Warm waters, mild oceanic currents and terrific visibility makes scuba diving in Phuket extremely enjoyable. The Thai waters are teeming with exotic marine life including yellow snappers, manta rays, whale sharks, turtles and squids, vibrant coral reefs, fascinating rock formations and as well as the shipwreck of King Cruiser which sunk here in 1997. All this makes scuba diving in Phuket the perfect way to explore its underwater universe.
Scuba diving in Thailand is one of the top adventure activities, and Phuket is known for its fantastic coastal panorama. With pristine white beaches against the backdrop of the calm Andaman sea, Phuket is every holidayer's tropical paradise. Rich culture, history, vibrant nightlife and thriving ecosystems also add to the charm of Phuket. The allure of the Phuket waters attracts a lot of beginners as well as experienced and certified divers.
Heading to Thailand? Browse through our blog on the Top Adventures in Thailand. If you’re a newbie who is interested in diving, read about The Top Dive Spots for Beginners in Thailand.
Popular dive sites in Phuket
There are many uniquely beautiful dives sites around Phuket that are perfect for any level of diver but you'll find that the best ones are situated off shore and are easily reachable by boats. It flaunts scenic seascapes and rich aquatic life.
Koh Bida Nok- Phi Phi
The thrill of scuba diving in Phuket is incomplete without a dive in the waters of Koh Bida Nok in the world-famous Phi Phi Islands. It is one of the favourite sites for all scuba diving enthusiasts and is accessible to all levels of divers.
It has sandy bottoms, an extensive array of soft and hard corals and huge schools of fish in formation like snappers, surgeonfish, Butterfly fish, travallies and tuna. It’s truly breath-taking and leaves any diver agape. You can also expect to spot Black Tip Reef Sharks and Whale Sharks. You can find Turtles, cuttlefish and octopus, seahorses, sea snakes, moray eels and even the incredible Zebra Moray.
Racha Yai
The crystal waters of Ko Racha Yai and Ko Racha Noi Islands have impressive visibility and a very mild drift. This makes it perfect for beginners to experience the adventure of Scuba diving in Phuket. It's also the safest place to begin your Discover Scuba Diving trip or get your PADI Open Water certificate.
You'll be finning through limestone rocks, flourishing and branching staghorn corals and be amazed at the sight of yellow snappers, barracudas, lionfish, scorpionfish, damselfish, puffers, triggerfish, moray eels, turtles and squids.
King Cruiser Wreck
The wreckage of the Japanese ferry King Cruiser attracts gigantic schools of snappers, barracudas, fusiliers, rabbitfish, goatfish snappers, lionfish, scorpion fish and porcupine fish making it a marvelous kaleidoscopic sight for divers.
Lying on the sandy bottom since 1997, she's a majestic beast with open passageways and multiple decks slowly degrading away with threatening sharp metal protrusions sticking out at places. The current can also get a little vigorous sometimes, hence, this site is recommended only of Advanced certified divers.
Shark Point
Regarded as one of the best scuba diving sites in Phuket, it has earned its name due to the leopard sharks that regularly bask on the sandy bottoms. You can also take a peek at other species of sharks that inhabit the area mainly Zebra sharks and Bamboo sharks.
Shark point has two limestone pinnacles which is encircled and decorated with gorgonian corals, varied colourful soft corals and is alive with an abundance of sea life. Moderate current at this spot means that it's not always approved for beginner divers.
Courses for scuba diving in Phuket
The waters of Phuket are open to all levels of divers.
Discover Scuba Diving
If you're just a novice diver who wants a taste of scuba diving in Phuket, then this is for you. You need not even be a super swimmer and it's an ideal choice for those who do not have time for a full course.
Your scuba instructor will first teach you all there is to learn about scuba diving and then you'll dive into the open waters of the Andaman Sea to explore the breathtaking sight of its marine fauna and flora. You can earn a PADI certificate at the end of the course. If your operator offers more than a day in your itinerary, you are free to do some sightseeing around the tropical island.
PADI Scuba Diver Course
This course is for enthusiastic divers who want to go beyond Discover Scuba Diving. You can become a PADI-certified scuba diver in just two days. Master the basics by going through the theory of scuba diving along with training in a swimming pool on your first day. Your second day will be spent implementing your newly learned skills to dive deep into the sea to a maximum depth of 40 feet. You'll complete two open water dives accompanied by a dive instructor.
PADI Open Water Diver Course
One of the most sought-after courses of scuba diving, the PADI Open Water Diver Course enables you to become the proud owner of the PADI Open Water Diver certificate. Conducted over a stretch of three days, after extensive scuba diving theory and intense pool or shallow water practise sessions, this course lets you complete four fantastic open water dives all under the guidance of your dive instructor.
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course
If you're a certified scuba diver and you constantly feel the call of the ocean, The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course is for you. This is the next step for many who have already completed a scuba diving course. Take the skills and techniques you have learned in past courses and upgrade them to earn the certification of PADI Advanced Open Water Diver. After rehashing the theory and training, you'll complete five open water dives to the most captivating dive sites around Phuket and dive as deep as 100 feet.
Scuba diving in Phuket - Trip Summary
- Country: Thailand
- Nearest city: Phuket
- Total days: 1-5 days
- Grade: Easy to Advanced
- Max depth: 40-100 ft.
- Season: November to April
- Avg temperature: 25-32 degrees Celsius
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