37points · on 5 of 8 lists: Phuket 101, Techdive Travels, CleverThai, Faszination Südostasien and Visit Thailand Today
Merlin Divers is an SSI dive center on Kamala Beach, run by its Swiss owner. Its half-day trips cover around ten local dive sites that few other operators use, among them the Tin Lizzy wreck and Nakala Reef, with longer trips out to Richelieu Rock. Trips take four or five divers, and the shop is an Aqua Lung Partner Center with a large equipment store.
“From the first contact to the last dive, everything felt professional, safe, and well organized.”
a Google reviewer
“Robert the owner organized everything very quickly and was always kind and helpful.”
a Google reviewer
- Tripadvisor
- 4.9 from 2,387 reviews
- Price
- Trips from 3,600 THB
35points · on 5 of 8 lists: Phuket 101, Techdive Travels, CleverThai, Phuket Expat Guide and Wongnai
Sea Bees runs its own fleet, from day boats built for divers to the liveaboards MV Excalibur, MC Stingray and MV Runaway, which take divers out to the Similan Islands. The flagship Excalibur is a custom-built 23 meter boat with a covered sundeck, a dive bar and meals cooked on board. Instructors go through a six-month training program, the school holds German DIN certification, and the center has won the Golden Dolphin for diving bases in Southeast Asia and the Pacific ten times.
“fun and memorable daytrips, dive safaris, and courses for over 20 years”
a Google reviewer
“The entire team at Sea Bees Diving Phuket was friendly, professional, and extremely well organized.”
a Google reviewer
- Tripadvisor
- 4.9 from 1,994 reviews
- Award
- 10-time Golden Dolphin winner
25points · on 3 of 8 lists: Techdive Travels, Faszination Südostasien and Visit Thailand Today
Aussie Divers is a PADI 5 Star Career Development Center where Course Director Darren Gaspari trains new instructors every month, and in 2026 it won the ADEX Blue Legacy Award for dive center of the year. From its shop on Sunrise Road, day trips run to Racha Yai and Racha Noi, Phi Phi and Shark Point, and Anemone Reef and Koh Doc Mai, and it also runs Similan liveaboards. Beyond the recreational courses it teaches freediving up to Master Freediver and technical diving, including Tec 40, Tec 45 and Tec Sidemount.
“They have a small student to instructor ratio”
a Google reviewer
“Extra shoutout to the boat staff and cook who made the journey possible and made some delicious lunches!”
a Google reviewer
Google ratings from Google on 3 October 2026. Quotes are from the published lists and reviews named beside each one.
Honorable mentions
Fourth, with 23 points from 3 lists.
“a safe, personal, and professional place to get certifications”
a Google reviewer
Fifth, with 15 points from 2 lists.
“Diving was the most impressive event of my vacation”
a Google reviewer
Sixth (tie), with 10 points from 2 lists.
“The visibility was great, and we were treated to a stunning variety of fish and marine life.”
a Google reviewer
The lists we counted
- Phuket 101 · August 2026
- Techdive Travels · May 2024
- CleverThai · May 2025
- Faszination Südostasien
- Frommer's
- Visit Thailand Today
- Phuket Expat Guide
- Wongnai · May 2021
How the points work
We read every independent published best-of list we can find for the question. Each list gives 10 points for first place, 9 for second, down to 1 for tenth, and 5 points to each place on a list with no order. Points are added up. A business must be in the top 10 of at least two lists to be ranked. Rankings are never sold. Full method.
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