Scuba Diving Day Trip with Two Dives and Lunch, Phu Quoc

Scuba diving in Phu Quoc: the An Thoi archipelago

Most scuba diving in Phu Quoc takes place around the An Thoi archipelago, a chain of small green islands off the southern tip of the island. Islands such as Hon Gam Ghi, Hon Mong Tay and Hon Dam are fringed by shallow coral reefs and rocky slopes, with depths of roughly 10 to 17 metres that are ideal for relaxed recreational dives. The water is warm all year, usually 27 to 30 °C, so a thin wetsuit is enough.

The boat ride from the southern pier to the first site takes around 30 to 45 minutes, passing fishing boats and the long cable car line that crosses to Hon Thom. If you are asking whether Phu Quoc diving is worth it, think of it as easy, colourful reef diving rather than big-current adventure: perfect for enjoying macro life and coral gardens at a calm pace.

Northern dive sites and how the site is chosen

Phu Quoc sits in the Gulf of Thailand, and the monsoon winds decide which coast is calm. From roughly June to October the southwest monsoon can make the southern and western waters rough, so on those days the dive team often moves the trip to the north of the island, around the islets off Ganh Dau Cape, where the sea is more sheltered.

Sea conditions are checked before departure every morning, and the final dive sites are chosen on the day for safety and visibility. This is why the pickup time and pier can change, and why we reconfirm your timing the evening before. Visibility in Phu Quoc ranges widely, from around 3 to 15 metres, and is usually best in the dry season from November to May.

What you see underwater

The reefs around Phu Quoc are known for hard corals such as brain and staghorn corals, soft corals, sea anemones with clownfish, and plenty of reef fish: parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, rabbitfish and small groupers. Look closely in the cracks for moray eels, and on the coral heads for nudibranchs, flatworms and shrimp, which make Phu Quoc a good destination for divers who enjoy small creatures.

Lucky divers may also spot cuttlefish, blue-spotted stingrays resting on sandy patches, or the occasional turtle. The instructor and dive master lead each dive along the reef, point out marine life and keep an eye on air and depth. Touching or collecting marine life is not allowed, and good buoyancy helps protect the corals for the next divers.

Your day on the dive boat

Once aboard, the crew gives a dive briefing at the site: the layout of the reef, entry and exit, maximum depth and buddy pairs. You kit up with the equipment provided, including BCD, regulator, wetsuit, fins and mask, and enter the water for the first dive of 40 to 60 minutes. The boat has shade and space to rest between dives.

Lunch is served on board after the first dive, with rice, noodles, seafood and vegetables; tell us in advance if you need vegetarian or no-pork food, since halal-certified meals are limited on Phu Quoc. After a surface interval, the boat moves to the second site for your second dive, then heads back to the pier in the early afternoon and our driver takes you back to your hotel.

Best time to dive in Phu Quoc and practical tips

The best time to dive in Phu Quoc is the dry season from November to May, when the sea is calmest in the south and visibility is at its best; March and April often bring the clearest water. Diving continues from June to October, mostly at northern sites, but trips can be moved or cancelled when the sea is too rough.

Bring your certification card and, if you have one, your logbook, as the dive centre checks them before the trip. Phu Quoc International Airport (PQC) is only 15 to 20 minutes from Duong Dong, but you should not fly or go to high altitude for at least 16 to 18 hours after diving, so plan this trip early in your stay and tell us your flight time when booking.