If you are on a Thailand yacht charter, then you will most likely want to take advantage of the warm and clear waters of The Andaman Sea and do some diving. A Thailand yacht charter gives you the perfect opportunity to do this, as the stunningly beautiful tropical islands offer high quality scuba and snorkelling, as the waters are crammed with colourful, tropical fish and corals.
When to go?
Thailand is a firm favourite destination for divers whether you are on a yacht charter or not, as the weather is gorgeous, there are fantastic beaches and diving is available from many a shoreline. You can dive in Thailand all year round, but the best conditions tend to be from November to April, where visibility can reach over 30m with very warm and calm seas with the water temperature up to 31C. Later in the season from end of May to October, the Monsoon winds and rain can bring surface swells to the water which can make some of the more remote diving sites inaccessible and water visibility reduced.
What to see?
There is plenty to spot in the waters on your Thailand yacht charter, and if you are diving you will see plenty of Indo-Pacific reef fish and creatures, as well as morays, puffers, triggers, and leopard sharks. From February to May you are likely to see whale sharks visiting, while manta rays can be often seen all year round. It is a fantastic place to dive, as well as the marine life, you will see fringing reefs, deep drop-offs, shipwrecks, as well as walls, caverns and tunnels to explore for the more adventurous.
Where to go?
- Similan Islands – These beautiful islands are probably the most popular location for scuba diving on a Thailand yacht charter, mainly due to the superb underwater scenery, with huge deep water boulder formations creating spectacular swim-throughs and vibrant reef slopes. The visibility is excellent here too in the stunning aquamarine sea.
- Richelieu Rock – probably one of the most famous of Thailand’s dive sites, the amazing horseshoe-shaped rock hosts many whale sharks, barracuda tornadoes and swarms of tropical fish. There is so much to see here that it is definitely one for the underwater photographer.
- Koh Bon and Koh Tachai – these are great spots if you fancy getting up close and personal with manta rays and whitetip reef sharks whilst on your Thailand yacht charter. Whilst Hin Daeng also offers a great chance to see grey reef sharks too, as well as experiencing the staggering vertical wall and plenty of caves and caverns to explore.
- Koh Dok Mai – This is a spectacular dive site with a wall and a drift dive, with plenty of hidden caves and crevices to explore in the limestone rock face. The reef below hides many moray eels to spot.
- Bida Nok – This site located near Phi Phi Island, is stunning both above and below the water with plenty to spot in the beautiful soft corals, including sea snakes and turtles. You will also see plenty of Moray eels, leopard sharks, parrotfish, and giant clams.
- Koh Haa – Found near Krabi, this collection of five big rocks has several dive sites that include swim-throughs, drop offs, and caverns with plenty of marine life to enjoy as well.
- If it is Wrecks you want to explore on your Thailand yacht charter, then you have a choice of HTMS Sattakut; one of Thailand’s premier wrecks, a 158 ft Assault Ship, that was sunk in 2011 near Koh Tao. Or HTMS Khram, located off Pattaya, which was sunk on purpose as an artificial reef in 2003, and HTMS Chang is the longest wreck at 384 ft. These artificial reefs are home to thick schools of fish and are brilliant for exploring not only the marine life, but looking into the cabins, briefing rooms and the bridge.
On your Thailand yacht charter, you really should take advantage of the amazing diving opportunities in this tropical paradise.
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