Diving in Gulf of Thailand
Why dive here
Gulf of Thailand offers some of Thailand's richest diving, with 158+ marine species recorded in the area - including blacktip reef sharks, blue-spotted stingrays, mobula rays (devil rays), whale sharks and pufferfish. Water sits around 28°C.
The Gulf of Thailand, for us, is all about easy diving and those wonderful whale shark surprises at Sail Rock. We’ve had incredible luck there, watching them cruise past as schools of fusiliers dim the light. It’s also home to some decent wrecks, like the HTMS Sattakut, which attracts a fun mix of batfish and barracuda. The reefs around Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are mostly gentle slopes and pinnacles, perfect for beginners, though we always keep an eye out for those trickier currents at sites like Chumphon Pinnacle. Visibility often sits around 10-15m, a comfortable hazy blue, and you’ll spot plenty of flat needlefish zipping around the surface. We particularly love hunting for horseshoe crabs in the sandy patches, and the staghorn coral formations are surprisingly robust. Keep an eye out for the distinctive bronze featherback, not a common sight elsewhere. Our pick for a relaxed afternoon dive would be exploring the nooks and crannies for lined monocle bream.
Gulf of Thailand Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Gulf of Thailand
Gulf of Thailand Dive Sites
90 dive sites in Gulf of Thailand
Ao Cheweng
Ao Cheweng in the Gulf of Thailand is a straightforward dive, often used for training or easy refreshes. You'll likely find a sandy bottom with scattered corals, mostly whip corals and sea anemones. Keep an eye out for smaller reef fish like damselfish and the occasional crab scuttling past. It's a relaxed spot, good for newer divers or those looking for a calm, shallow dive.
Ao Kruad
Ao Kruad is a shallow, sheltered spot, usually around 10 meters deep. We often take new divers here for their first open water dives or refreshers. You'll find a mix of hard corals and a sandy bottom, good for spotting small reef fish like damselfish and parrotfish. It's a relaxed site, ideal for building confidence without strong currents.
Ao Mook
Ao Mook, in the Gulf of Thailand, is a nice, easy dive. It’s shallow, hitting about 15 metres, making it perfect for newer divers or those looking for a relaxed afternoon. You’ll typically find it home to the usual reef suspects – plenty of schooling fusiliers, some parrotfish, and often a few curious moray eels poking out from the rocks. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s a perfectly pleasant dive for getting your fins wet.
Ao Tien
Ao Tien offers a straightforward dive, topping out at 14m. It’s a good spot for newer divers or those looking for an easy, relaxing profile. You'll generally find small reef fish moving amongst the scattered coral patches. We usually recommend it as a warm-up dive or for those completing their open water certification.
Aow Leuk
Aow Leuk is a shallow site, topping out at 8m, which makes it a good spot for new divers or those refreshing their skills. You’ll find small patches of hard coral here, scattered with whip corals and sea anemones. Look closely and you might spot a few nudibranchs or a juvenile snapper tucked in the coral. It’s a pleasant, easy dive, best done when the sun is high for the clearest views.
Aow Lok Gum / อ่าวลกกำ
Aow Lok Gum, sitting shallow in the Gulf of Thailand, is a nice spot to get comfortable in the water. With a maximum depth of just nine meters, it’s a perfect training ground for new divers or a relaxing second dive of the day. You’ll drift over sandy patches and some scattered coral bommies, often seeing schools of small reef fish like fusiliers and rabbitfish darting about. We’ve spotted gobies and blennies here too, little guys that are easy to miss if you’re not looking closely, making it ideal for a leisurely pace.
Ban Pla Aow TongTom (Artificial)/ บ้านปลา อ่าวท้องตม
When we talk about easy, relaxed wreck diving in the Gulf, Ban Pla Aow TongTom really stands out. It's an artificial reef, originally a fishing boat scuttled to create new habitat, and it’s done its job beautifully. The wreck itself sits shallow, only 10 metres down, making it perfect for newer divers or those who just want a long, leisurely bottom time. We love drifting over the main deck, spotting the resident batfish that school so densely they almost obscure the superstructure. Look closely at the hull and you’ll find nudibranchs inching their way across the metal, and we’ve often seen small lionfish tucked into crevices, waiting for an easy meal. It’s not a huge wreck, but there’s enough to explore for a good 40 minutes, especially if you take your time to peer into the cabins. The visibility here can be decent, especially in the calmer months from May to September, though it’s never going to be Red Sea clear. We’d suggest going early in the morning before any boat traffic stirs things up too much. It’s a gentle site, a truly pleasant dive that reminds you how quickly nature reclaims what man leaves behind.
Bio Rock
Bio Rock sits at a comfortable 14 meters, making it an easy drift for newer divers. The site is a mix of natural rock formations and artificial structures, slowly growing a new coral community. We often spot juvenile reef fish taking shelter, along with the occasional moray eel peeking from the rocks. It’s a gentle introduction to Gulf of Thailand diving, especially if you’re looking for calm conditions.
Buddha Rock
Buddha Rock is a granite pinnacle dive in the Gulf of Thailand, often visited as part of a longer trip. We usually drop onto the main rock formation, then spiral down to around 15 metres, looking for the small crevices and overhangs where we've seen blue-spotted stingrays tucked away. It's a relaxed dive, good for beginners getting comfortable with some mild current, and an easy spot to rack up bottom time. Visibility hovers around 10-15 metres on a good day, so keep your eyes peeled for lionfish and moray eels in the cracks.
Buoyancy World
Buoyancy World sits in the Gulf of Thailand, a perfectly calm spot for getting your trim dialed in. At a uniform 14 meters, it’s ideal for beginners or those brushing up their skills. You’ll find some scattered coral bommies and a decent collection of reef fish – think parrotfish munching away and small schools of fusiliers darting about. It’s not a drift dive, so you can really focus on your breathing and fin kicks, making it a solid choice for a confidence boost before heading to more challenging spots.
Chalok Bay
Chalok Bay makes for a good, easy dive, particularly if you’re new to the whole breathing-underwater thing or just want a relaxed afternoon. The maximum depth of 10m means plenty of bottom time, and the calm, protected waters are ideal for getting comfortable with buoyancy. You’ll find some decent hard corals here, especially in the shallower sections, providing homes for small reef fish like damselfish and the occasional wrasse. It’s not going to blow your mind with pelagics, but for a gentle, sunny introduction to Gulf diving, we think it’s a solid choice.
Chip Chip Wreck
The Chip Chip Wreck is our go-to when we’re looking for a solid wreck dive without the crowds of some of its neighbours. Sunk in 1996, this fishing trawler sits upright at 29 metres, surprisingly intact for its age. We love dropping down onto the wheelhouse, its outlines still very clear, before exploring the holds. The currents here are usually mild, making it a comfortable dive even for those newer to deeper wrecks. What really makes the Chip Chip shine is the life it’s attracted. You’ll spot schools of yellowtail barracuda hanging motionless off the bow, and we’ve often found lionfish tucked into shadowy crevices. Keep an eye out for resident batfish, their silhouettes often appearing suddenly out of the slightly dimmer light around the wreck. It’s an intermediate dive, perfect for divers comfortable with their buoyancy at depth and keen to spend some quality time exploring a single, fascinating structure. We’d suggest going early in the morning for the best light, as the afternoon sun can make some of the deeper sections a bit murkier.
Gulf of Thailand Dive Centres
66 dive shops and operators in Gulf of Thailand
Ocean Wildlife in Gulf of Thailand
158 species recorded in Gulf of Thailand
Gulf of Thailand Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Gulf of Thailand, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
06:13
Sunset
18:36
Daylight
12h 23m
Golden Hour
18:08
First light (dawn) at 05:51 · Last light (dusk) at 18:58
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:43 | 18:19 | 11h 36m |
| Feb | 06:42 | 18:30 | 11h 48m |
| Mar | 06:29 | 18:33 | 12h 3m |
| Apr | 06:11 | 18:32 | 12h 21m |
| May | 06:01 | 18:36 | 12h 35m |
| JunLongest | 06:01 | 18:44 | 12h 43m |
| Jul | 06:08 | 18:47 | 12h 40m |
| AugNow | 06:13 | 18:40 | 12h 28m |
| Sep | 06:12 | 18:23 | 12h 11m |
| Oct | 06:10 | 18:05 | 11h 55m |
| Nov | 06:16 | 17:56 | 11h 40m |
| DecShortest | 06:31 | 18:03 | 11h 32m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Gulf of Thailand.
Where to Stay near Gulf of Thailand
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Marine Protected Areas near Gulf of Thailand
11 protected areas near Gulf of Thailand - please respect local regulations when diving
Suratthani Environmental Protected Area
Kaper Estuary - Laemson Marine National Park - Kraburi Estuary
Mu ko Chumphon
Laem Son
Mu ko Ranong
Ko Phayam Marine and Coastal Resources Protected Area
Biosphere Reserves Ranong Thailand
Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine National Park
Muko Ang Thong
Lam Nam Kra Buri
Hat Wanakon
Getting to Gulf of Thailand
Na Thon (Ko Samui Island)
Krabi
Phuket
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