Welcome to the aquatic paradise of Thailand, where vibrant coral reefs, crystal-clear waters, and diverse marine life beckon adventure seekers to explore the depths of its mesmerizing underwater world. In this Complete Guide to Diving in Thailand, embark on a journey through the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, discovering the country’s top dive sites, marine sanctuaries, and hidden gems. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced diver, this guide promises to unveil the enchanting realm beneath the waves, offering insights into the best dive spots and essential tips for an unforgettable underwater experience.
Everything You Need To Know About Diving in Thailand
Why take your dive course in Thailand?
Spectacular and safe diving Makes Thailand top of people’s bucket list
Why Thailand is so popular for scuba diving
Thailand as a dive destination needs no introduction to certified scuba divers, but what if don’t have your PADI dive license yet? You might wonder “Why to take your PADI diving course in Thailand?”
Thailand often referred to as the “Land of Smiles” is situated right at the heart of Southeast Asia. Renowned for its unique culture and internationally famed cuisine. The country emanates incredible beauty with stunning peaks in the north surrounded by lush tropical jungles and further south palm trees fringing beautiful white sandy beaches, not to mention some of the world’s most diverse and colorful coral reefs.
“Thailand also has so many unique cultural attractions like big Buddha’s and Temples for example, all over the country You can see between Scuba Diving In Thailand”
“Thailand also has so manyWith the Gulf of Thailand on the East and the Andaman Sea on the west of Thailand, there are lots of scuba diving opportunities including coral reefs, drop-offs, shipwrecks, walls, and deep pinnacles.
After a day out scuba diving in Thailand, you wouldn’t have to look far for entertainment from picturesque sunsets and excellent dining to social drinking and lively bars in Pattaya!
Traveling to Thailand Is easy
Thailand is a traveler’s dream and one of the major tourist destinations in Southeast Asia for a good reason! Thailand is a large country, with an enormous amount of things to see and do whether Exploring the mountains up north, visiting sanctuaries in Chang Mai or scuba diving in the Gulf of Thailand further south. You won’t be short of amazing experiences.
Most visitors arrive at one of Bangkok’s two international airports, Suvarnabhumi International being the largest and newest airport in Thailand and one of South East Asia’s busiest!! Don Muang Airport, once downgraded in place of Swammy Airport reopened to international flights due to high demand.
There is also another chance to fly into Thailand besides Phuket since more recently U-Tapao Pattaya Airport has begun to accept certain International flights. located just 40 minutes from Pattaya. Besides these flights, U-Tapao Pattaya Airport also flies many budget airlines making cross Thailand Travel easier than ever before! Prices are kept down as nearly all the major airlines that fly into Asia land in Bangkok creating plenty of options for potential customers.
Once you arrive in Thailand, you will find Thailand has a good transport infrastructure making it easy for you to get around the country whatever your budget.
Planes, trains, and automobiles
Budget Flights in Thailand
The quickest, most comfortable, and easiest way to travel to Thailand is by domestic flight, and on the whole, it’s not too expensive either.
There are plenty of budget operators who compete for customers, meaning plenty of low fares and if you do some research, and plan ahead, it is possible to fly anywhere in the country for less than 2000 Thai Baht!
You can Fly to Pattaya Utapao Airport from many locations in Thailand and south east asia such as Chiang Mai , Phuket, Kuala Lumpur Hangzhou ,Macao and many more. Stop by and go for a dive in Pattaya!
Travel by Bus in Thailand
Generally speaking, buses are the easiest cheapest option for both price and comfort when traveling and the Government-run buses called BKS, run to every province in Thailand. The downside is that they take a long time. For example, a Bus to Koh Tao will take you an overnight ride of 12 hours and that is just to the ferry pier! It’s much easier to fly to Surat Thani in less than 1 hour. Then again, getting from Bangkok to Pattaya is nowhere near as difficult since a Bus from Bangkok to Pattaya costs only 120 baht and takes only a couple of hours.
Travel by Train in Thailand
The state railway of Thailand has a network that covers most of Thailand from the north down to the South where you can connect from Malaysia to the Northern border with Laos.
Most travelers use the sleeper/overnight services when traveling to or from Bangkok, or further north from Bangkok up to Chiang Mai. This saves on accommodation costs and makes traveling by train a popular choice for backpackers who are traveling the country or region extensively, over several months.
When compared to other forms of transport, Thailand trains are relatively slow and prone to delays. But they have modernized their carriages making them comfortable and do give extra freedom to move around.
Travel by Ferry in Thailand
Traveling from the mainland to various Thai Islands around the Gulf of Thailand is very easy due to modern, ferry services. With regular departures to most islands at least once an hour, it is quite easy to island hop when traveling through the region.
The ferry companies usually have a bus network that links in with their schedule, For example, you can get on a bus in Pattaya and go to Koh Chang. Your bus ticket includes your ferry ticket so you just hop on and sit back until you’re in paradise!
Thailand has a Warm Sunny Climate
Thailand is a tropical country meaning for most of the year it is hot and humid with high temperatures. Typically divided by three seasons: rainy (May-Oct Approx), caused by the southwest monsoon, cool (Nov–Feb), and hot (March-May). The rainy season is the least predictable of the seasons.
Most days are always warm and sunny so don’t expect it will rain all day every day but expect it to rain most days for a little bit during this season. The air temperature will vary between 25°C to 35 °C depending on the location and the season.
The area of Thailand where Pattaya is situated in the Gulf of Thailand is for the most part protected from the general climate pattern due to the sea immediately to the East. The coastal areas and islands in this region feel the effects of the northeast monsoon, bringing a rainy season between October and January with November being the wettest.
Pattaya’s rainy season is less severe than anywhere on the Andaman coast This is why Pattaya islands are open to dive all year around
Great Scuba Diving Destinations
You couldn’t be more spoilt for choice in Thailand, with many great locations as options for you to take a PADI course with Pattaya being one of them, it was the birthplace of scuba diving in Thailand due to its very close proximity and ease of access from Bangkok.
Pattaya Scuba Diving
Pattaya is a coastal resort town, located only an hour or so away from Bangkok. By far the quickest access to scuba diving in Thailand and is the most vibrant city in Thailand. The diving in Pattaya is conducted around 3 main diving areas. Pattaya near islands, Ko Larn, Ko Sak, Ko Khrok. The Pattaya Far Islands of Ko Rin, Ko Phai, and Ko Manwhichai and the Samae San Islands.
Scuba Diving In Pattaya is famed for its numerous wrecks, more than anywhere in Thailand: the HTMS Kut, HTMS Khram, HTMS Mataphon, and the SS Sudhadib / Hardeep shipwreck.
Pattaya is also renowned for its reputation as one of the best diver training grounds due to some areas presenting strong currents and various water conditions Divers who get their PADI diving licence or continue their scuba diving education in Pattaya will be well prepared for a majority of dive conditions and be able to dive more or less anywhere in the world with ease.
Koh Tao Scuba Diving
Located about 14 hours from Pattaya in the Gulf of Thailand this tiniest little island is known as the Rock and is the epicenter for diver certifications in the world.
More people get their PADI Scuba Diving in Koh Tao than anywhere else in the world. It has some great dive sites and wonderful marine life on offer too!
The downside to diving in Koh Tao could also be the attraction. It is the cheapest place in Thailand (possibly the world) to take your PADI courses however with such competition on the islands you’ll find certain times extremely busy around the dive sites and your dive classes will certainly be shared with several other students.
Phuket Scuba Diving
Phuket is the largest Island in Thailand and is situated on the west coast along the Andaman Sea. Phuket is in many ways a lot like Pattaya. A lively atmosphere combined with some great reefs, unusual underwater rock formations, and a huge variety of marine life for divers to enjoy
Phi Phi Scuba Diving
This place became famous after the release of the movie “The Beach” so naturally you will find amazing beaches, coral reefs, and amazing marine life down the South of Thailand. Since it is located in the Andaman Sea is best visited in the earliest part of the year and not around monsoon.
Does Thailand Have Year-round Diving?
A big question is when is the best time to scuba dive in Thailand?
Thailand has two main diving areas, The Gulf of Thailand on the East Coast where we are situated in Pattaya. Samae San Islands and diving in Koh Chang are also situated here, a little further east. Then the Andaman Sea on the West coast although you will find dive centers open in both locations all year round due to Thailand’s warm climate and variety of dive sites the south of Thailand is generally best left for the better weather!
Scuba diving in Thailand is very comfortable due to the water temperature being between 26°C to 30°C all year round. No Dry suits or think neoprene wetsuits are needed here! You can always dive in a rash guard but you might find a 2mm or 3mm short wetsuit nice if you get cold easily. The average visibility in this region is 10m to 40m with different factors affecting the range.
Gulf of Thailand
It is possible to Dive in Pattaya all year round with a large range of dive sites available, almost all very local to Pattaya Beach. The best time to dive in Pattaya runs from November to March. April through to August can have some great conditions but tend to be a little less predictable, both above and below the water.
Long sunny days, calm seas, and great visibility enable divers to enjoy great diving conditions when taking their PADI courses. Come diving in Pattaya to See Sea Turtles, Seahorse, and even Sharks
Andaman Sea
The best period to dive from Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, and Koh Lanta is from Jan to April when the visibility is very good. From April to October, the sea is very choppy and visibility is often reduced due to the southwesterly monsoon season. This means the further outlying pinnacles will be unavailable but local dives are still open to diving on good days.
Liveaboards in Thailand
Taking a liveaboard to the magnificent marine parks To Scuba Dive at the Similan Islands and Surin Islands is possible only between October and May. This area holds some of the best dive sites in Thailand but is closed during the rainy season to protect the coral reefs.
Whale Sharks Thailand
There are more and more Whale shark sightings year after year in Thailand, in both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Whale sharks have been spotted regularly around the Koh Chang Wreck as well as Rayong, Samae San diving close to Pattaya. If you are lucky that is, you can also seek out whale shark diving at Koh Tao and the Similan Islands.
Quality of training
PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is the world’s largest and most recognized scuba diving training agency with the most solid system of diver education available. PADI Diver training courses are all performance-based and not time-based meaning all students can learn at their own pace and not feel pressured.
PADI dive courses are designed to make learning to dive fun, enjoyable, and productive for the students. All PADI programs, from beginner-level courses up to dive professional training, have high standards that are monitored for worldwide consistency and quality.
The basics of diving physics and physiology are introduced during entry-level courses with the more in-depth details of these concepts being left for later courses. Each PADI course is designed to build on the previous one, improving your skills and techniques to be a better, safer scuba diver.
PADI Dive Courses For all Levels
PADI Discover Scuba Diving – This is PADI’s Premiere try diving experience and the world’s most popular recognized 1-day scuba diving program. Although it is not a certification dive course it is an amazing experience for those who want to experience diving in Thailand for just one single day.
PADI Open Water Diver – The world’s most popular and widely recognized scuba diving course. Millions of people have learned to scuba dive through the PADI Open water course and gone on to discover the secrets of the underwater world whilst at the same time, forging unforgettable memories and experiences! Completing this course will certify you to dive anywhere in the world to a depth of 18 meters.
PADI Advanced Open Water Diver– Designed to advance your skills in diving and build on what you learned in your beginner course, you can start immediately after completing the Open Water certification.
This course will add confidence and expand your scuba skills through different Adventure Dives including Deep diving, underwater Navigation, and more. When completed you are certified to dive to a depth of 30m.
PADI Rescue Diver – A course for more experienced divers in which you learn how to prevent and manage problems in the water, and become more confident in your skills as a diver. During the course, you learn to become a better buddy by practicing problem-solving skills until they become second nature. It is a challenging but extremely fun course to take.
PADI Divemaster – The PADI Divemaster course is the world’s most popular professional-level scuba diving course. At the first professional level in the PADI System of diver education, you will enhance your dive knowledge, management, and supervision abilities so you become a role model to a diver.
You will be taught how to become a leader and take charge of diving activities enabling you to make a career through scuba diving.
The best dive sites in Thailand
Thailand dive sites are so varied they can suit just about all your needs from shallow coral reefs perfect for PADI Open Water divers to deep pinnacles or wreck dives that excite the more experienced scuba divers.
SS Suddhadib – One of Pattaya’s most famous and popular wreck dive sites, Samae sans premier deep dive site can give more experienced divers extra depth to explore while visiting an authentic Second World War shipwreck. This site has lots to offer with its beautiful corals that have been developing since it sank in 1945 and marine life that has made it their home. Hawksbill turtles also being regular visitors.
Koh Rin Island – Widely regarded as Pattaya’s best local dive site, it is one big island that offers a huge fringing coralline around its south side. Beautiful coral reefs lay all around from 5m to 14 meters from the surface. The water clarity here is always nice.
Sail Rock – This is the premier scuba diving site in the Gulf of Thailand. Situated about 2 hours boat ride from Koh Tao it is a huge rock that starts down at a depth of 40 meters and rises 8 meters out of the water. It also has a unique swim-through known as “the chimney” which enables you to descend and/or ascend inside the rock.
Richelieu Rock – Accepted as Thailand’s very best and most famous dive site, a horseshoe-shaped reef that lies in the Andaman Sea and is thought to have been discovered by Jacques Cousteau. It is known for its very diverse marine life ranging from shrimps and seahorses to large pelagic like whale sharks, barracudas, and giant groupers.
HTMS Chang Wreck – The largest of Thailand’s Artificial Reef shipwrecks at 100m long lays on the sea bed upright from 30m. The Chang Wreck is an absolute must for wreck divers and a trip diving Koh Chang is easily combined with a scuba diving Pattaya as these dive destinations are only a few hours down the coast from each other!
Get Into It! Go Diving in Thailand, Get Your PADI, Or Continue your dive adventure!
Thailand is a fantastic scuba diving destination to learn to dive with the PADI Open Water Diver course and to become a scuba diver who can dive around the world.
If you are already Open water certified you should look to take your PADI Advanced Open Water course, PADI Enriched Air Nitrox, and PADI Deep Diver courses so you can explore the many world-class deep dive sites that encircle the country.
Naturally, the PADI Wreck Diving course is a major choice for Pattaya Divers if you come and dive in Pattaya on any of Pattaya Thailand’s amazing wrecks.
