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Thailand

Divesites
343
Centers
196
Courses & Events
200
Wildlife
36
© iStock/saiko3

Explore Thailand

Diving in Thailand offers a diverse and captivating underwater experience, making it a premier destination for divers worldwide. The country's diving scene is largely centered around the Andaman Sea, particularly on the eastern coast, where crystal-clear, warm waters reveal vibrant reefs teeming with hard and soft corals. These underwater gardens are havens for marine life, from the majestic whale sharks and graceful manta rays to the charismatic napoleon wrasse. Thailand's rich marine biodiversity is complemented by its strong culture of hospitality, welcoming divers of all skill levels to explore its aquatic wonders.

Liveaboard diving is particularly popular, especially around the Similan and Surin Islands, which are renowned for their remote locations and nutrient-rich currents that attract a myriad of marine species. These islands offer some of the best diving spots in the region, with both short and extended liveaboard trips available. For those with limited time, day trips to the Similan Islands provide a glimpse into the vibrant underwater world. Further south, islands like Koh Samui and Koh Tao have become bustling dive hubs, perfect for beginners and backpacking diving enthusiasts seeking a blend of community spirit and exceptional diving opportunities. Here, the competitive dive industry ensures high-quality courses at attractive prices, making Thailand a top choice for both novice and experienced divers alike.

Power Plug Type
A, B, C, O, F
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DIS, DC, JCB, Cir, Plus
Tipping
5–10% / Service Staff / Tipping is appreciated in restaurants and hotels; some higher-end venues include a 10% service charge.
Currency
THB
Dial Code
+66
Electricity
230 V / 50 Hz
Time
UTC+7 (ICT)

Places to explore

Courses and Events

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in Thailand

Many divers flock to Thailand for the chance to see larger pelagics such a colossal whalesharks and manta rays which pass by the rocky outcrops further out to sea. These majestic creatures are most common in the areas around the Similans and further north in the Surin Islands.

Closer to shore divers will find that even walking off the beach, a coral encrusted sea floor filled with colour awaits. Brightly spotted octopus, napoleon wrasse and cheeky trigger fish can be found all over Thailand’s reefs and wreck as well as shoals of barracuda and legions of turtles. Critters are everywhere around filling every nook and cranny of the coral reefs pipefish, seahorses, eels and brightly coloured shrimp can be found by eagle eyed divers all over Thailand.

For shark lovers the most common types found in Thailand are black and white tip reef sharks who can be found circling around the reefs during the day and hunting during night dives. Leopard and guitar sharks, although a little rarer than reef sharks can also be found and are excellent subjects for underwater photographers

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Moray Eel

46k Sightings
J
6k
F
4.6k
M
5.1k
A
4.1k
M
2.2k
J
1.6k
J
3k
A
3.5k
S
2.1k
O
3.1k
N
4.8k
D
5.8k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

Barracuda

42k Sightings
J
4.8k
F
4k
M
4.7k
A
4k
M
2.3k
J
2k
J
3.4k
A
3.9k
S
2.6k
O
2.9k
N
3.1k
D
4.2k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

Wrasse

16k Sightings
J
1.9k
F
1.4k
M
1.7k
A
1.4k
M
899
J
884
J
1.2k
A
1.3k
S
1k
O
1.1k
N
1.2k
D
1.7k

Green Turtle

8.9k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
866
M
1k
A
781
M
510
J
516
J
730
A
765
S
502
O
522
N
598
D
1k

Hawksbill Turtle

7.5k Sightings
J
911
F
787
M
748
A
624
M
370
J
367
J
609
A
736
S
349
O
387
N
677
D
916

Whale Shark

7.2k Sightings
J
750
F
561
M
530
A
390
M
629
J
280
J
603
A
959
S
1.1k
O
510
N
292
D
594

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

74k Sightings
J
8k
F
6k
M
7.2k
A
6.5k
M
4.2k
J
3.9k
J
6.9k
A
7.7k
S
5.2k
O
5.3k
N
5.7k
D
7.5k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Angelfish

69k Sightings
J
7.5k
F
5.6k
M
6.7k
A
6k
M
4k
J
3.7k
J
6.6k
A
7.3k
S
4.9k
O
5.1k
N
5.4k
D
6.8k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

63k Sightings
J
7.1k
F
5.4k
M
6.7k
A
5.6k
M
3.5k
J
3k
J
5.1k
A
5.7k
S
4k
O
4.6k
N
5.5k
D
7k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 8

Bannerfish

58k Sightings
J
6.5k
F
4.9k
M
5.8k
A
5.1k
M
3.5k
J
3.1k
J
4.8k
A
5.5k
S
3.7k
O
4.2k
N
4.9k
D
6.1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 28

Clownfish

57k Sightings
J
6.8k
F
5.1k
M
6.2k
A
4.9k
M
3k
J
2.5k
J
4.5k
A
5.1k
S
3.4k
O
4.3k
N
5.3k
D
6.3k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Grouper/Basslets

52k Sightings
J
5.1k
F
3.8k
M
4.8k
A
4.4k
M
3k
J
2.8k
J
5.6k
A
6k
S
4.4k
O
4.1k
N
3.5k
D
4.5k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Triggerfish

51k Sightings
J
5.6k
F
4.4k
M
5.6k
A
4.9k
M
2.9k
J
2.6k
J
4.2k
A
4.7k
S
3.1k
O
3.6k
N
4.1k
D
5.1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Pufferfish

37k Sightings
J
4.7k
F
3.7k
M
4.2k
A
3.5k
M
1.9k
J
1.5k
J
2.6k
A
2.7k
S
1.8k
O
2.6k
N
3.7k
D
4.5k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Stingrays

34k Sightings
J
3.2k
F
2.8k
M
3.1k
A
2.9k
M
2.2k
J
2k
J
3.6k
A
3.8k
S
2.5k
O
2.5k
N
2.1k
D
2.8k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

Lionfish

27k Sightings
J
4k
F
3k
M
3.2k
A
2.4k
M
1.1k
J
668
J
1.2k
A
1.5k
S
841
O
1.7k
N
3.2k
D
4k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Damselfish

25k Sightings
J
2.5k
F
2.2k
M
2.6k
A
2k
M
1.4k
J
1.3k
J
2.2k
A
2.4k
S
1.8k
O
2.2k
N
2k
D
2.5k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

21k Sightings
J
2.5k
F
1.8k
M
2.4k
A
1.9k
M
1.2k
J
943
J
1.7k
A
2k
S
1.4k
O
1.5k
N
1.7k
D
2.4k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

Snapper

20k Sightings
J
2.3k
F
1.7k
M
2.2k
A
1.9k
M
1k
J
932
J
1.6k
A
1.8k
S
1.1k
O
1.5k
N
1.5k
D
2.3k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Soldierfish

18k Sightings
J
1.7k
F
1.4k
M
1.9k
A
1.4k
M
1k
J
927
J
1.6k
A
1.8k
S
1.3k
O
1.7k
N
1.2k
D
1.7k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Goatfish

18k Sightings
J
2k
F
1.3k
M
2k
A
1.6k
M
914
J
802
J
1.5k
A
1.7k
S
1.1k
O
1.4k
N
1.6k
D
1.8k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

Surgeonfish

17k Sightings
J
2.1k
F
1.7k
M
2.1k
A
1.6k
M
781
J
511
J
1.1k
A
1.4k
S
889
O
1.2k
N
1.8k
D
2.1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3000

Nudibranch

16k Sightings
J
1.8k
F
1.1k
M
1.4k
A
1.3k
M
887
J
775
J
1.3k
A
1.4k
S
1.2k
O
1.2k
N
1.3k
D
1.8k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

Boxfish

15k Sightings
J
1.6k
F
1.3k
M
1.4k
A
1.1k
M
695
J
659
J
1.3k
A
1.6k
S
1k
O
1.1k
N
1.2k
D
1.6k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

Jackfish

13k Sightings
J
1.7k
F
1.1k
M
1.4k
A
1.2k
M
603
J
521
J
987
A
1.2k
S
801
O
936
N
1.1k
D
1.6k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

Squirrelfish

12k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
895
M
1.2k
A
974
M
749
J
623
J
1.2k
A
1.4k
S
989
O
1.2k
N
818
D
1.1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

Emperor

11k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
740
M
1.1k
A
800
M
581
J
464
J
995
A
1.2k
S
766
O
972
N
763
D
1.1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

Porcupinefish

9.8k Sightings
J
1.2k
F
864
M
1.3k
A
895
M
499
J
410
J
697
A
686
S
473
O
667
N
899
D
1.3k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Scorpionfish

9.4k Sightings
J
1.4k
F
1.1k
M
1.2k
A
805
M
365
J
263
J
433
A
604
S
279
O
578
N
1.1k
D
1.3k

Blacktip Reef Shark

9.2k Sightings
J
1.4k
F
1k
M
1.1k
A
716
M
320
J
388
J
683
A
820
S
420
O
534
N
737
D
1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shrimp

8.5k Sightings
J
918
F
687
M
1k
A
868
M
520
J
472
J
751
A
826
S
541
O
534
N
591
D
833

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

5.9k Sightings
J
723
F
710
M
701
A
546
M
273
J
166
J
269
A
402
S
199
O
354
N
679
D
910

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Tuna

5.8k Sightings
J
508
F
380
M
666
A
535
M
326
J
273
J
533
A
574
S
387
O
668
N
523
D
473

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 15

Garfish

5.4k Sightings
J
603
F
381
M
635
A
403
M
285
J
248
J
460
A
622
S
362
O
468
N
480
D
478

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

Crab

5.3k Sightings
J
446
F
444
M
502
A
565
M
375
J
330
J
485
A
549
S
347
O
279
N
430
D
526

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 120

Cuttlefish

4.1k Sightings
J
465
F
371
M
415
A
342
M
188
J
206
J
218
A
261
S
103
O
194
N
497
D
817