Phuket is the diving capital of the Andaman. From here you can:

• jump on boats to reach many of our daytrip sites to the south and east
• make your way north for daytrips to the Similans
• hop on a liveaboard going either north or south (or both)

You are spoiled for choice... landbased daytrip diving with two or three dives a day, or multi-day liveaboard trips with four daily dives. Or both!

Phuket daytrip dive boat

Surface Interval

Phuket's daytrip boats are large and spacious. It's nice to have comfortable areas to chat, eat lunch, and sunbathe during the rides out to the dive sites and back, as well as during surface intervals. Plus, on a boat there's plenty of room to gear up when it's time to dive.

For diving at Phi Phi, a three-dive trip on a big boat takes best advantage of the long travel time. These trips return to Phuket in the evening. For a shorter day (inlcuding less travel time to the dive site), you may prefer going by speedboat. The trip takes just an hour, so even with two dives you get back to Phuket in the afternoon.

Offspray diving speedboat

Liveaboards often stop overnight at Donald Duck Bay
 

Because the Similan Islands are a long distance from the coast, the best way to visit Thailand's top dive sites is by doing a multi-day liveaboard trip. Boats range from luxurious to budget, and there are many dozens to choose from, so there's a boat for just about every taste and budget!

One of many Similans liveaboards

Liveaboard diving is intensive! You eat, sleep, and dive, dive, dive! It's also great value for money. There's always a fun mix of nationalities on the boats, and getting to know divers from around the world is one of the highlights of every trip.Typical trip lengths are 4 days/4 nights, but a few longer and shorter trips are also available.