Technical Diving in Thailand — Tec Centers, Training & Deep Diving Opportunities
Thailand's technical diving scene is concentrated on the Andaman coast, centred on Phuket with a growing presence in Khao Lak. While the Gulf side (Koh Tao) offers some deep sites, the infrastructure, gas availability, and site diversity for tec diving are vastly better on the Andaman coast. Phuket hosts several dedicated tec centers offering training from Tec 40 through Advanced Trimix, as well as rebreather support and gas blending facilities.
The Andaman Sea provides genuine tec diving opportunities: Hin Daeng's walls drop to 70+ meters, deep pinnacles around the Similans reward trimix explorations, and unexplored wreck sites at depth await discovery. For divers progressing beyond recreational limits, Thailand offers a combination of professional training, warm water, and interesting sites that makes it one of Asia's best tec diving destinations.
Dive Profile
40–70m+ (training and site dependent)
25–28°C (deeper water is cooler)
10–25m
Variable (site-dependent)
Boat
Tec 40 minimum
Overview
Technical diving training in Thailand:
Tec 40 / Intro to Tec: The bridge between recreational and technical diving. Extends depth limit to 40 meters with limited decompression using air or EANx. Requires Advanced Open Water, Nitrox certification, and 50+ logged dives. Cost in Thailand: 20,000–30,000 THB ($570–860). Duration: 3–4 days.
Tec 45–50 / Decompression Procedures: Full decompression diving with stage bottles. Gas switches, decompression planning, equipment configuration. Requires Tec 40 and 100+ dives. Cost: 25,000–40,000 THB ($715–1,140). Duration: 4–5 days.
Advanced Trimix: Helium-based mixes for diving beyond 60 meters. Available at select centers on Phuket. Requires Tec 50 and significant experience. Costs vary: 40,000–70,000 THB+.
Rebreather training: CCR (Closed Circuit Rebreather) courses available in Phuket. Several centers support Poseidon, AP Diving, and rEvo units. CCR diving extends bottom times dramatically and is gaining popularity for Similan liveaboards among experienced tech divers.
Key tec centers:
Phuket is the hub. Centers like IQ Dive and a handful of others offer full tec training programs with proper gas blending stations (O2, He, and partial pressure blending). Equipment rental for sidemount, twinsets, and stage bottles is available. Some centers have dedicated tec boats.
Khao Lak tec operators run deep dives at Boonsung Wreck (18m — good for Tec 40 training) and deeper explorations during liveaboard trips.
Best tec dive sites: - Hin Muang: Walls to 70m+, Thailand's deepest named site - Hin Daeng: South wall drops beyond 60m - Deep pinnacles around Similan Islands: 40–50m+ explorations - Phi Phi deep walls: Technical depth possibilities off the tourist track - Local wrecks: Several undocumented wrecks at 40–60m around Phuket
Gas availability: - Nitrox: Widely available - Trimix: Available at dedicated tec centers on Phuket - Oxygen for deco: Available at most tec-capable operators - Helium: Imported, more expensive than Western prices. Plan ahead — not always in stock
Who Is This For
Experienced recreational divers (50+ dives) who want to extend their depth limits and explore beyond recreational boundaries. Divers interested in decompression diving, trimix, or rebreathers. Wreck divers who want to access deeper wrecks safely. Anyone seeking professional-level training in warm water.
Best Season
October–May for Andaman tec sites. Peak conditions: January–April. Hin Daeng/Hin Muang tec dives are best February–April when weather and visibility align. Tec training on Phuket is available year-round (pool and classroom work continues during monsoon).
Safety Notes
Technical diving carries inherently higher risks than recreational diving. Decompression obligation, oxygen toxicity at depth, equipment complexity, and increased gas consumption all require thorough training and experience. Never attempt tec depths without proper certification. Always dive with redundant gas supply. Plan all dives with appropriate software (MultiDeco, Shearwater). The nearest hyperbaric chamber on the Andaman coast is SSS Phuket — one of the best-equipped in Southeast Asia.
Frequently Asked Questions
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