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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Asia

Asia

Thailand

Classic Andaman Sea island diving and a well-known training island for freediving and diving.

Freedom Beach and Shark Bay seen from a rocky viewpoint on Koh Tao
Freedom Beach Viewpoint, Koh Tao · Photo: Harshil Gudka on Unsplash
Exploring

Ethics pass, with care. We found a way to visit this country that meets our animal-welfare standard, as long as we work with the right local operator. Checked by Ocean Calling on 30 Sep 2026. Sources: Similan Islands close for 5 months to allow ecosystem recovery, The Nation Thailand, May 2025; Tourism and the Similan Islands: Protection or Pressure, DiveRACE, Mar 2026; DNA probe uncovers threatened shark species in Thailand's markets, Mongabay, Jan 2024.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla. Its page also carried a flooding update around 28 Sep 2026. Sources: UK FCDO travel advice, Thailand Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

FreedivingScubaWhale sharksMantasTurtles

Why Thailand

Khao Lak and the Similan and Surin Islands offer classic Andaman Sea diving, with island reefs, turtles and reef sharks. Around Koh Lanta and Hin Daeng, coral gardens lead to deeper pinnacles where mantas and whale sharks are possible. Koh Tao is a well-known training island for freediving and diving, with reef conservation work and occasional whale sharks. November to April is the main season for Khao Lak and Koh Lanta, and February to April for Koh Tao.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

Papua New GuineaIndonesiaTimor-LesteOmanCambodiaThailandLaosMyanmarVietnamIndiaBangladeshBhutanNepalPakistanAfghanistanIranSri LankaChinaTaiwanPhilippinesMalaysiaBruneiKhao Lak, Similan and Surin Islands, ThailandKoh Lanta and Hin Daeng, ThailandKoh Tao, Thailand

When to go

Nov-Apr. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We have researched this place and keep learning about it. There is no trip here yet.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Ethics pass, with care

Good with the right operator. Here is how we choose.

Thailand protects whale sharks by law, and the Similan and Surin parks close every monsoon season so the reefs can rest. But a protected park can still be crowded, and the reefs are recovering from the 2024 bleaching. So we dive quieter sites in small groups, use moorings and never chase animals.

Checked 30 Sep 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
Places we are exploring

Where in Thailand

Short notes from our research. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Khao Lak, Similan and Surin Islands

Exploring

Classic Andaman Sea diving among island reefs, with turtles, reef sharks and chances of mantas.

🤿 In the water: Turtles, Reef sharks, Schooling pelagic fish, Hard and soft corals, Mantas and whale sharks (possible)

When: Nov-Apr. The islands open from November to mid-May. November to April is the main diving season.

Koh Lanta and Hin Daeng

Exploring

A calm island base with coral gardens, and deeper pinnacles where mantas and whale sharks are possible.

🤿 In the water: Coral gardens, Turtles, Leopard and reef sharks, Schooling pelagic fish, Mantas and whale sharks (possible)

When: Nov-Apr. November to April has calmer seas. February to April may bring more mantas and whale sharks.

Koh Tao

Exploring

A well-known training island for freediving and diving, with reef conservation and occasional whale sharks.

🤿 In the water: Turtles, Reef sharks, Barracuda and groupers, Anemonefish and reef fish, Whale sharks (possible)

When: Feb-Apr. February to April has the best general conditions. Whale sharks are more often seen June to September.

Animals

Animals recorded in Thailand

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Land animals
Huge spotted whale shark gliding through open blue waterWhale sharkRhincodon typusSeen in 54 countries in the AtlasEndangeredTwo blacktip reef sharks swimming over sunlit sand in turquoise waterBlacktip reef sharkCarcharhinus melanopterusSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBryde’s whale surfacing and exhaling in deep blue open oceanBryde's whaleBalaenoptera edeniSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTawny nurse sharks swimming in sunlit Maldives waterTawny nurse sharkNebrius ferrugineusSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBlue-spotted ribbontail ray resting on sand, seen from aboveBlue-spotted ribbontail rayTaeniura lymmaSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBanded sea krait with yellow lip rising over dark sandBanded sea krait (yellow-lipped sea krait)Laticauda colubrinaSeen in 18 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBlue-lipped sea krait with blue and black bands on sandBlue-lipped sea kraitLaticauda laticaudataSeen in 12 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBox jellyfish with square bell and long tentacles at nightBox jellyfishChironex fleckeri and other box jellyfish (Cubozoa)Seen in 6 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedPale reef stonefish resting between anemones in KwajaleinReef stonefishSynanceia verrucosaSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernRed lionfish with spread fins over sand in Dauin, PhilippinesLionfish (red and common lionfish)Pterois volitans and Pterois milesSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWell camouflaged scorpionfish on dark sand in Lembeh StraitScorpionfishScorpaenopsis speciesSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasVaries by speciesTitan triggerfish swimming over a reef slope in blue waterTitan triggerfishBalistoides viridescensSeen in 40 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClown triggerfish with big white spots over reef in the Coral SeaClown triggerfishBalistoides conspicillumSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernIrrawaddy dolphin rising from the water, showing its round headIrrawaddy dolphinOrcaella brevirostrisSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasEndangeredZebra shark resting on sandy reef floor, spotted body and ridgesZebra sharkStegostoma tigrinumSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasEndangeredGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHawksbill turtle swimming, pointed beak in profileHawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredDugong grazing on seagrass over a sandy seabedDugongDugong dugonSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableWhitetip reef sharks resting stacked in a reef creviceWhitetip reef sharkTriaenodon obesusSeen in 43 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLarge school of chevron barracuda in deep blue waterChevron barracudaSphyraena qenieSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScalloped hammerhead shark cruising in deep blue Red Sea waterScalloped hammerheadSphyrna lewiniSeen in 57 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredSchool of bigeye trevally swirling near the seabed at AmedBigeye trevallyCaranx sexfasciatusSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTwo spinner dolphins swimming over sand in clear waterSpinner dolphinStenella longirostrisSeen in 66 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWall of grey reef sharks cruising in blue waterGrey reef sharkCarcharhinus amblyrhynchosSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasEndangeredTiger shark with clear stripes swimming over a reefTiger sharkGaleocerdo cuvierSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedSpotted garden eels rising from sand, black spots clearly visibleSpotted garden eelHeteroconger hassiSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBlue-spotted maskray resting on a sandy seabed beside a shellBlue-spotted stingrayNeotrygon kuhlii complexSeen in 15 countries in the AtlasVaries by speciesGreat barracuda cruising in open blue water, showing jagged teethGreat barracudaSphyraena barracudaSeen in 84 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernEstuary seahorse with textured orange skin on dark sandCommon (estuary) seahorseHippocampus kudaSeen in 25 countries in the AtlasVulnerableGiant oceanic manta with T-shaped white shoulder patches and remorasOceanic manta ray (giant manta)Mobula birostrisSeen in 31 countries in the AtlasEndangeredLeopard shark gliding through a beam of light in dark waterLeopard sharkTriakis semifasciataSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWhite-spotted eagle rays gliding over coral at Heron Island, Great Barrier ReefSpotted eagle ray (ocellated eagle ray)Aetobatus ocellatusSeen in 28 countries in the AtlasEndangeredBluestreak cleaner wrasse with black stripe and blue tailBluestreak cleaner wrasseLabroides dimidiatusSeen in 51 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAdult pink Chinese white dolphin swimming beside a grey calf in Pearl River estuary waterChinese white dolphinSousa chinensisSeen in 17 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBull shark swimming in clear blue water off Quintana Roo, MexicoBull sharkCarcharhinus leucasSeen in 30 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBlacktip shark swimming in green water in the GalápagosBlacktip sharkCarcharhinus limbatusSeen in 49 countries in the AtlasVulnerablePortuguese man o' war floating with purple crest off Pico, AzoresPortuguese man o' warPhysalia physalisSeen in 36 countries in the AtlasNot EvaluatedDay octopus beside a coral head on a sandy Red Sea reefDay octopusOctopus cyaneaSeen in 35 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBlue shark swimming in open blue water off the Azores with a diver in the backgroundBlue sharkPrionace glaucaSeen in 50 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedBlack-faced spoonbill in Taiwan, TW, iNaturalist research-grade observationBlack-faced spoonbillPlatalea minorSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasLives on landVulnerablePale seahorse with a long snout holding a blade of green weed against a dark backgroundThree-spot seahorseHippocampus trimaculatusSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasEndangeredAdult brown booby standing on a rock with its bill open against blue sky, PrincipeBrown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSailfish swimming in open blue water, seen from below, with its long bill and tall dorsal finSailfishIstiophorus platypterusSeen in 31 countries in the AtlasVulnerableClose view of a red-footed booby head with blue, pink and red bill and throat skin among green leavesRed-footed boobySula sulaSeen in 91 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSilver-cheeked toadfish resting just above sandy seabed, with its pale belly and dark-spotted backSilver-cheeked toadfishLagocephalus sceleratusSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBowmouth guitarfish seen from above, swimming over the seabed in hazy blue water, with a long shark-like tailBowmouth guitarfishRhina ancylostomaSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredWhite-tailed eagle in flight low over calm water with a fish in its talons, near Raftsund, Lofoten, NorwayWhite-tailed eagleHaliaeetus albicillaSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast ConcernGiant trevally swimming close to a coral head, with small reef fish in blue water behind itGiant trevallyCaranx ignobilisSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernFrigatebird perched on a branch with its bill raised, wings open against a blue skyChristmas Island frigatebirdFregata andrewsiSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSaltwater crocodile resting on a muddy bank beside mangrove rootsSaltwater crocodileCrocodylus porosusSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGiant guitarfish (whitespotted wedgefish) resting on a sandy seabed off Durban, South AfricaWhitespotted wedgefishRhynchobatus djiddensisSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredGreat cormorant perched on a branch, with white head plumes and a glossy blue-black backGreat cormorantPhalacrocorax carboSeen in 90 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLesser frigatebird soaring against a blue sky with its wings spread and tail forkedLesser frigatebirdFregata arielSeen in 39 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernShort-tailed shearwater resting on the open seaShort-tailed shearwaterArdenna tenuirostrisSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernOriental darter lifting its head and bill out of the water with a catchOriental darterAnhinga melanogasterSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernLittle cormorant perched among mangrove branches with its wings spreadLittle cormorantMicrocarbo nigerSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSpottail sharkCarcharhinus sorrahSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedIndian cormorant perched beside water, showing its blue eye and scalloped feathersIndian cormorantPhalacrocorax fuscicollisSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernBrownbanded bamboo shark swimming low over a rubbly reef flatBrownbanded bamboo sharkChiloscyllium punctatumSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasNear Threatened

Read before you go

Whales and wildlife ethicsDugongs: The Sea Cow We Hope to Meet by LuckRead ↗
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