- Diving in Thailand
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Scuba diving in Thailand is very popular. Thailand has some reefs and a number of shipwrecks. The number of divers coming to Thailand continues to increase year after year[citation needed] .
The under sea visibility in some places of Thailand is up to 30 metres with coral gardens, undersea rock formations, hard and soft corals, whale sharks, silvertip sharks, manta rays and shipwrecks. In reality, visibility is often less depending on a number of unpredictable factors such as winds, tides, currents, runoff from rain, proximity to cities, water temperature, underwater activities and more.
Contents
History
Diving began in Thailand in 1962[citation needed] . The Thailand Sub Aqua Club was founded by two Thais and an Englishman who had just arrived[citation needed] . The club was very active and the Minister of Tourism became their patron[citation needed] . The first ever professional dive centre was opened in Pattaya in 1975 by which time the sport had become well established and the Thailand Sun Aqua Club had its own premises in Pattaya[citation needed] . Shortly after the popularity of diving for both Thais and foreigners in Thailand increased[citation needed] .
After Pattaya, the next destination to see see divers was Phuket and they were soon heading out to dive in the Similan Islands and the rest of the Andaman Sea[citation needed] . The Similan islands have been ranked as one of the top ten diving sites in the world.[1] Today, diving is popular all over the Andaman Sea, including Tarutao and the Surin islands.
Over on the other side of Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Tao (Turtle Island) has recently[when?] emerged as the biggest diving destination in Thailand with over twenty major centres located on the island[citation needed].
Diving in Thailand Statistics
Statistics show that over 200,000 dive tourists visit Thailand a year.[2] From 1999 to 2003 the Similans attained a fivefold increase in the number of visitors, which was just 10,000 increased to 50,000 and most of them were divers. The income grew in that time from 12,000USD to a staggering 500,000USD with foreign divers each spending an average of roughly 1,200USD.[citation needed]
Diving destinations and diving sites in Thailand
The Andaman Sea
Introduction: The visibility in the Andaman ranges from 4–50 m and the underwater scenery is scattered with extensive coral reefs. Due to the influence of the southwest monsoon, most of the reefs surrounding the offshore islands occur on the east side of the islands.
List of Destinations
Phuket
Phuket Island has some decent dive sites and the largest diving centre in Thailand. The reefs around the area are in a healthy condition with both solid and colourfully soft corals. There is also an abundance of marine life. Most of the dive locations are suitable for all abilities of divers but there are also some that are quite deep.
The most well-known dive site in the Phuket area is Racha Yai with its sloping rocky reefs and its plentiful solid coral forests. There is also Ter Bay where there is an exciting wreck in the depths of 15–25 metres. The area south Racha Yai, Racha Noi, is a haven for experienced divers as the depths are greater and the currents stronger. The overall topography is strikingly different from Racha Yai with huge granite boulders and the chance to see manta rays and whale sharks.
Just off Phuket is the limestone island of Koh Doc Mai which soars vertically from the seabed. It is home to a diversity of fish and offers the opportunity to view leopard sharks, moray eels, octopus and turtles.
Koh Phi Phi (Phi Phi Island)
You might already have heard about Phi Phi Island - a tropical island between Krabi and Phuket , Thailand / Asia . Almost every island in the world claims to be one of the most beautiful - a tropical island in paradise. Phi Phi is no exception! And judging by the return visitors we have – some have been coming here regularly for over 10 years – there seems to be some truth in the claim.
Since the Tsunami of December 4 the island has made an excellent recovery by now the only noticeable physical change to a newcomer is a reduction in available accommodation. The atmosphere is more laid back than before with local people really appreciating the business tourism brings supporting their recovery Luckily Phi Phis reefs escaped the Tsunami virtually unscathed meaning phi phi is still by far the most convenient location for divers who would like to explore the Andaman sea with a majority of dive sites not more than 40 minutes from the hotels.
20th Century Fox chose Phi Phi as the location for shooting Leonardo Di Caprio's film The Beach.
Krabi Province
Krabi Province has the largest range of dive sites available in Thailand, offering beautiful diving and snorkelling with plenty of succulent soft coral, limestone outcrops and an enormous diversity of marine life. Although the region was struck badly by the 2002 Tsunami disaster, the area has recovered impressively and divers are coming back in flocks.
The main diving bases for the many sites in the Krabi area are Ao Nang [1] and Railay beaches on the Krabi mainland, Phuket's Chalong Bay and the islands of Phi Phi and Ko Lanta. Ao Nang beach has the highest concentration of dive centres and accommodation, as it has access to all the sites at Phi Phi, Shark Point marine sanctuary, and also a group of 30 small island dive sites in Ao Nang Bay, with limited access to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, the Ko Haa Islands.
Phi Phi Island attracts a younger crowd of revellers but offers easier access to the dive sites around its shores. The island has two remarkable limestone crops divided by a narrow flat isthmus and it is there where most of the visitors stay. Ko Phi Phi has an abundance of succulent coral and colorful schools of fish.
Shark Point Marine Sanctuary, which lies directly between Krabi, Phi Phi and Phuket, is a popular group of 3 dive sites which are usually all dived together in a single trip. The King Cruiser wreck is the remains of an 85 metre long twin hulled passenger ship which sank in 2000 after running aground on an anemone reef. The anemone reef itself is a unique dive site with a massive limestone pinnacle soaring 30 metres from the seabed to just 1 metre beneath the surface. The site is well-known for its abundance of sea anemones that cling to every surface while attracting enormous schools of fish. Different types of fish to be seen include schooling reef fish, trevally, snappers, groupers and colorful clown fish, along with larger game-fish like tuna and barracuda as well as the occasional leopard shark.
The third site is the site which gives the group its name of Shark Point. This is a reef that comprises three pinnacles, the largest of which breaks the surface appearing as a barren rock outcropping. The reef is home to an abundance of colorful soft corals and vibrant sea fans that decorate the limestone pinnacles, giving home to many morays, sea horses, schooling reef fish and larger pelagics.
Ko Lanta
In the south of Krabi is Ko Lanta, with many dive shops in and around the main tourist areas of Saladan Town, Klong Dao beach, Klong Nin beach and Kantiang Bay. It is the closest point in Krabi to some of the best dive sites in Thailand (frequently ranked in the top ten in the world); the underwater pinnacles of Hin Daeng and Hin Muang, and the Ko Haa group of Islets. Although some of these sites are reserved for the more experienced diver, with strong currents, the deepest wall dive in Thailand, and large underwater caverns to explore, the rewards are tangible with frequent visits by whale sharks and manta rays, an enormous variety of fringing reefs, as well as pelagic and reef fishes. For the beginner level diver, Koh Haa offers calm conditions, unparalleled visibility and an abundance of marine life.
Ko Lipe
South of Krabi is Tarutao national park with diving around the islands of Koh Lipe. As the only inhabited island in the marine park, Lipe is the centre of the dive scene with dive shops on every corner. There are dozens of islands to dive off, some in depths of 30m + with whale sharks and mantas making regular appearances. Others are in shallow waters but with soft corals and hard corals.
Similan Islands
Located in Pha-nga province, 50 km west of Khao Lak, the Similan Islands have several of Thailand’s most famous diving sites and can lay claim to having one of the best diving sites in Asia. The Similans consist of 9 islands (Similan means 9 in Malay language) Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang (two adjoining islands), Ko Payan, Ko Payang, and Ko Huyong. The islands are famed for their thriving reefs and abundance of delicate coral and variety of exciting marine life. It is possible to see chevron barracuda, giant trevally, manta rays, leopard sharks and rainbow runners.
Of all the islands, one of the most popular with divers is Ko Bon. This island has a sheer wall 35 metres deep which is followed by a stepped ridge descending to 45 metres. Located roughly 25 km north of here, but not actually part of the Similans, is Ko Tachai with its lush tropical foliage and underwater ridge which juts out at 90 degrees. Divers may experience the opportunity to encounter leopard sharks, nurse sharks or whale sharks.
Other popular diving sites in Similans include:
Stonehenge: This is a large towering rock formation with a variety of marine life. Divers can spot barrel sponges, lionfish, gorgonian sea fans, barracuda, wrasse, ghost pipefish and long nose butterfly fish.
Snapper Alley: This site is popular for night dives. Its solid healthy table and sheet provides marine life places to hide and sleep.
Sharkfin Reef: This is a dive site for experienced divers. It is possible to spot clown trigger fish, half-moon trigger fish, bat fish and surgeon fish.
Elephant Head Rock: This rock is simply a massive boulder and is ideal for experienced and daring divers. Silver trevally, jet black trevally, small reef sharks, hawksbill turtle, lionfish, grouper and snappers can all be seen.
East of Eden: Here is the most spectacular bommie in the Similans and the violet and blue corals can be seen.
Donald Duck Bay: This rock was named after the cartoon character it resembles and it is another great site for marine life where one can also see crabs, octopus and cuttlefish running across the sea bed.
Surin Islands
The Surin Islands are virtually untouched with pristine virgin reefs that slope to the seabed. The islands are situated 80 km west of Ranong province along the west coast of Thailand.
Located near the Surin islands is the horseshoe shaped Richelieu Rock. The sheer diversity of marine life contains schooling chevron barracuda, numerous types of moray eels, abundant lionfish and scorpion fish and five types of anemone fish, juvenile emperor angel fish, sea horses, ornate ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimps and even whale sharks, manta rays and shovelnose rays.
Khao Lak
Khao Lak Marine National Park a palm fringed coastline with newly discovered reefs. The area is home to a plethora of marine life and several wrecks. The nearby Similan and Surin Islands are easily reached via day trip speed boats and liveaboards - there is also freshwater diving at Khao Sok National Park Khao Sok. Local diving features more Muck Diving and features some rare and endemic species - most notable are Hypselodoris Hypselodoris and Janola Nudibranchs.[3]
Mergui Archipelago
This brand new diving area just south of Burma has only been opened to the public since 1997. The area is still relatively unknown and with many unexplored islets and dive sites, the Mergui Archipelago offers the opportunity for divers to visit new dive areas.
The representation of coral is in some places extremely abundant, with large gardens of soft coral fields in a dominant colour like bright orange. A lot of islets and islands are built up of limestone, and their underwater terrains are cracked with caves and holes. Due to its limestone reefs with its rough texture, underwater walls are often scattered with colourful sponge walls.
Dive sites are deeper and currents are stronger at Burma's dive sites than at the nearby Similan Islands in Thailand. Diving at the Mergui Archipelago is particularly recommended to divers with an advanced diver level, as circumstances for beginners can be really tough.
Fish schools are more common at the dive sites of the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock, whereas in the Mergui Archipelago extreme bigger fish and at the other hand, macro life like many species of nudibranches are more abundant.
The Gulf of Thailand
Introduction
This coast of Thailand is a gigantic shallow depression just south of Cambodia. It is roughly 60 metres deep with a maximum of 85. The area has 112 islands with countless fringing reefs with rocks and succulent seabed. The reefs are not as varied as that of the Andaman Sea but the marine life is still prolific.
Ko Tao
See also: Diving in Ko TaoKo Tao meaning Turtle Island, has grown into the hottest diving area in the country. The island with only an area of 21 sq km lies north of Ko Samui and Ko Phang-ngan.
The Chumphon Pinnacle, located 11 km from Ko Tao, consists of a massive granite pinnacle and a series of smaller one. It starts at 14 meters underwater and drops to a low of 44 meters, covered with sea anemones and pink anemones fish. Divers can even see schools of barracuda, jacks and batfish, then during the right season whale sharks appear. Recently suspected reef sharks which have been visiting seasonally for some time have been found to actually be bull sharks.[4]
Green Rock between just one and 28 meters deep are boulder formations with an array of short tunnels and swim throws. Diving at the rock lets a view of parrot fish breeding, white eyed morays and blue spotted rays. The area is safe and is perfect for everyone of every level, although can be subject to strong currents.
The Nangyuan Pinnacle Its granite boulder formations have a diversity of swim-throughs and tropical reef fish such as groupers, longfin, bannerfin and blue spotted stingrays.
Shark Island just off the south-west coast is another dive with depths of almost 30 metres and hawksbill turtle, blue ridged angel, longfin banner, leopard sharks and reef sharks. The area is suitable for any standard of diving.
The South-west Pinnacle offers diving ranges between 5 and 30 metres deep. The series of steep pinnacles rise from the sandy seabed and offer an ample variety of colourful marine life, such as butterfly fish, blue-ringed angelfish, jacks, barracudas and occasional whale sharks.
Twins which lies just to the west of Ko Nangyuan is made of rocks with depths of 6 to 18 metres. Among the hard corals are big grouper, white-eyed moray eels, pink anemone, clown fish, blue spotted rays, wrasse and black and white sergeant major fish.
White Rock near Twins offers decent depths for all levels of divers and is suitable place for night dives. Marine life there includes butterfly fish, parrot fish, angel fish, large barracuda, titan trigger fish and red breasted wrasse.
Ko Pha Ngan
This most beauty full of the 3 island in the gulf is famous for its full-moon parties is a departure point for the northern most part of the Ang Thong Marine National Park. The visibility in the area is just 10 metres with a highest of 25
Ko Samui
Ko Samui is more renowned for its long sandy beaches and sizzling nightlife than its diving, but there are some enjoyable sites nearby.
Sail Rock is by far and away the most well-known dive site in the Ko Samui area. It is a rock pinnacle shaped like an iceberg which emerges from a sandy seabed at 40m to tower 15m above the surface. It is also a magnet for fish and there are schools of anemones and pink anemones.
Koh Yippon consists of 50 different islands. The visibility is lower than that of the other sites in the area.
Chumphon Province
Chumphon province has an array of natural attractions and healthy diversity of marine life and fringing reefs. This place is also famous for night diving.
Ko Lak Ngam located just 15 km north-east of Chumphon, is one of 40 islands which belong to the Chumphon Marine National Park. There is plenty of hard and soft corals and hosts home to a large amount of sea life such as bat fish, trevally, fusiliers, turtle and seasonal whale sharks.
Pattaya
Undoubtedly, the most popular destination in Pattaya for diving buffs is the Hardeep Wreck which was sunk by the allies in the Second World War. The wreck lies on its starboard side at a maximum depth of 26 m.
Ko Chang Marine National Park Ko Chang It is just one of a total 52 islands in the Marine National Park. Even though the area has previously been victim to man-made wrongs, there is still the chance to enjoy fringing reefs, marine life, a wreck, giant clams and snorkeling.
Hin Kuak Maa has a huge variety of solid and soft corals which are home to the likes of moray eels, blue spotted sting rays, sea turtles, starfish, stonefish and puffer fish.
Hin Luk Bath has turned into one of the most favored dive sites around with its boulder formations which appear from a sandy seabed 15 metres down The way they jut out allows a vast array of corals and barrel sponges. It is also possible to spot angel fish and barracuda.
Hin Rap South is an 18 metre rock pinnacle which can be dived by anyone of every level. It is covered with staghorn corals, barrel sponges and delicate corals. AT 200 metres lies a group of group of rocks known as Blue Mountains which often glow from the sun.
Hin Run Tek with an average depth of 12 m, is a huge rock formation site with a diversity of colorful marine life such parrotfish, wrasse and angelfish.
Diving courses and types
There are four diving companies operating in Thailand offering diving certification, they are:
- PADI - The Professional Association of Diving Instructors
- NAUI - The National Association of Underwater Instructors
- SSI – Scuba Schools International
- BSAC - The British Sub-Aqua Club
- TDI - Technical Diving International
Of all the above companies PADI is certainly the most famous. PADI, NAUI and SSI offer diving instruction at every major diving area in Thailand. They are:
The BSAC - The British Sub-Aqua Club offers instruction throughout thailad.
Out of the entire above diving course location, Ko Tao has turned into the major destination for taking a diving course in Thailand.
Out of all the courses offered in Thailand, the basic Scuba Diver course is the most common.
Types of diving in Thailand
- Snorkelling
- Free diving
- Scuba diving
- Eco diving
- Wreck diving
- Night diving
- Rescue diving
- Cave Diving
- Diving with disabilities
- Technical Diving
- Rebreather Diving
All of the above types of diving can be experienced in Thailand at all major diving sites except wreck diving, which can be found at The Similans, Ko Phi Phi Pattaya and Koh Tao.
Of all the types of diving available in Thailand snorkeling and scuba diving are the most popular. Since people are becoming more and more aware of man-made destruction of natural coral etc. the popularity of Eco-diving has been soaring over the past few years.
References
Categories:- Economy of Thailand
- Sport in Thailand
- Underwater diving sites
- Visitor attractions in Thailand
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