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Thailand

Divesites
344
Centers
204
Courses & Events
437
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

49k Sightings
J
6.1k
F
6.3k
M
6.5k
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

45k Sightings
J
4.8k
F
5.5k
M
6k
A
4k
M
2.3k
J
2k
J
3.4k
A
3.9k
S
2.6k
O
2.9k
N
3.2k
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

17k Sightings
J
1.9k
F
2k
M
2.3k
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

9.4k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
1.2k
M
1.2k
A
781
M
510
J
516
J
731
A
768
S
502
O
529
N
595
D
1k

Hawksbill Turtle

7.9k Sightings
J
916
F
1.1k
M
910
A
624
M
370
J
365
J
609
A
737
S
349
O
388
N
682
D
916

Whale Shark

7.6k Sightings
J
755
F
759
M
714
A
390
M
629
J
280
J
606
A
970
S
1.1k
O
511
N
292
D
596

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

Total number of species: 130

Butterfly Fish

79k Sightings
J
8k
F
8.5k
M
9.4k
A
6.5k
M
4.2k
J
3.9k
J
6.9k
A
7.7k
S
5.2k
O
5.3k
N
5.8k
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

74k Sightings
J
7.5k
F
7.9k
M
8.8k
A
6k
M
4k
J
3.7k
J
6.6k
A
7.3k
S
4.9k
O
5.1k
N
5.4k
D
6.9k

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

Total number of species: 100

Parrotfish

68k Sightings
J
7.2k
F
7.7k
M
8.7k
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

62k Sightings
J
6.5k
F
7k
M
7.8k
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

61k Sightings
J
6.8k
F
7.1k
M
8.2k
A
4.9k
M
3k
J
2.5k
J
4.5k
A
5.1k
S
3.4k
O
4.3k
N
5.4k
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

55k Sightings
J
5.1k
F
5.6k
M
6.4k
A
4.4k
M
3k
J
2.8k
J
5.6k
A
6k
S
4.4k
O
4.1k
N
3.6k
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

54k Sightings
J
5.6k
F
6.1k
M
7.1k
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

40k Sightings
J
4.7k
F
5k
M
5.3k
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

36k Sightings
J
3.2k
F
3.9k
M
4.1k
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

28k Sightings
J
4.1k
F
3.8k
M
3.9k
A
2.4k
M
1.1k
J
668
J
1.2k
A
1.5k
S
843
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

27k Sightings
J
2.5k
F
3k
M
3.3k
A
2k
M
1.4k
J
1.3k
J
2.2k
A
2.4k
S
1.8k
O
2.2k
N
2k
D
2.6k

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

23k Sightings
J
2.5k
F
2.6k
M
3.2k
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

21k Sightings
J
2.3k
F
2.5k
M
2.8k
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: 90

Goatfish

19k Sightings
J
2k
F
2.1k
M
2.6k
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: 60

Soldierfish

19k Sightings
J
1.7k
F
2k
M
2.5k
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: 85

Surgeonfish

19k Sightings
J
2.1k
F
2.5k
M
2.9k
A
1.6k
M
781
J
511
J
1.1k
A
1.4k
S
890
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

17k Sightings
J
1.9k
F
1.9k
M
2.1k
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
1.8k
M
1.8k
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

15k Sightings
J
1.7k
F
1.9k
M
2.1k
A
1.2k
M
603
J
521
J
987
A
1.2k
S
801
O
929
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

13k Sightings
J
1.1k
F
1.3k
M
1.7k
A
974
M
749
J
623
J
1.2k
A
1.4k
S
991
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
1.2k
M
1.5k
A
800
M
581
J
464
J
995
A
1.2k
S
768
O
972
N
765
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

11k Sightings
J
1.2k
F
1.2k
M
1.7k
A
897
M
499
J
410
J
697
A
686
S
473
O
667
N
902
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

10k Sightings
J
1.4k
F
1.5k
M
1.5k
A
805
M
365
J
263
J
433
A
604
S
279
O
572
N
1.1k
D
1.3k

Blacktip Reef Shark

9.9k Sightings
J
1.4k
F
1.4k
M
1.4k
A
716
M
320
J
388
J
683
A
820
S
420
O
534
N
742
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

9.2k Sightings
J
920
F
1k
M
1.3k
A
869
M
520
J
472
J
751
A
826
S
542
O
534
N
593
D
835

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

Total number of species: 3

Trumpetfish

6.3k Sightings
J
729
F
953
M
856
A
546
M
273
J
166
J
269
A
402
S
199
O
354
N
685
D
914

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

Total number of species: 15

Tuna

6.3k Sightings
J
510
F
628
M
905
A
535
M
326
J
273
J
533
A
575
S
388
O
668
N
525
D
471

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

Total number of species: 15

Garfish

5.9k Sightings
J
605
F
677
M
856
A
403
M
285
J
248
J
460
A
623
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

5.6k Sightings
J
447
F
648
M
632
A
566
M
375
J
330
J
485
A
549
S
345
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

4.3k Sightings
J
469
F
477
M
549
A
343
M
188
J
206
J
218
A
261
S
103
O
195
N
498
D
819