Palm Beach Divers, Ko Lanta

Located on the tropical island of Koh Lanta, Palm Beach Divers sits just seven degrees north of the equator. This position provides direct access to the most significant dive sites along the Andaman Sea coast.

Since its founding in 2005, the centre has built a reputation for professional standards and environmental responsibility. They transitioned to the SSI system in 2017 to utilise modern digital learning methods and to support their commitment to reducing plastic and paper consumption.

The team is composed of a permanent core including the owners, Iwona and Włodek, alongside Wale and Jeep. Depending on the season, the professional staff expands to between 5 and 20 divers, including highly experienced instructors.

A significant strength of the centre is its multilingual capabilities. You can expect instruction or guidance in English, French, German, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Thai, or Hindi.

Beyond recreational diving, the centre operates as a professional academy. It regularly hosts students working through Dive Guide, Divemaster, and Instructor Training Courses. They also run the Lanta Kids Academy, teaching marine respect and swimming to children aged 5 to 12.

The centre provides a comprehensive range of SSI certifications. Beginners can start with Try Scuba Diving, SSI Scuba Diver, or SSI Basic Diver, progressing through to the Open Water Diver qualification.

For more experienced divers, the curriculum includes SSI Advanced Adventurer, Deep Diving, Search & Recovery, and Enriched Air NITROX. The centre also offers professional development through Dive Guide, Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, and full Instructor Training Courses (ITC).

The centre operates two distinct vessels to suit different group sizes and conditions. The Lila is a large 22-metre diving boat with a capacity for 40 divers, ideal for larger groups or extended trips.

For smaller groups or faster transit, the Sea Moth is an 11.5-metre speedboat that carries up to 20 divers. Both boats are equipped to handle full-day excursions, and meals including breakfast, lunch, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks are provided on board.

Palm Beach Divers is the only centre on Koh Lanta to maintain its own private swimming pool, which is used to ensure comfort and safety during training sessions.

A full range of rental kit is available on-site, including regularly maintained equipment stored in excellent condition. For those looking to extend their training, the shop carries a wide variety of diving and snorkelling accessories.

The Andaman Sea is home to large pelagics that arrive throughout the season. You have the opportunity to encounter Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) and Manta ray (Mobula alfredi) during your dives.

The reef structures are teeming with life, including various species of sharks such as Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata), Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus), Whitetip reef shark (Carcharhinus), and Bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium). You will also see many turtles, including the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), alongside schooling fish like Jacks (Carangidae), Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), and various Snapper (Lutjanus) species.

Fixed life is abundant, with a landscape of soft corals (Alcyonacea), Sea fan (Gorgoniidae), and various sponges. You can observe colourful reef fish such as Butterflyfish (Chaetodon), Angelfish (Pomacanthidae), and Grouper (Epinephelus) amongst the corals.

For those interested in macro life, the sites offer plenty of detail. Look for Ornate ghost pipefish (Solenostomus paradoxus), Harlequin shrimps, Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani), Octopus (Octopus vulgaris), and Cuttlefish (Sepiidae). You may also find various species of Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda) and Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) tucked into the reef.

Diving in the area can be influenced by plankton levels, particularly at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang; while high plankton concentrations can reduce visibility, they are the primary factor that attracts large pelagics like manta rays.

Night diving is a regular part of the local diving offering, allowing you to see a different side of the reef's inhabitants.