The large majority of Thailand liveaboards depart from Phuket or Khao Lak and dive the Similan Islands, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai. All these dive sites are now available by daytrip for those who are short on time or have a swanky 5 star hotel on land that they can't bear to be away from. Most of these diving daytrip boats depart from Khao Lak so if you are staying on Phuket Island you will be transfered by minibus to KhaoLak. These daytrips can be long days with lots of travelling for just two dives. Because fuel hungry speedboats are often used to get to the divesites faster it can also be an expensive way to dive. We recommend the liveaboard option for these divesites whenever possible.

Other Thailand dive destinations such as Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangnan, Koh Lanta, Koh Chang, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, Pattaya and others are mainly geared towards daytrip diving where the dive sites are more conveniently located close to land.

Phuket Island has some excellent daytrip dives that are well worth trying before or after your Similan liveaboard dive trip including Shark Point, Anemone Reef and Racha Noi. Phi Phi Islands can also be reached from Phuket with a three hour boat ride (or a faster speedboat diving daytrip).

Staying on Phi Phi Island opens up many more excellent daytrip diving options close by.

Thailand's cheapest daytrip diving is from Koh Tao. Some of the dive sites are pretty average and the cheap prices attract crowds. Chumphon Pinnacle is the best dive in the area. Koh Samui daytrip dives mainly head to the Koh Tao dive sites by speedboat.

Wreck divers should dive the King Cruiser Wreck from Phuket or several wreck dives in Pattaya.