Diving Spots Phuket

The Dive Sites Around Phuket and Their Special Features

On day trips, the travel time to the dive spots is between one and two hours. The dive sites in Phuket are chosen according to the weather conditions and the wishes of the divers. You will be picked up at your accommodation and taken to the port in Chalong, where the Poseidon awaits to set sail with you.

Dive Spots Phuket – Shark Point

These are three reefs located close to each other. They are by far the most popular dive sites in Phuket. Each one is a highlight for experienced divers. These reefs are incredibly densely populated and buzzing with life. Hard and soft corals as well as large gorgonians are abundant, along with countless juvenile fish, all kinds of reef fish, and pelagic species that visit the reefs to feed, such as large mackerels, tunas, barracudas, etc. Leopard sharks rest in the sand, and occasionally even huge angel sharks can be spotted. Three independent dive sites with depths ranging from 15 to 23 m, visibility between 15 and 25 m, and a boat ride of just under two hours.

Dive Spots Phuket – Anemone Reef

Anemone Reef is a coral-covered rock pinnacle that rises from a depth of 23 m to just 3 m below the water’s surface. The first few meters of the rock are completely overgrown with anemones—hence the name. It is an ideal dive site for “lazy” divers who prefer not to move far. You can start at the base of the reef and make your way upward in a spiral. After a few loops you reach the top of the reef where the boat is anchored. The fish and coral population is similar to that of the three Shark Point dive spots, which are only a short distance away. Divers also owe another Phuket dive spot to Anemone Reef – the King Cruiser wreck.

Dive Spots Phuket – Koh Doc Mai

This island, with its rugged limestone cliffs rising 60 m high, offers a spectacular sight. Underwater, the steep wall on the eastern side of Doc Mai continues down to a depth of 25–30 m. It is covered with rock oysters, hard and soft corals, anemones, and large gorgonians. Two easily accessible caves in this wall invite divers to explore; in one of them, you can ascend into an air-filled chamber located 8 m below the surface.
The western side of Doc Mai features overhanging walls at both ends and a 45° slope with massive boulders in the middle. Numerous schools of fish, plenty of hunting pelagic species, and occasional leopard sharks delight divers. Countless nudibranchs, crabs, and shrimps make it a paradise for macro photographers. Suitable for three different dives, with depths between 15 and 35 m, visibility of 15–25 m, and a boat ride of about 1 hour.

Dive Spots Phuket – King Cruiser Wreck

A former car ferry that was converted into a tour boat and used for several years for day trips to Koh Phi Phi. It sank in 1997 when, during an attempted insurance fraud, it crashed into Anemone Reef. One of the two hulls tore open, and the huge catamaran continued another 500 meters before it sank—fortunately without any loss of life.
The 85-meter-long wreck rests upright on its two keels at a depth of 30 meters. The upper structures are only 16 meters below the surface. The wreck has massive structures and provides shelter for huge schools of barracudas, mackerels, snappers, and many more, as well as offering a magnificent growth of soft corals in all colors. Dive depth 15–30 m, visibility 12–25 m, travel time 2 hours.

Dive Spots Phuket – Racha Yai

This island, with its high hill and beautiful beaches, lies south of Phuket. The sheltered bays and gently sloping underwater reefs offer ideal conditions for beginners and newcomers to ease into diving. Colorful corals and all kinds of tropical fish delight diving enthusiasts. The island is also known for its many blue-spotted rays and mantis shrimps.
Racha Yai offers protected bays and relaxed drift dives along the island’s slopes. Five smaller wrecks with interesting inhabitants further expand the variety of dive sites here. Seven dive spots with maximum depths between 15–30 m, visibility around 25 m, and a boat ride of one to one and a half hours.

Dive Spots Phuket – Koh Racha Noi

The little sister of Racha Yai is Racha Noi, the southernmost island around Phuket. Due to its distance from the mainland and the great depths of the surrounding waters, visibility at the dive spots is usually exceptionally good. The currents bring nutrient-rich deep water, creating a landscape of diverse hard and soft corals. Turtles, large fish such as groupers, tunas, sharks, barracudas, and mantas are regularly seen at Racha Noi.
The island offers sheltered bays, safe drift dives along the island’s slopes, and several areas with strong currents and greater depths for experienced divers. Ideal for wide-angle photography. The island is uninhabited and overgrown with jungle. Eight dive spots, depths 20–40 m, visibility 25–40 m, travel time 2 hours.