Scuba Diving in Thailand

More PADI certifications get issued in Thailand than almost any other country on the planet, and most of them happen on a single small island in the Gulf. That tells you something about how well Thailand does accessible, affordable scuba diving. But reducing the country to a training hub misses the point. The Andaman Sea coast produces some of the best diving in Asia, and the two coasts together cover everything from first-time Open Water students to experienced divers chasing whale sharks at 30 metres.

The Gulf side centres on Koh Tao, where dozens of dive schools run courses in English, Thai, and half a dozen other languages. Beyond the training sites, pinnacles like Chumphon and Southwest push into proper advanced territory, with bull sharks, whale sharks, and dense fish schools. Sail Rock, between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, is arguably the Gulf's single best dive: a massive underwater pinnacle with a vertical swim-through called The Chimney.

The Andaman coast is a different animal. The Similan Islands, open only from November to May, anchor a liveaboard scene that revolves around Richelieu Rock, regularly ranked among Asia's best dive sites. Whale shark season peaks from February to April. Koh Bon brings manta rays. The whole circuit runs on multi-day liveaboard trips departing from Khao Lak, typically 4 to 6 nights.

Costs remain competitive. An Open Water course on Koh Tao runs around 9,000 to 10,000 baht ($260 to $290). Fun dives on the Gulf coast cost $25 to $35. Andaman liveaboards range from $150 to $250 per day all-inclusive. Water temperatures stay between 27 and 30°C on both coasts, and a 3mm shorty is the standard uniform.