For scuba divers, Thailand offers many varieties of marine life from small invertebrates to much bigger encounters.
And the southern dive sites present grandiose dives over hard coral and spectacular boulders.
The eastern dive sites offer breath taking views of high cliffs emerging from the bottom of the ocean and covered in vibrant hews of soft corals.
The inviting emerald warm waters of Phuket will greatly enhanced a diver’s wonderful memories of diving Thailand.
The dives are accessible in three ways. By daily regular dive trips that reach the Phuket dive sites between 1:30 and 3:00 hours. By privately chartered speed boats.
And by local boats that can access neighbouring dive sites along the coast line of Phuket in minutes.
Shark Point:
- Rating: 5*
- Depth: 28 meters
- Boat Trip Time: 1H30
Dive Site Description:
This is certainly one of the most popular and most diverse dive sites. This series of three pinnacles and several rocky outcrops makes for amazing underwater photo opportunities.
Here, one of the richest marine ecosystems in this whole area is on display, due to the incredible amount of dendronephthya Soft coral, sea whips, sea fans, barrel sponges, whip and wire coral.
Next to a wide range of smaller critters like the Seahorse, Pipefish, Scorpion fish and Nudis, there is great schooling fish life too, including Snappers, Bigmouth Mackerels, Barracudas, Queen fish, Tunas and Oriental Bonitos. Glimpses of Zebra sharks, which gave the Site its name are highlights.
Racha Noi:
- Rating: 4*
- Depth: 30+
- Boat Trip Time: 1H30
Dive Site Description:
Racha Noi, compared to Racha Yai, is an uninhabited island. The waters are clear and deep with moderate to fairly strong currents.
It is a good place to spot larger fish such as Barracudas, Jacks, Manta Rays and Zebra Sharks. It offers beautiful underwater formations with fringing reefs, sand rubble, rocky seabed and granite boulders encrusted with sponges, hard and soft coral.
Cracks, crevices and coral provide a great habitat for all different kinds of marine life, including schools of Sergeant majors, rainbow runners and Snappers.
In shallow water Squid and Cuttlefish are frequently seen along with colourful Nudibranchs and Flatworms on the steep faces of the rocks.
With 9 different dive sites this island offers quite a variety. Hard corals, large bolder, soft corals reef-slopes and drop-offs; every dive site has its own attraction.
Leopard sharks are very common and with a little luck divers might encounter a majestic manta ray.
Koh Phi Phi:
- Rating: 5*
- Depth: 30+
- Boat Trip Time: 3H00
Dive Site Description:
Monoliths rising straight from the sea. Includes wall dives, cave as well as shallow coral garden all densely populated with corals and reef fish.
King Cruiser Wreck
- Rating: 5*
- Depth: 32
- Boat Trip Time: 1H30
Dive Site Description:
On May 1997 this passenger ferry sunk, on its way to Phi Phi, hitting the Anemone Reef…
Now, this big wreck sits on a sandy bottom of 32 meters. The water conditions require a good level and a certain experience to dive on.
Strong currents are not uncommon and the visibility can be much reduced too. Due to the wreck’s location that close to the neighboring sites Shark Point and Anemone Reef, it is teeming with life and had a very fast population growth in just a short time.
Big pelagics, Turtles, Bamboo Sharks, Nudibranchs and loads of Scorpion fish can be seen here.
The Wreck is an extremely popular dive.
Anemone Reef
- Rating: 5*
- Depth: 26
- Boat Trip Time: 1H30
Dive Site Description:
A small underwater pinnacle, sitting on a fairly flat, sand rubble bottom, entirely covered in anemones, offering a perfect hideout for small porcelain crabs, shrimps and countless anemone fish.
The profusion of sea anemones and the nutrient rich water are a magnet to a constant parade of reef fish seeking food and shelter.
Schools of snappers, mackerels and jacks along with larger game fish like Tuna and even Wahoo, as well as the occasional Zebra Shark can be seen here.
Currents can vary from middle to pretty strong.
