Scuba Dive Tours on Phuket and Koh Phangan
EasyFlyFoil runs scuba diving tours on Phuket and Koh Phangan. We work with both beginners trying scuba for the first time and certified divers who want to dive specific sites around the islands. The tours include equipment, boat transport, and an instructor who stays with your group.
Beginners start with shallow dives after shore instruction. You learn basic skills before entering open water. Maximum depth stays around 12 meters for first-time divers. Certified scuba divers access deeper sites based on certification level. All tours require basic swimming ability and medical clearance for certain health conditions.
The underwater world around both islands includes coral reefs, tropical fish, and rock formations. Phuket sites like Shark Point see larger marine life, including reef sharks and rays. Koh Phangan offers calmer conditions with good visibility most of the year. What you see depends on the season and weather.
Book online or contact our dive center directly. We check conditions before confirming tours. Bring swimwear, a towel, and motion sickness medication if needed.
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Dive Sites Around Phuket and Koh Phangan
Phuket scuba diving operates from Chalong Bay. Shark Point sits 90 minutes by boat—three limestone pinnacles with leopard sharks and reef fish. Racha Island has spots from 5 to 30 meters deep. Beginners explore Bungalow Bay at 12 meters. Certified participants access deeper east side locations.
Diving Koh Phangan centers on northern coasts. Sail Rock is the signature dive site—a granite pinnacle with swim-throughs at 18 meters. Whale sharks pass occasionally, but sightings aren’t guaranteed. Japanese Gardens near Haad Yao stays shallow at 14 meters with good coral coverage. Twin formations off the northwest coast sit at 16-20 meters.
Visibility reaches 15-25 meters during the dry season around Phuket. Koh locations average 15-20 meters. Water temperature stays 27-29°C year-round. Currents generally stay mild, though Shark Point can see stronger flow during tide changes.
What First-Time Divers Need to Know
Scuba programs let non-certified people try scuba diving under instructor supervision. The Discover scuba dive starts with 30-45 minutes of instruction covering breathing underwater, mask clearing, and hand signals. You practice in shallow water before the actual session.
The session stays at 8-12 meters for 30-40 minutes. The instructor maintains contact initially, releasing you once you demonstrate comfort. You see less than certified participants because shallow depth limits marine life, but the experience shows what scuba involves.
Medical restrictions apply. Recent surgery, heart conditions, lung problems, and pregnancy prevent participation. Age minimum starts at 10 years with parental consent.
Try dive programs run as day trips. Phuket tours visit Racha Island for calm conditions. Koh tours use protected locations. Daily trips include two sessions for certified participants, but beginners do one discover scuba session per day.
Fun Dives for Certified Scuba Divers
Certified participants access dive sites based on certification depth limit. Open Water certification stays above 18 meters. Advanced certification allows 30 meters. Fun sessions run as two-tank dive trips visiting two spots. Surface interval between sessions lasts 60-90 minutes.
Liveaboard trips to Similan Islands depart from Phuket October-May. These scuba diving trips require advanced certification and logged experience.
Marine Life You Might See
Reef ecosystems around Phuket support hundreds of fish species. Expect parrotfish, angelfish, groupers, and snappers on most tours. Moray eels hide in crevices. Stingrays rest on sand. Occasionally, barracuda schools or rays pass through.
December through April brings better visibility and calmer seas. May through November sees more nutrients but reduced visibility to 10-15 meters. Some locations become inaccessible during the monsoon. Guides know which spots currently look best and adjust plans.
Booking and What to Bring
Scuba tours require advance booking. Book 2-3 days ahead during high season November-April. The dive center confirms 24 hours before departure after checking the weather.
Certified participants show a certification card and logbook. If you haven’t been underwater recently, consider a refresher. Payment covers the boat, equipment, air fills, guide, and refreshments.
Each tour includes full scuba gear, a wetsuit, a mask, fins, tanks, and weights. The dive boat carries safety equipment. Instructors check gear before departure and brief everyone on the plan. Small groups of four to six people per instructor keep things manageable.
A trip to the Koh locations from Phuket takes 2-3 hours each way. Phuket, Thailand spots get more traffic but offer more variety. Choose based on travel time versus location selection.
Seasons and Conditions in Thailand
The best season around Phuket runs from November to April. Visibility peaks at 25-30 meters. Koh Phangan stays accessible more months. Visibility averages 15-20 meters but remains consistent.
Programs adapt to seasonal changes. Some dive sites become inaccessible during rough weather. The dive center maintains backup spots. If weather prevents launches, they reschedule or refund. June-October sees more cancellations.
Scuba gear includes regulators, BCD, wetsuit, mask, fins, weights, and tanks. All equipment receives regular servicing. Boats carry oxygen and first aid. Crew maintains CPR certifications. Group sizes stay at 4-6 people per instructor.
Reserve your spot, check the weather forecast, and prepare for your session. Most people remember their first shark sighting or swimming through a school of barracuda. That’s diving in Thailand—unpredictable, real, and worth the boat ride.
FAQ
What exactly is scuba diving?
Scuba diving means breathing compressed air underwater through a regulator connected to a tank on your back. You wear a mask to see, fins to swim, and a buoyancy device to control depth. The equipment lets you stay underwater for 30-60 minutes, depending on depth and air consumption.
Is scuba diving hard for beginners?
Basic skills take a few hours to learn. Breathing underwater feels strange initially, but most people adapt within 15-20 minutes. The hardest parts are equalizing ear pressure and controlling buoyancy. Beginners start in shallow water around 8-12 meters. Physical difficulty stays low because you’re nearly weightless underwater.
Can I scuba dive if I have anxiety?
Anxiety doesn’t automatically disqualify you. Many anxious people dive successfully after proper training. However, panic underwater creates danger because it can cause breath-holding or rapid surfacing.
How to breathe when scuba diving?
Breathe slowly and deeply through your mouth using the regulator. Inhale and exhale completely—don’t take shallow breaths. Never hold your breath while ascending because expanding air can injure your lungs. If the regulator falls out, exhale small bubbles while retrieving it, then clear water before inhaling. Breathing feels unnatural initially but becomes automatic with practice.
How heavy is a scuba tank in kg?
Standard aluminum tanks weigh 14-15 kg when full. Steel tanks weigh 16-18 kg. Underwater, tanks become nearly weightless. You only carry the weight on land when walking to the boat or shore.
How much of a workout is scuba diving?
Diving provides moderate exercise similar to casual swimming. Most effort goes into swimming against currents and maintaining position. Deeper dives and strong currents increase exertion. Many divers feel tired after a day of diving from sun exposure, mild dehydration, and nitrogen absorption rather than physical exertion.