Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand - Top Diving Holiday Destination

Scuba Diving in Phuket Thailand: Explore the Best Dive Sites

Scuba diving in Phuket, Thailand, offered me an extraordinary diving experience, contrary to the popular belief that Thailand has “more divers than fish.” Phuket scuba diving experience made me realize that the Andaman Sea lives up to its reputation for its crystal-clear waters, abundant marine life, and excellent visibility, even from this side. From the tiny nudibranchs to the majestic leopard sharks, the dive sites around Phuket offer a rich diversity of marine life.
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I became AQUADDICTED after my first scuba diving experience in Lakshadweep during an island hopping cruise. This newfound passion led me to get certified as an Open Water Diver in Gili Islands, Indonesia, and later as an Advanced Open Water Diver in Havelock Island, Andaman. Whenever I went Fun Diving at other destinations, people would raise eyebrows when I mentioned I had dived in the Andaman Islands. I admit I’m spoiled, but to my surprise, I fell in love with some dive sites in Phuket while working on my buoyancy by shedding those extra weights on my belt. Dive into this guide to uncover the best spots, tips, and essential information for an epic scuba diving trip in Thailand.

Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

​Fun Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Fun Diving in Phuket is an enjoyable experience for certified divers. The dive boats are well-equipped and comfortable, making day trips to various dive sites around Phuket, including the Raja Islands and Phi Phi Islands, a breeze. These dive boats are equipped with compressors, eliminating the need to change your tank after each dive.

Diving boat - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

​A typical diving day in Phuket looks like:

• Start with an early wake-up, filled with excitement as you board the diving boat.
• As you sit back and enjoy the boat ride through the Andaman Sea, you’ll be captivated by the magnificent limestone cliffs that line the way to your first dive site.
• ​After checking your equipment and gear, you’ll take a giant stride into the sea, ready to embark on an unforgettable diving adventure.

Giant Stride - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

• Check the current, plan your dive, release the air from your BCD, equalize while descending, and enjoy some of the best moments of your life underwater.
• Upon returning to the boat, remove your gear, take a refreshing hot shower, let your hair down, and restore your energy with food. Then, get ready for the next dive.
• By the time you’ve repeated this procedure for your third and final dive, trust me, you won’t want to leave the ocean.

Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

• The long journey back to Phuket offers breathtaking sunset views. I bet you’d be so engrossed in your thoughts, so connected to yourself and nature, that returning to island life would feel alien to you.
• Unwind with a “Chang” beer and some delectable Thai food at one of the bars to savor Phuket town’s everlasting nightlife. As you look forward to diving the next morning, you’ll feel a sense of anticipation.

Gorgeous sunset views while returning from Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

​Best Dive Sites for Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

1. Koh Bida Nok, Phi Phi Islands

Koh Bida Nok, one of the uninhabited Phi Phi Islands, is a paradise for advanced divers due to its powerful currents. It has been my favorite dive site in Phuket for years. An underwater limestone wall forms a natural barrier, offering multiple dive options. I’ve had the privilege of diving here thrice, exploring different directions and marveling at the diverse marine life. Every time I descend to the dive site, I’m greeted by the sight of black tip reef sharks. The wall is adorned with vibrant soft corals, fan corals, and sponge corals. I’ve also had the luck of spotting some remarkable creatures, including squat shrimp, feather star fish, crocodile needle fish, white spotted Boxfish, blue spotted Sting Rays, and huge schools of thousands of yellow snappers. Barracudas have also been a sight to behold in these schools.

School of yellow snappers at Koh Bida Nok, Phi Phi Islands - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

I had become so comfortable with diving in Phuket that by the time I embarked on my 13th Fun Dive there, the oceans had transformed into my personal playground. I chased sting rays, played with them in circles, deliberately got lost in the schools of yellow snappers, and even spent minutes peacefully admiring the sleeping sharks!

School of barracuda at Koh Bida Nok - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

​On my last dive here, my dive guide led me to a cave for a 3-minute safety stop at 5 meters before ascending to the surface. This was my first experience of cave diving.

Limestone cliffs that make dive sites Koh Bida Nai & Koh Bida Nok - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

​2. Koh Dok Mai, on way to Phi Phi Islands

Koh Doc Mai, a limestone cliff on the way to the Phi Phi Islands from Phuket, offers a breathtaking wall dive for advanced divers. However, its depth and potential current make it challenging during certain conditions. During my three dives at this site, I encountered various marine life. I spotted banded shrimps, a juvenile clown triggerfish, ghost pipefish, and numerous nudibranchs. Additionally, moray-eels of all shades, including those with white-eyed and yellow-edged markings, emerged from the wall.
On my second dive, my dive guide took me deeper to reveal four bamboo sharks resting under a sheltered coral reef. Their appearance was simply stunning, and it was the closest I’ve ever come to sharks. In that moment, I felt a sense of contentment, as if I wanted to immerse myself in the experience without the distraction of a camera. My dive guide expressed concern about my air consumption as I lingered near the bamboo sharks, admiring them for a few minutes.

3. ​Anemone Reef

Anemone Reef, a breathtaking dive site in this region, caters to both beginners and experienced divers. The entire dive site is a spectacle of zillions of budding sea anemones, where Nemos frolic and play. I encountered anemone crabs amidst the carpet of anemones, devil scorpion fish, porcupine fish, bearded scorpion fish, clearfin Lion Fish, spotfin Lion Fish, and various nudibranchs. Notably, I also spotted the crown of thorns, a marine creature responsible for bleaching corals and posing a threat to the Great Barrier Reef.

Colourful Anemone Reef - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Clownfish at Anemone Reef - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

​4. Hin Bida

Hin Bida is another enchanting dive site that caters to both beginners and experienced divers. As I prepared to embark on this dive, my guide, Timos, approached me with a determined look. “Be ready,” he said, “I want to be the first to spot the sharks before anyone else enters the site.” Timos had a knack for finding bamboo sharks during my previous dives, and I had complete trust in his expertise when it came to spotting sharks.
Following his instructions, Timos jumped off the boat first, and I followed closely behind. Before anyone else could make their way, Timos diligently searched for the sharks, but to his disappointment, they were nowhere to be found at their usual spot. Undeterred, he ventured a little ahead to progress the dive. There, he pointed out a magnificent Leopard Shark, lying peacefully on a sandy patch. I was filled with excitement and approached the shark cautiously from behind to avoid disturbing it.
The exhilarating experience of being up close and personal with a leopard shark for several minutes left me and Timos both yearning to end the dive. We navigated around a bit to spot some more fish, as the visibility was exceptionally clear. 

Leopard shark at Hinbida - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

5. Koh Racha Yai, Racha Islands

Racha Islands are renowned for their breathtaking dives, thanks to the consistently excellent visibility in their bays. They’re an ideal spot for beginners, with their vast sand beds, clear visibility, and gentle currents. There are numerous dive sites around the islands, but one in particular holds a special place in my heart. It’s the dive site at Bay 1, where I had my first dive through a wreck. When I first laid eyes on the wreck, I was mesmerized and stood there, admiring it. My dive guide, Klaus, patiently held my hand and encouraged me to dive through it. I’m so grateful he did!

Wreck diving at Koh Racha Yai - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

​Bungalow Bay and Banana Bay are other dive sites where you can find man-made ice blocks protecting the reefs. I spotted various types of shrimps, including dancing shrimps, banded boxer shrimp, white banded cleaner shrimp, banded mantis shrimp, sting rays, flounder, giant moray eels, black spotted pufferfish, and many more fish thriving in the clean waters.

Great visibility at Koh Racha Yai - Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

​Day trips for Scuba Diving in Thailand can be planned over 3 days to different locations:
1. Phi Phi Islands
2. Shark Point / Anemone Reef / King Cruiser Wreck
3. Raja Yai & Raja Noi Islands
However, you wouldn’t regret diving at the same location again because there are different dive sites there. You can explore as much as you want without any limits.

Dive sites for Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

​I returned home completely content with the diverse experiences I added to my scuba diving profile—wreck diving, cave diving, chasing sting rays, my “Walter Mitty” moment with bamboo sharks, floating next to leopard sharks, and getting lost in the school of yellow snappers. I had an incredible time!
Needless to mention, I’m speechless for a few days after every diving trip. I always return as a calmer person than before. The oceans have a profound impact on my inner peace, and I’m absolutely addicted to them!

Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

​Best time for Scuba Diving in Phuket, Thailand

Diving season in the Andaman Sea spans from October to May.
​The best time to dive in Phuket is February and March.
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