Best Scuba Diving Spots In Phuket

Top 10 Best Diving Sites In Phuket

1. King Cruiser

Suitable For: Advanced certified divers
Best Dive Site For: Yellow snappers, soft coral, turtles, trevally.
Depth: 31m.

If you’re looking for something a bit more advanced, the King Cruiser wreck is a must-see dive site in Phuket. This 85-meter long ferry was intentionally sunk in 1997 to create an artificial reef, and it has since become a popular dive spot. The wreck is home to a variety of marine life, including barracuda, snapper, and moray eels. The wreck is located at a depth of about 20 meters, so it’s suitable for advanced divers only.

2. Shark Point

Suitable For: Experienced and Intermediate Level
Best Dive Site For: Leopard sharks, pink/purple soft corals, snappers, scorpion fish, sea fans.
Depth: 9-24m.

If you’re interested in seeing some of Phuket’s more unique marine life, then a dive at Shark Point is a must. This dive site, located just a short boat ride from Phuket, is home to a variety of shark species, including leopard sharks, black tip sharks, and the occasional whale shark. The diving here is suitable for all levels, with shallow reefs and deeper sites to choose from.

3. Similan Islands

Suitable For: Experienced and Intermediate level, depending on site.
Best Dive Site For: Black tip sharks, giant trevally, soft and hard coral, turtles, barracuda.

Koh Dok Mai is a small and lush limestone island located between Shark Point and Phuket, and it’s one of the best macro dive sites in the region. This beautiful island offers wall diving with stunning coral reefs, sea fans, and an array of marine life, including tiger-tail seahorses, white-eyed morays, ornate ghost pipefish, and different nudibranchs.

One of the best places to start your dive adventure in Phuket is at the Similan Islands. Located about 50 miles northwest of Phuket, the Similan Islands are a group of nine uninhabited islands that are part of a national park. The islands are home to some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world, with an abundance of colorful fish, sharks, rays, and other marine life. The diving here is suitable for all levels, with shallow reefs and deeper sites for more advanced divers.

4. Koh Doc Mai

Suitable For: Experienced divers
Best Dive Site For: Clownfish, Angelfish, butterfly fish, nudibranchs
Depth: 5-15m.

Koh Dok Mai is a small and lush limestone island located between Shark Point and Phuket, and it’s one of the best macro dive sites in the region. This beautiful island offers wall diving with stunning coral reefs, sea fans, and an array of marine life, including tiger-tail seahorses, white-eyed morays, ornate ghost pipefish, and different nudibranchs.

With a wide range of depths from 5 to 25 meters, Koh Dok Mai is a great multilevel dive site. However, there are also underground tunnels on the east side that require special training and experience to explore safely. Diving along the dramatic rock walls of Koh Dok Mai offers a stunning landscape that you won’t want to miss.

The best time to visit Koh Dok Mai is between November and April.

5. Ratcha Noi Island

Suitable For: Beginner level
Best Dive Site For: whale sharks, manta rays, eagle rays
Depth: 18m.

Experience the thrill of diving in fast and strong currents at Racha Noi Island, a top diving destination in Phuket. Located south of Koh Racha Yai, this island offers incredible dive sites with giant underwater rocks, clear visibility, and beautiful scenery reminiscent of the Similan Islands.

While some of the dive sites at Racha Noi are recommended only for advanced divers due to the strong currents, there are also shallow areas and sheltered bays that are safe for all levels. The water here is deep, providing a chance to see barracuda, whale sharks, eagle rays, and manta rays. But even if you’re a beginner, you can still enjoy the beauty and diversity of the marine life in the sheltered bays.

Drift divers will especially enjoy the strong currents at Racha Noi, which offer a thrilling push as you explore the underwater world. And with fewer crowds than Koh Racha Yai, Racha Noi is a peaceful and perfect spot for divers to relax and enjoy their dive.

6. East Of Eden

Suitable For:  All divers
Best Dive Site For:  Batfish, reef fish, large stingrays
Depth: 25m.

Located  in the Similan Islands, near Elephant Head Rock, East of Eden is considered one of the most beautiful dive sites in the region. You’ll be amazed by the colorful angelfish, scorpionfish, and ribbon eels that can be found throughout the area. But the real stars of the show are the blacktip and leopard sharks, which are sure to grab your attention. And if you’re lucky, you may even spot a rare giant moray eel in the deeper waters.

This spot is suitable for all levels of divers and offers an array of marine life, including lionfish, frogfish, turtles, and sharks. The water here is crystal clear, allowing you to enjoy the stunning soft and hard corals that are found in abundance.

7. Elephant Head Rock

Suitable For: Advanced levels divers
Best Dive Site For: Moray eels, green turtles, boxer shrimps
Depth: 5 – 45m.

Named for its unusual shape, which resembles an elephant’s head, Elephant Head Rock is considered one of the best dive sites around Phuket. Located off the coast of the Similan Islands, this spot offers an array of caves, caverns, and arches to swim through, as well as an abundance of marine life, including barracuda, green turtles, and green sharks. The clear water, topography, and beautiful marine life make it a paradise for scuba divers. However, the strong currents here can be challenging, so it is recommended for trained divers only.

8. Anemone Reef

Suitable For: Beginners and Intermediate Level
Best Dive Site For:  Gold Bang fusiliers, Scrawled filefish, barracuda
Depth: 4 – 28m.

If you’re looking for a dive spot that offers both beauty and adventure, then Anemone Reef in Phuket is the place for you. Located just a short boat ride from Phuket, this popular dive site is known for its colorful coral reefs and diverse marine life. The diving here is suitable for all levels, with shallow reefs and deeper sites to choose from. Imagine yourself diving into the crystal clear waters of Anemone Reef and encountering an array of marine life, including colorful tropical fish, sharks, rays, and sea turtles. The coral reefs here are home to a variety of hard and soft coral, providing a stunning backdrop for your dive.

9. Viking Cave, Bida Nok and Bida Nai – Phi Phi Island

Suitable For: All divers
Best Dive Site For: Barracudas, Batfish, scorpionfish, moray eels, Lion Fishes, Black tip sharks, leopards sharks,
Depth: 5 – 25m.

The Phi Phi Islands, located just a short boat ride from Phuket, offer some of the best diving in Thailand. These stunning islands are known for their crystal clear waters and beautiful beaches, and the diving here is suitable for all levels, with a variety of sites to choose from. You can explore shallow reefs and shipwrecks, or head out to deeper sites to see an array of marine life, including sharks, rays, and colorful tropical fish.

One of the must-see dive sites in the Phi Phi Islands is the Viking Cave, a unique cave known for its stunning stalactites and stalagmites. The diving here is suitable for all levels, with shallow waters at the entrance of the cave and deeper areas towards the back. As you dive into the Viking Cave, you’ll be amazed by the crystal clear waters and the beautiful rock formations. You may even spot some of the local fisherman collecting bird’s nests, which are considered a delicacy in some parts of Asia. The cave is home to a variety of marine life, including colorful fish, crabs, and shrimps.

In addition to the Viking Cave, the Bida Nok and Bida Nai islands also offer some of the best diving in the Phi Phi Islands. These small limestone towers are home to a variety of marine life, including black tip sharks, snappers, turtles, sea krait, and batfish. Imagine yourself diving into the shallow bay at Bida Nok, where you may catch a glimpse of the protected black tip sharks swimming by. As you venture out into deeper water, you’ll be amazed by the clouds of colorful fish and the stunning hard and soft coral.

10. Koh Racha Yai

Suitable For: Beginners and infrequent scuba divers
Best Dive Site For: Yellow-lipped kraits, spotfin lionfish
Depth: 18m.

Escape the crowds and dive into the vibrant underwater world of Koh Racha Yai. Located just a 90-minute boat ride from Phuket, this popular dive site offers something for every level of diver. With depths ranging from 5 to 25 meters, you can explore shallow reefs and artificial reefs teeming with macro critters, or venture out to deeper sites to see schools of colorful fish, sharks, and even a couple of small wrecks. The calm bays on the island make it a great spot for beginners, and many come here to complete their Open Water certification. And with its up-market resorts and secluded location, you’ll feel like you have the entire underwater world to yourself.

No matter what type of diving you’re into, Phuket has something to offer. From shallow reefs and shipwrecks to deeper sites and unique marine life, there’s something for every level of diver in this beautiful part of Thailand. So why wait? Pack your dive gear and come join us as we explore the best scuba diving spots in Phuket!