phuket, Phi-Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta or Khao Lak from which are great starting points for scuba diving in the Similan Islands.

All Thailand diving destinations offer a different tropical feel, you are sure to find a destination that suits your taste for a perfect holiday, scuba diving Thailand or otherwise.

NORTHERN GULF OF THAILAND

Pattaya is the main destination for divers interested in technical and wreck diving as the waters off this coast is deeper with a large number of wrecks compared to the other destinations in Thailand.

The island Koh Chang is fast becoming a popular Thailand diving destination offering shallower waters as well as a huge amount of marine life, providing a great environment for diving instruction & guided diving tours.

Chumphon, further past south past Hua Hin, similarly to Koh Chang, is relatively new in the scuba diving destination market. Chumphon offers over 30 islands that belong to the marine national park. Lying just off the coast in the Gulf of Thailand the scuba diving around the islands offers sheltered reefs that are virtually untouched.

SAMUI ARCHIPELAGO

Further south in the Gulf of Thailand is the Samui Archipelago that incorporates the Angthong Marine National Park. The majority of scuba diving in this area is from the shores around the island of Koh Tao which offers beautiful fringing coral reefs and the

Other popular diving destinations here are Koh Samui & Koh Phangan but with the dive sites further away expect a boat ride to the dive sites in the marine national park and some really good ones north of these islands.

THE ANDAMAN COAST

What makes Thailand scuba extremely popular is the liveaboard scuba diving cruises offered to the Similans and Surin Islands, and further north into Myanmar (Burma). Situated on the west side of Thailand the Andaman coast is the perfect jump off point to these dive locations with departure points in both Phuket and Khao Lak.

The dive sites closer to shore also attract a large numbers of divers looking for daytrips only. Krabi is only about 1.5 hours from Phuket by road and shares all the same dive sites but if its island life you like, then Phi Phi & Koh Lanta are destinations to consider for your daily diving.

In summery scuba diving in Thailand offers a huge range of dives to suit all tastes from the novice up to the seasoned professional. This is only a short Introduction to the dive locations and in further posts I will outline the holiday destinations and dive sites available from each one.