Phuket Weather for Scuba Diving

Understanding the weather conditions in Phuket is essential for planning a successful scuba diving adventure. The island’s tropical climate offers year-round diving opportunities, but its weather can vary significantly with the seasons. Factors such as wind, rain, and ocean currents can impact dive conditions, affecting visibility and safety. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the nuances of Phuket’s weather, helping you to interpret forecasts and choose the best times to explore the underwater world. Whether you’re a seasoned diver doing fun diving day trips or a beginner learning to scuba dive, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to make the most of your diving experience in Phuket.

Conditions for Diving in Phuket

Understanding the weather in Phuket is essential for planning your scuba diving adventure. Most scuba diving around Phuket is conducted from large, specially designed diving boats.

A typical scuba diving day, whether it’s a certified day trip or a PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience, involves 4 to 6 hours of boat travel. If you’re doing the PADI Open Water Course or Advanced Open Water Course, you will spend two days travelling by boat.

For those embarking on liveaboard trips, expect to spend anywhere from two to eight days on board a vessel. This is why the liveaboard diving season runs from mid-October to the end of April, taking advantage of the best weather conditions.

Phuket enjoys warm weather year-round, with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 34°C (77°F to 93°F). Humidity levels vary between 60% and 95%, adding to the sensation of warmth.

Phuket has two distinct seasons: the “Dry Season” (winter) and the “Wet Season” (summer). The driest months, from December to March, offer the best scuba diving conditions in Phuket, while the wet season, from June to October, brings higher winds and larger waves, which can make boat travel uncomfortable and sometimes hazardous.

A useful website for predicting wind, waves, and rain is windguru.cz or windy.com.

Month By Month Analysis

January – Peak High Season

January is the busiest time of the year in Phuket. Tourist numbers are at their highest (some say overcrowded), and hotel rooms are at their most expensive. Diving tours and liveaboards often book out weeks or even months in advance, especially during the first two weeks.

This month offers the best weather conditions, with mostly cloudless days and low humidity. Nights are pleasant, making it a great time to visit.

With the best conditions for scuba diving, all liveaboards will be operational. The seas will be at their calmest, with the most sunshine hours of the year. Day trips need to be booked in advance, particularly in the first week, which often sells out weeks ahead. Most day trips will be fully booked days in advance.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
23° C – 31° C	58% – 90%	35.6mm	9.0 hours	9 days

February – Peak High Season

February remains a busy period in Phuket. Tourist numbers are still high, and room prices are at a premium. It is an excellent time for diving. Be cautious of Chinese New Year, as day trips and liveaboards can be booked out far in advance, with some liveaboard adventures booked more than a year ahead.

Conditions for scuba diving remain excellent, with all liveaboards operating and seas staying calm. This is probably one of the best months for scuba diving in Phuket.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
23° C – 32° C	56% – 90%	30.5mm	9.0 hours	3 days

March – High Season

March is usually still dry in Phuket. Temperatures start to rise, and humidity increases slightly. Fewer tourists are around, and hotel prices drop slightly.

It remains a very good time for scuba diving in the area, with all liveaboards and day trips running smoothly. The seas are still calm, and the weather has little impact on diving.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
24° C – 33° C	58% – 92%	38.1mm	9.0 hours	6 days

April – Last High Season Month

April is one of Phuket’s hottest months but is mostly dry. With fewer tourists, it’s easier to get spots on boats, and hotel prices are lower. This month includes the Songkran Festival, which increases visitor numbers (visitors come in, and expats leave). Some dive boats do not operate on April 13th–14th.

Diving conditions are still excellent, especially early in the month. All liveaboards will be running, although most will finish later in the month. Some liveaboards may offer last-minute discounts as numbers dwindle. Seas are generally good, with wind and waves starting to pick up late in the month. Day trip boats are relatively easy to book.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
25° C – 33° C	65% – 94%	162.6mm	8.0 hours	10 days

May – Low Season

May is a transition month with high temperatures and humidity. There will be a mix of good and not-so-good days. Hotels offer discounts, making it a good time to travel with lower prices, fewer travellers, and a chance of good weather.

Scuba diving will have mixed conditions. Some days will be affected by the weather, but boat numbers will be lower, and dive sites less crowded. Some liveaboards operate during the first week, but most have finished by then. It’s not a good time to book a liveaboard, as trips may be cancelled due to low numbers and poor weather.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
25° C – 31° C	73% – 93%	149.9mm	6.0 hours	15 days

June – Low Season

June marks the start of the wet season, though it’s not the wettest month. Rooms are cheap, and there are fewer tourists.

Scuba diving will occasionally be affected by rougher seas, making some dive sites difficult to access. There are fewer people on the boats, making bookings easy. No liveaboards are operating.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
26° C – 31° C	74% – 88%	363.2mm	5.0 hours	16 days

July – Low Season

July is similar to June, with plenty of rain but not the wettest month. Rooms are cheap, and tourist numbers are low, with discounted airfares.

Scuba diving is occasionally affected by rough seas, limiting access to some dive sites. Fewer people on boats make bookings easy. No liveaboards are operating.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
25° C – 31° C	75% – 89%	548.6mm	6.0 hours	16 days

August – Low Season

August sees rainfall levels similar to July. It’s a low period for visitors, offering good discounts. If you don’t mind the rain, it’s a good time to visit. There’s little difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures.

Dive days may be interrupted by weather, but there are still good days for diving. Diver numbers are at their lowest, and no liveaboards operate.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
26° C – 30° C	74% – 86%	624.8mm	5.0 hours	15 days

September – Low Season

September is Phuket’s wettest month, characterized by hot and wet conditions. It’s the lowest period for visitors, but you will be treated like a king during your stay.

It’s a difficult month for scuba diving. Boat travel is challenging due to rain, wind, and high waves. Dive days are affected, and some are cancelled.

This month is good for private tuition, with dive sites having few divers. No liveaboards are running. September is Phuket’s wettest month, characterized by hot and wet conditions. It’s the lowest period for visitors, but you will be treated like a king during your stay.

It’s a difficult month for scuba diving. Boat travel is challenging due to rain, wind, and high waves. Dive days are affected, and some are cancelled.

This month is good for private tuition, with dive sites having few divers. No liveaboards are running.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
24° C – 29° C	78% – 91%	683.3mm	5.0 hours	18 days

October – Last low Season month

October remains hot and wet. It’s still a low season for visitors, but there are good deals to be found.

The weather starts improving later in the month, making it a good time to dive. Day trips are not crowded, and it’s easy to book a boat. A few liveaboards begin operating late in the month.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
24° C – 30° C	76% – 94%	472.4mm	6.0 hours	17 days

November – High Season Begins

November sees weather improvements. Although there’s still high rainfall, it decreases by the end of the month. Hotel prices rise. Visitor numbers are low, making it a good time to visit.

Scuba diving day trips are still easy to book.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
24° C – 30° C	72% – 93%	416.6mm	7.0 hours	15 days

December – High Season

December brings improved weather and less rain. If it does rain, it will be light showers that won’t affect your stay. Tourist numbers increase significantly, as do hotel prices.

The Christmas–New Year period is one of the busiest weeks of the year, with scuba diving day trips fully booked weeks in advance. Don’t leave scuba diving bookings to the last minute, or you’ll miss out.

Liveaboard boats fill months in advance for the Christmas period. Look out for early-month liveaboard specials.

Most professional dive centres and boats close for New Year’s Day. For everyone’s health and safety, please avoid diving on this day.

Temperatures	Humidity	Rainfall	Daily Sunshine	Average Rainy Days
23° C – 31° C	63% – 89%	132.1mm	8.0 hours	10 days