Best Dive Centres in Phuket
Phuket is the main gateway to scuba diving in Thailand’s Andaman Sea. Most day trip boats depart from Chalong Bay on the southeast coast, heading east towards Shark Point, Anemone Reef and the King Cruiser Wreck, or south to Racha Yai and Racha Noi. The liveaboard route goes northwest to the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, and further to the Surin Archipelago and Richelieu Rock, widely considered one of the best dive sites in the world.
Diving is available all year round. The best conditions are from November to April during the northeast monsoon, when the Similan and Surin national parks are open, and visibility can reach 30 metres or more. During the southwest monsoon from May to October, day trips still run to the eastern sites and Racha Islands, where conditions remain good. Water temperature stays around 28 to 30 degrees all year.
If you have never dived before, most centres offer a Discover Scuba Diving introduction that requires no prior experience. You get a briefing on the boat and do your first dive in shallow water the same day. A PADI or SSI Open Water certification usually takes three days. Booking your course or liveaboard in advance is a good idea, especially during high season.
Below is a list of reputable dive centres operating around the island. This list is not sponsored and is in no particular order. I have worked with several of them over the years through the site.
Dive Centres on Phuket
Oceanic Dive Center
| Location: Kata Beach |
Oceanic Dive Center has been in Kata Beach since 1999, making it one of the longer-running dive shops on the island. The current owners, a British husband and wife team, have been active dive instructors in Phuket since 2007 and took over Oceanic in 2010. They are registered under both PADI and SSI, holding SSI Diamond Dive Center status. Courses run from Discover Scuba and Open Water right through to Divemaster. Day trips head to Racha Yai, Racha Noi, Shark Point, Anemone Reef, King Cruiser Wreck and Phi Phi.
They also arrange Similan liveaboards (typically 4 days/4 nights with 14 dives) and Southern Andaman safaris to Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Haa and Phi Phi. They run their own dive equipment retail shop and are not tied to a single manufacturer, so they can give honest gear advice. Group sizes are kept small. The shop is on Patak Road, walking distance from both Kata and Karon beaches. Snorkelling trips are also available for non-diving companions. Often described by returning customers as “more a club than a dive shop”.
Merlin Divers
| Location: Kamala Beach |
Merlin Divers is an SSI dive centre on Kamala Beach, run by Swiss-German owner Robert Klein, who moved to Phuket over 20 years ago. The original shop was destroyed by the 2004 tsunami and rebuilt at its current location on Rim Had Road, just 20 metres from the beach. They offer all SSI courses from Discover Scuba through to Divemaster. Day trips run to Racha, Phi Phi, Shark Point, Anemone Reef and the King Cruiser Wreck, plus Similan liveaboards during high season.
A big draw is their local west coast half-day trips to around 10 dive sites off Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao. These are rarely visited by other operators, so you often dive without seeing another group. The boat holds a maximum of 8 customers. They are an Aqua Lung Partner Center with one of the largest dive retail sections on the island. Good option if you are staying on the north-central west coast and do not want to travel far for your dive shop. Courses are available in multiple languages.
Sea Bees Diving
| Location: Chalong + Khao Lak |
Sea Bees has been running for over 30 years and holds SSI Diamond Instructor Dive Center status. Their headquarters and teaching centre are near the port in Chalong Bay, with additional branches at the Amari Coral Beach Resort in Patong and the JW Marriott in Mai Khao. They also operate out of Khao Lak for Similan access. What sets them apart is that they run their own custom-built fleet of dive boats rather than booking through third parties.
Their 23-metre day trip vessel Excalibur 2 was purpose-built for divers, with a covered sundeck, dive bar and freshly cooked lunches on board. Day trips visit a different destination each day on a fixed weekly schedule, with two to three dives per outing. Maximum group size is four divers per guide. They also run their own bungalow resort near Chalong for divers who want accommodation and diving in one package. Liveaboard safaris of up to 6 days cover the Similans, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin and Richelieu Rock. One of the larger and more established operations on the island.
Thailand Divers
| Location: Patong Beach + Chalong Bay |
Thailand Divers has over 18 years of experience running PADI courses and day trips. They operate from two locations: a shop on Rat-U-Thit Road in Patong Beach and boats departing from Chalong Bay. Their day trip boat MV Mermaid visits Racha Yai, Racha Noi, Phi Phi, Shark Point and the King Cruiser Wreck, completing three dives per day. Maximum group size is four certified divers per Divemaster.
All PADI courses are available, from Discover Scuba through to Divemaster and specialities. Hotel transfers anywhere on Phuket Island are included with every trip. Having a base in Patong makes them convenient for travellers staying on that side of the island who do not want to arrange their own transport to Chalong. They cater to both certified fun divers and complete beginners.
Local Dive Thailand
| Location: Rawai Beach |
Local Dive Thailand is one of the longest-running dive centres in Phuket, based on Sai Yuan Road in Rawai. They run day trips every day of the year with a strict maximum of four divers per guide. All PADI courses are available from Discover Scuba to specialities including Deep Diving, Wreck Diving, Search and Recovery and Underwater Photography.
Courses can start any day of the week. Being an international school, instruction is offered in multiple languages. They also organise liveaboard trips to the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock during high season. Day trips head to Racha Yai and Racha Noi (two dives), and to the Shark Point area and Phi Phi (three dives). Full-day snorkelling by speedboat is available too. Hotel transfers from Rawai, Chalong, Kata, Karon, Patong and Kamala are included. Their location in Rawai makes them a short drive from Chalong Pier, keeping morning pickup times reasonable.
No Gravity Dive Center
| Location: Chalong |
No Gravity is a family-run PADI and SSI Dive Center in the Chalong area, founded by Hungarian instructor Attila in 2007. The team is small, which means more personal attention. All courses are taught in private classes or groups of maximum four students per instructor. They offer the full range of PADI courses from Discover Scuba to Divemaster, plus beach dives at Kata reef and boat day trips to Racha Yai, Racha Noi, Phi Phi, Shark Point and Koh Dok Mai. Similan liveaboards from 2 to 6 days are also available.
They have their own training pool at the Chalong centre for confined water sessions. Non-divers can join on snorkelling and sightseeing trips to Phang Nga Bay, Krabi, Coral Island and Khao Sok. They can also help arrange accommodation near the dive centre. A good fit if you prefer a quieter, more personal setup rather than a large commercial dive operation.
Tech Dive Asia
| Location: Chalong |
Tech Dive Asia is Thailand’s main technical diving operation, based in Phuket but running trips across Thailand and Southeast Asia. If you are interested in going beyond recreational depth limits, this is the specialist. Their team consists of independent Technical and Rebreather Instructor Trainers with years of experience. They offer the full range of RAID technical courses including Deco 40, Deco 50 and Deco 60 (normoxic trimix), plus open circuit and rebreather training.
Guided technical dives cover deep ocean reefs, wrecks, caves and even mines. They cater to both divers taking their first step from recreational into technical diving and experienced tech divers looking for advanced training or guided exploration. Not a place for complete beginners to scuba, but if you already hold an Open Water or Advanced certification and want to push deeper, they can map out the progression.
SSS Phuket Dive & Surf Center
| Location: Kata Beach |
SSS Phuket has been operating since 2008 on Kata Noi Road, steps from Kata Beach. They are dual-certified as both SSI and PADI and were also Phuket’s first genuine freediving centre, offering AIDA, Molchanovs and SSI freediving courses. Beyond scuba, they run surf lessons and camps (during the May to November wave season), stand-up paddleboard rental and snorkelling trips. Instructors speak English, French, Chinese, Russian, German, Spanish and Thai. Scuba day trips go to Racha Yai, Phi Phi, King Cruiser and Shark Point.
They also run a Coral Reef Creation Project, sinking structures to encourage natural coral growth at local dive sites. The shop has its own on-site accommodation for guests who want to stay right next to the centre. With over 70 courses and activities available year-round, SSS is a good option if you want to combine diving with surfing or freediving during a single trip.
Manta Dive Phuket
| Location: Phuket |
Manta Dive Phuket offers PADI and SSI courses for all levels, from Discover Scuba Diving for first-timers through to Advanced Open Water and specialities. Fun divers can join day trips to the main sites around Phuket, including Racha Yai, Racha Noi, Shark Point and Phi Phi. Similan liveaboards are available during high season.
They aim for small group sizes and use well-maintained dive boats. Equipment rental is included with courses and day trips. Hotel transfers from the main beach areas are part of the package. A straightforward mid-range option for visitors who want reliable service without the premium pricing of the larger operations.
MMA Divers Phuket
| Location: Chalong Pier |
MMA Divers is a PADI scuba diving centre and private dive boat charter based at Chalong Pier Marina. The private boat option is what sets them apart from most other operators on the island. If you want your own boat, your own guide and your own schedule without sharing with a large group of strangers, MMA Divers can arrange that.
This makes them a good fit for small groups, families or anyone who values privacy on the water. They also run standard PADI courses and join-in day trips to the usual sites around Phuket for those on a tighter budget. Being based right at Chalong Pier means minimal transfer time to the boats. Equipment is available for rental, and hotel pickups can be arranged.
H2O Sportz
| Location: Bang Tao Beach |
H2O Sportz is a PADI 5 Star Dive Centre in the Bang Tao area, established in 1990, making it one of the oldest dive operations on the island. They run both shared and private half-day and full-day dive tours to sites along and north of Phuket’s west coast. Half-day trips are convenient if you do not want to spend the entire day on a boat, or if you want to combine a morning dive with afternoon activities.
Full-day trips cover the more distant sites. PADI courses are available from beginner to advanced levels. Being one of the few dive centres based on the northwest coast, H2O Sportz is a convenient choice if you are staying around Bang Tao, Laguna, Surin or Cherng Talay and want to avoid the long morning drive down to Chalong.
Aum Scuba Phuket
| Location: Phuket |
Aum Scuba Phuket caters to all levels, from complete beginners to certified divers looking for fun dive trips around Phuket’s best sites. They put a particular focus on families with teenagers who want to try scuba diving for the first time, making the introduction relaxed and pressure-free.
Certified divers can join day trips to the popular reefs and dive sites in the Andaman Sea. The team is friendly and approachable, which makes a difference for anyone feeling nervous about their first time underwater. A good option for a no-fuss introduction to diving in a welcoming atmosphere.
