Best diving in South East Asia:from Ranong
Ranong is a small Thai town still quite far away from mainstream tourism but it also happens to be at the center of some of the best dive sites in South East Asia.
But why leave from Ranong to go diving?
That's a question we get quite often: why did you base your dive center in Ranong?
Ranong is definetly less famous than Khao Lak or Phuket to go diving, so why Ranong?
We decided to settle in Ranong because we fell in Love with Mergui archipelago in Myanmar and Ranong is the closest port to these wonderful 800 islands and thousands of dive sites which we consider as the best in South East Asia! We could also have settled on the other side of the border, Kawthoung but Ranong offered a few advantages.
1. We are also close the the top dive sites in Thailand so can cover the best of both countries.
2. Ranong has got 2 amazing islands at its doorstep. While not very famous, Koh Phayam and the small Koh chang offer an amazing break to those who care to stop there. Idilic beached, wooden bungalow, relaxed athmosphere. So nice!
3. Ranong is a quiet thai town, so quite interesting to those wanting to experiment the real Thailand away from the beaten track. Ranong is a famous thermal town where Thais from Bangkok love to come for the weekend. I think it is the best place in Thailand to get a good massage or good thai food.
3. Ranong benefit from Thailand's great infrastructure. There is a big road between Bangkok and Phuket and Ranong is on it making it accessible by road from pretty much anywhere for those on a budget choosing to come by bus. There is an airport and 2 daily flights to Bangkok, it is also just 4 hours drive from Phuket (while it would take you 3 days to come by boat from phuket to Mergui Archipelago).
Ranong is definetly less famous than Khao Lak or Phuket to go diving, so why Ranong?
We decided to settle in Ranong because we fell in Love with Mergui archipelago in Myanmar and Ranong is the closest port to these wonderful 800 islands and thousands of dive sites which we consider as the best in South East Asia! We could also have settled on the other side of the border, Kawthoung but Ranong offered a few advantages.
1. We are also close the the top dive sites in Thailand so can cover the best of both countries.
2. Ranong has got 2 amazing islands at its doorstep. While not very famous, Koh Phayam and the small Koh chang offer an amazing break to those who care to stop there. Idilic beached, wooden bungalow, relaxed athmosphere. So nice!
3. Ranong is a quiet thai town, so quite interesting to those wanting to experiment the real Thailand away from the beaten track. Ranong is a famous thermal town where Thais from Bangkok love to come for the weekend. I think it is the best place in Thailand to get a good massage or good thai food.
3. Ranong benefit from Thailand's great infrastructure. There is a big road between Bangkok and Phuket and Ranong is on it making it accessible by road from pretty much anywhere for those on a budget choosing to come by bus. There is an airport and 2 daily flights to Bangkok, it is also just 4 hours drive from Phuket (while it would take you 3 days to come by boat from phuket to Mergui Archipelago).
What destinations do we cover? The best dive sites in South East Asia
dive sites from ranong: the best diving in South East Asia
Thailand and Burma (now named Myanmar) have some of the most amazing dive sites in South East Asia and the world.
The best dives sites in Thailand are situated North of the Andaman Coast namely the Similan islands, Surin Islands and the infamous Richelieu Rock.
Burma, still off the beaten track offers even more wonders to the curious taking one of the few boats visiting its pristine waters.
As you can see on this Map, Ranong is perfectly situated in the Middle of both making them reachable in a few hours.
The best dives sites in Thailand are situated North of the Andaman Coast namely the Similan islands, Surin Islands and the infamous Richelieu Rock.
Burma, still off the beaten track offers even more wonders to the curious taking one of the few boats visiting its pristine waters.
As you can see on this Map, Ranong is perfectly situated in the Middle of both making them reachable in a few hours.
Diving in Thailand and Burma is very different. Combining both is a good idea to see more diversity.
Thailand has better visibility and bigger schools of baracudas and trevalis due to the fact dive sites are in a national parc protected from fishing during the season.
Burma has a lot less diving boat (we are alone on every dive site while Richelieu Rock can have 100 divers at a time), more rare species (frog fish, seahorse, ghost pipe fish are seen on every trip, harlequin shrimps very often, nurse shark and big blotched sting rays quite often too) there are many caves in Burma as the rock is limestone, none in Thailand. There is more current, hence colder water (27-29'), hence coral is in a lot better condition in Myanmar. It is also more challenging dive sites (deeper,current, caves).
So really, while nearby, it is two very different destinations. We like both for different reasons.
The South of Similan islands have been damaged in recent years by too many divers and warm water (coral bleaching), so coral life in South of Similans is not as nice anymore (we don't go there) and many dive operators based in Phuket try to scare tourists away from Burma as a competitive destination. Beware of who is giving information online...
If you want to see big schools of fish only, then I would say you have better chance in Koh Tachai Pinnacle mid or end of the season as it is protected from fishing during the season. If you are also interested by beatiful corals and rare macro life, then head towards Burma. If you want both, then why not take advantage of our "combo promotion" to do a bit of both and see the best of both worlds...
Read more about our diving trips in Thailand and Burma
Thailand has better visibility and bigger schools of baracudas and trevalis due to the fact dive sites are in a national parc protected from fishing during the season.
Burma has a lot less diving boat (we are alone on every dive site while Richelieu Rock can have 100 divers at a time), more rare species (frog fish, seahorse, ghost pipe fish are seen on every trip, harlequin shrimps very often, nurse shark and big blotched sting rays quite often too) there are many caves in Burma as the rock is limestone, none in Thailand. There is more current, hence colder water (27-29'), hence coral is in a lot better condition in Myanmar. It is also more challenging dive sites (deeper,current, caves).
So really, while nearby, it is two very different destinations. We like both for different reasons.
The South of Similan islands have been damaged in recent years by too many divers and warm water (coral bleaching), so coral life in South of Similans is not as nice anymore (we don't go there) and many dive operators based in Phuket try to scare tourists away from Burma as a competitive destination. Beware of who is giving information online...
If you want to see big schools of fish only, then I would say you have better chance in Koh Tachai Pinnacle mid or end of the season as it is protected from fishing during the season. If you are also interested by beatiful corals and rare macro life, then head towards Burma. If you want both, then why not take advantage of our "combo promotion" to do a bit of both and see the best of both worlds...
Read more about our diving trips in Thailand and Burma
