Dive fanatics descend on Thailand all the year around. They are attracted by warm, clear seas; cheap scuba costs; and staggeringly beautiful dive
sites, some of which rate as the best in the world. Other factors in the country's favour
are an abundance of accommodation and a highly professional dive
industry.
Thousands of visitors graduate from the country's PADI-affiliated dive shops annually, many so bitten by the dive bug during their stay in the Kingdom that they remain passionate about the sport for life.
The southern peninsula of Thailand divides two seas; the Andaman on the west coast, and the Gulf of Thailand on the east coast. Different climates on either coast mean it is possible to dive 12 months of the year. October to April offers the best time for diving in the Andaman, while May to September provides the optimum conditions for the sport in the Gulf.
So clear are some seas that the underwater
world leaps into view from the boat deck. Swimming in turquoise waters are
manta rays, whale sharks, marlin, dolphins and flying fish. Swathes of
coral and massive underwater cliffs are the icing on the cake.
The vast majority of dive shops are members of international dive bodies, like PADI, which work to ensure standards within the industry are kept.
Many schools employ multi-lingual instructors.
As well as the dive shops, live-a-board boats run trips to sites in Thai waters and beyond. Facilities on ships are clean and modern. Competition between live-a-board operations means many allow non-divers to go along with family members at a substantially reduced fee. On boad when not diving, you can swin, sunbathe, snorkel and soak up the scenery.
Thailand’s Andaman Sea, a small part of the
eastern Indian Ocean.
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The
Similan:
Found 100 kilometres north of Phuket, are made up of nine granite islands, around which are some of the best dive sitesin Thailand, if not the world. Clear blues seas, with visibility stretching to 30 metres, are filled with a vast array of fish and an underwater seascape of boulders, coral walls and pinnacles.
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Trang:
The province contains some top dive asset. Hin Daeng and Hin Muang,two rocks 25 kilometres southwest of another island Ko Rak, serve up spectacular walls, scores of tropical fish and fantastic underwater gadens. Divers also head to Ko Ho to explore its clear waters that contain underwater caves.
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Ko Phi Phi:
The island packs an incredible amount of diving experiences into a small area. Limestone rocks plunge into the sea here, drawing leopard sharks to caves, while overhangs and swim-throughs have been hollowed out by sea currents. Over 10 dive shops operate from the islands.
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Gulf of Thailand
Ko Samui:
The island is a very popular dive instruction centre. Teaching takes places of Chaweng Beach. There are two dive sites, both offshore: Hin Bai and Ang Thong Marine National Park.
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Ko Tao:
North of Ko Samui, has a handful of dive schools on it and enjoys a reputation for the best sites in the Gulf. Cheap living costs help it attract serious dive-travellers eager to work their way through the full spectrum of PADI courses. Currents are oftern strong and visibility reaches 40 metres. Underwater life includes coral and whale sharks.
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Pattaya:
With its shallow bay and gentle currents, Pattaya specialises in teaching introductory courses. It also has two shipwreck dive sites, the Bremen and the Hardeep. There are dive destinations in the Gulf also around Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Nang Yuan. Towards the Cambodian border lies Ko Chang, which has has set tongues wagging about its potential as a premier scuba destination.
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Lanta
Diver (Krabi) 5
star IDC dive centre On Koh Lanta, in the South of
Thailand www.lantadiver.com
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