Where would you go for Freediving in Thailand?

[Hypercubeh2o]

I'm really excited with the idea of going to Thailand for a month in the new year. I'm not sure where I want to go!

I'm overwhelmed with choices but I wanted to see what everyone else experience was with diving there so I can make my first diving trip there enjoyable.

I was in Thailand years ago for a visa run in Bangkok. Prefer to stay away from large cities and crowds. My partner isn't a Freediver but does enjoy snorkelling.

Would like to stay on the budget friendly side as we also do plan to visit the Philippines as well for a month before heading home.

 

[Mr. X]

My son did some snorkeling at the world famous and picturesque Phuket area/location last year. They have boats that take them out and provide the basic gear. It looked more aimed at curious tourists rather than serious free divers and spearos though.

 

[Mr. X]

Hi Hypercubeh2o!
Your plan is great as Phuket is also a popular option but can get crowded. If you are looking for a more relaxed atmosphere, Koh Lanta could be a good alternative. It is budget friendly and has some great diving spots.

Yes, My son has also been snorkeling at Phuket with some Thai pals. I think it they used a business that supplied the boat and gear. Beginner-level stuff but looked fun and it is a very picturesque, beautiful, tropical location - at least that is my impression.

To see film footage of this area, checkout the 1970s James Bond film, "The Man with the Golden Gun", featuring Roger Moore and Christopher Lee. Lot's of great footage filmed in Thailand.

 

[Irishdiver]

Phi Phi has some great areas to free dive and snorkel too. The nice thing there is that you can get relatively deep (20m +) on walls without having to swim farand sites are not far from the main Island. The same sites have nice fringing reefs and shallow areas to just look at fish and some coral. Something to really think about though is boat traffic. It can be heavy and they are pretty careless sometimes. I would bring a buoy or some kind of marker and try have someone watching you topside on deeper dives. I wouldn't pick Phuket to be honest. No great snorkeling anywhere close to the Island so any freediving involves longish boat trips that are either geared towards scuba divers or masses of tourists bobbing about in lifejackets feeding the fish.

Ko Tao, Ko Phang ngan and Ko Lipe are other options, with Ko Lipe being the pick of the bunch.

 

[Lobo Marino]

Keep in mind that you need a boat to freedive in Thailand. This is not a place for shore diving, because you need to go out many miles beefore finding depth.
Don't go to Koh Phi Phi, the speed boat traffic is crazy there, and snorkellers have been killed by boats a few times (freediving is since banned on Phi Phi, i think)
For boat freediving, Koh Lanta is the best place. Great marine life, nice soft corals, cool caves. Koh Haa is great, so is Koh Bida and Hin Daeng. You'd have to do a bit of digging to find operators who would take you there.

 

[Lobo Marino]

This particular site is in Phi Phi, but two miles out. Far enough from the shore to be out of the speedboat trail..