Directory of 72 Dive Sites or Spots for Scuba Diving in Mueang Phuket, Thailand

Although Mueang Phuket is located in the southern part of Phuket Island, diving from here isn’t limited to the south coast. It does offer some spectacular beach dives as well as some short day trips to some popular reefs and islands that lie close to shore, but most dive shops in this area run longer trips or liveaboard tours to some of the most spectacular Phuket scuba diving sites further west in the Andaman Sea.

One of the most popular beach dives takes place on Kata beach on the west coast. While experienced scuba divers often overlook shore dives, here in Thailand there are plenty of sites that are well worth a look. Kata beach is one of those locations, with a variety of reefs to explore from 4m to 12 metres depth. It’s an ideal location for beginners to train in, but advanced divers can catch sight of some of the less common marine animals, including Dragonet fish and the usually elusive Harlequin Sweetlips that aren’t often found elsewhere.

South of Mueang Phuket, the twin Koh Racha islands are 12km off shore and easy to reach by speedboat. The largest island, Koh Racha Yai, has perfectly clear waters and two popular bays at its northern end, where the swells remain low and visibility is usually excellent, to around 30m depending upon the season. Its smaller sister, Koh Racha Noi, also offers outstanding diving, but the currents are stronger here and the depths much greater so advanced divers generally only visit it.

One of the most popular dive sites is the string of atolls known as the Similan Islands. It is possible to take a day trip to this protected island chain, but most scuba divers in Phuket will take a liveaboard tour out instead. There’s just too much to see to fit into a single day.  The Similan Islands is a recognized National Park and named as one of the top five dive sites in the world by the National Geographic. The clear waters around this group of nine islands are teeming with unusual marine life and colorful corals, and, as a protected site, there’s a heavy emphasis on conservation in the area.

With so many scuba diving sites off the coast of Mueang Phuket, it’s no wonder this Asian island is one of the most visited dive destinations in the world.