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.
Racha Yai & Racha Noi (12 and 25 km south): Racha Yai offers gently sloping sand and hard coral gardens between 5 and 30 m with almost no current – the best place to start. Racha Noi lies another 13 km south: deeper (10–40 m), more current, and known for manta rays and whale sharks in high season, so it suits experienced divers only. Both islands are diveable year round. Book Racha Yai diving →
King Cruiser, Shark Point & Koh Dok Mai (around 30 km south-east): The 85-metre car ferry King Cruiser sank on 4 May 1997 after striking Anemone Reef and now stands upright at 32 m. Close by, the three granite pinnacles of Shark Point rise from 26 to 18 m, famous for soft coral gardens and leopard sharks. Koh Dok Mai gives you a wall from 5 to 26 m with caves and first-class macro life. Book the King Cruiser, Shark Point & Koh Dok Mai trip →
Phi Phi Islands (around 45 km south-east): Bida Nok and Bida Nai are the leopard shark sites, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang the deep pinnacles down to 60 m. Mantas and whale sharks are possible but never guaranteed, and the ride takes about 1.5–2 hours. Prefer to stay on the surface? Try Phi Phi, Maya Bay & Khai Island.
Similans, Surin & Richelieu Rock (around 100 km north-west): Eleven granite islands with up to 40 m visibility, leopard sharks, turtles and Napoleon wrasse. Further north come Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, the Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock – for many the best site in Thailand, with manta rays and whale sharks between February and April. The national park is open only from 15 October to 15 May. Explore the Similan Islands →
| Your profile | What you want | Matching trip |
|---|---|---|
| Newly certified, little experience, long break | Shallow coral gardens, almost no current, short boat ride | Racha Yai diving (2 dives) |
| Experienced, want the wreck, depth and sharks | 3 dives to 32 m, soft corals, a wall | King Cruiser, Shark Point & Koh Dok Mai |
| Winter holiday (Nov–May), chasing top visibility | Granite boulders, 20–40 m visibility, big fish | Similan Islands |
| No certification, still want to look underwater | Snorkelling or a Discover Scuba Diving experience | Snorkelling in Phuket |
| Several days, as many dives as possible | Liveaboard with 7 to 27 dives | South Siam Divers liveaboard (on request) |
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Racha Yai day trip, 2 guided dives | ฿3,000 per person |
| King Cruiser, Shark Point & Koh Dok Mai day trip, 3 dives | ฿3,600 per person |
| Non-diver / snorkeller on the dive boats | ฿2,000–฿2,500 per person |
| Full equipment set (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins) | ฿500 per day |
| Single items (BCD / regulator / wetsuit / mask & snorkel / fins) | ฿200 / ฿200 / ฿100 / ฿50 / ฿50 per day |
| Similan day trip from Taplamu Pier (2 dives, guide price) | from ฿4,900 per person |
| Similan national park fee (paid locally, not included) | ฿500 entry + ฿200 per diver per day |
| Liveaboard 2 days / 1 night (7 dives, guide price) | from ฿13,900 per person |
The last two lines are guide prices from our partner South Siam Divers and not bookable products in this shop. Park fees are set by the national park and can change.
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.
