Diving

The warm waters and colorful reefs of the Gulf of Thailand challenge and attract underwater explorers. Curving in a sweeping are from Trat in the Southeast to the estuary of the Chao Phraya River in the North and thence down the Kra Isthmus to Songkhla in the Southwest, the Gulf coastline is a thousand-mile frontier still awaiting pioneers.

Perhaps the best diving is on Thailand’s West coast, from Ranong to Phuket where deep waters, good beaches and all the common fish generally found in the Indian Ocean abound.

This area is sometimes tricky and is most difficult during the Southwest Monsoon Season from May to October. Underwater visibility is seldom more than 30 feet.

Thailand’s main diving area is located around islands off Pattaya and Sattahip, other ideal areas for skin diving and scuba diving are in Chumphon and Phuket provinces. Chumphon’s coastline stretches for more than 200 kilometers from Amphoe Pathiu in the north to Lamae in the south. There are more than 20 islands, with surrounding Gulf waters offering various attractions. Such islands include Ko Khai, Ko Thalu, Ko Mattra, Ko Raet, Ko Lawa, and Ko Ngam.

In addition, the many islands off Phuket and around Phangnga Bay are also noted for their crystal clear water and colorful underwater scenery.

The Andaman Sea from northern Ko Surin all the way down to Ko Tarutao is a complexity of diving paradise. Apart from exotic reefs, the inhabitants are stunning, friendly and varied.

With visibility up to 40 ft. and a warm temperature of 80-85 degrees no wet suit is needed for the usual dive depths of 70 to 80 ft or around 40 meters. Around the Similans, this typical condition compliments the natural wonders in making it one of the most ideal dive sites, with wide sheets of delicate corals flourishing among others the brain coral, plant, pink seafans and others.

Other sights include playful clown fish darting amongst anaemone, multi-colored feather stars and barrel sponges, puffer fish and the thrumpet fish changing its colors according to the environment.

Mu Ko Phi Phi can be reached either from Phuket or Krabi. Dive boats daily converge to this spot that has caves, sea walls and an abundant life including moray eels. Depths reach 30 meters with clear visibility up to around 25 meters.