Travel Asia

Written on August 20, 2009 – 2:26 pm | by traveler |

Thailand is also a home of many beautiful and finest beaches in Asia with pristine crystal clear blue sea water. There are also lots of beautiful tropical island in Thailand which are also surrounded by crystal clear blue waters. Because of this natural features, Thailand is a diving paradise in Asia where it has lots of world class diving sites and dive spots. The diving sites and dive spots in Thailand is very rich in underwater marine life where you can see awesome hard and soft corals, coral reefs, coral gardens, undersea rock formations, tropical fish, and many more rare and exotic marine life. Divers can also find sunken battleships.

Thailand was discovered to be a diving destination in Asia in the 70’s during the Vietnam war by the American Navy SEALs. Then in 1977, a very first diving store was opened in Pattlaya. Since then, Thailand became very popular in diving. Local and foreign tourist especially those who love diving come to Thailand to experience the beauty of the underwater marine life. Now, Thailand is one of the popular diving destinations and Asia and the whole world that is equipped with modern equipment and amenities.

The best season to dive in Thailand is from October to June. But still tourist and visitors who want to dive in Thailand can dive any day of the year. Thailand is one of the safest diving destination in for diving and snorkeling in Asia. The dive sites here in Thailand are world class and is a perfect place for professional divers and also for first-timer. The visibility of the some of diving sites in Thailand is very stunning and unbelievable where you can still see the the wonders of marine life such as the coral gardens, undersea rock formation, underwater mountains, exotic tropical fishes, sharks, manta rays, hard and soft corals within 30 meter. This is one of a kind diving spots that are very rare in the world.

Thailand is a diving paradise destination to many locals and foreign tourists around the globe. Thailand has many things to offer when it comes to diving to touristsand visitors. Dive site and diving spots in Thailand has a superb location to every diver of every skill. Diving centers in Thailand are in high standard with modern facilities, amenities and boats. Tourists and visitors can dive in Thailand all year round. For inexperienced divers or people who has not dived, there are courses held in different languages. Main centers are affiliated with PADI or other recognizable dive bodies. And the bottom line is, Thailand is a great place for diving because it has many world class dive sites and the cost for diving in these superb diving spots are very affordable and reasonable.

Here are the list of the diving destinations in Thailand:

1. Phuket Island
   Phuket Island is one of the popular diving destination in Thailand. Many tourist and visitors come here to dive. Phuket Island has the largest diving center in Thailand. Local and tourist divers will see healthy coral reefs with beautiful soft and hard colorful corals. Dive sites in Phuket island is very rich in marine life. Phuket island is one of the home to a diversity of tropical fishes. Divers will also see manta rays, sharks, leopard, moray eels, octopus and turtles.

   Phuket Island dives sites are suitable to professional and novice divers. Some of the well-known dive sites in Phuket Island are the Racha Yai, Ter Bay and Racha Noi. The Racha Yai dive sites is vey abundant of solid coral forests which is why this dive site is very popular. Ter Bay is excellent for wreck diving where you can find a wreckage in the depths of 25-35 meters. For experienced divers who want to have adventure, choose Racha Noi. Racha Noi is a haven for experienced divers where the depths are greater and the currents stronger.

2. Krabi
   Krabi in Thailand is one of the beautiful place that tourist and visitors must visit and see. Tourist and visitors will love the natures beauty in Krabi. This region in Thailand has white-sand beaches that are waiting to be discovered. Krabi in Thailand is excellent for diving since since it offers awesome dive and snorkeling sites. The dive and snorkeling sites in Krabi is rich in marine life. It also has plenty of succulent soft coral and limestone crops.

   The diving and snorkeling sites that can be found in Krabi or in the nearby island are the Ko Phi Phi island, Shark Point, Ko Lanta, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang and Gareng Heng.

3. Similan Islands
   The Similan Island is noted as one of the best dive detinations in the world. In fact it is rated as one of the top 10 best dive site destination in the world. The Similian Island are located in about 100 km Northwest of Phuket and were declared a National Park in 1982. The islands of Similan is consists of 9 granite island which has white sand beaches and surrounded by crystal clear pristine blue waters. The Similan Islands offers stunning and spectacular diving and snorkeling sites. The nine islands of Similan are Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang (two adjoining islands), Ko Payan, Ko Payang, and Ko Huyong.

   The Similan Islands is very abundant in marine life. Discover the delicate soft corals, hard corals and corals reefs in which these islands are famed for. There are many exotic variety of marine life such as barracuda, giant trevally, whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, leopard sharks, guitar rays and rainbow runners. Scuba divers and snorkelers can also find ghost pipefish, sea moths, frogfish, ribbon eels and nudibranchs. , In Similan Islands, scuba diving varies from ently sloping coral reefs to deep rocky gorges and dizzying landscapes. This diving destination in Thailand is excellent for professional and novice divers where they can explore the underwater world and discover the ubmarine rock formations, with huge boulders, swimthroughs and giant fan corals of Similan Islands.

   Here are some of the popular dive sites in Similan Island: Anita’s Reef, Batfish Bend, Beacon Beach, Beacon Point, Beacon Reef, Boulder City, Breakfast Bend, Chinese Wall, Christmas Point, Coral Reef, Deep Six, Donald Duck Bay, East of Eden, Elephant Head Rock, Fantasy Reef, Hideaway, North Point, Sharkfin Reef, Snapper Alley and Stonehenge. But the most popular and famous and are recommended by people whp has dive in Similan island are the Christmas Point, Elephant Head Rock and Batfish Bend.

4. Surin Islands Marine National Park
   The Islands of Surin is one of the famous diving destination in Thailand. Suring Island is also known for sport fishing. These islands of Surin were designted as national park in 1981. Surin Islands is composed of five island namely Ko Ree, Ko Pajumla, Ko Kai, Hin Pae and Hin kong On Ko Surin Nuea which is the biggest island of them. The Surin Island is surrounded by crystal clear pristine blue waters which is excellent for diving and snorkeling. Diving sites in Surin Islands is still unspoiled and it has pristine virgin reefs. This is why many tourist wanted to dive here in Surin Island because of these festures.

   The Surin Islands Marine National Park is known to have the best coral reefs in Thailand. These group of islands have a dense and extensive coral reefs. It also have the greatest hard coral diversity in Thailand. Surin Island is very rich in marine life. You can also find soft corals, lots of turtles, school chevron barracuda, different types of moray eels, abundant lionfish, scorpion fish, anemone fish, juvenile emperor angel fish, sea horses, ornate ghost pipefish, harlequin shrimps, whale sharks, manta rays and shovelnose rays. There are also rare marine life that you cannot see in some diving spots in Thailand such as such as Napoleon wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, barramundi cod, yellow-mask angelfish and tomato anemonefish.

   The Surin liveaboard season runs from mid October to early May, though the best time for a visit is from December to April. Outside of these months it can be wet and windy. Most of the divers recommends the Koh Torinla andSouth East Point. The Suring liveboard season runs om mid October to early May, though the best time for a visit is from December to April. Outside of these months it can be wet and windy.

There are still lots of snorkeling and diving sites and diving spots in Thailand. Some of these dive sites are famous and popular. But there are still unexplored diving sites in Thailand that are still waiting to be explored. So come to Thailand and discover the best snorkeling and dive sites and diving spots.