Thailand Information
Why visit Thailand?
Thailand enjoys a deserved reputation as one of the most beautiful and welcoming countries in South East Asia. The traditional lifestyles of much of the population and a rich cultural heritage offer an exotic contrast to the rapid development of the country to a modern sophisticated destination.
The country offers many compelling reasons to visit. Thailand can lay claim to some of the finest beaches in the world. The Andaman Sea off the west coast of Thailand is one of the most naturally beautiful seas anywhere, with majestic cliffs forming a backdrop to aquamarine water.
Thai food is universally recognised as one of the world's great cuisines. Thai culture is both ancient and visible to visitors. With rapid development, the country is gaining a reputation as a destination for discerning shoppers. Accommodation offers both high levels of service and excellent value for money. Last, but by no means least, the diving in the Andaman Sea is some of the finest in South East Asia.
Scuba diving in Thailand is a world-class experience, featuring some of the finest dive destinations for coral diving, fantastically colourful marine life, and thrilling encounters with mega pelagic. Thailand promises an unforgettable adventure from the Andaman Islands to Similan and Phuket.
Resort & liveaboard diving
Thailand is renowned for its spacious and comfortable resorts, which are perfectly situated among lush tropical vegetation. These well-maintained facilities offer many scuba diving courses, making it an ideal destination for aspiring divers. In fact, many people begin their scuba diving journey in Thailand, earning it the reputation of being an underwater classroom on a global scale.
Staying at a resort and diving with a local dive school offers a convenient way to explore nearby reefs or learn to scuba dive. Resort accommodations and diving experiences from a local company like See Bees provide a convenient way to experience stunning underwater environments. For scuba divers seeking a different adventure, a Thai liveaboard cruise offers the adventure of a lifetime, granting access to some of Thailand's most beautiful and remote diving destinations, such as the Andaman Sea, Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock, and the Mergui Archipelago, each showcasing Thailand's remarkable underwater diversity.
In Thailand, you have two popular options for diving: staying at a resort or going on a liveaboard boat. If you opt for a day trip, you'll have the chance to explore beautiful dive spots near Phuket and Ko Phi Phi. Alternatively, you can enjoy a quick and comfortable boat ride from Khao Lak to the stunning Similan Islands with Sea Bees Dive Centre.
Diving in the Similan, Surin Islands & Richelieu Rock
Accessed by liveaboard, the Similan Islands lay claim to some of the finest dive sites in Thailand. Thriving reefs with abundant hard and soft corals highlight the dramatic terrain. The islands' east and west coasts provide contrasting styles of diving within a relatively small area. The East coast is marked by fine coral reefs, whilst the west coast offers dramatic drift diving through granite outcrops.
North of the Similan Islands the dive sites of Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock enjoy a deserved reputation for their big pelagic sightings. Richelieu Rock in particular attracts both whale sharks and manta rays in good numbers over the diving season. Liveaboard itineraries to these dive sites are offered on MV Marco Polo and the Junk.
Day Diving From Phuket
Day boats operate year round to dive sites southeast of Phuket. The dramatically beautiful seas around Koh Phi Phi provide a range of excellent dive sites that mark out Phuket as an excellent base for a land based diving holiday. Koh Dok Mai is a vertical wall plunging to 30m, covered in colourful crinoids. Another popular day boat site, Shark Point, is named after the inhabitant leopard sharks. Anemone Reef is one of the most popular day trips from Phuket. This dramatic drop off has been awarded official marine sanctuary status and offers fabulous diving. This is also the location of the King Cruiser, the impressive wreck of an 86m ferry that sank in 1997.
Tailormade holidays & twin centres
Regaldive's programme in Thailand is completely flexible. You may wish to simply enjoy a fabulous week's diving in Phuket, or perhaps consider a liveaboard with a stay either side in Phuket. Another option may be a liveaboard and then a stay on Krabi - the combination is up to you.
Our small, specialised team can also suggest twin centre options for many destinations. Please enquire about the possibilities for a given destination so you can enjoy more than one area during your holiday. Experience contrasting diving as well as varying above water attractions.
