Thailand
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Top species 18
- Unlikely
- Likely
- Very likely
Variable Frequent sightingsBlacktip Reef Shark
Carcharhinus melanopterus
A small, agile requiem shark recognized by the distinctive black tips on its dorsal, caudal, and pectoral fins. Commonly found patrolling shallow coral reefs and lagoons, it is one of the most frequently encountered reef sharks in the Indo-Pacific.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Oceanic Manta Ray
Mobula birostris
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is the world's largest ray, with a disc width that can reach up to 9 meters. It is a circumglobal species found in tropical to temperate pelagic waters, often near coastlines, reefs, and in the open ocean, diving to depths of 1,000 meters. These filter feeders primarily consume zooplankton, including mesopelagic sources, and can also eat small fish. While generally solitary, they aggregate at feeding grounds and cleaning stations. The species is currently listed as Endangered due to overfishing and low reproductive rates.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGiant Trevally
Caranx ignobilis
The giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) is a large, powerful predatory fish found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region. Known for its steep head profile and robust body, it can reach up to 170 cm in length and 80 kg in weight. This apex predator feeds primarily on fish, but also consumes crustaceans and cephalopods, often hunting in solitary or small groups, though juveniles form schools.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreat Barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
The Great Barracuda is a large predatory fish known for its fearsome appearance and speed. It has an elongated body, pointed head, and large teeth, making it a proficient hunter in coastal and open waters.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsGreen Sea Turtle
Chelonia mydas
The green sea turtle is a large marine reptile distinguished by its heart-shaped carapace and a single pair of prefrontal scales.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsGrey Reef Shark
Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos
The Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) is a medium to large-sized requiem shark, common in Indo-Pacific coral reefs and adjacent waters. Characterized by its grey body and a distinctive broad black band on the trailing edge of its caudal fin, it is a fast and agile predator. These sharks are known for their social daytime aggregations, which disperse at night for individual hunting.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Harlequin Shrimp
Hymenocera picta
The Harlequin Shrimp (Hymenocera picta) is a vibrantly colored marine crustacean found in the Indo-Pacific's coral reefs. It is renowned for its striking patterns of white with pink, orange, or purple spots. This species is a highly specialized predator, feeding exclusively on starfish, which it often flips over to consume their tube feet and soft tissues. Harlequin shrimp typically live in monogamous pairs and can be found in sheltered areas such as rock crevices and caves within the reef system.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHawksbill Sea Turtle
Eretmochelys imbricata
The Hawksbill Sea Turtle is a medium-sized marine turtle recognizable by its distinctive hawk-like beak and overlapping scutes, which create a serrated edge on its carapace. Primarily found in tropical coral reefs, it plays a crucial role in these ecosystems by feeding mainly on sponges, which are toxic to most other animals. This species is critically endangered due to historical exploitation for its beautiful shell and ongoing threats like habitat loss and bycatch.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsHumphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
The Humphead Wrasse is one of the largest reef fish, identifiable by a prominent hump on its forehead and thick fleshy lips. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals are born female and some transition to males later in life. This carnivorous species plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by preying on hard-shelled invertebrates and toxic animals like the crown-of-thorns starfish.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsOcellated Eagle Ray
Aetobatus ocellatus
The Ocellated Eagle Ray, also known as the Whitespotted Eagle Ray, is a large ray characterized by a dark greenish-grey to black dorsal surface covered with numerous white spots, and a white underside. It possesses a flattened, diamond-shaped body, a prominent snout, and a long, whip-like tail armed with venomous spines. This species primarily feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, such as mollusks and crustaceans, which it crushes with its specialized dental plates.
BEST SEASON
Ornate Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus paradoxus
The Ornate Ghost Pipefish is a master of camouflage, with a highly variable body coloration and intricate, leaf-like appendages that allow it to blend seamlessly with crinoids, corals, or algae in its tropical Indo-Pacific reef habitats. This ambush predator typically hovers head-down, feeding on small crustaceans like mysid shrimps and benthic shrimp, which it sucks into its elongated snout. Females are larger than males and carry eggs in a specialized brood pouch formed by their modified pelvic fins.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsPickhandle Barracuda
Sphyraena jello
The Pickhandle Barracuda is characterized by its elongated body, prominent jaw, and distinctive dark bars on its back. It inhabits warm coastal waters and is known to be a top predator, primarily feeding on smaller fish.
BEST SEASON
Variable Frequent sightingsReef Manta Ray
Mobula alfredi
The Reef Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi) is a large filter-feeding ray found in tropical and subtropical waters, primarily around coral reefs and coastal areas. Known for its pelagic lifestyle, it feeds on zooplankton and exhibits complex social behaviors, often forming aggregations at feeding or cleaning stations. This species is listed as Vulnerable due to threats from overfishing and its slow reproductive rate.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsSpotted Seahorse
Hippocampus kuda
The Spotted Seahorse (Hippocampus kuda) is a distinctive marine fish known for its horse-like head, prehensile tail, and often mottled or spotted coloration, ranging from yellow to black. It inhabits shallow coastal waters, including seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs, across the Indo-Pacific region. Primarily diurnal, this species is a carnivorous ambush predator, feeding on small crustaceans and zooplankton, and is notable for the male carrying the eggs in a brood pouch until hatching.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsTiger Tail Seahorse
Hippocampus comes
The Tiger Tail Seahorse is known for its striking banded tail, resembling the pattern of a tiger. It typically inhabits shallow coastal waters and coral reefs, where it uses its prehensile tail to anchor to sea grasses and corals.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsTitan Triggerfish
Balistoides viridescens
The Titan Triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) is the largest species of triggerfish, reaching up to 75 cm in length, with a distinctive greyish-green body and a "moustache" pattern around its mouth. It is known for its powerful jaws and teeth, which it uses to crush the shells of sea urchins, crabs, molluscs, and coral. This diurnal fish is highly territorial, especially when guarding its nest, and can exhibit aggressive behavior towards intruders, including divers.
BEST SEASON
Diurnal Frequent sightingsWhale Shark
Rhincodon typus
The whale shark is the largest fish in the world and a gentle filter feeder.
BEST SEASON
Nocturnal Frequent sightingsWhitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
The Whitetip Reef Shark is a slender, medium-sized shark easily identified by the distinctive white tips on its dorsal and upper caudal fins. Primarily nocturnal, it spends its days resting in caves and under ledges on coral reefs and hunts at night for bony fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods. These sharks are generally social, often found in groups during the day, but can hunt individually or cooperatively.
BEST SEASON
More marine life 85
Barred MorayEchidna polyzona
Bigeye TrevallyCaranx sexfasciatus
Black DurgonMelichthys niger
Blue-Ringed OctopusHapalochlaena spp.
Blue-barred ParrotfishScarus ghobban
Bluecheek ButterflyfishChaetodon semilarvatus
Bluering AngelfishPomacanthus annularis
Bluespotted CornetfishFistularia commersonii
Bluespotted Ribbontail RayTaeniura lymma
Bluestreak Cleaner WrasseLabroides dimidiatus
Blunt-head ParrotfishChlorurus microrhinos
Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus
Brownbanded Bamboo SharkChiloscyllium punctatum
Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidus
Bumphead ParrotfishBolbometopon muricatum
Clark's AnemonefishAmphiprion clarkii
Clown TriggerfishBalistoides conspicillum
Coconut OctopusAmphioctopus marginatus
Coral HindCephalopholis miniata
Dogtooth TunaGymnosarda unicolor
Ember ParrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus
Emperor AngelfishPomacanthus imperator
Eschmeyer's ScorpionfishRhinopias eschmeyeri
Fimbriated MorayGymnothorax fimbriatus
Flamboyant CuttlefishMetasepia pfefferi
Garden EelHeterocongrinae
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicus
Giant clamTridacna gigas
Glider FlyingfishCheilopogon atrisignis
Golden SpadefishPlatax boersii
Greyface MorayGymnothorax thyrsoideus
Guineafowl PufferArothron meleagris
Halimeda Ghost PipefishSolenostomus halimeda
Honeycomb MorayGymnothorax favagineus
Humpback BatfishPlatax batavianus
Jenkins' WhiprayPateobatis jenkinsii
Latticed ButterflyfishChaetodon rafflesii
Leaf ScorpionfishTaenianotus triacanthus
LionfishPterois spp.
Longhorn CowfishLactoria cornuta
Longtail Butterfly RayGymnura poecilura
MandarinfishSynchiropus splendidus
Mimic OctopusThaumoctopus mimicus
Moorish IdolZanclus cornutus
Oceanic Whitetip SharkCarcharhinus longimanus
Ocellaris ClownfishAmphiprion ocellaris
Orange-lined TriggerfishBalistapus undulatus
Orbicular BatfishPlatax orbicularis
Oriental SweetlipsPlectorhinchus vittatus
Painted FrogfishAntennarius pictus
Painted Spiny LobsterPanulirus versicolor
Palette SurgeonfishParacanthurus hepatus
Peacock Mantis ShrimpOdontodactylus scyllarus
Pennant CoralfishHeniochus acuminatus
Pharaoh CuttlefishSepia pharaonis
Picasso TriggerfishRhinecanthus aculeatus
Potato GrouperEpinephelus tukula
Rainbow RunnerElagatis bipinnulata
Redtooth TriggerfishOdonus niger
Regal AngelfishPygoplites diacanthus
Ribbon EelRhinomuraena quaesita
Robust Ghost PipefishSolenostomus cyanopterus
Saddleback ClownfishAmphiprion polymnus
Silky SharkCarcharhinus falciformis
Silver SweeperPempheris schwenkii
Silvertip SharkCarcharhinus albimarginatus
Snowflake MorayEchidna nebulosa
Spanish DancerHexabranchus sanguineus
Spot-fin PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix
Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari
Stellate PufferArothron stellatus
StonefishSynanceia verrucosa
Tawny Nurse SharkNebrius ferrugineus
Teira BatfishPlatax teira
Threadfin ButterflyfishChaetodon auriga
Tiger SharkGaleocerdo cuvier
Tomato ClownfishAmphiprion frenatus
Weedy ScorpionfishRhinopias frondosa
White-spotted PufferfishArothron hispidus
Yellow BoxfishOstracion cubicus
Yellow Longnose ButterflyfishForcipiger flavissimus
Yellow-lipped Sea KraitLaticauda colubrina
Yellowfin TunaThunnus albacares
Yellowspot TrevallyCarangoides fulvoguttatus
Zebra SharkStegostoma tigrinum
Explore Thailand on the map
Frequently asked questions about Thailand
What are the best dive destinations in Thailand?
Thailand has 4 dive destinations, including Koh Tao, Koh Lipe, Richelieu Rock, and Similan Islands.
When is the best time to dive in Thailand?
It depends on where you dive in Thailand: Koh Tao from February to May and in September, Koh Lipe from November to April, Richelieu Rock from February to April, and Similan Islands from December to April.
What marine life can you see diving in Thailand?
Divers can encounter 103 species in Thailand. Highlights include Blacktip Reef Shark, Giant Oceanic Manta Ray, Giant Trevally, Great Barracuda, Green Sea Turtle, and Grey Reef Shark.
When can you see the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray in Thailand?
The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray is most often seen in Thailand from April to September.
When can you see the Ocellated Eagle Ray in Thailand?
The Ocellated Eagle Ray is most often seen in Thailand from March to October.
When can you see the Reef Manta Ray in Thailand?
The Reef Manta Ray is most often seen in Thailand from March to September.
What is the water temperature in Thailand?
Water temperature across Thailand ranges from 25°C at Richelieu Rock to 34°C at Koh Lipe.
What wetsuit do I need to dive in Thailand?
The water across Thailand ranges from 25°C to 34°C, so pack anything from a rash guard or a 1–3 mm shorty to a 3 mm wetsuit depending on the site and the season.
What is the visibility like when diving in Thailand?
Visibility in Thailand ranges from 0 m to 40 m. The clearest water is found at Similan Islands.
What can you see on a night dive in Thailand?
After dark, Thailand reveals nocturnal species such as Whitetip Reef Shark, Bluespotted Ribbontail Ray, Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, Fimbriated Moray, Giant Moray, and Greyface Moray.
Every answer is built from the conditions and sightings data we keep for Thailand. Spotted something that looks off?
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