Next Dive Phuket

Located in Rawai, Phuket, this centre has been operating since 2014, providing a professional base for divers looking to explore the Andaman Sea. As the first PADI Eco Center in Phuket, the operation focuses on environmentally responsible practices and carbon offsetting to protect the local marine ecosystems.

Whether you are looking for a local day trip or a multi-day expedition, the centre offers a variety of itineraries. You can choose between short trips to nearby islands or longer journeys to the Phi Phi Islands, Koh Haa, and Koh Lanta, including liveaboard options to the Similan Islands.

The team operates with a high standard of professionalism, maintaining a ratio of one guide for every five divers. This ensures that even in more challenging conditions, you receive personalised attention and guidance from your buddy pair and instructor.

As a PADI 5 Star centre, they provide a comprehensive range of educational services. This includes everything from initial training to professional development for those pursuing a career as a Divemaster.

The training programme covers the full spectrum of PADI certifications. Beginners can start with the Open Water Diver course, progressing through Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver, eventually reaching the Divemaster level.

Specialty certifications are also available to refine your skills, including Wreck Diver, Deep Diver, Drift Diver, and Enriched Air Diver. For those needing a refresher before heading back into the water, the PADI ReActivate Scuba Refresher is on offer.

The centre operates a private trawler yacht designed to carry a maximum of 10 diving guests. This limited capacity allows for a more private, tailored experience away from the larger, more crowded dive boats common in the region.

On the boat, you will find snacks, lunch, coffee, and tea provided during your trips. The vessel handles various itineraries, including morning and afternoon trips, as well as multi-day excursions to the Phi Phi Islands, Koh Haa, and Koh Lanta.

For those who prefer not to carry their own heavy kit, a full range of equipment is available for hire, including masks, snorkels, fins, wetsuits, and computers. The centre also caters to technical divers, providing sidemount BCDs, sidemount regulators, backplate and wing configurations, and O2 clean regulators.

Nitrox is readily available in 12-litre and 15-litre cylinders, with 50% O2 S80 options also provided. For rebreather divers, the centre supports Poseidon Se7en systems and provides Sofnolime 797, along with CCR tank rentals and filling services.

The local reefs are home to a vibrant array of life, including various reef fish, snappers (Lutjanus), and groupers (Epinephelus). You will often see colourful soft corals and hard corals providing the backdrop for schools of fusiliers (Caesio) and damselfish.

In the open water, you may encounter pelagics such as various sharks, including Blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus), Grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), and Whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus). Between February and April, the chance of seeing Manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) increases significantly.

Macro enthusiasts can look for smaller creatures like Nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), Octopus (Octopus vulgaris), and various shrimp (Caridea). Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) and frogfish (Antennarius) also frequent the reef structures.

On the sandy bottoms and near the reef edges, you might spot rays (Batoidea), including blue spotted stingrays, and various turtles. Leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) and other reef sharks are also part of the local ecosystem.

The best time for diving in the region is from mid-October to mid-May during the dry season. While local Phuket sites like Koh Doc Mai and Koh Mai Thon remain accessible during the rainy season, many national parks, including the Similan Islands, Koh Haa, and Hin Daeng, are closed during this period.

The captain maintains final authority over all dive destinations and safety decisions based on the prevailing weather and swell. Currents are factored into all dive planning to ensure safe passage through the various sites.