Diving in Phuket works almost all year round, within a radius that has no equal in Thailand. Gentle coral gardens for beginners sit 45 minutes south by boat, the King Cruiser wreck two hours to the south-east, and the Similan Islands – the country’s finest dive region – begin about 100 km to the north.
If you already know what you are after: Racha Yai diving is the relaxed day for beginners and refreshers, while King Cruiser, Shark Point & Koh Dok Mai is the day for experienced divers, with three dives down to 32 metres. Both trips are run by our partner South Siam Divers, departing daily from Chalong Pier.
All the local dive sites around Phuket are diveable year round – the only question is which side the monsoon is on. Your guide picks the sheltered, calmest spot every morning.
| Period | Water | Visibility | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| January–April | 28–30 °C | 20–35 m | Dry season, calm sea – the best window |
| November–December | 28–29 °C | 15–25 m | Season opening, occasional showers |
| May–October | 27–29 °C | 10–20 m | South-west monsoon, changeable – Similans closed |
Rule of thumb: come between January and April for the best conditions, and book early. In summer, Racha Yai is the safest bet, because the guide can simply move to the sheltered side of the island. The Similan Islands are open only from 15 October to 15 May – Similan trips stop completely over the summer.
Yes – as a Discover Scuba Diving participant. An instructor briefs you, you practise in shallow water, then make one dive to a maximum of 12 m under direct supervision. It is an experience, not a certification. Alternatively, snorkel the shallow reefs around Racha Island and Coral Island – our guide shows which snorkelling trip matches your ability.
Between January and April: calm seas, 28–30 °C water and 20–35 m visibility. From May to October the south-west monsoon brings changeable conditions and 10–20 m visibility, but the local sites usually stay diveable because the guide moves to the sheltered side.
A dive day with two dives starts at ฿3,000 and with three dives at ฿3,600 – including hotel transfer, lunch, tanks, weights and a guide. Equipment hire is ฿500 per day. Snorkellers join for ฿2,000 to ฿2,500. Similan trips and liveaboards cost considerably more.
Racha Yai. The island is only 45 to 60 minutes from Chalong Pier, with gently sloping sand between 5 and 30 m and almost no current – ideal for your first dive after certification or after a long break. The sites around King Cruiser and Shark Point are deeper with more current and suit experienced divers better.
No. Leave at least 18 to 24 hours between your last dive and your flight – otherwise you take an unnecessary risk of decompression sickness. After three dives in one day that matters even more, so never book a dive day on your departure day.
