Why Thailand is the ideal place to scuba dive

To be able to start diving you need to either take a singular lesson or enroll on a PADI course which will teach you how to dive safely. There’re different levels of PADI certification but the Open Water PADI is the best place to start for complete beginners; if you’re of a higher level there are a range of advanced courses including how to become a teacher and how to help people with disabilities. The programmes are typically three days long, with book chapters to read, tests to take but not forgetting the actual diving, of course! Once passed, your certification will allow you to dive with a buddy at sites anywhere in the world, independent of a professional, to a depth of 18 metres – it’s your passport to an underwater adventure.

The luscious beaches fringing this reinvented island are not only the ideal place to rejuvenate and recharge but are also the gateway to the incredible diversity of soft corals, black corals, barrel sponges, sea fans and anemones. Dive sites like Sail Rock, Southwest and Chumphon Pinnacle are frequented by whale sharks and you can expect to be swimming alongside jackfish, barracuda and parrotfish too. The literal translation of Koh Tao is Turtle Island, so fingers crossed you’ll find these inquisitive sea creatures. The Ang Thong Marine Park is also easily accessible by boat for day trips from the island, where an abundance of caves and swim-throughs lay ahead on your diving adventure. Koh Tao also offers a year-round diving calendar, with the ideal spots moving from the east to the west depending on the season. From February-May, visibility can reach up to 30 metres. Oh, and Koh Tao is second in the world for how many people gain their diving certification, sitting behind Cairns, Australia so trust us, this is a safe and easy-going environment to ‘dive’ into a new skill. 

Best for: Absolute beginners  
 

Fairly under the radar, Koh Lanta is a subtle and unboastful island, still chipping away at the tourist industry trying to sell itself. But it doesn’t need to – the modest villages and winding roads threading themselves through sweeping jungle speak for themselves, as well as making a great motorbike round trip, and if you fancy experiencing the true meaning of ‘island-life’ then this is the place for you. While there are no dive sites directly off Koh Lanta, it’s a central location for easy travel to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, which are two of Thailand’s best-kept secrets when it comes to diving sites, and occasional host of leopard sharks and manta rays. Hin Daeng is famous for its fantastic marine life on a steep underwater wall while Hin Muang is renowned for the vibrant violet coral. Both sites are also among the best places in the world for whale shark encounters. Visibility varies with the seasons, but you can expect between 15 and 40 metres. 

Best for: Certified divers

And onto the star of the show… The Similan Islands. Ranked by National Geographic Society as “One of the top 10 dive destinations to visit in the world”, this petite group of picturesque islands in the vibrant Andaman Sea are the renowned diving gem of Thailand. The word ‘Similan’ means ‘nine’ in Yawi – the local dialect - and each island in the group has a number up to nine, however the number of incredible diving experiences to be had off the edges of this national park are endless. These islands are incredibly well-protected and are only officially open to the public from 15th October until 15th May. However, you can’t stay on the actual islands with accommodation closest in Khao Lak on the mainland. Aside from the Jenga block of gargantuan boulders sitting on the shores, the world beneath the surface is why you come here. What makes these islands famed is the sheer number of wonders - more than 200 species of coral alone have so far been identified in this area and the Similan Islands have the greatest abundance of reef fish in Thai waters. Spotting Manta Rays and Whale Sharks is also a regular occurrence, while the beautiful conditions of the 25-degree waters makes it possible to dive without a wetsuit. Beacon Point is one for the advanced divers with dropping levels of 40 metres below the surface where you can explore stunning rock formations.

Best for: Advanced certified divers 

This is the getaway for lovers of secluded paradise. Koh Lipe sits undisturbed on the border of the Tarutao National Marine Park where warm aquamarine waters and a school of sealife make this a diver’s fantasy. The waters around Koh Lipe house an estimated 25 percent of the world’s tropical fish species along with the adorable dugongs, dolphins, turtles, minke and sperm whales. There’s also a few shore options for diving for those who prefer late rises, breakfast on the tranquil sands and hassle-free exploration – you can even night dive at these sites! Adventure into Stone Henge… no, you’re still in your idyllic island bliss, it’s a site featuring several large pinnacles rising from the reef, giving it the resemblance of Stonehenge in the UK. The diving here is suitable for all levels, but if you’re a more advanced diver the experiences you can have are truly mesmerising. There are also fewer divers here compared to other sites we’ve mentioned, so your time underwater is much less crowded and much more unforgettable.

Best for: Divers who want to get away from everything