Affordable Diving In Thailand
(A guest article written by Anna Dewinter )
With its stunning beaches and crystal seas, it is no surprise that Thailand is a popular destination for divers. Offering an exciting array of dive sites, with something on offer all year round, this South East Asian country is fast becoming a must-do destination for diving enthusiasts. With flights to Bangkok available at very reasonable prices and excellent accommodation at affordable prices, fans of undersea exploration will find that Thailand is a great destination for diving, whatever their budget.
Where to Dive in Thailand?
Arriving on a flight to Bangkok, divers have two main choices of base for their diving holiday. Visitors can opt to head for the Andaman sea coast off Phuket, or choose the dive sites along the Gulf of Thailand, perhaps basing themselves in the popular Koh Tao (Turtle Island) resort. With heavy rainfall on the Andaman coast likely in the mid-year months (May – September) having an impact on visibility this area is best experienced off season, while Koh Tao offers less choice in dive sites, but a better year round visibility prospect.
Dive Sites in Gulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand offers a selection of sites including:
- Chumphon Pinnacles – situated 12 kilometres to the northwest of the island of Koh Tao, this site is dominated by a large rock
formation rising from the sea bed. The area is home to a wide array of marine life including reef and bull sharks, rabbit fish and bat fish.
- South West Pinnacles – an hour’s boat trip from the island of Koh Tao, the Southwest Pinnacles are a group of rock formations clustered around a main structure that rises from the sea bed to just five meters under the water. The area offers great coral and sea fans as well as the possibility of spotting a whale shark among the teeming sea life.
- Sail Rock - Between Koh Tao and neighboring Koh Phangan sites Sail Rock. Limestone cliffs rise from the sea offering a habitat to a wide range of sea creatures. Experienced divers may enjoy the undersea chimney which is passable from a depth of 18 meters to a depth of six meters.
Dive Sites in the Andaman Sea
Off the coast of Phuket are a range of exciting dive sites offering divers some spectacular undersea sights including:
- King Cruiser Wreck – this ship sank back in 1997 as it ferried tourists between Phuket and the neighboring Phi Phi islands. It now provides an exciting alternative to the many natural dive sites in the area.
- Hin Jom Anemone Reef – around half a kilometer to the north of Hin Musange is the Hin Jom Anemone reef – home to a selection of exciting sights such as leopard sharks and lion fish.
- Koh Dok Mai – a ninety minute boat ride carries divers to the uninhabited island of Koh Dok Mai, whose limestone cliffs and sea cave network house a selection of specimens including Moray eels as well as being home to amazing corals.
classes are held at La Jolla Shores. Or for those wishing to learn to surf a surf area is marked after 9:00 for surfing only where you could find
out giving beginning surf classes, and for those more skilled to practice techniques. Even though the waves are gentle most of the time the beach, rip currents that can be quite strong at times.
stand ready to be there when you need them the most. watching the ocean for the rip currents that most of us would never see. Rip Currents can be Identified by the white foamy water being pulled seaward. When these currents get strong and swimmers not paying attention to the water around them tragedy can strike very quickly and silently, pulling a swimmer to deep water, panic can set in quickly bringing other non qualified persons to the rescue only to become another part of the already bad situation.
if something happens to you no matter how nasty you have treated or talked to or about them if you get in trouble in the ocean and need their help they will be there for you.
