Diving in Phuket: Thailand's Underwater Paradise for Beginners and Experts
Phuket is one of the best places in Asia to explore the underwater world. It combines clear water, vibrant coral reefs, abundant marine life, and dozens of unique dive sites. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced diver, diving in Phuket will provide an unforgettable experience, and every dive will be a true adventure.
Diving programs for beginners with no experience are particularly popular. Test dives are held near the Racha Islands. In this article, we'll tell you about all the possible dive sites near Phuket.
The best diving spots in Phuket
Phuket's waters offer a variety of diving destinations. Three main areas are considered:
- the islands of Racha Yai and Racha Noi ,
- Phi Phi Islands National Park,
- as well as the sunken ferry King Cruiser .
For those looking for more, there are also remote destinations - Phuket liveaboard diving safaris , where divers live on board a vessel and explore the Similan and Surin National Parks and the Koh Ha Islands.
The islands of Racha Yai and Racha Noi
This is one of the most popular destinations for beginners .
These islands are located south of Phuket and near each island there are dive sites that attract attention with their infrastructure.
Racha Noi boasts crystal-clear water, gentle currents, and varied topography. The eastern side is ideal for beginners, while the western side is perfect for those seeking deeper and more technical dives. Popular spots include Banana Bay, Manta Bay, Camera Bay, Marina Bay, North Point, and South Tip.
During dives here, you'll often encounter sea turtles, moray eels, cuttlefish, squid, and even zebra sharks (rare, but they do happen). In the shallows (4-12 meters), you can see a variety of colorful corals. The maximum depth reaches 30 meters.
Racha Yai Island is famous for its artificial reefs, which have recently become home to marine life. Turtles, moray eels, cuttlefish, and, if you're lucky, you might even spot a shark or stingray.
Bay 1, Bay 2 and Home Run sites feature shipwrecks at depths of over 18 metres.
The depths here are comfortable (up to 25–30 m) and the current is quite weak, making this area suitable for first-time divers. The underwater environment is abundant with turtles, rays, and schooling fish.
Phi Phi National Park is the pearl of the Andaman Sea's underwater world.
Phi Phi National Park is considered one of the best diving spots in Thailand. Here, picturesque cliffs plunge into azure depths, and the underwater world is astonishingly diverse, from soft corals to large sharks and turtles.
Bida Islands - Koh Bida Nok and Bida Nai
Bida Nok Island is one of the most spectacular dive sites in the Phi Phi archipelago. It is located in the southern part of Phi Phi Leh Island, approximately 1.5 kilometers from the famous Maya Bay.
These locations are ideal for certified divers of the Open Water Diver level and above.
The briefing takes place in shallow water off the southern side of the island, where a sheltered bay is located. Further down, the reef slopes downwards, turning into a wall with coral ledges and arches.
On the western side there are several short tunnels and arches that can be safely sailed through.
The shallow waters here are home to blacktip sharks, as well as the peaceful and very photogenic leopard sharks. You can also find Turtles, moray eels, lionfish, scorpionfish, and large schools of barracuda and snappers are among the sights. Macro enthusiasts will appreciate anemones, synnatinas, clownfish, and nudibranchs.
Nearby is its "little sister," Koh Bida Nai , with calmer currents and soft corals at depths ranging from 6 to 25 meters. Octopuses and squid are also found here.
Turtle Rock is the kingdom of sea turtles.
Turtle Rock is located on the western cliffs of Phi Phi Leh Island, near Maya Bay. It's literally a symbol of underwater harmony. Here you can spot green and hawksbill sea turtles swimming among vibrant corals and boulders. The soft light in the shallows and excellent visibility make the spot especially attractive for underwater photography.
This is a fairly easy site and is perfect for a second or third dive. The best season to visit is from November to April, when the sea is calm and the water is clear.
In addition to turtles, moray eels, parrotfish, lionfish, shrimp, octopuses, and even small black reef sharks are often found here.
King Cruiser Destination: A Sunken Ferry and Legendary Reefs
The third direction is the choice of experienced divers.
It includes three famous sites:
- The Wreck of the King Cruiser
- Doc Mai Island
- Shark Point
These dive sites are ideal for certified Advanced Open Water Diver divers . The maximum depth here is 30 meters, with an average depth of 20-22 meters. It's not recommended to dive here if you've had a long break from diving—it's better to choose other sites.
The Wreck of the King Cruiser
The King Cruiser was an 85-meter ferry that sank between Phuket and Phi Phi Don. On May 4, 1997, the vessel struck a reef and sank four hours later. All passengers were rescued. Today, it has become one of the most popular dive sites from Phuket .
The ship lies at a depth of up to 33 meters, overgrown with corals and teeming with life: schools of barracudas, lionfish, snappers and fusiliers circle around it, and sharks and crabs can be found under the hull.
Diving to this site requires experience and additional equipment (main and spare lights, knife, signal buoy, mirror or whistle, pony tank with regulator).
Doc Mai Island
The name Doc Mai Island translates from Thai as "flower island." It gets its name from its rich reef, covered in soft corals, anemones, and sponges. Clownfish, lionfish, seahorses, moray eels, turtles, squid, and even nurse sharks can be seen here.
The main dives take place along the eastern wall, which descends to depths of up to 30 meters. At the bottom, there are three caves—a large one, a small one, and a secret one. Thanks to good visibility and the play of light, this is one of the most photogenic dive sites.
Shark Point is the hallmark of the Andaman Sea.
Shark Point is a legendary reef consisting of three underwater towers covered in coral and anemones. Despite its name, it's home to peaceful leopard sharks —the site's crown jewel. They rest peacefully on the sandy bottom, offering stunning photos.
This reef is located 25 kilometers from Phuket towards Phi Phi.
Besides sharks, you can see seahorses, frogfish, lionfish, rays, turtles, and octopuses. This is one of those places where the underwater world reveals itself in all its glory.
Why choose diving in Phuket?
Diving in Phuket is not just an active holiday, but a way to discover a new world.
Here you can:
- meet sharks and turtles in their natural environment,
- explore sunken ships ,
- Enjoy comfortable conditions and safe organization in Russian (our dive center also has English-speaking instructors upon prior request),
- complete training and receive an international certificate
- expand your diving experience.
Regardless of your level of training, everyone will find their place here under the sun and under the water. Phuket's underwater world is a living gallery of colors, shapes, and sensations that you'll want to return to again and again.
Diving center and tour organization
We work with a licensed dive center that offers diving programs for both beginners and professionals (certified divers) . Beginners can enjoy tryout dives with an instructor (Discover Scuba Diving), while certified divers can enjoy full one-day and multi-day programs with trips to remote reefs.
This is an opportunity to visit places where the sea remains untouched and life is in full swing on every meter of the reef.
To learn more about available programs based on your experience and vacation preferences, click the button below this article and fill out the contact form. Our manager will contact you and book an unforgettable trip.
