Diving in Thailand in January: Where to Dive and What to Expect

Featured image: Weldon Kennedy from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Is Diving in Thailand in January Worth It?

Yes, for most divers, with one trade-off. January sits inside the Andaman dry-season window, so most boats run and most sites are reachable. The price is popularity. Dive shops fill early, and the better liveaboard cabins go first.

Sea state can still vary from week to week. Choppy mornings are more of an annoyance on speedboat transfers than underwater. We'd pick a base with a sheltered fallback site rather than plan every day around one famous pinnacle. If your dates can move, compare December diving and February diving before you book flights.

Andaman Sea vs Gulf of Thailand in January

The Andaman side, on Thailand's west coast, is our default for January. The Similan and Surin marine parks are reported to open from mid-October to mid-May, which covers the whole month. Check the national parks authority for exact opening dates, daily limits and fees before you commit to a trip.

The Gulf, home to Koh Tao and Koh Samui, is less settled in early winter. The monsoon tail can linger there, so visibility and sea state are less consistent than on the Andaman coast. Koh Tao still works for training courses and sheltered shore-side sites. We would not build a January itinerary around it for big-fish sites.

For numbers on how warm the water feels, see our page on Thailand Water Temperature by Month and Sea: What to Wear. We prefer that to quoting a single figure that varies by site and depth.

Best Dive Bases in January

Pick the base first, then the boat. Each one below suits a different kind of trip.

• Khao Lak: expect only 2-3 dive days on a short trip, because boat days are long.
• Phuket and Phi Phi: ask each shop about group size and whether divers from other shops share the boat.
• Koh Lanta: Hin Daeng and Hin Muang suit advanced certification and comfort with current.
• Koh Lipe: it sits inside Tarutao National Marine Park and rewards a longer stay.
• Koh Tao: treat January as a gamble on sea state and visibility.

Day Trips vs Liveaboards in January

Liveaboards typically run 3-10 nights and reach remote sites with several dives a day. Day boats suit shorter schedules but cost you comfort and travel time. In January both are busy, so book either one early.

We'd choose by these criteria:

• Time: under a week, take day boats; a week or more, consider a short liveaboard.
• Seasickness: day trips by speedboat feel rough in a chop, while larger liveaboards ride more smoothly.
• Certification: check the operator's minimum level for current-heavy sites such as Hin Muang.
• Snorkeler companions: day boats from Phuket and Phi Phi are easier to arrange than a liveaboard.
• Budget: liveaboards usually cost more up front, but meals, cabin and several dives are bundled.

Marine Life You Might See

Whale sharks and mantas are possibilities in January, never promises. Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon and Hin Daeng are the names divers associate with big-fish chances. On most dives, expect reef fish, turtles and macro life such as nudibranchs, ghost pipefish and seahorses.

Plan each dive for what the site reliably offers. Treat any pelagic sighting as a bonus.

How Many Days to Plan

Match your route to your calendar. Transfers eat time, so fewer bases usually means more dives.

• 3-4 days: stay in Phuket or Phi Phi and book day boats.
• 1 week: base in Phi Phi or Khao Lak, and add one Similan day trip or a short liveaboard.
• 2 weeks: move south by stages, from Khao Lak to Phuket, then Koh Lanta, then Koh Lipe.

Costs, Booking and Peak-Season Tips

January is peak season, so rooms on Koh Phi Phi cost a premium and the best boats sell out. We rank costs by level: day trips are budget to mid, Koh Lanta's remote sites are mid, and Similan liveaboards are mid to premium. Prices and hours were checked in November 2026 only in the sense that no operator rates are listed here. Ask each shop for a current quote.

Avoid these mistakes:

• Booking late, when cabins and cheaper rooms have already gone.
• Stacking ferry, road and boat transfers into the same day.
• Assuming every site is open on your dates.
• Sending a newer diver to a current-heavy site such as Hin Muang.

Getting There and Around

Phuket is the practical arrival point for Khao Lak, Phi Phi, Lanta and Lipe. Phi Phi speedboats leave from Rassada pier, which is not far from Phuket Old Town. Lipe is reached by boat, and Lanta by road and ferry. Check current ferry and speedboat timetables with the operator when you book. Airport bus fares change, so confirm the current price on arrival.

If your plans slip, March diving and April diving are the next options. You can also browse the other months from the dive calendar.

What to Pack and Who Each Base Suits

A 3 mm wetsuit is usually enough, and some divers go lighter. Bring a dive torch for night dives, reef-safe sunscreen and seasickness tablets if you join a liveaboard.

For a diver with snorkeling companions, we'd pick Phuket or Phi Phi. Day boats there let non-divers join, and Kata Beach has easy snorkeling. For couples after remote reefs, Khao Lak or Lanta fits better. Beginners will find Koh Tao's course scene easier.