30 guides
Phuket
Five dive sites by experience level, and how a try dive, a course and a day trip compare on price.
THAILAND DIVING AND SNORKELING GUIDES
Choose your island.
Know the reef.
Dive the right season.
Dive sites, courses, liveaboards, snorkel trips and marine parks for each Thai island and coast, with sources you can check.
Explore Dive Areas Island by island. Site by site. Sources you can check.
ANDAMAN · GULF01 / Illustration, not a photograph of a specific site.
14 dive areasAndaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand
338 guidesDiving and snorkeling, coast by coast
26 dive site guidesDepth, level and what to expect
44 marine life guidesWhat you might see, and where
PICK A COAST
Two seas, two diving seasons
Thailand's dive areas sit on two coasts with different calm months. Start with the coast, then the island or town you will dive from.
Andaman Sea
The west coast: Phuket and Khao Lak day boats, the Similan and Surin national parks, Phi Phi, Krabi, Koh Lanta and Koh Lipe.
Best Time to Dive Phuket
16 guides
Similan Islands
Eight dive sites, when to go, and a day trip versus a liveaboard, with the costs to check before booking.
10 guides
Khao Lak
Similan day trips, the local wreck and liveaboards, with season timing matched to your certification.
16 guides
Phi Phi
Six dive sites, the certification each needs, and a Phi Phi base versus a Phuket day trip.
20 guides
Koh Lanta
Koh Haa, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, the May to October closure, and which boat trip suits you.
10 guides
Koh Lipe
Seven dive sites by skill level, the season trade-offs, and how to choose a dive shop.
Gulf of Thailand
The east coast: Koh Tao training reefs, Sail Rock between Samui and Phangan, and the wrecks off Pattaya and Koh Chang.
Best Time to Dive Koh Tao
51 guides
Koh Tao
Eight sites by level, the seasons, course options, cost ranges and how to choose a dive center.
15 guides
Koh Samui
Sail Rock, Ang Thong and Koh Tao day trips, the best months, and whether to base on Samui or Koh Tao.
7 guides
Koh Phangan
Sail Rock, shallow reefs and beginner trips, and how a Phangan base compares with Koh Tao.
8 guides
Pattaya
Seven dive sites by level, wreck and island trips, course prices in baht and honest visibility expectations.
11 guides
Koh Chang
Eight dive sites and wrecks matched to your certification, with the season, costs and nearby alternatives.
WHEN TO GO
Diving in Thailand, month by month
Each month's guide says which coast is calm, what the water is like and which parks are open.
MARINE LIFE
What lives on Thai reefs
Where and when each animal is seen, how likely a sighting is, and how to behave around it.
LEARN TO DIVE
From a first breath underwater to instructor
What each step includes, how long it takes and what it costs in baht.
- 01Try itOne supervised dive, no certificate
- 02Open WaterThe first certification, to 18 m (59 ft)
- 03AdvancedDeep and navigation dives, to 30 m (98 ft)
- 04RescueProblem solving and assisting other divers
- 05DivemasterThe first professional level
- 06InstructorThe PADI Instructor Development Course
Before you book: 5 Best Places to Learn to Dive in Thailand (By Season) · PADI vs SSI · Cost of Diving in Thailand · Scuba Diving Certification in Thailand · Freediving Course in Thailand · Scuba Diving Age Limit · Diving Medical Form · 6 Things Scuba Diving Insurance Must Cover in Thailand
BROWSE BY TOPIC
Every guide, by topic
Each topic collects its guides from both coasts, with sources beside the facts.
26 guides
Dive sites
Pinnacles, wrecks and bays: depth, level and what lives there.
67 guides
Snorkeling
Reefs you can reach from the beach or a day boat, and the tours worth booking.
29 guides
Dive courses
Try dives to instructor courses: what each includes and costs.
30 guides
Dive centers
How to choose a shop, and the named centers on each island.
44 guides
Marine life
Whale sharks, mantas, turtles and reef fish: where and when they are seen.
33 guides
Seasons
When each coast is calm, month by month, with water temperatures.
19 guides
Marine parks
Park seasons, closures and entry fees in baht.
8 guides
Liveaboards
Multi-day trips to the Similans, Surin and Richelieu Rock.
8 guides
Freediving
Breath-hold courses and where to train.
5 guides
Planning
Insurance, medical forms, flying after diving and costs.
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Sourced guides
Factual claims carry a link to the source beside them. Koh Reefs Editorial is a publication byline.
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Dated and updated
Each guide shows when it was published and last updated.
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Check before you book
Confirm current dates, prices and booking terms with the operator.
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Check the sources
Look for article-level citations beside descriptions, prices and practical details.
Planning FAQ
A few things you might be wondering.
How to use our diving and snorkeling guides, check sources and plan dives in Thailand.