Top 10 Diving Spots in Phuket for Beginners and Pros

Bangkok Airways Round-Up

• Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver, Phuket offers a wide range of diving spots from easy to advanced dives. Koh Racha Yai offers a variety of marine fish, while the King Cruiser Wreck presents a grand sight with lots of common residents hanging around in the area.
• The best time to dive in Phuket is from November to April, when the sea is calm and visibility is excellent. Encounter schools of tropical fish and even whale sharks if you’re lucky.

Discover stunning diving sites for every level of diver in Phuket, Thailand, and create a memorable experience in the Andaman Sea. If you have more time, embark on a liveaboard trip and explore even more spectacular dive sites around the Similan Islands.

Dive into a New Adventure beneath Phuket’s Seas

Phuket is a globally renowned tourist destination in the south of Thailand. As one of the world’s most popular scuba diving locations, the island serves as a gateway to some of the most majestic underwater discoveries. From easy shallow reefs to advanced wreck diving spots, Phuket caters to all levels of divers. 

The marine life on the island is truly spectacular, with an abundance of large creatures, juveniles, and other pelagics, such as leopard sharks, and occasionally even manta rays and whale sharks. 

Bangkok Airways gathered the top diving spots in Phuket for beginner and pro divers. Explore the vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life in the Andaman Sea, surrounding Phuket, Thailand.

Beginner-Friendly Diving Spots in Phuket

1. Koh Hey

Koh Hey, also known as Coral Island, is located approximately 10 kilometers south of Phuket and can be reached in 15-30 minutes by boat. Because of its close location to the main island, Koh Hey is one of the most popular snorkeling and diving sites for day trips.

Diving at Koh Hey is considered easy with shallow water depth around 5-12 meters, making it accessible and suitable for beginner divers, and even children. Enjoy watching tropical fish gliding through the crystal-clear water, like snappers, damselfish, butterflyfish, and parrotfish, while admiring the colorful hard corals just a short swim from the beach area.

2. Koh Racha Yai

Located close to Phuket, Koh Racha Yai can be reached in about 1 hour and 20 minutes by boat from Chalong Pier. With its proximity to the main island, Koh Racha Yai is one of the most popular diving sites in Phuket, offering incredible visibility and a magical underwater world. 

The island is a paradise for those who love to explore the rich marine life under the sea. With the calm and clear waters around the island, you can encounter an abundance of sea creatures, including barracudas, goatfish, parrotfish, moray eels, and anemonefish.

Moreover, it has shallow bays with coral reefs going to a depth of 25 meters, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced divers.

The highlight of Koh Racha Yai is the Harruby Shipwreck that sank in 2009 to become an artificial coral reef under the clear turquoise waters. Located between Bay 1 and Bay 2 on the east side of the island, the Wreck is a beautiful diving spot with depths ranging from 20 to 25 meters, where divers can admire the old wreck while encountering various marine creatures. 

Must-Visit Dive Sites Around Koh Racha Yai:

• Bungalow Bay: A sloping coral reef ranges from 5 to 22 meters and is mostly composed of staghorn and boulder corals. At this site, you may encounter parrotfish, angelfish, sea turtles, and moray eels. Other fish like razorfish, ghost pipefish, tongue fish, and sea slugs can be found in the shallower areas.
• Home Run Reef: Another sloping coral reef, ranging from 12 to 25 meters. With an abundance of staghorn and boulder corals, there are trumpetfish blending in with the surroundings, as well as octopuses and sea snakes hiding in the crevices. 
• Siam Bay: This dive site is ideal for beginners, with a depth of 12 to 18 meters. You can see many common reef fish and may even spot octopuses, cuttlefish, and blue-spotted stingrays on the sandy bottom. For macro enthusiasts, it is also a great night dive location. 

3 Koh Mai Thon

Situated east of Chalong Bay, Koh Mai Thon is the closest island to the bay with easy access via boat. It has gained popularity among divers because many dolphins have been reported to be seen in the area. Although it is not guaranteed, there is around a 60% chance of the playful dolphins coming out to greet divers. 

With its rich marine biodiversity, Koh Mai Thon offers an incredible range of sea creatures to explore, including leopard sharks, sea turtles, cuttlefish, and eels. Some of these species may appear in rare occurrences, but the flourishing underwater environment promises vibrant scenes of coral reefs and plenty of tropical fish swimming through.

Advanced Diving Spots in Phuket

4. King Cruiser Wreck

As one of the most popular diving spots in Phuket, the King Cruiser Wreck is a fascinating dive site that attracts numerous divers, and it can be reached in around 1 hour and 20 minutes from Chalong Pier. Sunk in 1997, the massive catamaran ferry, 85 meters long and 25 meters wide, has been under the Andaman Sea waiting for divers to admire and explore. 

Located on a sandy bottom at depths ranging between 18 and 33 meters, some parts of the wreck have collapsed over time, but the overall structure is still majestic to see. The King Cruiser has multiple decks with great open passages to discover. However, due to deterioration and strong underwater currents, this is suitable only for advanced certified divers.

After the sinking, countless marine life swarmed the wreck, creating a new habitat for many fish in the area. As you dive around this site, you will encounter schools of snappers and yellowtail barracudas, as well as the lionfish, scorpionfish, and porcupinefish. With plenty of marine creatures swimming around, diving at this site is like gliding through a massive living aquarium, giving you the experience of a lifetime.

5. Shark Point

Another excellent diving spot near Chalong Pier is Shark Point. This dive site has depths ranging from 25 to 30 meters, and it is popular for night diving to encounter many types of sharks, such as blacktip reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, and leopard sharks. Located about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the pier, it is another famous dive site in Phuket, ideal for experienced divers.

This iconic dive spot is famous for colorful soft and hard corals, giant sea fans, and barrel sponges along the underwater landscape. With various corals on the rock formations, it forms breathtaking scenery as schools of fish glide through the waves. From clownfish to pufferfish, divers can witness the lively world under the clear waters.

Shark Point obtained its name because of the chance of spotting graceful leopard sharks resting on the sandy seabed. If you are super lucky, the occasional whale shark might pass through the area. With the crystal-clear visibility, shark spotting, and vibrant coral gardens, Shark Point is an unmissable destination for anyone seeking the best Phuket’s underwater world has to offer.

6. Anemone Reef

Discover one of Phuket’s most picturesque dive sites and explore a range of colorful soft corals at Anemone Reef. Located about 1 hour and 20 minutes by boat from Chalong Pier, this spectacular dive site is renowned for its beautiful corals and countless sea anemones, suitable for both beginner and advanced divers, with shallow areas and deeper sections. 

Anemone Reef is a submerged pinnacle with a summit that lies around 5 meters below the surface. Dancing gently through the ripples, the sea anemones cover the reef like a colorful blanket, creating a mesmerizing underwater garden. The pinnacle stretches from the north to the south with a gently sloped channel ranging from 5 to 30 meters in depth. 

Renowned for its rich biodiversity, divers can expect to see playful clownfish, barracudas, and schools of snappers. Moreover, you may also spot harmless leopard sharks resting peacefully on the seabed.

7. Koh Dok Mai

Being the only wall dive in Phuket, Koh Dok Mai is one of the most unique dive sites in the area. Adventure seekers should not miss this impressive diving spot, located approximately an hour from Chalong Pier.

Covered with vibrant, soft corals, this island is a top destination among advanced divers seeking an adventurous dive with a variety of marine species all around. As the only wall dive in Phuket, Koh Dok Mai offers an eastern wall that descends to approximately 30 meters, where bamboo sharks are often spotted. 

Along the wall, plenty of cracks, overhangs, and small caves serve as shelters for an array of tiny marine creatures such as seahorses, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, and other species of shrimps and crabs. 

With vibrant corals and healthy biodiversity, Koh Dok Mai offers a perfect diving spot, especially for night diving when the corals open up beautifully like blooming flowers. At times, the current can be quite strong, making this an excellent dive site for drift diving.

Nearby Liveaboard Destinations

8. Similan Islands

The Similan Islands are an archipelago of 11 islands in the Andaman Sea that became a national park in 1982. Covering an area of about 140 square kilometers, the islands are renowned for their rich marine biodiversity and crystal-clear waters. The breathtaking landscape of the islands consists of towering granite boulders, shallow lagoons, and lush tropical forests.

Scattered around the Similan Islands, there are around 20 dive sites, each offering its own stunning uniqueness. From sloping coral gardens to impressive rocky formations, the Similan Islands are home to many interesting diving spots. 

• Christmas Point: It is a group of submerged boulders with depths going down to between 35 and 40 meters. With colorful soft corals and sea fans all over the crevices, you can find leopard sharks, reef sharks, Napoleon wrasse, giant trevallies, and tunas. 
• Fantasy Reef: Filled with vibrant corals and marine life, this dive site has a breathtaking scene of schools of butterflyfish, angelfish, and many others swimming through the reef. It offers a range of diving styles, from drift diving to deeper explorations.
• Elephant Head Rock: Surrounded by three small boulders, this is one massive boulder rising above the water, resembling the elephant’s head. A vast labyrinth of channels and openings lies underwater with many sea creatures, such as seasmoths, nudibranchs, barracuda, and peacock mantis shrimp. You may also spot whitetip reef sharks on the seabed in the deeper areas as well. 

As a widely recognized diving destination in Thailand, the Similan Islands promise a lasting diving experience featuring rugged rocky landscapes, vibrant coral reefs, and exotic marine species under the warm, clear waters. 

Noted: Similan Islands are closed to visitors during the low season from May 16 to October 14 each year.

9. Surin Islands

Another hidden gem near Phuket is the Surin Islands. Consisting of five islands, this small archipelago offers crystal-clear turquoise waters and untouched natural beauty waiting to be discovered. 

The Surin Islands are perfect for all levels of divers. With pristine coral reefs all around, it is ideal for both diving and snorkeling. The islands bring the utmost natural beauty because of minimal human activity and less pollution. The thriving reefs and diverse marine life create one of the most majestic underwater ecosystems in Thailand.

The Surin Islands are home to many interesting diving spots.

• Ao Suthhep: As the largest bay on South Surin Island, it features a massive coral reef stretching over 1,200 meters and lying about 200 to 500 meters from the shore. It is home to various corals, including boulder corals, fire corals, staghorn corals, and tough-surfaced finger corals. 
• Ao Tao: This site features a sloping reef descending around 20 to 25 meters in depth. While diving here, you may encounter large marine creatures such as whale sharks, manta rays, and hawksbill turtles. 
• Torrinla Island: It consists of many diving spots ideal for both snorkeling and diving. The coral reef stretches for hundreds of meters, covered with both hard and soft corals. Some of the common marine species found here include moray eel, green turtles, hawksbill turtles, and octopuses.
• Ao Mai Ngam: Situated on the western side of the bay, this is a perfect site for snorkeling with a wide range of coral reefs. During the summer months, there is a chance of spotting baby blacktip reef sharks near the mangroves.
• Richelieu Rock is located 14 kilometers from the Surin Islands. This world-famous site is often included in liveaboard diving trips from Phuket. Popular for diverse marine life, it is known as a ‘Whale Shark Magnet’ for whale sharks and manta rays sightings. 

As you dive into the area, the features of the diving spots include gently sloping reefs filled with vibrant hard corals and schools of barracudas and long-nosed batfish. Lucky divers may even encounter larger creatures like tuna, giant barracudas, or trevallies. 

For snorkelers, the underwater scenery still promises captivating views of colorful reefs in the shallow, sheltered waters. Move closer to the surrounding mangroves, and you may spot many fish species, including juvenile reef sharks. Whether you’re diving or snorkeling, the Surin Islands offer a peaceful escape into Phuket’s underwater paradise.

10. Phi Phi Islands

The Phi Phi Islands are undeniably one of Thailand’s true paradises. The islands gained global attention after they became the filming location for The Beach in the 1990s. As one of the most popular destinations near Phuket, the islands are home to an incredible variety of corals and marine life underwater. 

Below the water’s surface, the stunning scenery presents vibrant coral gardens that complement dramatic limestone cliffs above the water. Around the Phi Phi Islands, there are more than ten excellent dive sites, such as

• Bida Nai and Bida Nok: These are the most popular spots in the Phi Phi Islands. Located to the south of the archipelago, they take around two and a half hours to reach from Phuket. With a great chance of seeing turtles and sharks, the islands are home to plenty of corals, shallow reefs, and plateaus. 
• Palong Wall: This dive site is home to various species of marine creatures, making it a perfect destination for macro photographers. Beneath the surface, there are small tunnels and swim-throughs where divers can spot marine life like hawksbill turtles, blacktip reef sharks, and Kuhl’s stingrays. 

The islands are suitable for all levels of divers with maximum depths of 28-30 meters. Beginners are free to explore the colorful shallow reefs and schools of fish, while advanced divers can take the adventure deeper into the thriving ecosystem. 

The common residents around the islands include large schools of barracudas and trevallies, as well as mantis shrimps and seahorses. On a rare occasion, whale sharks may pass through the area, migrating from Malaysia to Myanmar.

Best Time to Dive in Phuket

The best time to visit and make the most of your diving trip in Phuket is from November to April, when visibility is excellent and the waters are calm and warm. During this period, various types of marine life like sharks, colorful tropical fish, sharks, dolphins, and even whale sharks can be encountered.

FAQs about Diving in Phuket

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