Diving in Thailand is divided geographically into two regions, the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Bangkok is the obvious starting point for diving in the Gulf. From Bangkok it is possible to access the many resorts and dive centers along the coast which run dive services to the numerous bays and small islands dotted around the Gulf of Thailand such as Songkram, Sattahip, Ko Chang and Ko Kut. The best diving in Thailand is accessed out of Phuket. From here dive boats, either day or liveaboard, depart for nearby islands such as Phi Phi and Raya Islands south and east of Phuket. Here, wreck dives on the recently sunk ferry King Cruiser can be safely undertaken at various depths depending on the particular part of the ship that is to be explored. Shark Point, named after the docile Zebra Sharks that snooze on the sand, provides clear water and masses of marine life at places such as the nearby Anemone Reef, which is covered in large sea anemones with their colourful anemone fish. Due south are the Raya Islands, where reef and wreck dives with excellent visibility are possible. From Phuket, liveaboard dive boats teke extended trips out to Thailand's Similan Islands and the Andaman Islands which are owned by India. Richelau Rock, near the Surin Islands, is one of the top dive sites in the world with swarming schools of fish, huge sea fans, pelagics such as manta rays and the world's biggest fish, the whale shark. Other features include the change to see mating cuttlefish perform their courting ritual, golden morays and swarming schools of fusiliers over the coral heads. Divers may also change upon the weird bowmouth guitarfish.
(Reef Adventure)
Fantasea, a liveaboard operating out of Phuket to the Andamans, also has trips further north to the Mergui Archipelago in Burmese waters. The Similan Islands National Park consists of nine picturesque islands with beautiful white sand beaches. On the east sides of the islands are sloping hard coral reefs filled with small reef fish. On the west side, spectacular granite boulders are festooned with bright soft corals, huge sea fans and tube corals. Fish of all kinds as well as rays, whale sharks, ghost pipe fish, jaw fish, frog fish and ribbon eels abound. Some of the dive sites are Elephant Head, Shark Fin Reef, Boulder City and East of Eden. The Surin Islands Marine National Park is just south of the Burmese border. Hard coral reefs fringe the shoreline where hawksbill turtles can be found feeding on the reef. Koh Tachai and Koh Born are between the Similan and Surin Islands. Here strong currents nurture huge sea fans and attract sharks, mantas and the huge whale shark.

.