When to dive in Thailand
The best time to dive in the Andaman Sea is from October to April, and in the Gulf of Thailand from May to September. However though, it is okay to dive all year round.
Diving Courses and Types Available
There are four diving companies operating in Thailand offering diving certification, they are:
- PADI – The Professional Association of Diving Instructors
- NAUI – The National Association of Underwater Instructors
- SSI – Scuba Schools International
- BSAC – The British Sub-Aqua Club
Instruction Location
Of all the above companies PADI is certainly the most famous. PADI, NAUI and SSI offer diving instruction at every major diving site in Thailand, they are:
- Phuket
- Ko Tao
- Krabi
- Similan Islands
- Ko Samui
- Ko Chang
The BSAC – The British Sub-Aqua only offers instruction on Phuket. Out of the entire above diving course location, Ko Tao has turned into the major destination for taking a diving course in Thailand.
Types of Instruction Courses Available
PADI, NAUI and SSI offer the following courses in Thailand:
- Scuba Diver
- Skin Diver
- Open Water Diver
- Adventure Diver
- Advanced Open Water Diver
- Emergency First Response
- Rescue Diver
- Dive Master
- Search & Recovery Diver
- Training Assistant
- Underwater Archeologist
- Master Scuba Diver
- Instructor Course
- Advanced Scuba Diver
- Deep Diver
- Dry Suit Diver
- Enriched Air Nitrox Diver
Out of all these courses offered by in Thailand, the basic Scuba Diver course is the most popular.
Types of Instruction Courses Available
- Snorkeling
- Free diving
- Scuba diving
- Eco diving
- Wreck diving
- Night diving
- Rescue diving
- Cave Diving
- Cave Diving
All of the above types of diving can be experienced in Thailand at all major diving sites except number 5. Wreck Diving can be found at The Similans, Ko Phi Phi and Pattaya.
Of all the types of diving available in Thailand snorkeling and scuba diving are the most popular. Since people are becoming more and more aware of man-made destruction of natural coral etc. The popularity of Eco-diving has been soaring over the past few years.
Diving Vacation in Thailand
Day Trips
Usually, day trips itinerary and timetable are designed to allow the diver access to select his favorite local dive sites. With 2 or 3 dive options, he can choose the trip best suitable to him. The trips usually include hotel transfers, a dive master or instructor, tanks, weights, and belts, lunch, and three to four dives–depending on the day, the destination, and the boat.
Two-day trips are also available which usually include 7-dives, hotel accommodation, and meals. They are similar to mini-liveaboards
Liveaboard
Liveaboard dive boats offer the opportunity to visit various locations for 3 – 10 days at a time. They usually require overnight travel before arriving at their destinations. All trips usually include dive masters.
These boats travel to the following locations:
- The Similan Islands
- Ko Bon, Ko Tachai, and Richelieu Rock
- Hin Daeng
- The Mergui Archipelago
- The Andaman Islands
This content provide and copyright by Tourism Authority of Thailand