Scuba Diving Seasons in Phuket

Scuba diving in Thailand is one of the experiences you should not miss. The Land of Smiles is particularly popular for its diving spots in Phuket, an island that can be your starting point for a liveaboard trip or scuba diving trips up the west coast to diving sites in the Andaman Sea. Phuket has everything for beginners, experienced, and professional divers alike, and it is home to world class PADI certified diving schools, too. To ensure the best diving experience, it is recommended that you dive during the best scuba diving seasons in Phuket.

Scuba diving continues throughout the year in Phuket, but the best conditions are from November to April (high season), and at the absolute peak aspect towards the end of that period. Scuba diving in Thailand during low season may be frustrating as the weather tends to be less predictable, with choppier seas and more rain. However, most diving trips to the local sites in Phuket are rarely interrupted by moderate weather conditions. In this case, divers are taken to the sites on the offshore island’s leeward areas.

Liveaboard scuba diving in Thailand is ideal from late October until the middle of May. Monsoons are already common and unpredictable beyond that period until high season starts, making it too dangerous for boats and divers to be in the open seas. Water temperatures in Phuket tend to range from 26 degrees Celsius in January and February, to 30 degrees Celsius in May and June. Thermoclines may occur in March and April, in which temperatures may drop a few degrees. Divers may wear full-length thin wetsuits if they feel uncomfortable with thermoclines.

Be careful when scuba diving in Thailand around April and May, as the titan triggerfish start nesting in the period, especially towards the end of high season. Triggerfish can become aggressive when defending their nests, which they build by digging in a sandy patch of coral. The titan species is notorious for being hazardous to divers.

Tips On How To Fit In Your Wetsuits

One of the most essential gear you must have in scuba diving is the wetsuit, which is designed for buoyancy and thermal insulation. The benefits of wearing a wetsuit will be discussed by your certified instructor during diving lessons in Phuket, but it is important to understand how to fit yours properly. Fitting one should be covered by your diving lessons in Phuket, but here are more tips to help you get the right fit and size:

• Check the brand or manufacturer – Suit manufacturers will vary in their sizing. What is labeled, ‘small’ may not necessarily be the regular small size that you wear when it comes to your everyday garments. Hence, ask for a sizing chart from the manufacturer that made the suit you want. This way, you can be sure that the suit will fit you snugly. Keep in mind that all suits are proportionally sized to your height and weight. 

• Fitting a one-piece suit – Pull the wetsuit all the way up to the waist and reach down to work your arms up one at a time. Let a buddy from your diving lessons in Phuket help you zip you up if the zipper is at the back to minimize zipper damage, as zippers tend to get caught in long hair or snag neoprene. 

• Fitting a two-piece scuba suit – Not all wetsuits are one-piece. There are two-piece suits, too. If that is what you want, start fitting by pulling the pants all the way up before securing the Velcro strap on the shoulder. Next, step through the jacket and pull it on, and reach to your back to put your arms through the suit before pulling it up. Zip up. 

• Inspecting the fit – The wetsuit must conform to the shape of your body. It should fit snugly and you might have a limited range of motion, but that is normal. Walk around for a few minutes and beware of any loss of circulation in your feet and hands. You should be able to breathe and inhale properly without feeling any discomfort. A small crease may be found at the back of your knees or elbows. 

• What if it does not fit? - Not all people will find off the rack wetsuits that will fit them properly. If that is the case, have it altered for a custom fit.