Diving in Thailand - Khao Lak and Similan Islands

Diving, scuba diving, snorkelling and taking diving courses are very good and popular ways to spend vacations especially in Thailand. Diving in Thailand has become a very popular pass time over the years. That is because of the good dive sites like Phuket, Krabi, Similan Islands, Raya Yai, Koh Lanta and Khao Lak. If you’re lucky you may see sharks or manta rays but in all diving destinations in Thailand there are very beautiful coral reefs, a wide variety of fish and amazing shipwrecks.

One of the many benefits of Thailand is that it’s possible to dive practically any time throughout the year, although the best times are between October and June. Also, it’s recommendable to avoid the harsh monsoon season. Diving in Thailand is safe, in fact it’s considered one of the safest destinations for diving and snorkeling in the world making it perfect for people first-timers as well as experienced divers and snorkelers looking for breathtaking underwater worlds.

Visibility is a key factor when diving and snorkeling and in Thailand visibility can be up to 30 meters in certain areas which is unrivalled in many parts of the world. There are also amazing coral gardens, undersea rock formations, different kinds of corals, sharks, different types of fish, manta rays and breathtaking shipwrecks. There are so many good places that choosing one can be difficult.

Khao Lak and Similan Islands

Khao Lak Marine National Park has a coastline fringed with palms and it also has some recently discovered reefs. Khao Lak is home to plenty of different kinds of marine life and also to a couple of shipwrecks. From the Similan Islands which are near Khao Lak there is easy access to the Surin Islands by speedboats. The trip takes less than one day.

All the Similan Islands dive sites are available by day trip with speedboats from Khao Lak. Also the Richelieu Rock is available with speedboat. In Khao Lak there are three shipwrecks and all three can be accessed by a longtail boat.

Diving in Thailand - Koh Phi Phi

Thailand has a lot to offer visitors and is for good reasons the most popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia. There’s something for everyone with beautiful landscapes, diverse fauna and flora, thick jungles, fabulous food, and crystal clear waters to swim and dive in. The country has a fascinating history and warm, fun-seeking people renown for their constant smiles. It’s also an affordable destination with something for every budget. Many tourists spend several months experiencing and enjoying Thailand.

A very popular activity in Thailand is diving. The beautiful beaches and islands surrounded by clear blue waters and fantastic corals are some of the main reasons why so many choose to spend their diving holidays in Thailand. The number of divers visiting Thailand annually is constantly growing with many visitors returning several times.

One of the many benefits of Thailand is that it’s possible to dive practically any time throughout the year, although the best times are between October and June. Also, it’s recommendable to avoid the harsh monsoon season. Diving in Thailand is safe, in fact it’s considered one of the safest destinations for diving and snorkeling in the world making it perfect for people first-timers as well as experienced divers and snorkelers looking for breathtaking underwater worlds.

Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi is also known as Phi Phi Islands and its one of the many popular diving destinations in Thailand. It is a tropical island group located near other popular diving destinations such as Krabi and Phuket. Almost every tropical island claims to be one of the most beautiful of all tropical paradises and in Southern Thailand many can truly make this claim, and Koh Phi Phi makes no exception. One basis for the claim comes from the numerous visitors that return annually. Some of the visitors have been visiting Phi Phi Islands for 10 years. And diving in Thailand is one of many reasons why they return.

The atmosphere in Phi Phi Islands is peaceful, the local people are happy and they truly appreciate the tourism business. Koh Phi Phi is by far the most convenient location for divers who would like to explore the Andaman Sea because of the fact that most of the diving sites are no further away than 40 minutes.

Diving in Thailand - Southern Thailand

Snorkelling, scuba diving and diving are very popular activities during vacations in Thailand. Southern Thailand is a popular diving destination because it has so many beautiful and amazing dive sites. The underwater world is one of the few places on the Earth where you can truly explore something new and experience adventures, and the gate to this world is diving, snorkelling and scuba diving. In Thailand you can dive all year round and it’s suitable for all.

Diving in Thailand began in the beginning of the year 1962. The first professional dive centre was established in 1975 in Pattaya. The next big diving destination after Pattaya was Phuket and then the Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea. Nowadays the Similan Islands have been ranked as one of the best diving sites in the world. Today diving in Thailand is very popular all over the Andaman Sea, especially in Tarutao and the Surin Islands. There are also beautiful diving destinations in the Gulf of Thailand.

Diving in Thailand is a great way to spend a holiday. Also scuba diving in Thailand is a very popular activity. In Thailand there are many beautiful reefs and amazing shipwrecks which makes Thailand a very popular diving destination. Also the visibility undersea is very good and in some places it can be up to 30 metres.

Southern Thailand

There are only really two seasons in Southern Thailand: summer and the rainy season. To the East of the Thai Peninsula is the Gulf of Thailand, popular areas to visit being Koh Samui and Hat Yai. The best time to visit these areas is between May and October. To the West of the Thai Peninsula lies the Andaman Sea with popular areas to visit being Phuket, Krabi and Ao Nang. The best time to visit these areas is between November and April. It’s recommended to avoid the monsoons that occur at other times of the year. Monsoons can be dangerous, make visiting islands very difficult and prevent diving expeditions from taking place.

Southern Thailand is a popular diving destination because it has so many beautiful and amazing dive sites. The underwater world is one of the few places on the Earth where you can truly explore something new and experience adventures, and the gate to this world is diving, snorkelling and scuba diving. There are many good dive sites in Southern Thailand like Phuket, Krabi, Similan Islands, Raya Yai, Koh Lanta and Khao Lak. If you’re lucky you may see sharks or manta rays but in all diving destinations in Thailand there are very beautiful coral reefs, a wide variety of fish and amazing shipwrecks.

Diving in Thailand - A Popular Activity

Snorkelling, scuba diving and diving are very popular activities during vacations in Thailand. Southern Thailand is a popular diving destination because it has so many beautiful and amazing dive sites. The underwater world is one of the few places on the Earth where you can truly explore something new and experience adventures, and the gate to this world is diving, snorkelling and scuba diving. In Thailand you can dive all year round and it’s suitable for all.

Scuba diving is one way to dive. It gives the diver an opportunity to explore the underwater world and its inhabitants and for longer than with other forms of diving. It also makes it possible to explore shipwrecks, film or photograph underwater life or it can be just a way to relax in a peaceful place where it feels like there is no gravity. Scuba diving skills are also needed in various jobs.

Thailand is an extremely popular place for thousands to learn to dive. In fact, it’s one of the most central places in Southeast Asia for this activity. Along with the diving centres, there are numbers of well-established dive shops around the most popular locations, such as Phuket, Krabi, Koh Phi Phi and the Similan Islands. It’s also a well priced region to complete a diving certification.

One of the most important factors for most people when travelling is the weather in the destination country. Getting the timing right is essential as poor weather conditions can ruin a holiday. Although weather patterns have changed recently in many countries, the basic information on what to expect and when still applies and there are plenty of sources of information to help.

When it comes to Thailand, November to February tends to be the best time to visit. Being a relatively big country means that weather conditions vary from region to region. However, during this period the weather tends to be cooler and there’s less rain than during the rest of the year. Diving in Thailand is an extremely popular way to spend a holiday and peak seasons closely follow the climate.

Similan Islands - Diving in Thailand

Thailand is an excellent place to dive as the undersea visibility there can be up to 30 metres at particular times and places. There are also amazing coral gardens, undersea rock formations, different kinds of corals, sharks, different types of fish, manta rays and breathtaking shipwrecks. There are so many good places that choosing one can be difficult. You can also choose if you want to dive, scuba dive or snorkel. Diving in Thailand is an extremely popular way to spend your holiday and it isn’t just for the experienced and advance diver, it’s a safe place for first-timers try out a new activity.

If you want to start diving as a hobby there are many PADI courses from which to choose from, for example, Open Water Diver which is one of the most popular diving courses in Thailand, and also Skin Diver, Rescue Diver and Divemaster courses. In Thailand there a many companies that offer PADI diving certifications. PADI means The Professional Association of Diving Instructors. You can go to PADI diving courses in Krabi and Koh Lanta, Phuket and Similan Islands. Other courses that available under PADI certification are for example Scuba Diver, Adventure Diver, Deep Diver and many others.

Similan Islands

Similan Islands are located 50 km to the West of Khao Lak. In the Similan Islands there are many of the Thailand’s most popular diving sites and they claim to be one of the best diving sites in Asia. The Similan Islands includes nine islands as Similan means number nine in the Malay language. All the nine islands are famous for their amazing reefs, delicate corals and wide variety of beautiful marine life. In the Similan Islands there is the possibility to see chevron barracuda, giant trevally, leopard shark and also rainbow runners.

The most popular island of the Similan Islands is Ko Bon. Ko Bon has a sheer wall which is 35 metres deep and which is followed by a stepped ridge which descends 45 metres. Other popular diving sites in the Similan Islands are Stonehenge which is a large towering rock formation and where there is a wide variety of marine life. It is possible to see barracudas, barrel spongers, gorgonian sea fans, ghost pipefish, lionfish, long nose butterfly fish and wrasse there. Also Snapper Alley is a popular diving site especially at night because there is solid, healthy table and sheet providing marine life places to hide and sleep. Sharkfin Reef is a diving site for the more experienced divers. It is possible to see bat fish, clown trigger fish, half-moon trigger fish or even a surgeon fish there. East of Eden is the most gorgeous diving site in the Similan Islands because there you can see blue and violet corals.

Diving in Thailand - Khao Lak

One of the most important factors for most people when travelling is the weather in the destination country. Getting the timing right is essential as poor weather conditions can ruin a holiday. Although weather patterns have changed recently in many countries, the basic information on what to expect and when still applies and there are plenty of sources of information to help.

When it comes to Thailand, November to February tends to be the best time to visit. Being a relatively big country means that weather conditions vary from region to region. However, during this period the weather tends to be cooler and there’s less rain than during the rest of the year. Diving in Thailand is an extremely popular way to spend a holiday and peak seasons closely follow the climate.

There are only really two seasons in Southern Thailand: summer and the rainy season. To the East of the Thai Peninsula is the Gulf of Thailand, popular areas to visit being Koh Samui and Hat Yai. The best time to visit these areas is between May and October. To the West of the Thai Peninsula lies the Andaman Sea with popular areas to visit being Phuket, Krabi and Ao Nang. The best time to visit these areas is between November and April. It’s recommended to avoid the monsoons that occur at other times of the year. Monsoons can be dangerous, make visiting islands very difficult and prevent diving expeditions from taking place.

Khao Lak

The Khao Lak Marine National Park has a palm fringed coastline and recently discovered reefs. In Khao Lak there is plenty of marine life and a few shipwrecks. Near Khao Lak are the Similan and Surin Islands and they are easily reached by a day trip with speed boats and liveaboards. There is also freshwater diving in Khao Sok National Park.

Most of the time day trips itineraries and schedules are designed to allow divers to select their favourite dive sites so they can visit them during the trip. With two or three dive options, divers can choose the trip which is best suitable for them. The trips usually include hotel transfers, a dive instructor, equipment, lunch and three to four dives. There are also two-day trips which usually include seven dives, hotel accommodation and meals and they are similar to mini-liveaboards.

For more information about diving in Thailand, please visit: www.rayadivers.com

Diving in Thailand - The Similan Islands

Diving, scuba diving and snorkelling are extremely popular ways to spend holidays in Thailand. Thailand has fantastic dive sites, reefs and shipwrecks which from you can choose your favourite dive site. Diving in Thailand is also popular hobby and a way to spend quality time with friends or family.

Thailand is a nice place to dive because the under sea visibility in many dive sites can be up to 30 metres and there are coral gardens, undersea rock formations, hard and soft corals, sharks, manta rays and shipwrecks you may see while diving. There are also many options in diving to choose from for example, you can dive, scuba dive, snorkel or choose one or even more diving courses from PADI diving courses.

There are many great dive sites in Thailand, the Andaman Sea in the west and The Gulf of Thailand in the East. You can dive all year round but the best times to dive in the Andaman Sea is from November to April and also from June to September. The best time to dive in the Gulf of Thailand is from May to September.

The Similan Islands

The Similan Islands are located in the Phang Nga province, 90 km North-West of Phuket. The Similan Islands include nine islands as Similan means the number nine in the Malay language. The Similan Islands have amazing reefs and rich, delicate corals and also a fantastic, wide variety of marine life. In the Similan Islands it is possible for divers to see, for example, chevron barracuda, giant trevally, manta rays, leopard sharks and rainbow runners. The dive sites in the Similan Islands can be accessed by liveaboard from Phuket and Khao Lak and from Khao Lak you can also come by day trip boats.

Good dive sites in the area are, for example, Ko Tachai which is not actually part of the Similan Islands, Stonehenge and Hide-a-way. Ko Tachai is located about 25km North of the region. Ko Tachai has a lush tropical foliage and an under the surface ridge. At these sites you might see leopard sharks, nurse sharks or even whale sharks.