PHUKET TRAVEL GUIDE · WEATHER

Weather in Phuket

Phuket weather through the year, and what it means for your diving.

Thailand travel calendar with the weather, sea conditions and travel season for each month

Dry season (November to April)

✓Weather: mostly clear skies, low humidity, 27 to 32°C and very little rain.
✓Sea: calm water, excellent visibility, and most boat trips run daily.
✓Best for: Discover Scuba Diving, the Racha Islands, the Phi Phi Islands, and the Similan Islands (October to May).
✓This is also the busiest and most expensive tourist season.

Hot season (April to May)

✓The hottest part of the year, often 33 to 35°C with high humidity.
✓Afternoon thunderstorms become more common.
✓The sea is generally still calm, so diving remains good before the southwest monsoon strengthens.

Green and rainy season (May to October)

Many visitors expect constant rain, but that is usually not the case. A typical day brings sunny mornings, clouds building in the afternoon, heavy rain for 30 to 90 minutes, then clearing. Some days are fine all day, though tropical systems can occasionally bring longer wet spells.

✓Advantages: cheaper hotels, fewer tourists, less crowded beaches and lush scenery.
✓Disadvantages: rough seas, red flags on west coast beaches, possible boat cancellations, and reduced underwater visibility at exposed dive sites.

Water temperature

The sea is 28 to 30°C all year. Most divers wear a 3 mm wetsuit, and some divers wear a rash guard instead during the hottest months.

Key takeaways

✓High season does not guarantee perfect weather.
✓Low season does not mean bad weather every day.
✓Safety decisions depend on actual sea conditions, not just the season.