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Thailand Diving Locations
Krabi Area | Phuket Area | Ranong Area | Rayong Area | Pattaya Area | Samui Area

Krabi Area Diving Sites

Ao Nang

Koh Rok

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Krabi - The province of Krabi is located just north and east of Phuket Island and can be reached by road or by boat from Phuket or Koh Lanta. Our dive centres concentrate on beginning divers courses , advanced course, specialties and fun dive daytrips around Krabi and Phi Phi island and Koh Bida Nok as well as some Phuket dive sites include King Cruiser Wreck, Anemone Reef and Shark Point.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Ao Nang - This area consists of a group of seven main islands dotted around Koh Poda - Koh Ha, Koh Si, Koh Yawabon, Koh Dor, Koh Talu, G.K.Island and Koh Yawasam. Local marine life that you'll see when you're diving in Krabi is both diverse and prolific with over 200 species of fish and 80 species of coral catalogued. Koh Ha contains at least 60 species of corals and many of the gorgonian sea fans host a fascinating range of shrimps and crabs. Ao Nang dive sites often have large schools of barracuda, small groups of squid, and early in the morning leopard sharks are often found lazing in the sand. With two large shallow coral covered plateaus on either side Koh Si competes with Yawasam for the best snorkelling site in Ao Nang. The southern end of the island is particularly picturesque and frequently has good visibility. Huge schools of snappers and the occasional large grouper make a breathtaking sight when the visibility is up, and otherwise you can always look for seahorses, nudibranchs and scorpion fishes which make their home on the rocks here. The northern end of the island is a relatively steep wall covered in Tubeastrea barrel corals, sponges, and sea whips. Ao Nang has a spectacular and unique scenery, it is famous for its steep limestone cliffs reaching out of the sea.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Phi Phi - The Phi Phi Islands are one of the most dramatically beautiful locations in the world. The scenery from the surface is absolutely stunning; colossal emerald green monoliths rising straight from the sea and soaring to heights of more than 500 meters. Underwater, these towers shape a rugged, interesting environment for scuba divers, and over time the elements have created caves, overhangs, and swim-through's in the soft limestone rock. Other dive profiles include vertical walls that plunge from the surface to over 25 meters. On these walls growing in every nook and cranny are found a profusion of soft corals, large orange-coloured fans, black corals, and long stringy sea whips. There are several unusual types of coral that can only be found in the waters surrounding the Pi Pi Islands including a one meter high white coral bush that is shaped like a Christmas tree complete with little ornaments. The Phi Phi Islands offer a remarkable variety of dive sites concentrated in a small area. One of the most popular dive sites is located at the Southern tip of the small island of Koh Bida Nok. In a shallow bay on the Eastern side of the island are found huge gardens of stag horn and star corals and incredible numbers of colourful reef fish. In spite of diving visibility often being limited to 15-25 meters the Phi-Phi Islands are likely to remain among the most popular diving locations Southeast Asia.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Hin Daeng. The sole reason that diving has become popular in Trang are two pinnacles that lie approximately 25 kilometers Southwest of Koh Rok. Hin Daeng (red rock) and Hin Muang (purple rock) offer everything a diver could want, from dramatic walls and big fish action, to lush tropical underwater gardens. Hin Daeng is easily found since it protrudes about three metres above the surface. Although not very impressive topside, underwater the rock is huge. The southern side descends straight down to over 60 metres forming the most radical vertical drop in Thailand's seas. The wall is dotted with light growths of soft corals and a few sea fans, but is otherwise devoid of life. On the eastern side where the slope is more gentle, two long ridges descend into the blueness and if the currents are favourable it is possible to swim along these ridges down to 40 metres or more.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Hin Muang. Hin Muang, located just a few hundred metres from Hin Daeng, lies completely submerged. What surprised us the first time we explored the rock was the incredible amount of marine life that clung to the rock. It is as if the rock were located in another ocean and not just a short distance away from the relatively barren Hin Daeng. The name derives itself from the thick purple growth of soft corals that are everywhere. The rock itself is approximately 200 metres long and less than 20 metres wide, and is shaped like an immense loaf of bread with steep, vertical sides and a rounded top. The walls are decorated with large sea fans of red, white and orange. Clouds of glass fish, or silver sides, school around the fans and rocky out-croppings. Carpets of anemones cover the shallower sections of the pinnacle. One July, the water was so transparent and the sea so smooth that I could see clearly the splash of someone throwing the dregs of their coffee overboard-puffy white tropical clouds as a back-drop from a depth of over 45 metres. Whale sharks are one animal that we see repeatedly around these pinnacles and this year we saw them on almost 70 percent of our trips there. On many occasions we swim with gray reef sharks in the deep blue water off Hin Daeng and Hin Muang.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Poda and Chicken Island - Koh Poda is a small limestone island 25 minutes by boat from the beaches of the Raileh peninsular. The circular island is no more than a kilometre in diameter, covered in palm trees and almost entirely encircled by a soft white sand beach. A coral reef lies 20 metres offshore, and the combination of scenery, beach and excellent snorkelling make it one of my favourite places to spend a lazy day in this part of the world. There is some accomodation in Koh Poda (bungalows), although it's quite pricey. Koh Poda is an Island and is approx. 30mins by Longtail Boat ride from Ao Nang Beach. - Chicken island - Chicken island got its name from a bizarre rock formation which resembles the head of a chicken. One end of the island consists of steep cliffs, while the other end has beautiful beaches along a peninsula. This peninsula gets flooded at high tide, creating a small island. There is no accomodation on Chicken island. 30 minutes in a longtail boat from Raileh is a group of limestone islands which are incredibly beautiful, with great beaches, reefs which are still reasonable (but not as good as around Koh Phi Phi), but can get very busy, particularly during the main tourist season. Our advice: go in the rainy season - it's quieter, cheaper and you may even feel like you're on a deserted tropical island.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Dor - Koh Dor often plays host to a group of the normally shy black-tip reef sharks. Whilst brief sightings of these sharks are possible on scuba they are best observed by snorkelling in the lunch break. Koh Dor has a good mix of large pyrites species and Diploastrea Heliopora hard corals and soft corals, sea fans, sea whips and leather corals. Several large barrel sponges are also found around this site. The large island of Koh Talu boasts two shallow swim-through's that are suitable for most levels of divers and large barracuda often frequent the entrances. Mantis shrimps are sometimes found scuttling across the bottom as you move to deeper waters. The coral extends a long way south and it is even possible to swim from the western side of this island right across to the next site

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Talu - Koh Talu (also spelt Koh Thalu) is a private island in the Gulf of Thailand, 30 minutes boat ride from Bangsaphan. It has two beautiful resorts, unspoiled beaches and coconut palms encircling the pristine evergreen tropical rainforest covering the most of it.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Ha - Koh Ha literally translated as "five islands", Koh Ha normally provides our safe anchorage for the night aboard your scuba diving Thailand Phuket liveaboard and a chance to discover yet a different type of scuba diving in Thailand. If you wish, our guides will take you through one of the fascinating underwater caves that millions of years of decay have cut into Koh Ha's limestone walls. Koh Ha provides plenty for the macro diver. Harlequin shrimps are amongst the myriad of tiny wonders living here.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Miang - For snorkeling, Koh Miang (Koh Si) is the best place to get started. It’s where the park office is located and where accommodation, foods, drinking water and other necessary diving gears can be found. Only 300 meters eastward of the park office, divers will be on Had Lek opposite of which is Koh Ha. Down under at this point, the water is shallow and clear; the corals scatter yet beautiful fish can be easily seen. So it is perfect for beginner divers. Also on the beach, explorers may be able to find Pu Kai--hairy leg mountain crab, one of the symbols of these islands. Around these islands there are hard corals and schooling smaller fish. Occasionally Black tip reef sharks are seen on this shallow easy dive site. On the northwest side there is a soft coral wall and shallow depth makes this ideal site for Open Water training dives

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Yawabon - Koh Yawabon is near Ao Nang and famous for its long “swim-through” – only to be attempted by specialist divers with the right equipment. Marine life is pretty undisturbed here and therefore there is plenty of it. You can occasionally see a stingray and leopard sharks are often seen in the waters. Not a site for beginners. Around this island there are many interesting caves and tunnels. Lots of Clown fish, Lion fish, Parrot fish and occasionally Leopard sharks can be found on this site. Currents can be tricky so extra caution must be practiced on dive plans

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - G.K. Island. If you like soft corals and their attendant hosts of shrimps, crabs, and brittlestars Krabi scuba diving at G.K. Island will be paradise for you. Deceptively small on the surface, the underwater coral plateau to the south seems to go on forever. Sea whips and gorgonians abound and every rock is covered with a plethora of corals. Large schools of fusiliers move along the edges of the larger rock formations, whilst the occasional sea snake probes the cracks and crevices for its next meal.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Yawasam - Koh Yawasam is blessed with large areas of shallow coral and flat areas of sand, but boasting deeper water with coral and sandy patches a short swim away, Yawasam could have been built with dive instruction in mind! The marine life here is as varied and numerous as any Krabi dive site. Koh Yawasam also is the easiest place to observe the red saddleback anemone fish, which is rare compared to the other anemone fishes found in our area.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - The Similan Islands By John Williams - Koh Similan is by far the most beautiful group of dive sites that we have in Thailand and one of the best areas for diving in the entire world. Many people comment that the most fantastic thing about the Similans is that we have two radically different types of environments all rolled together into one destination. Nowhere else in the world will a diver find such diverse environments in such a small area. The Similans, located about one hundred kilometers northwest of Phuket, are composed of nine granite islands covered in tropical jungle, washed by a clear blue tropical ocean and blessed with some of the world's finest beaches. Similan" is derived from the Malay Sembilan, and means "nine". Each of the Similan Islands named (in Thai and a number). These are, running from north to south: Koh Ba Ngu (No. 9), Koh Similan (No. 8) , Koh Payu (No. 7) , Koh Miang (No. 4, No. 5 and, in some opinion, No. 6) , Koh Payan (No. 3) , Koh Payang (No. 2) , and Koh Hu Yong (No. 1) . Hin Pousar, or "Elephant Head Rock" , is alternatively designated No. 6 by some. Koh Bon, lying 17 nautical miles north of Ba Ngu, is part of the Similan National Park and may be granted honorary status as No. 10.The islands have achieved national park status and thus are fully protected under Thai law. The National Park Authority maintains its presence on two of the islands

Phuket Area Area Diving Sites

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Phuket - From Phuket, all sorts of diving tours are organized lasting from half a day to 10 days. The nearest are sites off the west coast where you can explore soft and hard coral reefs, with a large variety of tropical marine life. There are good close-up photo opportunities with dives up to 35 meters. Much more popular are trips to islands lying to the south and east of Phuket about 2 hours away by motor boat, including Koh Racha, Shark Point, Anemone Reef, King cruiser Wreck and Koh Dok Mai, Koh Phi Phi where you can see white-tip sharks, stingrays and moray eels besides colourful reef fish. Near Phuket, on Thailand's west coast from Ranong down to Krabi are a large number of excellent dive sites Surin Island, Richelieu Rock, Koh Tachai, Tarutao Island. However, the area is sometimes tricky and can be difficult during the southwest monsoon from June to November. Good sheltered water is found around the island at all times of the year. Spear-fishing though not encouraged, is fairly good down to a depth of some 15m (49ft). Thereafter, the coral mostly runs out and gives way to a plain, fairly flat, sandy ocean bottom between 18-36m (60-120ft). The reefs are very colourful and picturesque and are particularly suited for snorkelling and photography. As Phuket's popularity among divers of all nationalities has increased, so has the number of dive sites.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Khao Lak is located about 90 kilometres north of Phuket and is a picturesque holiday destination . Due to its geographical location, Khao Lak being close to the Similan Islands, our guests enjoy the freedom of short journey times, providing ample time to relax and enjoy the tropical scenery. Apart from diving, the area around Khao Lak offers everything the demanding traveller could dream of: National parks, waterfalls, pristine sandy beaches, dense tropical rain forest and the most beautiful sunsets in Thailand! Khao Lak, located just north of Phuket Island on the gorgeous Andaman seaboard, is one of Thailand's most peaceful resort destinations. No less than three national parks are embraced by the surrounding hills that sweep down to this lovely stretch of coastline with beaches that simply go on for miles. Khao Lak offers a rare oasis for relaxation, with a superb combination of cool tropical forest, lovely beachfront accommodation and expansive white sand beaches. And the beaches are more beautiful than ever before. Following last year's tsunami, Khao Lak has made a remarkable recovery with newly refurbished hotels providing even better accommodation than ever. Revitalised hotels have upgraded facilities, created more stylish rooms and added ambient features like soothing lotus ponds, serene gardens and infinity pools. Inland, the forested slopes beckon with nature tours including activities like rafting, elephant trekking and hiking to temple caves, on your holiday menu. Giant tropical trees and sparkling waterfalls provide a home to many species of wildlife and exotic birds in this surprising and beautiful place.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Krabi - Mu Koh Tarulao & Adaol-Rawi - Uninhabited and untouched, the 51 remote islands of the Tarutao were Thailand's first marine national park, established more than 25 years ago, The dramatic natural beauty of the islands is thus left to dazzle unimpaired, Conservation efforts have re-warded these islands and the waters around them with a stunning profusion of life. The National Park is divided into two groups, the Tarutao and the Adang-Rawi. Good snorkelling, swimming, trekking and diving is available on the major islands in the group, and the park authorities can advise you on the best routes or locations. Koh Tarutao, the largest island in the group, has a sinister past it was once a prison colony for political prisoners. There are many dive sites around Tarutao, such as Papillion Cliff and Ao Son. Divers see whales and dolphins here, as well as turtles and dugongs. The Adang-Rawi group has wild jungles and deserted beaches and is a prime destination for adventure travel.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi By John Williams (Condensed from original article) To the south of Phuket lie the twin islands of Koh Racha Yai (big) and Koh Racha Noi (small) which offer significantly better diving than do Phuket's western beaches. Almost all diving operators offer one day trips to both of the islands (although not on the same day) and some offer a two day live-aboard trip every week. Racha Yai's best diving is off its east coast which makes it especially attractive during Phuket's off-season in the summer. Although visibility varies, it can be as good as 25 meters or more. A typical dive is a gentle drift along a sloping rocky face that is sprinkled with hard coral forests of many, many varieties. Especially prominent are stag horn corals of blue and tan. Many times there are large schools of false barracudas hovering over the reef, while on the reef itself you'll see octopus and cuttlefish in addition to the more common tropical species. Divers of all levels of experience and snorkelers can visit Racha Yai with no usual hazards as the diving is easy and gentle. Water depths range between 3-30 meters. Racha Noi is popular for the more experienced diver, as depths are generally greater and the currents frequently stronger than at its sister island to the north. The northern tip features a large pinnacle where spotting larger marine life is distinctly possible, while the southern point is a nice drift dive with the added bonus of having a beautiful little beach to visit during your surface interval. We also have a wooden ship wreck at about 27 meters on the southwest coast of the island which although does not compare to some of the larger wreck dives in Pattaya, is an enjoyable deep dive. Not much grows on the wreck yet, but it attracts large amounts of reef fish. The diving here is definitely more challenging than Racha Yai, but the rewards can be much greater. Accommodation is available on Racha Yai in both of the pristine little bays on the northern side of the island. Muslim farmers and a few fishermen have lived on Racha Yai for years now, harvesting coconuts and fishing the waters surrounding the islands. Source: ©Siam Dive n' Sail

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Shark Point Phuket - Shark Point - by far the best and most popular dive sites by day trip from Phuket or Phi Phi, these two pinnacles are located approximately 25 kilometers east of Chalong Bay in Phuket. Given official Marine Sanctuary status in 1992, these two dive sites are the only day trips in Thailand that offer truly world-class quality diving and except for the limited visibility, these are two of the best dives in the world. The rock explodes with life; the sheer density of fish and other marine life makes diving here a wonderful, sensual experience. Shark Point, or Hin (Rock) Musang rises out of the water from surrounding depths of only about 18-20 meters. Considering the small extent of the rock above the water, the actual size of the reef underwater is a big surprise to most divers.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Diving in Thailand - Thailand Diving Locations - Anemone Reef or Hin Jom (Submerged Rock) lies just underwater, about 600 meters to the north of Hin Musang. As the Thai name makes clear, no part of the pinnacle is exposed, and underwater the rock drops off more dramatically to a depth of between 20-27 meters until reaching a bottom of sand and oyster shells. Although not as colourful as Shark Point, the fish life here is excellent as well and our friends, the leopard sharks, often are seen free-swimming at the top of the rock in six meters of water.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Dok Mai - The name means "Flower Island" in Thai and this diving site must be named for its underwater beauty because above the water there are no flowers, only a few trees and bushes. As soon as you descend however, the colourful flower-like coral covering the wall makes the name understandable. Koh Dok Mai is a small limestone islet rising vertically out of the sea. The site is mainly a wall dive down to thirty meters, with a hard coral staghorn reef sloping to the west. On the east side of the island are a series of caverns and caves which are great for practicing penetration techniques, and maybe search and recovery! Koh Dok Mai is a favorite dive site for Phuket's diving pros because of the diversity of small stuff on the wall and it's famed for the resident yellow tiger-tail seahorses. Try spotting them hidden amongst the lacy gorgonian sea fans. They are in there somewhere ... honest! Whilst your dive guide is looking for them for you, he'll also be looking for ornate ghost pipefish and harlequin ghost pipefish. There's also a huge variety of invertebrates here, such as lobster, crabs, zigzag clams, pencil urchins, oysters, squid, and white-eyed moray eels. This is one of the top macro sites for scuba diving Phuket so if you're a photographer a macro lens is the best option here.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Lanta - Koh Lanta is located approximately 70 kilometres south of Krabi on the east side of Southern Thailand's Phang Nga Bay. It stretches for 27 kilometres in a north-south direction and is traversed by a mountain range that is still covered by virgin rain forest. The range reaches heights of 500 metres in its most northerly and southerly locations. The water off the west coast is crystal clear and the beaches powdery white. Apart from diving, the area around Koh Lanta like Khao Lak offers everything the demanding traveller could dream of: National parks, waterfalls, pristine sandy beaches, dense tropical rain forest and the most beautiful sunsets in Thailand! From world famous Hin Daeng & Hin Muang to lesser known sites like Koh Ha, Koh Lanta offers divers deep and shallow water diving, coral, walls, caves, wrecks and cathedrals. The resort in Koh Lanta offers comfortable and reasonably priced accommodation on white sandy beaches. The bungalows range from standard fan rooms to air-conditioned apartment rooms. The restaurant offers excellent Thai and European cuisine. Room reservation in advance is recommend !

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Richelieu Rock - Richelieu Rock rates as one of the best places in the world to dive with whale sharks and is easily the best site in Thailand diving for this amazing activity. Encounters with the whale sharks, the largest fish in the ocean, are rare almost everywhere in the world. It's not the only Thailand dive destination where whale sharks are seen but Richelieu Rock certainly attracts more than its fair share. With nothing else for miles around, the whale sharks are attracted to the rock to feed on the rich planktonic blooms that occur here.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Tachai - Koh Tachai is considered one of the finest sites for liveaboard diving in Thailand and lies about halfway between the Surin and Similan Islands. It is famous as a place to see larger animals such as manta rays, leopard sharks, nurse sharks and hawksbill turtles. Manta rays are strong pelagic swimmers, able to cross the open oceans. Seemingly inquisitive, mantas sometimes approach divers, apparently enjoying the tactile stimulation of human contact as well as the bubbles from scuba units. However, in areas frequented by divers, mantas often become very wary and cease to approach, so please refrain from touching or chasing these creatures, so future divers can enjoy their company too.

Ranong Area Area Diving Sites

Mergui Archipelago

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Ranong - Ranong and Koh Payam are perfect starting points for the best diving places in Thailand. The Burma Banks, Mergui Archipelago, Surin Island, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon as well Richelieu Rock. On our safari tours we also offer diving courses at the levels of open water diver up to rescue diver. Giving you a great chance to gain experience in the best diving places in the Andaman sea.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - The Burma Banks - The Burma Banks are a series of large underwater flat-topped sea-mounts that lie approximately 180 kilometers (100 nautical miles) northwest of the Similan Islands. The banks' surrounding water is over 350 meters deep and large areas rise to within the depth limits of recreational scuba diving. The name derives from the fact that this 1,500 square kilometre area lies within the exclusive economic zone of Burma. The banks offer some exciting, stimulating diving, but since this is true open-ocean diving, they certainly are not for everyone. These mountains rise very gradually from the depths and are covered with hard coral growth and large patches of sand. Although the huge plate corals (some of these 'plates' could seat all the knights of the round table easily) are in many areas fantastic, that is not the reason for travelling so far out to sea.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - The Mergui Archipelago - The Mergui Archipelago Comprises of some 800 islands north and east of Burma Banks, the Mergui Archipelago is the secret jewel in the Andaman Sea. Some islands have huge boulders, soft corals and sea fans. Others offer wall diving, caverns, tunnels and drop-offs. All have remained relatively untouched by the passage of time these last fifty years, and they maintain a out-of-this-world mystique of years gone by. When voyaging on a diving liveaboard you really can forget your worries, on a journey of discovery, unhurried by time and untroubled by others, as you explore these fascinating and secluded islands. At dive sites such as Shark Cave residents and visitors include grey reef, bull, nurse and whale sharks. Black Rock has schools of mobula rays and manta rays are frequently seen. The Mergui Archipelago, however, is equally attractive to macro enthusiasts, with plentiful frogfish, ghost pipefish, ribbon eels, as well as masses of crustaceans such as lobsters, crabs, cowries and shrimps.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Surin - Mu Koh Surin National Park, is found some 60 km off the west coast of Phang Nga province, and 100 km north of the Similans, is an archipelago of 5 islands: Koh Surin Nuea, Koh Surin Tai, Koh Ri, Koh Khai, and Koh Klang. The excellent diving, snorkelling, hiking and game fishing are what most visitors come for, and those hoping to find a quiet refuge from the tourist traps and urban centres will be delighted with the islands' lack of "development". Those seeking convenience, comfort and 5-star service had best choose another destination - or travel there on a luxury liveaboard cruise. The main island of Surin Nua has several bays, the largest being Ao Mae Yai on the southwest, which features calm waters and safe anchorage.

Rayong Area Diving Sites

Koh Samet
National Park

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Rayong - Given the fact that a number of islands fall under its auspices, Rayong province offers some great diving and snorkelling opportunities. The water around Rayong is literally littered with tiny islands, many uninhabited or sparsely populated. With so few people in the neighbourhood, these islands remain pristine and marine life remains plentiful. Koh Kudi - Koh Kudi is a small island in the Koh Samed-Kao Laem Ya National Marine Park which provides excellent diving opportunities. The sea floor comprises solid rock which gently slopes into deeper water (going down to a maximum depth of 20 metres). The site offers splendid marine life which includes batfish, reef fish, black coral and seafans. Underwater visibility is maintained at around 12 metres on most occasions. The site is suitable for beginners. Hin Pleung - Hin Pleung features two large underwater ridges with the shallowest point of 5-7m from the surface. - Maximum depth: 27 meters; average depth 15-20 meters - Marine lives: sea anemone, clownfish, nudibranchs and reef fish - Underwater visibility: up to 10meters (generally poor visibility) Koh Thalu - Koh Thalu Is a small island located 6 km to the east of Koh Kudi. This dive site is famous for its healthy corals - Maximum depth: 22 meters - Marine lives: sea anemones, gorgonian (sea fans), black seafans - Underwater visibility 9 -12 meters

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Khao Laem Ya-Moo - Koh Samet is a coastal area and island national park. It is located on the coast of the Eastern Thai Gulf.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Samed - Sundhorn Phu, Thailand's Shakespeare, described Koh Kaew Pitsadan (the magical crystal island), which is believed to be the present Koh Samed, in his famous Thai literature ‘Phra Aphaimanee’ as a beautiful island that shelters his main character from a lovelorn giant - she is broken-hearted and dies on the crystal sandy beach of the island. Even though you won't see her remains anywhere on Koh Samed, you're sure to see its crystal white sandy beaches, especially on the Had Sai Kaew or Sai Kaew Beach.

Pattaya Diving Sites

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Pattaya - Diving around Pattaya can be enjoyed year round. Diving the coral-fringed islands is the main attraction. The corals are predominantly hard corals, with some soft corals and a few sponges. The average year round water temperature is in the region of 29 Celsius (27 C in mid winter to 31 C in Summer) so there is really no need for even a wetsuit. A lycra skin is sufficient for most divers. This also makes it an ideal destination for snorkelling. Dives are generally shallow, ranging from 5 meters to 20 meters. There are some interesting wrecks in the area that we enjoy diving as well. One dive area has a depth of 50 meters and is a perfect destination for Tec deep diving and training with mix gases. There is no shore diving or snorkelling around the city of Pattaya, but there are a large number of dive sites around the islands within easy reach of Pattaya by boat. Currents are generally slight so the diving is well within the capabilities of even novice divers.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Pattaya the Near Islands - The near islands are a cluster of three islands 5-7km off Pattaya Beach. The islands are Koh Sak, Koh Larn and Koh Khrok. Although the near islands are the most heavily dived sites in the area, we have noticed a marked improvement in visibility and soft coral growth over the past three years. Visibility on all types of dives ranges between 20 / 100 feet (6 / 30 meters) depending on time of year, weather, sea conditions and currents (which are usually very mild). Pattaya is blessed with very good weather conditions, so we are able to dive throughout the year with very little interference from inclement weather. The marine life is what one would expect from the Indo China Sea and the Indian Ocean, and includes Sting Rays, Nurse Sharks, the occasional Black Tip Reef Shark, Barracudas, King Fish, Long Toms, Angels, Trevalleys, Tangs, Damsels and File Fish to mention but a few. In the last few years the area has also become a breeding ground for Turtles, and they can usually be seen on every dive. There are few large phelagics in the area so the divers need not worry about coming face to face with sharks!

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Pattaya the Near Islands - Koh Sak - Koh Sak has two dive sites, Koh Sak East and Koh Sak West. Both sites start in a sheltered bay which makes them a very good training ground for students and perfect for those divers who have not dived in a little while and want a nice relaxing first dive back in the water. Both sites have plentiful amounts of hard corals and abundant fish life including Jacks, Rabbitfish, Wrasse, Butterflyfish, Angelfish and thousands of Damselfish to name but a few. Koh Sak East has hard corals down to around 14 meters and Koh Sak West down to 12 meters. Although the diving is quite shallow, the abundant fish life and hard corals more than make up for this.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Pattaya the Near Islands - Koh Larn - Koh Larn is the largest of the near island chains and therefore has more dive spots. The fish life is very varied and it is not unusual to see cuttlefish and turtles. The maximum depth for this dive site is 12 meters, although most of the better corals are in 9-10 meters.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Pattaya the Near Islands - Koh Krok - Koh Khrok is a finger shaped islands that sits right along the tidal flow line and therefore is a great place for a drift dive. The island has lots of sea anemones and their attendant clown fish. In fact if you get close enough you can actually hear the clown fish snapping at you trying to convince you to go away! The site has a maximum depth of around 11 meters, but is long enough that even with quite a reasonable drift a 45-50 minute dive can easily be done.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Pattaya the Far Islands - These are three sets of islands about 15km off Pattaya. Because these sites are farther from the city, they don't get the volume of boat and jet-ski traffic as the near islands. It takes about 90 minutes cruising time to get there, but the sites are worth the trip. The Far Island chain contains six islands - Koh Rin, Koh Man Wichai, Koh Hu Chang, Koh Phai "Bamboo Island", Samae San, Koh Chuang, Koh Chan and Submarine Rock, although we generally only dive four of these as the others are too shallow. As the far islands are uninhabited and a little further from Pattaya bay. The visibility tends to be marginally better than at the near islands. All of the far Islands have large amounts of jacks, trevellys, barracuda, rabbit fish, angelfish, butterfly fish, wrasse, gobi's and as with the near islands thousands of damselfish. More often turtles and small sharks are seen at the outer islands.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Pattaya the Far Islands - Koh Rin - Koh Rin has three dive areas, each of which can easily support more than one dive. Hin Ton Mai, also known as South Rock, is a very popular dive spot as the fish life is diverse with lots of Moray Eels and Barracuda. There are plenty of both hard and soft corals, coral whips as well as very good invertebrate life such as nudibranchs, brittle stars and feather stars. This site has very good coral life down to 16 meters. Hin Khao also known as north rock does not have as much coral life as south rock but has lots of rock outcroppings that are homes to many sharks and eels. This is an excellent site for searching around for the more unusual nudibranchs, pipefish, razor fish and others that like to hide away. This dive site has great diving down to around 18 meters.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Pattaya the Far Islands - Koh Man Wichai - Koh Man Wichai has two excellent dive areas, the first of which 'The Wall' cannot be completed in one dive. The Wall is a 7 metre high coral wall that runs down from 9 to 23 meters and is a dive in itself. The area around the wall itself is an excellent dive site, you can start your dive from the bay and go out along the soft coral line at 18 meters, finish half of your allotted time and come back to the boat along the hard coral line at 12 meters, giving you two environments in one dive. As each environment is different with the larger fish among the soft corals this is for me the best dive to be had around Pattaya islands. The other dive site at Koh Man Wichai is called The Fingers. It is a set a rocks stretching from land out to sea to a depth of 12 meters, the hard coral and fish life is very good and as there are five fingers (but no thumb). It's like diving across a large hand. Koh Klung Bedan is another small dive site that is also quite shallow, maximum coral depth being 12 meters. This dive site has many staghorn and table corals as well as boulder corals that have many Christmas tree worms.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Pattaya the Far Islands - Koh Hu Chang - Koh Hu Chang is a very small island that, although quite shallow at around 10 meters, has some very good corals and abundant small fish life. Koh Hu Chang has more sea anemones than either Koh Rin or Koh Man Wichai and as it is well protected from the wind is a good relaxing dive spot. Koh Klung Bedan is another small dive site that is also quite shallow, maximum coral depth being 12 meters. This dive site has many Staghorn and Table corals as well as Boulder corals that have many Christmas Tree worms.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Phai (Bamboo Island)& the Khram Wreck - This is an island controlled by the Royal Thai navy, so the use of the beaches is restricted. There is, however, some good diving off the south side of the island. The small sheltered bay is excellent for beginner divers to do their skills. The main attraction of Koh Phai is the wreck of the HTMS Khram (depth 26m). This WWII landing craft was sunk in early 2003 to create an artificial reef.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Pattaya the Far Islands Samae San - Home of the Hardeep shipwreck - The sites off Samae San offer some of the best diving in the area. Most people that go to dive at Samae San go to dive on the Hardeep shipwreck but both Koh Chan and Koh Chuang are very good coral dives in themselves. Koh Chuang is a large island to the south of the ship wreck and we dive on the southern most point of this island, the hard coral life is very good with abundant small fish as well as the occasional turtle and cuttlefish. The maximum depth of this dive site is 12 meters and although the dive site is quite small it has some very interesting invertebrate life. Koh Chan is south east of the wreck and as with Koh Chuang we dive on its southernmost point, here there are lots of large boulder bommies and as you descend further down the ridge into the soft coral you will find literally hundreds of yellowtail jacks that will circle around you.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Pattaya the Far Islands - Koh Chuang, Koh Chan and Submarine Rock - Koh Chuang - Koh Chuang is a large island to the south of the wreck and we dive on the southernmost point of this island, the hard coral life is very good with abundant small fish as well as the occasional turtle and cuttlefish. The maximum depth of this dive site is 12 meters and although the dive site is quite small it has some very interesting invertebrate life. Koh Chan - Koh Chan is south east of the wreck and as with Koh Chuang we dive on its southernmost point, here there are lots of large boulder bommies and as you descend further down the ridge into the soft coral you will find literally hundreds of Yellowtail jacks that will circle around you. At this depth you also will find sleeping Tawny Nurse sharks under the rocks as well as a large variety of different eels. Submarine Rock - Submarine Rock is a rocky ridge with good presence of hard corals, barrel sponges and gorgonian seafans. Marine life includes large rays and turtles.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Chang - Fantastic possibilities are offered on Koh Chang and the national park fills the diver with enthusiasm. The diving places aren't deep, max 28 meter, particularly, filled with a great variety of fish and corals as well as turtles, however there are also fish which can only be admired in the Andaman sea and don't occur further south the in the gulf. The visibility averages between 10 -25 m, but 30 m visibility is not rare. The diving on the southwest coast of Koh Chang down to Koh Mak and off the southern offshore islands, will make your dreams come true, and are surrounded by turquoise blue water. Wreck diving, cave diving and drift diving come into their own here. Koh Chang is a brilliant playground for the fun diver who wants a little action. Koh Chang also offers all the prerequisites for beginners. Apart from diving, the area around Koh Chang offers everything the demanding traveller could want: National parks, waterfalls, pristine sandy beaches, and dense tropical rain forest. The resorts in Koh Chang offer comfortable accommodation. The bungalows range from standard fan rooms to air-conditioned apartment rooms. The restaurant offers excellent Thai and European cuisine. Room reservation in advance is recommend!

Koh Samui Area Diving Sites

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Samui - Koh Samui, Thailand is a tropical gem located in the warm blue waters off the country's south-eastern seaboard. It is the Kingdom's second largest island after Phuket. Relatively unknown for years, this sun lover's paradise has now attained international standards of service and accommodation. Fortunately, it has also earned a reputation for retaining its friendly image as well as natural environment. Samui is easy to reach from Bangkok, Phuket, and overseas. Koh Samui is literally covered with coconut trees and bougainvillea, which in turn are surrounded by white sandy shores and stunning turquoise seas. Whether you're looking for remote beaches, great shopping, delicious dining or an exciting nightlife, you'll find it on Koh Samui!Most of the diving for novices is only a short boat ride away, while world-class sites for more advanced divers can be found less than two hours away at places like Ang Thong National Marine Park and Sail Rock or Koh Tao.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Nang Yuang - Koh Nang Yuang is in the Gulf of Thailand. About a 15 minute boat ride northwest of Koh Tao, and consists of 3 little islands connected by white sandy beaches. The clear, turquoise-coloured water and the coloured corals which appear in the flat water, fill the snorkeler and diver with enthusiasm on arrival. Koh Nang Yuang is a private island and is the top attraction for day travellers. Nang Yuang is only accessible by prior booking. Nang Yuang's bungalows are of a simple yet comfortable design. Those who would like to spend a couple beautiful days there should book well in advance. The island has a diving school and a Restaurant. Diving courses and Fun diving are possible there from December 15th until November 15th. The reefs all around Nang Yuang consist of rock overgrown with coral, great stone corals, antler coral fields as well as soft corals in different forms and colours. Nang Yuang has sub-water caves on the northern side. The best diving places are reached after a couple short boat rides: Green Rock, White Rock, Big Rock and Nang Yuang Cave as well as to this Chumpon Pinnacle

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Tao - Koh Tao was once a small fishing community, but is now one of South East Asia’s most popular dive destinations. A large number International and local companies offer courses from beginner up to instructor level, and trips can be arranged from Samui to visit the many spectacular dive sites around the island. Koh Tao still has a few secluded bays and beaches, but the main attraction is definitely under the water with snorkelling also a fabulous experience for those without a dive certificate. Various resorts, restaurants, and bars cater for the large numbers of divers who now visit Koh Tao, and there is some quite sophisticated nightlife on offer in the main port town of Mae Hat. Koh Tao is one of the those places where you have to expect the unexpected. Many people have reported absolutely world-class dives in the area over a period of a few days to a two months.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Chumphon - Approximately 450 kilometers south from Bangkok lies the province of Chumphon. Those who love lonesome and long sandy beaches as well as wanting to discover the many interesting diving places all around the Chumphon national marine park, should have a stopover here on the way to the south. Nearby our resorts have many dive sites which are under the protection and supervision of the Chumphon Marine National Park. Each have their own unique attractions and all offer the best the Gulf has to offer in marine flora and fauna. Among the best are : Koh Ngam Noi, Koh Ngam Yai, Hin Lak Ngam, Hin Pae.

simply-thai.com - Thai Market in association with Thai Travel Card - Thailand Diving Locations - Koh Phangan - Koh Phangan is located about half an hour North by ferry from Samui and is widely tipped to become the next big Thai holiday destination. As Samui developed into a full-scale international resort location, Koh Phangan took over as the budget travellers’ alternative. Nowadays it is catching up with its big sister and already boasts a number of upscale resorts, although the roads and infrastructure remain basic. The monthly full moon party attracts an average of five thousand revellers, many arriving several days beforehand on Haad Rin beach to build up to the big event. Beyond the party beaches, it’s still possible to find a more secluded island feeling on Koh Phangan, with swathes of untouched sand and some isolated natural attractions. It’s also possible to travel by boat from Samui in the morning, have a look around and return in the evening. Most of the boat operators are based on Big Buddha beach, which also has the main pier for Koh Phangan, but travel agents in Chaweng can also arrange tickets and pick ups.

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