Phuket is one of the world's great diving destinations. You have world-class sites within 90 minutes of Chalong Pier, the Similan Islands 2–3 hours north, and a thriving dive school scene that makes getting certified both easy and affordable. As an expat living here, I've done hundreds of dives across these waters — here's the honest guide.
90 minutes from Chalong Pier. The most accessible quality dive in Phuket's backyard — visibility 15–25m in high season, diverse reef fish, leopard sharks resting in the shallows. Three main bays at different depths (8–30m). Great for novices and a solid warm-up for experienced divers.
One of Phuket's most productive dive sites — leopard sharks, moray eels, lionfish, barracuda, and magnificent soft corals. Drift diving conditions; currents can be strong. About 90 minutes from Chalong. Often combined with Anemone Reef for a two-site day trip.
A former Andaman Sea ferry that sank in 1997 — now lying at 30–33m depth between Phuket and Phi Phi. Penetration dives are possible in certain sections. Home to schools of fish, lionfish and moray eels. Open Water qualified minimum, Advanced recommended.
Open November–May only (national park rules). The signature Andaman experience — 30m+ visibility, massive granite boulders, whale sharks (Feb–Apr), manta rays, sea turtles. Liveaboard trips from 2 days to 1 week. Day trips available but exhausting (5am departure, 3+ hours each way). Liveaboard is worth it.
Underwater pinnacle covered in soft corals and magnificent anemones. Combined with Shark Point on most day trips. Strong currents mean you need some experience. Depth 20–28m. Regularly see leopard sharks, reef sharks, and turtles.
The most remote sites from Phuket — 3+ hours south. Two submerged limestone pinnacles with some of the most dramatic diving in the Andaman. Manta rays, whale sharks, strong currents. Advanced divers only. Usually liveaboard only due to distance.
| Dive Shop | Location | PADI Status | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dive Asia | Kata Beach | 5-Star Resort | Courses, day trips, liveaboards |
| Scuba Cat Diving | Karon | 5-Star IDC Centre | Instructor training, all courses |
| Sea Bees Diving | Chalong | 5-Star Resort | Liveaboards, Similan trips |
| Sunrise Divers | Rawai | 5-Star IDC Centre | Expat-friendly, Divemaster training |
| Andaman Scuba | Karon | 5-Star Resort | Similan liveaboards, group bookings |
| Phuket Scuba Club | Chalong | 5-Star Resort | Local sites, technical diving |
| Course | Duration | Price Range | What You Can Do After |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discover Scuba Diving (try dive) | Half day | ฿2,500–3,500 | Supervised dives only, max 12m |
| Open Water Diver | 3–4 days | ฿10,000–15,000 | Dive with buddy to 18m |
| Advanced Open Water | 2–3 days | ฿8,000–12,000 | Dive to 30m, navigation, specialties |
| Rescue Diver | 2–3 days | ฿9,000–13,000 | Emergency management, rescue techniques |
| Divemaster | 1–3 months | ฿45,000–75,000 | Lead certified divers, assist instructors |
| Instructor Development Course | 2 weeks | ฿70,000–100,000 | Teach PADI courses independently |
| Fun dive (equipment incl.) | Per dive | ฿1,800–2,500 | N/A — requires existing certification |
Bangkok Hospital Phuket (076-254425) has the island's hyperbaric chamber for treating decompression sickness (DCS). If you experience joint pain, skin mottling, neurological symptoms, extreme fatigue, or difficulty breathing after diving — call immediately and do NOT fly. The no-fly rule is minimum 18 hours after a single recreational dive and 24+ hours after multiple days. DCS treatment in a hyperbaric chamber costs ฿25,000–60,000 depending on severity. Make sure your health insurance covers diving — standard plans often exclude it.
Standard expat health insurance often excludes scuba diving. If you're a regular diver, you need either a policy that explicitly covers recreational diving (Cigna Gold and Pacific Cross Navigator typically include it) or a dedicated diving insurance through DAN (Divers Alert Network) at approximately USD 60–100/year.
DAN membership also provides emergency diving accident assistance — they coordinate with the Bangkok Hospital hyperbaric team and can arrange medical evacuation if needed.
Sunrise Divers in Rawai has developed into the primary hub for the Phuket expat diving community. Their Divemaster and instructor training programmes attract people who want to stay in Phuket long-term. Regular fun dives every weekend, and they're extremely knowledgeable about local conditions and seasonal variations.
The best way to experience the Similan Islands, Surin Islands, and the deeper Andaman sites is by liveaboard. Multiple operators depart from Chalong or Khao Lak (1 hour north of Phuket) throughout the season (November–May).
| Trip Type | Duration | Price Range | Destinations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Similan Islands budget | 2–3 nights | ฿9,000–14,000 | Similan Islands (7–9 dives) |
| Similan Islands mid-range | 3–4 nights | ฿18,000–28,000 | Similan + Surin Islands (12–16 dives) |
| Grand Andaman liveaboard | 6–7 nights | ฿35,000–55,000 | Similan + Hin Daeng/Muang (20+ dives) |
| Whale shark season special | 4–5 nights (Feb–Apr) | ฿28,000–45,000 | Richelieu Rock, Similan, whale shark focus |
Make sure you're covered before you dive. Compare Cigna, Pacific Cross and AXA — which plans cover scuba diving and DCS treatment in Phuket.
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