What is the best dive site near Phuket?

Phuket Ranked #1 Dive Site, Phuket 2026
43points for the winner
7published lists counted
7businesses qualified
16 Oct 2026last updated
The rankingTop 3 dive sites in Phuket, 2026
Phuket Ranked #1 Dive Site, Phuket 2026
43points · on 7 of 7 lists: Phuket 101, Forbes & Partners, Dive The World, Hotels.com Go Guides, Marco Togni, Phuket Expat Guide and Phuket Insider (Пхукет Инсайдер)

Anemone Reef takes its name from the sea anemones that carpet its shallower slopes, where anemonefish shelter among the tentacles. Schools of fusiliers and snappers circle the reef, and leopard sharks rest on the sand around it. In 1997 the King Cruiser ferry ran onto this reef and sank, and its wreck now lies close by.

“It's one of the prettiest local dive sites we have.”

Phuket 101

“Anemone Reef is also a well-known site for common and spotfin lionfish, sometimes encountered in-groups of up to 10.”

Dive The World
Address
Just north of Shark Point, east of Phuket, Andaman Sea
Phuket Ranked Finalist Dive Site, Phuket 2026
38points · on 6 of 7 lists: Phuket 101, Forbes & Partners, Dive The World, Hotels.com Go Guides, Marco Togni and Phuket Expat Guide

The King Cruiser was an 87-meter passenger catamaran that sank in 1997 after striking Anemone Reef, and its decks and passages now lie between 16 and 30 meters down. Schools of snappers and yellowtail barracuda swirl around the hull. Inside the shaded rooms, lionfish and moray eels shelter, with spiny lobsters tucked into the corners.

“What a site to do my 50th dive here!”

a Google reviewer

“Clouds of fish overhead, with a good growth of soft coral on her hull.”

Phuket 101
Address
Off Phuket's east/south coast, Andaman Sea (reached by dive boat)
Phuket Ranked Top 3 Dive Site, Phuket 2026
34points · on 6 of 7 lists: Phuket 101, Forbes & Partners, Dive The World, Hotels.com Go Guides, Marco Togni and Phuket Insider (Пхукет Инсайдер)

Shark Point, known in Thai as Hin Musang, is a small rock pinnacle that has been protected as a marine sanctuary since 1992. Leopard sharks rest on the sand at its base, the reason for its name. The rock itself is covered in coral and sea fans, one of the richest reefs in Thailand, with lionfish and moray eels among the reef fish.

“Shark Point is probably the most popular dive site around Phuket.”

Phuket 101

“A visit to Shark Point Marine Sanctuary is an excellent Phuket dive experience at any time of the year.”

Dive The World
Address
East of Phuket, Andaman Sea (about 90 minutes by boat per Phuket 101)

Google ratings from Google on 3 October 2026. Quotes are from the published lists and reviews named beside each one.

Honorable mentions

The lists we counted

  1. Phuket 101 · July 2026
  2. Forbes & Partners · December 2025
  3. Dive The World · August 2025
  4. Hotels.com Go Guides · May 2026
  5. Marco Togni
  6. Phuket Expat Guide
  7. Phuket Insider (Пхукет Инсайдер) · August 2026

Full details of each list are available on request through our contact page.

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.

Award badges

Each business in the top 3 can show its Phuket Ranked award on its own website, free of charge. Ask and we will send the badge and add it for you.

Phuket Ranked #1 Dive Site, Phuket 2026
Anemone Reef
Phuket Ranked Finalist Dive Site, Phuket 2026
King Cruiser Wreck
Phuket Ranked Top 3 Dive Site, Phuket 2026
Shark Point

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