Thailand - East or West Coast

[PeterT]

I am off to Thailand for a couple of months between April and September, which coast is better for weather and above all diving viz and general sea conditions.

UKDivers.com

[popje]

I am off to Thailand for a couple of months between April and September, which coast is better for weather and above all diving viz and general sea conditions.

UKDivers.com

This reply probably comes a bit late, but I do believe that April to September is the monsoon season in Thailand. (Or at least May to September is anyway.) I think that Lanta on the Andaman (west) side is closed for the monsoon season. Phuket and Phi Phi are still operating, I think. On the Gulf (east) side, I think everything proceeds as normal; Samui and Ko Tao. The weather is supposed to be better at this time of the year on the Gulf side (I think...) but the diving is supposed to better on the Andaman side. (That's if reefs are what you're into...) I believe the Similan Islands are where you should head to. I haven't been there myself yet, but that's what I've been told.

[iani]

The Similan Islands closes during the rainy season, opens up again late October I believe. Phuket is open all year round but the seas get a bit more lively during the rainy season, better diving IMO though as there are a lot less divers on the sites.

Ian

[simplelife]

Throughout the summer months, Thailand's prevailing wind blows in from the Southwest. Generally that means big waves and less than ideal diving conditions from Thailand's western Andaman coast [Phuket, Lanta, Phi Phi, Similans, Lipe etc].

So for diving at that time of year you need to look at the Gulf of Thailand - Samui, Phangan and Koh Tao. Most dive sites are located around Koh Tao, so if diving is the top priority for your holiday you'll want to base yourself there.

If you do head that way, you might want to check out Simple Life Diving Koh Tao, on Sairee Beach.

Later in the year the wind switches, blowing in from the North East (October onwards). At that point you'll want to be diving on the Andaman coast.