Ranong Province dive sites

Fly to Ranong Airport from Bangkok, then take a taxi or songthaew to Ranong pier, approximately 30 minutes. Speedboats depart for Koh Phayam two to three times daily, with the crossing taking about 45 minutes. Slow boats also operate and take roughly two hours. The island has no paved roads, with transport limited to motorcycles and mountain bikes on dirt tracks. Basic to mid-range bungalow accommodation is available on two main beaches, and the island retains a backpacker atmosphere that mainstream Thai islands lost years ago.

One or two small dive operations serve Koh Phayam, with limited equipment and boats. Most are seasonal operations running from November through April during the dry northeast monsoon. Equipment selection may be limited, so bringing your own regulator, computer, and wetsuit is strongly recommended. The operators know the local sites intimately and provide personalised guiding. Advance booking is essential as capacity is very limited compared to larger Thai dive destinations.

Koh Phayam offers a completely different experience from the Similans. Visibility is generally lower at 10 to 20 metres compared to the Similans' 20 to 40 metres. Coral diversity is good but less dramatic than the Similans' granite boulder formations. What Koh Phayam offers instead is solitude and the thrill of diving reefs that are essentially unexplored. You will not see another dive boat. Marine life behaviour is notably different when animals have never learned to associate divers with disturbance.