One of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, Phuket is located around 800 kilometres from the Thai capital, Bangkok, and beyond being a great destination for sunbathing, shopping and nightlife, it is also home to some excellent dive sites.
Travelling there
From July 1st, 2021, fully vaccinated Thai and foreign travellers to Phuket are not required to quarantine under the Phuket “Sandbox” programme. Visitors are required to provide proof of vaccination as well as a negative COVID-19 test prior to entering the country.
While there are no quarantine requirements, visitors are obliged to stay in an approved hotel in Phuket for seven days. After returning another negative test, they can remain in Phuket for another seven days or spend the week in Krabi, Phang-Nga or Surat Thani. Following another negative test, they are allowed to move freely around the country. The scheme is open to tourists from 70 countries and territories, but travellers must fly directly to Phuket from their home country; transiting in Bangkok is not currently allowed.
Diving
Boats that leave Phuket port to destinations outside Phuket, like King Cruiser Wreck, Shark Point and the Phi Phi Islands, must ensure that all guests, dive crew and boat crew provide proof of vaccine certification as well as a negative PCR or antigen rapid test within 72 hours. For routes within the Phuket area such as the Racha Noi and Racha Yai islands either vaccine certification or a negative COVID-19 test is sufficient.
Divers are required to
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