Planning scuba diving in Phuket? Start with your experience level, then choose the route and programme. Easy Travel offers two-dive beginner days at ฿4,500 per person, three-dive Fun Dive trips for certified divers at ฿4,200, and multi-day PADI courses. This guide compares six popular dive spots near Phuket, explains the costs and helps you send the details needed for a suitable trip recommendation.
Best dive spots near Phuket: which suits you?
The best dive spot is the one that fits your training, recent experience and conditions on the day. These places appear on popular Phuket diving itineraries, but a boat’s scheduled route does not make every site suitable for every guest.
Racha Yai: a starting point for beginner enquiries
Racha Yai has shallow coral areas and sites used by divers of different abilities. If you are comparing Phuket scuba diving for beginners, ask about a suitable Racha Yai programme. The instructor still chooses the actual site for the conditions.
Racha Noi: boulders and more demanding sites
Racha Noi is known for underwater boulders and sites where currents can be stronger. Discuss your experience before choosing this route; visiting the island does not mean every dive site there is appropriate.
Phi Phi: limestone scenery above and below the water
Phi Phi diving combines limestone walls, coral gardens and varied reef life. Trips from Phuket give you a different view of these islands beyond the beaches. Confirm the planned sites and allow for the separate national park fee.
Shark Point: colourful coral and reef life
Shark Point is known for coral-covered pinnacles, soft corals and sea fans. Leopard sharks may be seen, but sightings are never guaranteed. Choose the site for the reef experience, with suitability confirmed by the dive team.
Koh Dok Mai: a wall-dive experience
Koh Dok Mai offers wall and drift diving, with small marine life hidden along the reef. Tell the team whether you have recent experience with currents before requesting this site.
King Cruiser: wreck diving for experienced divers
King Cruiser is a sunken passenger ferry that attracts schooling fish. Its depth and currents make it a route for experienced divers. It is not a first-time scuba programme; the operator checks your qualification and experience.
Can beginners try scuba diving in Phuket?
Yes. Discover Scuba Diving is the introductory option for guests without a diving certification, subject to the programme’s participation requirements. Easy Travel lists two dives in one boat day at ฿4,500 per person or three dives at ฿4,900. Both include an instructor and equipment rental. This experience does not award an Open Water certification.
When you enquire, say that it is your first dive, give your age and explain your swimming confidence. The team confirms the entry requirements and suitable route. Divers complete a medical questionnaire, and clearance may be needed depending on the answers. If your goal is to become certified, compare the Open Water course instead of treating an introductory day as the same qualification.
How much does scuba diving in Phuket cost?
These are Easy Travel’s public No. 5 programme prices in Thai baht per person. Course prices cover the complete programme, rather than a daily rate. Fun Dive is for certified divers; the snorkelling / non-diver option does not include scuba dives. Availability and the final quote are confirmed before payment.
Shared day trips include breakfast, lunch, drinks, equipment for the selected programme, accident insurance and round-trip shared transfer within the free pickup zone. Divers have a guide or instructor according to their programme. Phi Phi national park fees are extra: ฿600 per diver or ฿400 per non-diver. Photos, Nitrox tanks, beer and transfers outside the free zone are also extra.
| Programme | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Discover Scuba Diving · 2 Dives | 1 boat day | ฿4,500 |
| Discover Scuba Diving · 3 Dives | 1 boat day | ฿4,900 |
| Fun Dive | 1 boat day | ฿4,200 |
| Snorkelling / Non-diver | 1 boat day | ฿2,600 |
| Open Water Course | 3 days | ฿14,500 |
| Advanced Open Water Course | 2 days | ฿12,500 |
| Open Water + Advanced Course | 4 days | ฿23,500 |
Open Water or Advanced Open Water in Phuket?
Choose a course around your current qualification and the time you can commit. The instructor confirms the prerequisites and exact training dates. These course prices include the instructor, equipment rental, manual, certification on successful completion and hotel-to-classroom / boat transfers within the free zone. Meals and drinks are included on boat days.
- Open Water: three days, with one classroom and pool day followed by two boat days and six dives.
- Advanced Open Water: two boat days and six dives, for certified divers whose entry requirements are confirmed.
- Open Water + Advanced: four days, with one classroom and pool day, three boat days, nine dives and two certifications on successful completion.
Which routes run, and is hotel pickup included?
The published MV Mermaid shared-boat schedule below helps you match a travel date to a route. Fun Dive includes three dives on each route. Your selected Discover Scuba Diving option includes two or three dives; beginner and snorkelling suitability is confirmed separately. Weather, sea conditions and the dive team’s assessment can change the sites.
Free round-trip shared pickup covers Kamala, Kalim, Tri Trang, Patong, Karon, Kata, Nai Harn, Rawai and Chalong. The morning schedule begins at 06:50 in Kamala, with meet-at-pier check-in at 07:50. Confirm the exact hotel time and pier before departure. Other areas need a transfer quote, and course classroom pickups follow a separate confirmed schedule.
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday: Racha Noi & Racha Yai.
- Wednesday and Friday: Phi Phi & Shark Point.
- Sunday: King Cruiser, Shark Point & Koh Dok Mai.
When is the best time to dive in Phuket?
November to April is generally the preferred season for calmer conditions around Phuket. Some local diving operates throughout the year, including Racha Yai, but sea conditions, visibility and access differ by site and day. Treat the season as a planning guide, not a promise of clear water or a guaranteed route.
Send your available dates before fixing the rest of your itinerary. If you want a multi-day course, include the whole date range and your onward travel plans so the instructor can check the schedule. For shared boat days, match your preferred route to the weekly schedule and ask the team to confirm the current conditions.
Can you book a private diving charter in Phuket?
Yes. Easy Travel’s No. 5 private option uses a two-engine speedboat for 1–10 guests. The base packages are for snorkelling and are priced per boat. Discover Scuba Diver can be added for ฿2,000 per person, or Fun Diver for ฿1,500 per person. Confirm the dive count, equipment, instructor or guide, insurance and duration in your quotation.
The package includes lunch, fresh fruit, drinking water, soft drinks and transfers from the listed private-charter pickup areas. Transfers outside those areas and Phi Phi park fees are extra. Private trips use their own confirmed itinerary, rather than automatically following the shared boat’s weekday route.
- Coral Island: ฿21,000 per private boat.
- Racha Yai: ฿29,000 per private boat.
- Racha Noi & Racha Yai: ฿44,000 per private boat.
- Phi Phi: ฿44,000 per private boat.
Phuket scuba diving: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Fun Dive and Discover Scuba Diving?
Fun Dive is a guided trip for certified divers and includes three dives. Discover Scuba Diving is an introductory programme with an instructor for first-time guests who meet its participation requirements. Choose the option that matches your qualification, rather than choosing solely by price.
Can a non-diving friend join the boat?
A snorkelling / non-diver place is listed at ฿2,600 per person. Tell the team which members of your group will dive and which will not, so a suitable shared route can be confirmed. A diving route is not automatically a suitable snorkelling route.
What should I bring and send before booking?
Bring a towel and follow your confirmed meeting instructions. For the booking, send your travel date, guest ages, hotel, contact number, equipment needs and dietary requirements. Certified divers should include their qualification, logged dive count and last dive date. Passport details and medical forms are arranged privately with the team.
Is a booking request an immediate confirmation?
No. Easy Travel checks availability, programme suitability, pickup, extras and the complete price before requesting payment. Ask for the cancellation terms that apply to your particular day trip, course or private charter in your written confirmation.
Plan your Phuket diving trip with Easy Travel
Ready to choose? Send your travel date or course start date, hotel, group size and diving experience to Easy Travel & Rental. If you have a preferred island, mention it alongside your programme choice. We can check the scheduled route, participation requirements, pickup and complete price together.
Contact our Phuket team on WhatsApp +66 92 252 5812 or email info@easy-tarvel.com. If you are comparing a beginner day, a certification course and a private charter, tell us how many days you have available and who is travelling with you. That gives us the information needed to recommend an appropriate option.
PLAN WITH A LOCAL TEAM
Find the right dive for your Phuket trip.
Send your date, hotel, guest ages and diving experience. We’ll confirm a suitable programme, pickup, availability and the complete price.
WhatsApp +66 92 252 5812A NOTE ON PRICES
Use published prices as a planning guide.
Availability, season, exact equipment or vessel, delivery area and supplier terms can change. Easy Travel reconfirms the current option and complete terms before you make a booking decision.
