Thailand owns some of the prettiest islands and beaches a person ever wasted a vacation photograph on, and the coral line beneath them is wrapped in water so clear it feels like an exaggeration. For the better part of a decade now the divers have been arriving in droves, and not one of them looks sorry about it.
How it all began
The story has a curious start. American Navy frogmen first brought diving to Thailand during the Vietnam war, which is not the gentlest beginning, but the sea forgives. The first dive store in the country opened in Pattaya in 1977, and that little shop set the whole thing in motion. The trend spread from Pattaya to the Phuket islands, resorts sprang up to house the visiting divers, and the love affair has not cooled since.
The famous water
Visibility in some areas reaches up to 30 meters, which is rare in most parts of the world and worth crossing an ocean for. The underwater diversity is generous, and Thailand is rated among the safest places to dive and snorkel, with conditions kind to first timers. The prime season runs October to June, though facilities operate the year around for those who cannot wait.
The crown jewels
Some restless divers went looking for new water in the Similan Islands, out in the Andaman Sea, and what they found turned the Similans into one of the top ranked dive sites on the planet. The Andaman remains a grand stage today, and the Tarutao and Surin islands have lately been collecting admirers of their own.
What it is like for the beginner
If you have never dived, Thailand is a forgiving classroom. You sink slow, you breathe like a calm engine, and a guide stays at your shoulder. The fish inspect you, a turtle ignores you grandly, and you surface wearing a grin you did not pack and cannot remove.
Plan ahead
Sort your dates and your dive center before you fly. Find verified dive centers in Thailand on Live is Dive, compare them, and message the team directly. You deal with the center, no middlemen taking a bite.
Diving in Thailand: FAQ
When is the best time to dive in Thailand?
The Similan Islands season runs from mid October to mid May. The marine parks close during the monsoon months.
Is Thailand good for beginners?
Yes. It is rated among the safest places to learn, with warm, clear water. Koh Tao is a top spot to get certified.
Where is the best diving in Thailand?
The Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock are world class, with Koh Bon and Koh Tachai close by.
What is the water like?
Warm at 28 to 30 C year round, with visibility up to 30 meters or more.
Browse verified dive centers in Thailand on Live is Dive and message them directly. See dive centers in Thailand.
Prefer to dive from a boat? Browse liveaboards in Thailand.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Similan divers by Ryan Lackey (CC BY 2.0); anemonefish by yeowatzup (CC BY 2.0); divers in a thermocline by Tim Sheerman-Chase (CC BY 2.0). Video: mxc78 (YouTube).