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 During
the past 5-6 years, scuba diving has rapidly emerged
as one of the most popular eco activities in this region.
Certainly, Thailand leads the regional trend with its
abundant dive sites. Famed for its spectacular beauty,
and wide variety and remarkable diversity of marine
life, divers from around the world are lured to Thailand
each year.
Apart
from the rewarding beauty, diving in Thailand is very
economical. The average four-day, full certification
course costs around 6,000 - 8,000 baht including all
instruction, equipment and several open-water dives.
That works out at about US$160 - 200. So it's no great
surprise that so many amateur divers have turned professional
here. Some have even turned into dive shop operators
and run diving schools in Thailand.
In
recent years, dive operators have increased enormously
at several popular dive sites including Pattaya,
Phuket, Samui,
Ko Phangan
and Ko Tao.
 On
Ko Tao,
you can find diving centers, schools and shops, mostly
owned by foreigners, mushrooming on this tiny eastern
island. It's possible for a dedicated beginner to start
from scratch and climb the ladder all the way up to
the instructor level here, something that usually takes
years to accomplish. The reputation of Ko Tao has blazed
across the world during the past few years.
But
Thailand has many more diving sites for your choice.
If you are looking for sites that are less crowded but
equally wonderful, then you can check out the hundreds
of islands in both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman
Sea.
Gulf
of Thailand (eastern coast)
Situated 60 km off the coast of Chumphon province, Ko
Tao is the queen of dive sites off the eastern coast
- the Gulf of Thailand. The fantastic marine ecology
of the island provides a home to various rare species.
You can feel the urge to get in the water at every bay
and inlet of this tiny island. Ko Tao has a concentration
of almost 20 diving schools and over 30 dive sites.
You may spot rays, giant triggerfish and, if you are
lucky, a harmless whale shark - the largest fish in
the oceans.
 Further
north from Ko Tao, some islands in Chonburi,
Trad, Rayong
and Prachuab Khiri
Khan offer an excellent diving experience. These
islands are quite close to Bangkok for those who don't
wish to travel so far.
Many
diving schools or diving centers can be found in these
areas and will happily arrange a trip offshore. Challenging
and rewarding underwater sights include several ancient
shipwrecks, an indication that the area was once an
important trade route.
The
Gulf of Thailand has a year-round dive season. Tropical
storms sometimes occur but underwater visibility is
only temporarily affected.
Andaman
Sea (western coast)
The Andaman Sea off Thailand's west coast possesses
a much greater number of dive sites. A wide variety
of stunning marine species inhabit the islands here.
Sharks, the enormous manta ray, sea turtles, whale sharks,
spectacular coral reefs and sea anemones are all resident
to the Andaman.
 Phuket
is the center for the booming dive industry in the Andaman
Sea. Prime dive sites in the vicinity of the island
are Shark Point, Ko Yao, Ko Hai and the twin islands
of Ko Raya.
The
Surin archipelago is considered the star of the
Andaman Sea, as it offers the most beautiful underwater
ecology in Thailand.
The
Surin Island group, off Phangnga, is a marine national
park, protected from commercial exploitation. Perhaps
the ultimate dive can be found in these islands, with
their rich underwater diversity and crystal-clear waters.
The best time to visit the Surin Islands is between
December and April. The park is normally closed during
the monsoon season.
Another
dive site admired throughout the world for its natural
beauty is Phi
Phi Island. Its underwater world dazzles with diversity
and the sheer spectacle of the corals.
Hin
Daeng and Hin Muang, (meaning red rock and purple rock)
are underwater rock formations where a variety of corals
thrive along with the attendant fish and crustaceans.
Whale sharks are often seen in the seas around here.
The
best diving conditions in the Andaman Sea are between
December and April. Monsoon conditions disrupt the diving
season between May and November.
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