Thailand is a tropical paradise loved by divers across the globe for its exceptional underwater visibility and reefs filled with some of the best coral and marine life on the planet.
For “big fish” aficionados nothing can beat scuba diving in Thailand with whale sharks, manta rays, leopard sharks and other pelagic, while macro-lovers can look out for seahorse, frogfish, ghost pipefish, nudibranch and other tiny oddities.
With the Gulf of Thailand on the east and the Andaman Sea on the west, diving in Thailand ranges from fringing reefs, deep drop-offs, wrecks, walls, and caverns to tunnels, pinnacles and open ocean seamounts. In short, this is a great country to take your dive training to the next level and guarantees to be a memorable experience for all.
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Thailand's tropical location ensures a hot climate and good diving conditions year-round. Air temperatures range from 85-95°F/30–35°C and water temperatures hover around 84°F/29°C for consistently comfortable diving.
Thailand is a big country with two distinct diving zones - the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand - each with opposite diving seasons. In the East, the Gulf of Thailand's visibility is incredible from May through September, while the Andaman Sea on the West Coast tends to offer the best diving conditions from October through April meaning scuba diving in Thailand can be enjoyed all year.
Whale sharks are most likely to make an appearance between March and June. Mid October through to mid-May is best for diving with manta rays.
Thailand is in South East Asia and is easily accessible from most corners of the world. It has six international airports, but you will most likely arrive via Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok as it is the main gateway to the country.
Flying is by far the quickest way to get around Thailand which means you spend more time diving and less time travelling. Domestic flights from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui run daily and all great launch pads for accessing the best diving in Thailand.
Flying to Phuket Airport (1h 25m) is a great choice if you plan to spend your holidays on the Andaman Sea, while Koh Samui (1h 15 min) gets you close to the dive sites of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Krabi (1h 25m) is your best option for west coast diving.